15022026-LT-01.qxd 2/15/2026 12:42 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune SHG, STUDENT STALLS A HIT AS SUFI FEST CONTINUES Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond was the chief guest for the day. P2 » WILL MANDATE PCR PILOT FOR AMBULANCES: PSHRC V-DAY: CAUGHT BETWEEN CUPID AND CHECKPOINTS PSHRC member Jitender Singh Shunty says move will help save precious lives. P2 MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 26°C | MIN 11°C YESTERDAY MAX 26°C | MIN 10°C SUNSET SUNDAY 6.11 PM In region, Cupid was only too happy to shoot, but his arrows had to pass via police barricades to hit his targets. P4 » FORECAST SUNRISE MONDAY 7:02 AM » SUNDAY | 15 FEBRUARY 2026 | LUDHIANA Bizman gets threat from foreign number, kill entire to keepnot paid;cr ready told family if money ~1 FIR registered Caller threatens to Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, February 14 A city-based businessman received an extortion call from an unknown foreign number and was told to give Rs 1 crore extortion. The caller stated that if the money was not given, the businessman and his entire family would be killed. The victim’s family is in panic after receiving the threat. The call came from a foreign number, followed by an SMS saying, ‘keep Rs 1 crore ready’. Complainant Gurpreet Singh told the police that on the evening of February 10, he received a WhatsApp call on his mobile phone from a foreign number (+1-619-606-0307). After the call, a message came from the same number. The sender demanded Rs 1 crore in cash. The suspect warned that if the money was not arranged, they should be prepared for serious consequences. As per reports, Gurpreet Singh previously owned a water plant. Currently, he stays at his house here while his family stays abroad. The threat received by the victim has created an atmosphere of fear in the area. Based on his complaint, the Sarabha Nagar police have registered a case. The police are now probing two aspects — whether an international gangster is behind the extortion or some miscreant used a foreign virtual number to spread terror. RECENT CASES Car rental showroom owner got ~2-cr extortion call On January 10, owner of a luxury car rental showroom located in Baddowal received an extortion call demanding Rs 2 crore a few hours after firing at the showroom. ~10-cr extortion sought in name of gangster On January 6, a city busi- nessman received a Rs 10crore extortion threat from a man claiming to be associated with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. The Sarabha Nagar police registered an FIR against Hari Boxer, a member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. ~1-cr extortion sought from jewellery shop owner On December 12, 2025, the police arrested an associate of gangster Amrit Dalam after a shootout near Samrala Chowk. Suspects were threatening a jewellery shop owner and demanding an extortion of Rs 1 crore. The suspects had come to the city to collect the extortion money when they were apprehended by the police. ~50L demanded from trader in name of Godara gang On the intervening night of January 5 and 6, three bikeborne miscreants had opened fire at a closed garment showroom in Civil City, after which they had demanded extortion by claiming to be members of the Rohit Godara gang. The showroom owner claimed he got a threatening call from an overseas number. The caller demanded an extortion of Rs 50 lakh. In connection with the case, the police had already brought gangster Shubham Grover from Ferozepur jail on a production warrant for questioning. Pvt bank staff hold man hostage for 3 hrs over failure to pay EMIs Tribune News Service Ludhiana, February 14 In a shocking incident, a man was not only humiliated but also held hostage for hours and brutally beaten for failing to pay two instalments on time by employees of a private bank in Surya Complex, located near Bhaiwala Chowk here. The victim approached the police and narrated his ordeal, after which the Police Division 8 registered a case against Vipan Kumar, a resident of the Jagirpur road area, near here, Naveen and other unidentified staff from the company. The complainant, Harish, told the police in his statement that he had financed his TVS motorcycle through a private Also assault victim, threaten to kill him; case registered STRICT ACTION WILL BE TAKEN AGAINST GUILTY The police said nobody would be allowed to take law into their own hands and strict legal action would be taken against culprits after examining the CCTV footage. bank. He was unable to deposit two instalments on time due to financial constraints. On February 9, he was called to the bank on the second floor of Surya Complex at Bhaiwala Chowk over phone. When he reached the place, bank staff surrounded him and started abusing and beating him. They assaulted him, held him illegally in their cabin for nearly three hours and threatened to kill him. The victim alleged that the suspects held him hostage and subjected him to physical and mental torture without any regard for the law. Meanwhile, the police said nobody would be allowed to take law into their own hands and strict legal action would be taken against culprits after examining the footage of Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras installed in the area. 5 members of snatchers’ gang nabbed Religious fervour Mahesh Sharma Devotees take part in a Shobha Yatra on the eve of Mahashivratri at Daresi Ground in Ludhiana. