20052026-LT-01.qxd 5/20/2026 12:53 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune SPEEDING THAR CRUSHES TABLA PLAYER TO DEATH PLAINT OVER DUMPING OF BIOMEDICAL WASTE JACQUELINE STUNS IN BLACK SEQUIN DRESS AT CANNES The accident was so severe that the vehicle’s tyre ran over the victim’s face, crushing him to death. P2 Syringes, needles, IV sets and discarded medicines openly disposed of in residential area of Doraha. P3 The actor makes another high-profile appearance at the 2026 edition of the prestigious global event. P4 » » FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 43°C | MIN 28°C YESTERDAY MAX 44.2°C | MIN 28°C SUNSET WEDNESDAY 7.12 PM SUNRISE THURSDAY 5:26 AM » WEDNESDAY | 20 MAY 2026 | LUDHIANA Haibowal dairy owners threaten Papers of Jagraon AAP MLA’s spouse Sukhwinder rejected road blockade with cattle today Give ultimatum to administration over wastewater management Action comes as ward reserved for woman candidate Sukhpreet Singh Tribune News Service Shivani Bhakoo Ludhiana, May 19 Around 400 dairy owners in Haibowal Dairy Complex have given an ultimatum to the authorities, warning that if no permanent solution was found to the issue of management of wastewater from dairy complexes, they will stage a protest on the main Haibowal-Hambran road on May 20 with their cows and buffaloes. The dairy owners said the administration would be held responsible for any inconvenience or disruption caused to the public during the protest. Vice-president of the Dairy Farmers’ Union, Satwinder Singh, said the government had restricted the dairy own- ASHWANI DHIMAN Tribune News Service The dairy owners said the administration would be held responsible for any inconvenience caused to the public during the protest. ers to discharging 100 litres of wastewater per animal, a limit he termed inadequate, especially during the prevailing heatwave conditions. “In this sultry weather, an animal consumes up to 60 litres of water daily. Besides that, animals need to be bathed and the premises require regular cleaning. Earlier, we used to bathe them twice a day due to excessive heat but after the 100-litre cap was imposed, animals are being bathed only once in 24 hours. They have to answer nature’s call also and surroundings must be cleaned after that. At least during summers, the limit should be increased to 250 litres per animal,” he said. President of the Haibowal Dairy Complex Union, Kuldip Singh Lahoria, has given the call for Wednesday’s protest. He warned that if the issue remains unresolved, the dairy owners might bring their animals onto city roads in coming days. However, AAP MP and environmentalist Balbir Singh Seechewal criticised the dairy owners’ approach and said responsibility for adhering to the environmental norms rests with them. He alleged that many dairy owners were keeping more animals than the permitted capacity. “An owner with space for 10 animals is keeping three to four times more to maximise profits. Rules have been framed and must be followed. In pursuit of financial gains, many dairy owners are ignoring regulations, leaving the authorities with no option but to act strictly against them,” he said. He also pointed out that the dairy farmers had recently increased milk prices by Rs 5 per litre and should, therefore, comply with the prescribed norms. continued on page 2 Ludhiana, May 19 The nomination papers of Sukhwinder Singh Bihla, husband of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA from Jagraon Saravjit Kaur Manuke, were rejected during scrutiny for the upcoming Jagraon Municipal Council elections on Monday after he allegedly filed papers from a womenreserved ward. As per poll officials, Sukhwinder had filed nomination from Ward 1, which is reserved for women candidates. Returning Officer Ravi Kumar said the nomination was rejected as a male candidate had filed papers from a women-reserved ward. “I was not posted at this seat when all documents were submitted but the nomination has been rejected as it is a women-reserved ward and a male candidate had filed papers from Ward 1,” he said. While talking to The Tribune, MLA Sarvjit Kaur Manuke said: “Why would my husband file nomination from women-reserved ward, it was some prank made by someone who filed papers on my husband’s behalf.” 19-yr-old nursing student dies in Australia accident Mahesh Sharma Braving the heatwave Burdened by debt, electrician hangs himself to death Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Schoolchildren protect themselves from the afternoon sun while walking in Ludhiana, which saw a high of 44.2°C on Tuesday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: HIMANSHU MAHAJAN Ludhiana, May 19 An electrician, who was allegedly harassed over debt and loan recovery, died by suicide by hanging himself in Vishal Colony on Kakowal Road here. The deceased has been identified as Boota Singh. His wife, Veerpal Kaur, has accused certain individuals and recovery officials of a bank of mentally harassing her husband and repeatedly pressuring him for money. 5 pvt school pupils help bring advanced techto agricultural varsity govt institute Raise funds, donate equipment for robotics, artificial intelligence lab Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service Ludhiana, May 19 Five students from Sat Paul Mittal School and Delhi Public School (DPS) — Samaira Gupta, Prisha, Amaya, Nandini and Pranay — have truly believed in the spirit of rising by lifting others. Through funds raised at their own level, students donated state-ofthe-art equipment for a robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) lab at Government Senior Secondary School (GSSS), PAU. The facility was inaugurated by Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain. Principal of the GSSS, PAU, Pradeep Kumar, said in today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, computer education and exposure to emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and robotics have become essential to prepare students for the future. “The lab aims to provide hands-on learning opportunities in robotics, AI and STEM education to more than 4,200 students, equipping them with future-ready skills,” he said. Describing the initiative as a milestone, Kumar said the student-led effort reflects a meaningful step towards making quality technology DC Himanshu Jain inaugurates the robotics and AI lab at the GSSS, PAU, in Ludhiana. education accessible to all. “These five students mobilised resources on their own and decided to bring advanced technology to students here, with the vision of ensuring equal opportunities and growth in this field. Their initiative empowers students to become the creators of tomorrow,” he added. Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner described the robotics and AI lab as a transformative initiative that would nurture innovation and technical skills among students. Accompanied by Additional Deputy Commissioner Poonam Singh, Assistant Commissioner Payal Goyal and other officials, Jain said the lab would function as a hands-on learning centre where students could transform ideas into reality through do-ityourself projects and practical experimentation. He said the facility would expose students to emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, robotics, coding, metaverse and mechatronics through specialised tools, modern equipment and guided learning. The DC lauded the five young students for their contribution and also expressed gratitude to the Aryaman Foundation for supporting the initiative by providing teach- ers twice a week to conduct specialised classes, mentor students and strengthen technical learning at the centre. Encouraging students of the GSSS, PAU, to make optimum use of the facility, Jain said the present era was driven by artificial intelligence and advanced technologies and those who master these skills will play a vital role in the country’s future growth and development. He urged students to actively learn and excel in robotics, AI, coding, metaverse and mechatronics so they could contribute meaningfully to nation building in coming years. c m y b The police recovered a handwritten suicide note from the spot in which the deceased held some people and vehicle recovery agents responsible for his death. They registered a case and initiated an investigation. In her statement to the police, Veerpal Kaur said she got married to Buta Singh in 2014. The couple had two children, 11-yearold daughter Khushpreet Kaur and four-year-old son Fateh Singh. continued on page 2 Woman ends life, 2 nabbed Ludhiana, May 19 A 32-year-old woman, who was allegedly fed up with her in-laws, died by suicide by hanging herself. The deceased has been identified as Pooja Kaur. Following a protest by her family members on Monday, the police swung into action and registered a case against three persons, including her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, and arrested two of them on Tuesday. The deceased’s brother, Gurmukh Singh Chauhan stated in his complaint to the police that his sister Pooja got married to Surjan Singh in 2017. They had three children (two boys and one girl). Earlier, Surjan worked as a farmer and was abroad for work for about two years. He alleged that since her husband left for abroad, Pooja’s brother-in-law Sukhwinder Singh and his wife Balwinder Kaur had been harassing her constantly, forcing her to leave the house. As per the complain, on May 18, Pooja called him and told him that her brother-in-law and sister-in-law had assaulted her. She said she was also distressed by the harassment by her sisterin-law’s father Baldev Singh. Shortly after the call, her aunt, Naseeb Kaur called him and said Pooja had died by suicide by hanging herself in her home. SI Gurvinder Singh said Sukhwinder and Baldev were arrested while Balwinder Kaur, was yet to be nabbed. — TNS The rejection drew attention as Sukhwinder is considered politically influential in the area due to his close association with the ruling AAP leadership in Jagraon. Supporters and party workers remained present at the tehsil complex during the scrutiny proceedings. The issue triggered discussions among political circles, especially as the ward was expected to witness a highprofile contest in the civic poll. Election officials maintained that the rejection was done strictly as per election rules and reservation criteria. Raikot, April 24 A Ludhiana family led by Army Subedar Amrik Singh of Raikot is shocked after learning about the sudden death of their 19-year-old daughter, a nursing student, settled in Perth, Australia. Identified as Komalpreet Kaur, the victim died in an accident on Saturday night. When she was coming out of the Bentley Shopping Centre after visiting a restaurant, a speeding car hit her. Though Perth ambulance services staff had tried to revive the unconscious victim by providing CPR and other life-saving procedures, doctors at Royal Perth Hospital declared her brought dead. The driver of the car Komalpreet Kaur, the deceased KIN SEEK HELP TO GET BACK HER BODY The victim’s kin have urged PM Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu to come to the rescue of the aggrieved family and arrange shifting of the body on government’s expenses. involved in the accident was also a 19-year-old youth. According to the aggrieved family, the Perth police had initiated a probe but the outcome of the inquiry was yet to be conveyed to the family. Victim’s father Subedar Amrik Singh (50) and his wife were yet to come to terms with the tragedy. Close relatives said Komalpreet Kaur had started a nursing course at Stanley College in Perth in July 2025 and was also doing a part-time job in the Canning Vale area to support her studies. Jarnail Singh, a close relative of the family, said Komalpreet’s death came as a double blow as besides losing the eldest child, the transportation of the body back home was a huge financial burden on the family. “While the family was yet to repay heavy loans raised at the continued on page 2