22042026-LT-01.qxd 4/22/2026 12:56 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune 4 ARRESTED FOR ILLEGAL MINING, 3 TIPPERS SEIZED SOLID WASTE MGMT A PRESSING CONCERN ACTOR NEERU BAJWA ON PARENTING & PRESENCE Doraha police nabbed four persons allegedly involved in illegal mining at Rajgarh village near Doraha. P2 Most of local bodies in Malerkotla and nearby areas have failed to resolve issue of solid waste management. P3 At trailer launch of Jawaak in Mohali, Punjabi film star opens up on mindful parenting, staying youthful. P4 » » » FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 40°C | MIN 20°C YESTERDAY MAX 40°C | MIN 19°C SUNSET WEDNESDAY 6.54 PM SUNRISE THURSDAY 5:48 AM WEDNESDAY | 22 APRIL 2026 | LUDHIANA F&CC clears major ~38-cr proposal for repair of sewer lines in 26 wards Of 199-point agenda placed before committee, 100 were approved Sukhpreet Singh Tribune News Service Ludhiana, April 21 The Finance and Contract Committee (F&CC) of the Municipal Corporation, in its meeting held on Tuesday at the Mayor Camp Office, cleared a major Rs 38-crore proposal for desilting and repair of sewer lines in 26 critical wards. The work has been allotted to Inderjit Bajaj Company. Of the 199-point agenda placed before the committee, around 100 were approved, while some were deferred. The proposal for giving a one-year extension to an SDO of the MC’s electricity wing was rejected. The meeting was attended by Mayor Inderjit Kaur, MC Commissioner Neeru Katyal Gupta, Senior Deputy Mayor Rakesh Parashar and Deputy Mayor Prince Johar, along with other senior officials. Under the approved Rs 38crore plan, desilting of sewer lines, repair of damaged pipes and replacement of sewer covers would be carried out. The works would be executed using hi-tech super suction MC officials during the F&CC meeting at the Mayor's Camp office in Ludhiana on Tuesday. machines based on German technology, officials said. The maintenance is planned for a period of two years and will be monitored zone-wise. However, the decision has raised questions within civic circles. Sources said there was a lack of clarity on which specific sewer lines would be taken up under the project, especially as some stretches had already been desilted barely a year ago. Concerns had also been raised over the need for transparency in identifying priority areas and avoiding duplication of work. Meanwhile, the committee also approved a proposal worth Rs 3.8 crore for installation of floodlights at Guru Nanak Stadium. Several other work orders related to civic projects were also cleared. During the meeting, civic representatives also flagged the issue of MC-owned buildings near the Mayor Camp Office, seeking action against unauthorised occupants and recovery of pending rent and electricity bills. The Commissioner said notices had already been issued in this regard. Another proposal to construct a retaining wall along the Buddha Dariya in the North constituency was also put on hold. Plan to install around 150 biometric attendance machines across various civic body locations was deferred as well. Instead, the committee has opted to explore alternative methods to regulate the attendance of sanitation staff. Commissioner Neeru Katyal Gupta directed officials to bring attendance under an e-portal system, with the original aim of biometric machines being to curb duplication and ensure transparency. Meanwhile, Senior Deputy Mayor Rakesh Prashar flagged that six civic body vehicles had been handed over to private individuals instead of being operated by official drivers. He warned that in case of any mishap, liability would fall on the MC. Officials verified the claim during the meeting and confirmed the issue, following which the Mayor ordered a probe. The remaining agenda will be taken up in the next F&CC meeting, scheduled for Thursday. Clash between two groups at wedding leaves 4 injured One suffers bullet injury, others attacked with sharp weapons Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, April 21 A brawl during a marriage function here left four persons injured. One person suffered a bullet injury while three others were attacked with sharp weapons. Investigating officer subinspector Jasbir Singh of Police Division 2 said the incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday during the marriage function. The brawl initially broke out between two groups near Kochar Market, where three persons were attacked with sharp weapons. As the injured were heading to the Civil Hospital, the opposing group challenged them again. During the confrontation, a man carrying a weapon opened fire, injuring Dharminder with a bullet. The injured were rushed to the hospital. It was being probed whether the firearm used was licensed or unlicensed, the SI said. When asked if the people involved in the dispute were gangsters or had a criminal background, he said it was not a gang war, adding that One of the injured victims undergoes treatment at a hospital in Ludhiana on Tuesday. PHOTO: ASHWANI DHIMAN the people involved in the fight were drunk and after a minor argument, they indulged in a ghastly fight. Meanwhile, ASI Dharminder Kumar in-charge, Janakpuri police post, said a person had fired three shots near the Civil Hospital while one of them hit the leg of the victim, identified as Dharminder. People involved in SHO held for taking ~30K