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN P2 Malerkotla, February 14 The police claimed to have busted a gang of snatchers and drug peddlers which had been involved in thefts and snatching of valuables by waylaying victims using sharp weapons. Five members of the gang were arrested. One motorcycle, two mobiles, some habit-forming tablets and sharp weapons used in crimes were seized from the five suspects arrested from different places in Malerkotla district on Friday. The suspects were identified as Mohammad Sahil, Mohammad Imran, Mohammad Adil and Mohammad Ilias, all residents of Khushall Basti, Malerkotla, and Vishal, alias Vicky, of 786 Chowk, Malerkotla. SSP Gagan Ajit Singh said police officials supervised by Malerkotla DSP Manavjit Singh Sidhu and SHO, City 1, Suspects in police custody in Malerkotla. PHOTO BY WRITER Daljit Singh, had nabbed five members of a notorious gang that had been involved in antisocial activities, including drug peddling, thefts and snatchings, for a long time. The suspects were identified and nabbed on the basis of information collected from residents and with the help of footage of CCTV cameras installed in various places. Vital inputs were also received during a crackdown launched during and after the second phase of attack against gangsters under Operation Prahar 2.0, the SSP said. The police expect more recoveries and arrest of accomplices of the suspects, identities of whom are yet to be ascertained. Pedestrian killed No foot overbridge outside ISBT, rights panel Youngster dies of demands report from civic body chief, DC ‘drug overdose’ at in hit-and-run Youngster was hit Rajpur Bet village by truck, say Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Ludhiana, February 14 A pedestrian was killed in a road accident here on Saturday morning. The mishap occurred between the Dholewal flyover and Gill Road Chowk, where a speeding vehicle hit the youth, killing him on the spot. According to eyewitnesses, the driver fled the scene after the accident. Passers-by covered the body with a cloth and informed the police. The eyewitnesses said the youth was hit by a truck, however, the police were currently refraining from commenting on the matter. They alleged that the police would only be able to determine whether the accident was caused by a truck or some other vehicle after reviewing Safe City camera footage. Upon receiving information, the police reached the scene and attempted to identify the body but were unable to get any details about the deceased. They also conducted a probe in surrounding areas but to no avail. Ludhiana, February 14 The Punjab State Human Rights Commission (PSHRC), taking note of a complaint filed by RTI activist Arvind Sharma against the administration for failing to provide a foot overbridge (FOB) outside the Inter-State Bus Terminal (ISBT), Ludhiana, sought a report from the Deputy Commissioner and Municipal Corporation Commissioner. The activist, in the complaint, stated that the Ludhiana district administration has constructed a flyover near the ISBT due to which thousands of people are forced to risk their lives to enter the bus stand. As the flyover is situated right outside the ISBT, people are forced to navigate through heavy, high traffic to get inside. The administration has failed to provide a foot over bridge or an underpass leading to frequent daily accidents and putting lives in danger. Entry gates of the ISBT are located exactly where the flyover descends. Vehicles come down from the flyover at eyewitnesses; police yet to get details The police have kept the body at the Civil Hospital mortuary for 72 hours. If it remains unidentified during the period, a post-mortem examination will be conducted. Preliminary investigation indicates that the deceased was aged between 30 and 32 years. The police suspected that he might had been a native of Uttar Pradesh or Bihar. On Friday morning, a woman on her way to work at Dholewal Chowk died in a road accident. She was riding a Rapido bike. The man riding the vehicle lost control over it due to which the bike fell on the road. A speeding heavy truck coming from the rear hit her. One of the tyres crushed the woman’s head, killing her instantly. The deceased Suman Jain was working with a private company. Tribune News Service Pedestrians cross the road outside the ISBT in the absence of a foot overbridge in Ludhiana. a high speed due to which accidents occur. There have been many instances where people have lost their lives. The media had also covered the grave issue several times and highlighted how passengers were risking their lives. The complainant has prayed to take immediate action. The commission takes cognisance of the matter. Accordingly, let the matter be put up before the Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Ludhiana and the Deputy Commissioner to submit their reports before the next date c m y b of hearing, a copy of the order of commission states. CP had recently written, seeking construction of FOB On the issue, the Commissioner of Police (CP), Ludhiana, has also recently written a letter to the Municipal Corporation, asking it to build a foot over bridge (FOB) for the convenience of residents. Besides traffic-related issues people face at the point, the other prime purpose of the initiative is to save pedestrians from accidents as they endanger their lives to cross the road near the bus stand. Several accidents also reported in the past near the bus station (on a stretch from the Bharat Nagar chowk to the bus stand) on which pedestrians were either hit by two-wheelers or cars while trying to cross the road illegally. Since the bus stand has a huge footfall of passengers, instead of choosing a proper route, the latter usually cross the road divider near the stand and put their lives in danger. It has raised road safety concerns and the authorities should take steps to stop the same. Ludhiana, February 14 A youth died under mysterious circumstances at Raipur Bet village on Saturday. Villagers cremated the deceased without informing the police. However, they alleged that he died due to drug overdose. The deceased was identified as Jasveer Singh Neela (22). Kin of the deceased, Karamjit Singh, said the youth had been addicted to drugs and also used to consume liquor every day. Even the deceased’s father was also addicted to alcohol. In the wee hours on Saturday, the deceased’s father found Jasveer dead. He raised the alarm and informed residents of the village. Station House Officer (SHO), Koom Kalan, inspector Paramdeep Singh, said the deceased Cremated by villagers without informing cops, who suspect excess liquor consumption as cause of death was addicted to alcohol as per the initial investigation of the police. Villagers had cremated the deceased and informed the police later. No drugs or injection was recovered from the house of the deceased. Excess consumption of alcohol might have become the cause of his death. Now, the villagers were claiming that the youth had died due to drug overdose. They should have informed the police first. At least post-mortem examination of the victim could have confirmed the cause of his death, the SHO said.