11042026-LT-01.qxd 4/11/2026 12:51 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune MUNDIAN REVIEWS WHEAT PROCUREMENT IN SAHNEWAL Minister Hardeep Mundian told agencies to ensure smooth procurement process for farmers. P2 » LPG TANKER OVERTURNS NEAR JARKHAR GAS PLANT VICTORIA’S LATEST SECRET REVEALED… Tanker was carrying 17 tonnes of flammable gas and any leak could have spelled trouble. P2 MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 30°C | MIN 14°C YESTERDAY MAX 29°C | MIN 13°C SUNSET SATURDAY 6:46 PM As Triptii Dimri joins Victoria’s Secret, here’s a look at the shifting ideals of the brand. P3 » FORECAST SUNRISE SUNDAY 6:00 AM » SATURDAY | 11 APRIL 2026 | LUDHIANA Parking contractor fined ~15L for Ravneet Kaur tops dist with 99.50% overcharging at vegetable market marks, bags third position in state PSEB CLASS VIII EXAMINATIONS Civic body’s six parking lots are handled by same company Tribune News Service Sukhpreet Singh Tribune News Service Ludhiana, April 10 In a major action against overcharging, the Market Committee has imposed a penalty of Rs 15 lakh on a private contractor for allegedly fleecing vendors and commuters by charging rates higher than the prescribed fee at the vegetable market near Jalandhar bypass. The action came after repeated complaints from vendors and commuters regarding illegal collection of parking and entry charges at the vegetable market. As per the norms, a fee of Rs 100 was to be charged from vendors but the contractor was allegedly collecting Rs 300. Car parking fee was fixed at Rs 50 but Rs 100 was being charged. Confirming the development, Harjinder Singh, secretary, Market Committee, said: “We have conducted a checking following complaints from vendors and commuters and found that the contractor was overcharging. A penalty of Rs 15 lakh has been imposed on the contractor on Friday.” According to information, the contractor firm, LRY, was managing the parking operations and had been continuing its functioning despite repeated complaints in the past. The vendors alleged that overcharging had Ludhiana, April 10 Ludhiana students have brought laurels to the district in the Class VIII examinations, results of which were declared by the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) on Friday evening, with many of them finding a place on the state merit list. Ravneet Kaur of Shivalik Model School, Jagraon, secured the third position A worker issues a parking slip to a visitor at the vegetable market in Ludhiana. ASHWANI DHIMAN been going on openly, putting an additional financial burden on them. Several vendors expressed relief over the action but demanded strict monitoring. “It was happening for a long time. We were forced to pay extra money every day. The authorities must ensure such practices should not resume,” said Ramesh, a vendor. The incident has again raised serious concerns over lack of supervision and enforcement by the authorities, allowing contractors to allegedly exploit the public. The issue has also put the spotlight on the Municipal Corporation (MC) as the same firm is reportedly handling six major parking lots across the city. Despite complaints of overcharging in the past, the contractor has allegedly been given extensions for the past three years. According to information, complaints regarding overcharging have been raised earlier also but no strict action was taken. The contractor continued operations, raising questions over monitoring and accountability within the civic body. Residents and activists have demanded a thorough probe into all parking contracts handled by the firm and strict enforcement of approved rates. They have also called for display of rate lists at all parking sites to prevent overcharging and urged the civic body to Man nabbed for keeping protected turtles at shop Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, April 10 The Jamalpur police arrested a man for possessing three protected turtles. Two of them were roofed turtles while the third one belongs to another species. The suspect had kept the reptiles at his pizza shop. He was identified as Inderjit Singh of Mundian Kalan. The complainant, Narinder Singh, Forest Range Officer, Wild Range, Neelon, in a statement to the police stated that information was received that the shopkeeper had illegally kept three turtles at his shop, which is forbidden as per the norms. After verifying information, he told the police and a raid was conducted at the shop of the suspect, which led to the recovery of turtles. SHO, Jamalpur police station, inspector Dalvir Singh, said on the complaint of the forest official, the police registered an FIR under the Wildlife Protection Act. The rescued turtles had been handed over to the Wildlife Department for proper care. It will remain in the department’s custody till further legal proceedings are completed. The SHO said the suspect runs a pizza shop in Mundian Kalan and he had kept the turtles at his outlet. The preliminary investigation of the police had found that he was not into illegal trade of protected turtles. Still, further probe was on in the case. In March, on the complaint of Wildlife Department officials, the police had arrested a man in Jamalpur here for smuggling banned birds. Two rare Alexandrine parakeets were recovered from the suspect. The department got registered a case against the man under various sections of the Wildlife Protection Act and initiated further investigation. He was later handed over to the police. The man was identified as Vishal Grewal, a resident of Lahri Nagar, Mundian Kalan, Ludhiana. A case was registered under the Wildlife Protection Act against him. float tenders for the six parking lots. Raju, owner of the LRY company, has stated that he would relinquish the contract at midnight. He alleged that after 12 am, the Market Committee secretary would deploy staff to collect fees and may hand over the contract to another party, off the record. He further claimed that overcharging was likely to continue under the new arrangement and urged the media to reach the spot between 6 am and 8 am, or even up to 9 am on Saturday to verify the situation and record statements from vendors regarding the alleged overcharging. 