bribe to Schoolkids hurt as ‘jugaad’ vehicle release betting suspect’s belongings overturns after being hit by car recorded the conversation with the SHO on her mobile phone and recorded her statement with them on April 21. The VB team then laid a trap and caught the SHO while taking the bribe. A case was registered against SHO Gurjit Singh under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Tribune News Service Ludhiana, April 21 The Vigilance Bureau (VB) on Tuesday arrested Division Number 4 Station House Officer (SHO) for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 30,000 for releasing belongings of an IPL betting accused, officials said. They said the SHO, inspector Gurjit Singh, sought the bribe from the mother of suspect Shubham Dixit for releasing a gold ring and a silver bracelet and was caught red-handed. In her statement to the VB, complainant Vinu said the case against her son was registered on April 17 at the Division Number 4 police station on charges of betting on IPL games and opening mule accounts to stash proceeds. Shubham, along with Vikas The cop in custody of the Vigilance Bureau sleuths in Ludhiana. Cops to check if SHO conducted fair probe Mehta, was arrested in the case. According to the complainant, she met Shubham at the police station and he told her that police personnel were thrashing him. He claimed they kept his gold ring and silver bracelet, and the SHO was demanding Rs 35,000 for returning them. Vinu added she met the SHO around 7 pm on April 20 In view of the arrest, officials said the Ludhiana police would probe if the SHO conducted a fair investigation into the case pertaining to the IPL betting racket. “If the SHO can demand a bribe from the mother of the suspect, his role needs to be probed to check if he conducted a fair investigation,” said a senior police official. with her husband Sham Lal. She alleged that the SHO asked her “if she had brought the money” on being asked about Shubham’s ornaments. As per complainant, she told the SHO she just had Rs 10,000 and the latter took the money but said he would return the valuables after getting Rs 35,000. VB officials said Vinu Ludhiana, April 21 Early on Tuesday morning a modified motorised cart, locally known as a ‘jugaad’ vehicle, ferrying children of migrant labourers to school met with an accident near Bhupana village. Over 10 children, besides the driver, sustained injuries in the mishap. The victims, residents of Mahal Ghumana village, situated along the Dhussi Bundh of the Sutlej, were on their way to a government school in the neighbouring Bhupana village when the incident occurred. The driver, Mahinder Singh, who also sustained serious injuries in his legs and back, stated that he was following his routine route when a speeding vehicle reportedly hit the cart. The impact caused the rickshaw to veer off the road and overturn into the adjoining MOGA MAN DIES IN MISHAP AT JAGRAON VILLAGE A man died in an accident at Kothe Baggu village in Jagraon on the Ludhiana-Ferozepur road on Tuesday night. Identified as Mankirat Singh Sidhu (28) of Daudhar village in Moga, he was going to Jagraon from Moga when his Mahindra Thar rammed into another vehicle going in front of it. After the collision, Thar overturned. He was taken to a hospital where doctors declared him brought dead. Mankirat had recently came from Canada to meet his parents. fields, trapping nearly 15 children underneath. “The children were screaming for help. Passers-by rushed to the scene and pulled them out from the mangled remains of the cart,” said an eyewitness. The injured were rushed to a nearby private hospital. Dr Prakash Sharma, who is attending to the victims, confirmed that six children remain under observation. “Three of the children have suffered multiple fractures in their legs while others have sus- tained blunt trauma and bruises. Three children with minor injuries were discharged after first aid,” Dr Sharma added. “The government school is 3 km away. It is difficult for small children to walk that distance every day, especially in the extreme weather conditions. We pooled our resources to hire the ‘jugaad’ rickshaw for Rs 300 per month,” said a distraught parent. While such modified carts are technically banned for ferrying people, parents claim they are left with no choice. —TNS the dispute were neighbours and the weapon used in the crime was suspected to be licensed but exact details would available once the same is recovered. Meanwhile, ACP Deep Karan Singh said a case under various sections of the BNS and the Arms Act was registered and raids were on to nab the suspects. Man dies in blast at scrap shop Ludhiana, April 21 An explosion at a scrap shop in Hambran village killed one employee and injured another. It occurred when shop employees were dismantling some scrap. Of the two employees working inside, one died and the other was seriously injured. On receiving information, ACP (West) Jitender Pal Singh and inspector Amritpal Singh, SHO, Ladhowal police station, reached the spot. The police said two employees were separating scrap by lighting a fire at the scrap dealer’s shop. When an object was thrown into the fire, a loud explosion was heard. Chandan Kumar (40) and Baba Phool Paswan were seriously injured. Both were hospitalised, where Chandan died during treatment while the other remains in a critical condition. The