10072026-LT-01.qxd 7/10/2026 12:25 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune MC LAUNCHES 24X7 MONSOON HELPLINE, WHATSAPP CHATBOT GAGANDEEP KAUR NAMED IN INDIA UNDER-18 TEAM MANISH MALHOTRA DEBUTS AT PARIS HAUTE COUTURE WEEK At the launch of helpline No. 9086791867 & chatbot, Mayor says initiative aims at resolution of public grievances. P2 Gagandeep has been selected to represent India Under-18 women’s team in the FIBA Asia Cup (Division B). P3 Fashion designer Manish marks a milestone in his career by making official debut at Paris Haute Couture Week. P4 » » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY/RAIN MAX 33°C | MIN 27°C YESTERDAY MAX 32°C | MIN 28°C SUNSET FRIDAY 7.32 PM SUNRISE SATURDAY 5.31 AM FRIDAY | 10 JULY 2026 | LUDHIANA Dummy candidates caught in state board exam, impersonation case registered Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 9 A case of exam fraud has been reported at the School of Eminence, Sekhewal, here, where two candidates from Haryana allegedly sent impersonators to appear for the examination on their behalf. Following a complaint by the school principal, the Daresi police registered a case against the two candidates and initiated an investigation. The incident took place on April 5, 2026, during a written examination for Group D posts conducted by the Subordinate Services Selection Board, Punjab (PSSSB). The School of Eminence, Sekhewal, was designated as the examination centre. According to the complaint, centre principal Naresh Kumar, while on duty, noticed that two unidentified individuals were appearing for the exam in place of the actual candidates. After the alleged fraud was detected, he immediately submitted a written complaint to the police. The two candidates named in the case are residents of Haryana. They have been identified as Bijender from Hisar district and Ankush from Lallan Patti Bithmara village in Haryana. After a departmental inquiry, the Daresi police registered a case on July 8, 2026. Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Sukhdev Singh has been assigned to investigate further and trace the impersonators who appeared in the examination. City set to get 100 electric buses under PM e-Bus Sewa scheme Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 9 In a bid to revive public bus transport in Ludhiana following the failure of the city bus service launched in 2011 and discontinued in 2024 due to traffic congestion and other operational challenges, the city has received a major boost under the PM e-Bus Sewa scheme. Ludhiana has been selected for the deployment of 100 nine-metre electric buses. The scheme also proposes the development of two e-bus depots to support parking, charging, maintenance and the day-to-day operations of the fleet. Ludhiana is among the first cities in Punjab to receive electric buses under the scheme. Besides Ludhiana’s allocation of 100 buses, Amritsar will receive 100 buses, Jalandhar 97 and Patiala 50. Municipal Corporation Commissioner Ojaswi Alankar told The fate of city buses lying defunct hangs in the balance. TRIBUNE PHOTO: HIMANSHU MAHAJAN The Tribune that the initiative is part of the government’s efforts to modernise urban mobility and provide residents with an affordable alternative to private vehicles. He said two e-bus depots have been proposed for the city. The Ghora Road Depot will cater to 70 electric buses, while the Hambran Road Depot will accommodate the remaining 30. Together, the two facilities will serve as the operational backbone of Ludhiana’s proposed electric bus network. According to the operations plan prepared by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), seven e-bus routes have been proposed across Ludhiana, covering a combined network length of around 152 km. The network is expected to serve nearly 53 sq km, or at least 33 per cent of the municipal area, connecting residential neighbourhoods, industrial hubs and other key parts of the city. “When the e-buses are rolled out, they are expected to ease traffic bottlenecks in the key areas while providing residents with a reliable public transport option,” Ojaswi said. The seven proposed e-bus routes include — Elysian Tower to Tajpur village; Ludhiana Zoo to Dhandari Kalan via Giaspura; Hambran Bus Depot to Sahnewal; Ayali Octroi to Dana Mandi Road; Chuharpur to Meharban; Hambran Bus Depot to Mangli Octroi; and Jodhewal Basti Chowk (Rahon Road) to Dhandari. Officials said the e-bus service is expected to begin from the Hambran Road depot in August, offering residents a more affordable, reliable and environmentally friendly mode of public transport. Department sources said the site has now been cleared and the remaining work is likely to be completed within one to two months. With a seating capacity of around 30 passengers per bus and modern on board amenities, the authorities are hopeful that the electric bus service will encourage more commuters to shift from private vehicles to public transport. Thar driver booked after running over stray dog, threatening locals Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 9 A Thar driver allegedly driving in a reckless and rash manner crushed a stray dog to death. When residents confronted him over the incident, the accused allegedly refused to accept responsibility and instead resorted to hooliganism, threatening them with a pistol. Based on the complaint filed by a resident, the police registered a case against the accused driver and initiated an investigation. The police are also verifying details related to the accused’s weapon licence. According to the complaint, Paramjit Singh, a resident of Guru Nanak Dev Nagar, feeds stray dogs in Gogi Market and nearby areas. Paramjit stated that he had been feeding around 150 stray dogs daily for the past six years. Paramjit told the police that at around 10.30 