8 arrested for gambling in special drive Tribune News Service Ludhiana, April 10 In a significant step to curb illegal activities in the city, the Ludhiana Commissionerate Police have arrested eight persons involved in gambling. During the operation, Rs 10,290 was seized. The arrests are the result of a special campaign targeting organised gambling dens. The operation was conducted by specialised teams in different areas under the supervision of senior officials. During the raids, eight suspects were taken into custody. CP Swapan Sharma said the Ludhiana police remain committed to maintaining law and order in the city and eradicating social evils. Slain influencer’s kin seek death for Mehron Mahesh Sharma Ludhiana, April 10 Kin of slain controversial social influencer Kanchan Kumari, alias Kamal Bhabhi, have demanded death penalty for Amritpal Singh Mehron, the key accused in the murder. Mehron was earlier portrayed as a “hero” by a section of radicals. He was extradited from the UAE and taken into custody by the Punjab Police. “Let his mother feel pain of losing a kid like I suffered on losing my daughter. She was my guardian in absence of my husband,” said the victim’s mother Girjia Devi, a resident The house of the victim at Laxman Nagar in Ludhiana. of Laxman Nagar here. She said while Mehron’s death won’t bring Kanchan back, it would give peace to the family. Kanchan’s siblings urged the authorities to take the case to a conclusive end. “We demand that all the accused be punished according to the law,” said Anil, Kanchan’s brother, maintaining her murder had almost ruined the family. Anil expressed regret that radicals had been trying to hail Mehron by dis- playing his posters after Kanchan’s murder last year. The administration announced that no one will be allowed to paint Mehron as a hero. Though the social media account of the slain influencer has gained 80,000 followers after her last post on June 9, 2025, the range of mourners has not crossed bloodline nears and dears. Originally from Mehron village in Moga district, Amritpal Singh Mehron was once a bike mechanic. He was portrayed as a hero by radical Sikh organisations and his own outfit, ‘Qaum De Rakhe’ after the influencer’s murder. c m y b District registers 94.64 pass percentage in the state with 99.50 per cent marks. Bableen Kaur from Baba Zorawar Singh Fateh Singh Senior Secondary Public School, Kotan, followed closely, clinching the fourth rank in the state with 99.33 per cent. Gursharan Singh Basi of Bhai Daan Singh Public Senior Secondary School, Manuke, secured the fifth position in the state with 99.17 per cent while Anmolpreet Kaur from Guru Nanak Public Senior Secondary School, Bassian, stood seventh with 98.83 per cent. Students who shared the 10th position with 98.33 per cent marks, include Arjun Kumar of BCM Senior Secondary School, Focal Point; Palak from Narottam Vidya Mandir High School, Khanna; Gurjot Kaur of Children Valley Public Senior Secondary School, Mundian Kalan; Ridhima of SN Public High School, Indirapuri; and Raj Rajput from Anmol Memorial Senior Secondary School, Bhamian Kalan. Overall, the district registered a pass percentage of 94.64 per cent, reflecting a strong academic performance. Army gets case filed against illegal construction near ammunition depot Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, April 10 A case of violation of guidelines of the Army regulations witnessed near Field Ammunition Depot (Asla Depot) in Baddowal, here. The Sarabha Nagar police registered a case against unidentified persons for illegally constructing a house in the depot’s restricted area. The action was taken following a complaint from senior army officials. A police complaint from the Administrative Officer of the 17 Field Ammunition Depot, Baddowal, stated that illegal construction activities had been noted within the depot’s security perimeter and notified area. It was taking place near Ayali Kalan village. As per the complainant, despite the Army declaring the area as ‘no construction zone’ and repeated warnings, unidentified individuals continued to illegally construct houses. Such constructions around an ammunition depot was dangerous and illegal from a security perspective. In the matter, the Sarabha Nagar police registered two separate cases against three unidentified individuals. The suspects have been charged under Section 223 of the BNS. The police claimed that they were identifying those who have violated government regulations and constructed houses in restricted areas. They would soon visit the site to stop the construction work and take action against them.