police have launched a probe. — TNS 4 more held in firing incident Now,travelagentGhaibooked for running betting rackets Tribune News Service Ludhiana, April 21 In a major breakthrough, the Khanna police have arrested four more members of a gang involved in extortion, threats and a recent firing incident at a local businessman’s shop. The conspiracy was reportedly hatched by two brothers at present residing in Australia. They were working in coordination with local associates and notorious gangster Donny Bal. As per the police, the case pertains to an incident occurred on April 14, when unidentified motorcyclists opened fire at a commission agent’s shop in the Payal grain market. Addressing the media, SSP Darpan Ahluwalia said the breakthrough came when a police team spotted a youth acting suspiciously near Sangam Palace. On seeing the police, he tried to flee and climbed the first floor of a deserted building. However, he slipped and fell, leading to his immediate apprehension. Conspiracy hatched by Australia-based brothers Police officials address the media in Ludhiana. He was identified as Umesh Kumar of Sahnewal. During interrogation, Umesh confessed to the firing, naming his accomplice as Gaurav, alias Gola, of Amritsar. Ahluwalia said police investigation revealed a deep-rooted conspiracy involving Shaganpreet Singh and Jagpreet Singh, both based in Australia. “The duo received ground intelligence from family members in Punjab. They were in constant touch with gangster Donny to execute extortion rackets and target local businessmen,” the SSP said. The police probe established that the suspects conducted a recce of the grain market before the strike. Gurwinder Singh, alias Goldy, provided his Maruti Ertiga vehicle for the recce. A final meeting took place at Umesh’s residence in Sahnewal, where the suspects spoke to Shaganpreet in Australia via phone. Umesh’s younger brother, Laksh, was also present during the planning. Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, April 21 Infamous travel agent Nitish Ghai, who has been named in over 100 FIRs over the years, has now been booked for running betting rackets for various sports. The latest case was registered by the local police against three suspects, identified as Nitish Ghai, a resident of South City, Mannu Atwal and Pankaj Verma. They were booked for allegedly duping a local businessman on the pretext of placing bets for him, assuring the victim of quick and huge profits. Previously, Ghai has been in the crosshairs of the police for allegedly duping people aspiring to move abroad. The complaint in the present case was filed with Commissioner of Police Swapan Sharma, who then ordered an investigation. The case was registered under Sections 318 (cheat- c m y b Travel agent Nitish Ghai Over the years, suspect has been named in over 100 FIRs ing), 112 (petty organised crime) and 351 (criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and relevant sections of the Gambling Act and the Information Technology Act. The complainant, Yogesh Gupta, a resident of Mohala Kuldeep Nagar, Jodhewal, told the police he was depressed due to business losses when he talked to Ghai, who was an acquaintance. He said Ghai introduced him to Mannu Atwal and Pankaj Verma, alias Panna, who are involved in cricket betting. He alleged Ghai lured him into betting with assurances of handsome profits. “I got into the trap and started betting on cricket matches online. Initially, I earned money, but later started losing a lot. I fell into more debt. The trio started threatening me,” he said in the complaint. Earlier, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) attached multiple properties belonging to Ghai during a money laundering investigation. Complainant Gupta alleged Ghai was involved in multiple illegal businesses. According to him, the suspect applies for GST numbers in the name of people from poor families and opens current accounts. The accounts are used to stash money from the betting and other illegal platforms. “I found out Ghai linked fake accounts with the Mahadev App,” he said. The Mahadev App, currently facing prosecution, is a fraudulent, Dubaibased online gambling platform that facilitated illegal betting on various games, including poker, cricket, and badminton. Gupta asserted that the suspect had issued death threats to him and his family members, proof of which was a WhatsApp chat and voice record he possess. Travel biz still running, says ACP Inderjit Assistant Commissioner of Police ACP Industrial Area, A, Inderjit Singh, said Nitish Ghai continues to run a travel business, albeit sunder someone else’s name, despite the cases and the controversies. He said Ghai’s name popped up in the investigation of frauds by a local immigration agency. According to him, the Focal Point police registered two cases under the Immigration Act in February. The police booked several persons running Empower Immigration, near Veer Palace, Mundian Kalan, for allegedly duping residents of Amritsar and Jalandhar on the pretext of sending them abroad. “During questioning of the accused brought on production warrant, Ghai’s name cropped and was added to both FIRs. Now, raids are being conducted to nab Ghai. It is possible Ghai is running immigration businesses in other names. Once he is arrested, the police will investigate all angles,” added ACP Singh.