10032026-LT-01.qxd 3/9/2026 11:44 PM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune SHORTAGE OF MEDICINES AILS AYURVEDIC DISPENSARIES PAU, MAHARASHTRA FIRM INK PACT FOR ONION RESEARCH WHEN ALE ALE ALE MEETS OH HO HO HO! The crisis has caused a sharp drop in outpatient department footfall, down by 30-40 per cent. P2 The MoU aims at better collaboration in agricultural research and technological advancement. P2 India's T20 World Cup victory sees viral moment as Ricky Martin grooves to Sukhbir's Oh Ho Ho Ho. P4 » » » FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 30°C | MIN 17°C YESTERDAY MAX 30°C | MIN 18°C SUNSET TUESDAY 6.32 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 6:43 AM TUESDAY | 10 MARCH 2026 | LUDHIANA Protesters block Ferozepur Road over police inaction, commuters stranded HIT-AND-RUN CASE Mahesh Sharma Ludhiana, March 9 Vehicular traffic on Ludhiana-Ferozepur Road remained suspended for over two hours causing harassment to commuters including government officials, serious patients heading towards hospitals for treatment and passengers of public transport buses. The protesters demanded immediate action against the owner/driver of an Innova that allegedly ran over a woman from Baddowal village, a security guard at a nearby hospital, on Thursday. The deceased was identified as Surinder Kaur of Baddowal. Upset over the harassment, some commuters argued heatedly with protesters and police urging them to end the dharna. The protest lifted after two hours when organisers received assurances of Man booked for attacking cops Ludhiana, March 9 A Beant Pura resident who assaulted a police party late Saturday evening faces charges under Section 109 (attempt to murder), 132 (assault or criminal force against a public servant), and 221 (obstructing a public servant’s duty) at Moti Nagar police station. Suspect Salim Masih Vicky of Beant Pura attacked Constable Balwinder Singh of Guru Gobind Nagar, Khanna, with broken glass and tore Constable Sarabjit Singh’s uniform when officers arrived to resolve the complaint. “When we tried to stop Salim Masih Vicky fighting his uncle Tilak Masih, he scuffled with us, tore my colleague Sarabjit Singh’s uniform, and slashed my neck with broken glass intending to kill me,” Balwinder Singh said. Both Balwinder Singh and Sarabjit Singh belong to a PCR team that responded to the emergency call that evening. — OC Protesters sit on a dharna outside Medicity Hospital on Ferozepur Road; and (R) a traffic jam on the road in Ludhiana. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN prompt suspect identification and strict action. Four days after Surinder Kaur died after being run over by an Innova SUV Ludhiana Ferozepur Road on Thursday, kin of the deceased blocked traffic and organized a dharna near MBD Mall to protest against alleged inaction against the suspect who ran away after hitting the victim on Thursday. Hundreds in private and government vehicles of all types remained stranded for two hours as protesters insisted on continuing until strict measures against the driver/owner. Police personnel, who were trying to persuade the protestors to lift the dharna, said a probe had already been initiated on the basis of information provided by kin of the deceased Surinder Kaur (48) of Baddowal village. Kaur worked as a security guard at a nearby multispecialty hospital and was hit by an unknown Innova car when she was crossing the road to return to her home in the evening. Hardip Singh, a relative of the deceased, said police had failed to trace the vehicle owner despite family-provided registration and first-owner details. The family claimed to hold CCTV footage of the fatal accident. 2 days after being shot, Payal man succumbs to injuries Our Correspondent Payal, March 9 Satnam Singh of local Ward No. 7, shot by a Home Guard employee’s son on Saturday evening, succumbed to injuries at PGI, Chandigarh, on Monday afternoon. Payal police arrested four suspects on Sunday, including shooter Sukhvir Singh of Payal—who used his licensed weapon—and his father Nazar Singh, a home guard. Manpreet Singh and Gurpreet Singh of Majri village near Dehlon were held for sheltering the main accused after the crime. Payal SHO Tarvinder Kumar said Satnam Singh, who was receiving treatment at PGI-Chandigarh, died Monday afternoon. Kumar added that an FIR was registered against the four based on statements from the deceased’s wife, Sarabjit Kaur; all were arrested from separate locations. Satnam Singh suffered bullet wounds Saturday evening and reached Payal Civil Hos- 61 get appointment on Wife blames brother-in-law compassionate grounds for orchestrating man’s death Mahesh Sharma Mayor Inderjit Kaur addresses a press conference. ASHWANI DHIMAN Tribune News Service Ludhiana, March 9 Mayor Inderjit Kaur handed over appointment letters to 61 next-of-kin of deceased Ludhiana Municipal Corporation (MC) employees at a ceremony in MC Zone D office on Monday. Deputy Mayor Prince Johar, Superintendent Tarun Goyal and other officials attended the event. The jobs, granted on compassionate grounds matching their qualifications, went to kin of staff who died on duty. Appointments included three clerks, two junior draftsmen, one driver, 12 sewadars (peons), three beldars, three sewermen and 37 sweepers. Handing over the letters, Mayor Kaur urged the new employees to serve the public with efficiency and transparency. Raikot, March 9 A Malha village woman has accused her brother-in-law of orchestrating her husband’s death in a Saturday road accident. The deceased, Jasvir Singh, was returning from Ludhiana courts when his scooter was allegedly rear-ended on Balvir Singh’s orders. Balvir hails from the same village. A case was registered under section 106 of BNS at Hathur Police Station on Sunday, but further action would be taken after verification of allegations leveled by the complainant, the police said. Perusal of the FIR revealed that the deceased and the suspect had been fighting a property dispute for the last 15 years and both had gone to Judicial Complex Ludhiana on Saturday. Sukhwant Kaur alleged Nail studio owner opens fire after tiff with ex-staffer, Alleges he rear-ended case registered husband’s scooter on his way home that her husband had informed her before dying that Balvir Singh was following him when his scooter collided with a hard object on the roadside. “It was during treatment that my husband had informed us that his brother Balvir Singh had hit his vehicle through some other vehicle following which his (deceased) scooter collided with a roadside stone,” Sukhwant Kaur told the police. Investigating Officer Sulakhan Singh said a probe had been initiated to ascertain the sequence of events leading to the fatal accidents. “Further action will be taken after verifying allegations levelled by the complainant,” said Singh. Ludhiana, March 9 The police registered a case against a nail studio owner after the latter allegedly opened fire at a former employee, said officials. They said the case was registered after the police suo motu cognisance of the incident. Police identified the accused as Rose Uppal of Himmat Singh Nagar, who owns National Nail’s Studio in Model Town. The case was registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Arms Act based on a statement by Roop Lal, sub-inspector. Lal got information about the incident while he was on patrolling duty on Sunday. According to the FIR, the accused fired multiple shots following an argument with an old employee, identified as Ritika, over payment of her pending salary. — OC The accused in police custody; and (inset) deceased Satnam Singh. pital unconscious at 7.30 pm. Doctors, led by SMO Dr Harvinder Singh Kaler, provided initial treatment before referring him to an advanced facility. The police have yet to confirm the full sequence, but preliminary probes point to an old rivalry behind Saturday’s shooting, which proved fatal today. The administration recently issued Sukhvir Singh an arms licence. Khanna SSP Dr Darpan Ahluwalia said investigators recovered the crime weapon, five live cartridges, five empty shells and the Verna car used to flee. “Through intensive human intelligence, technical surveillance, and CCTV footage, we raided likely hideouts and arrested the key accused within hours,” Ahluwalia added. 110 gm heroin seized, smuggler behind bars The accused in custody of the police. TRIBUNE PHOTO Tribune News Service Ludhiana, March 9 The police arrested a member of a notorious drug gang long involved in supplying narcotics to addicts. They recovered 110 grams of heroin from accused Karamjit Singh Bheema of Barwali Kalan, Fatehgarh Sahib district, now residing in Bhamian Kalan, Ludhiana. Commissioner of Police Swapan Sharma said officers under Assistant Commissioner of Police (Industrial Area) Inderjit Singh Boparai and SHO Jamalpur Dalvir Singh nabbed him during a naka at Jhabewal Cut–Bhamian Road on Sunday, based on tip-offs. Investigators are tracing forward and backward links of the consignment and any accomplices. ‘Illegal’ buildings, traffic violators pose risk to residents’ lives Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service The badly damaged Fortuner car that collided with the selfie point in Ludhiana. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN Speeding SUV rams into selfie pillar at Bharat Nagar Chowk Our Correspondent Ludhiana, March 9 Two occupants had a miraculous escape when the speeding Fortuner SUV they were travel, ling in, collided with the selfie pillar installed at Bharat Nagar Chowk at Ludhiana. The mishap took place on Mall Road on intervening night of Sunday and Monday, Though the duo was shifted to a nearby private healthcare centre after being rescued by the passersby and cops posted at Division Number 5 police station, they were later dis- charged after giving first aid by doctors. Though the police are yet to ascertain the exact reason behind the mishap, driver likely lost control over the vehicle while maneuvering near the roundabout and the vehicle jumped over the railing and collided with the selfie pillar. Ludhiana, March 9 Fatal accidents in the past over three months raises serious questions on the working and lack of accountability of law enforcement. Whether police leniency towards reckless drivers, transport inaction on underage motorists, or faulty road designs, all contribute to fatal crashes. Data shows over 400 annual deaths and hundreds more serious injuries in Ludhiana Commissionerate alone. Each loss shatters families with lifelong grief. Dr Kalamjeet Soi, National Road Safety Council (NRSC) member, said accidents persist under authorities’ watch as they dodge responsibility. “We demand swift, transparent probes into the BMW crash killing a 24-year-old youth and a law student’s death in Sarabha Nagar from a bike-SUV collision. An immediate road safety audit of Phullanwal crossing and c m y b Vehicles cross one of the bridges over Sidhwan Canal. PHOTO: ASHWANI DHIMAN other hotspots is essential to curb fatalities,” Soi urged. Rash driving is often noticed on South City Road. Darshan Arora, Ludhiana Citizens Council chairman, said: “There are 47 illegal constructions on the both sides of the road. These have become a potential source of road accidents. The stretch is perilous due to unauthorised, unplanned structures lacking parking, service lanes and safety audits. Human life is paramount, and no one is above the law.” 4 bridges on short highway stretch unnecessary Dr Soi spotlighted four bridges over Sidhwan Canal, built without road safety audits, highway alignment norms, visibility standards, approach angles or traffic flow rules. “Flawed construction and design have already caused crashes. Speedy vehicles crossing the bridge can easily collide with oncoming traffic. If these four bridges fail to meet prescribed safety standards, we’ll pursue legal proceedings against these as done in the case of 47 illegal buildings,” he warned. GLADA recently flagged 47 “illegal structures” along South City Road, vowing to halt activities and enforce law against these commercial sites. “These establishments narrow the national highway as people park on the main road,” said homemaker Anjali. As if this was not enough, due to lenient approach of law enforcing agencies, youth perform bike stunts without helmet on South City Road. Others hold car rallies during their school/ college farewell parties on this stretch.