pm on the day of the incident, he was feeding dogs in a street when a girl approached him in a distressed state. She allegedly informed him that a Thar driver had run over a dog and requested his help. The complainant said that he, along with other residents, rushed to the spot and found that the dog had died after being hit by the vehicle. He alleged that the area was being cleaned up following the incident. The accused driver was identified as Ravinder Singh, who was reportedly visiting his in-laws in the area. Following the complaint, the Haibowal police registered a case against Ravinder Singh, a resident of Guru Nanak Dev Nagar, Haibowal Kalan, and began further investigation into the incident. Protest erupts after attack on temple in EWS Colony; 6 ‘drug peddlers’ booked Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 9 Around two dozen alleged miscreants reportedly pelted stones at a temple in the EWS Colony after residents objected to their alleged drug-selling activities. A video of the incident has surfaced, purportedly showing some of the attackers bran- dishing swords and other sharp weapons. The accused also allegedly damaged glass panes inside the temple. During the violence, a youth was allegedly assaulted and seriously injured. Alleging police inaction, residents staged a protest outside Division No. 7 police station late at night, demanding that the accused be booked under the SC/ST Act and for alleged sacrilege, and be arrested immediately. Based on the complaint of the injured youth, the police registered a case against six identified accused and 20–25 unidentified persons. According to local resident Chanderpal, some individuals had allegedly been selling drugs in the EWS Colony. Members of the Valmiki community, along with local elders, had reportedly tried to stop them, claiming they wanted to prevent the area’s youth from falling into drug addiction. Residents alleged that the accused became enraged after being confronted and returned to the colony on Monday (July 6), where they allegedly created a ruckus. During the incident, 20-yearold Gaurav sustained serious injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment. Members of the Valmiki community said they were supporting the Punjab government’s anti-drug campaign led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and wanted to keep their locality free from narcotics. “We clearly told them not to sell drugs in our area because our children were being ruined. Instead, they attacked us with bricks, knives and swords. They even entered our temple and committed sacrilege,” the complainants alleged. Angered by what they described as delayed police action, residents held a protest outside the police station. The police have registered a case against six identified accused — Shera, Aryan, Pawan Balyan, Mulla, Deepu and Suraj, all residents of EWS Colony, Tajpur Road — along with 20–25 unidentified persons. The investigation is underway. Three of family convicted in ~23L property fraud case Court relief for couple in obscenity case Rajneesh Lakhanpal Legal Correspondent Ludhiana, July 9 Nearly nine years after a property fraud case was registered, a Ludhiana court has convicted three members of a family for cheating, forgery and criminal conspiracy in connection with a fraudulent property deal in which a woman and her late husband were allegedly duped of Rs 23 lakh. Judicial Magistrate (First Class) Amit Bakshi convicted Gurbachan Singh, alias Mani Shah, his brother Mehar Singh, and their father, Amrik Singh, resi- dents of Kamla Nagar, Dhuri Line, Ludhiana. Each has been sentenced to three years’ rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs 10,000. In addition to the fine, the court directed the convicts to jointly pay Rs 23 lakh as compensation to the complainant, with liability apportioned equally among them. To establish the charges, the prosecution examined 11 witnesses. According to the prosecution, complainant Kuldeep Kaur told the police that in 2011 the accused agreed to sell her husband, Mohinder Singh (now deceased), a farmhouse measuring 1,250 square yards. After receiving Rs 15 lakh, they failed to execute the sale deed, claiming that the land was subject to a stay order. The accused later persuaded the family to purchase another house in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar. They allegedly collected additional money and subsequently executed fresh agreements, promising either the transfer of alternative plots or a refund through post-dated cheques in 2016. However, the cheques were dishonoured and the promised properties were allegedly sold to other buyers. During the trial, the prosecution established that the original agreement to sell, on the basis of which the money had been obtained, was forged. The purported owner of the property testified that he had never executed such an agreement and alleged that blank signed stamp papers, which Gurbachan Singh had taken as security for a loan, were misused. The court also relied on the testimony of an independent witness, who stated that at the instance of the accused, the property was first transferred in his name before fresh agreements were executed with the complainant. The court observed that this sequence of transactions indicated a deliberate attempt to continue the deception. The accused denied the allegations and pleaded false implication. They also denied issuing any cheques to refund the money. Observing that the active participation of all three accused had been established and that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, the court convicted them and sentenced each to three years’ rigorous imprisonment. Our Correspondent Ludhiana, July 9 The Court of Additional Sessions Judge Ranjeev Vashisht has granted interim protection from arrest to social media influencer Ranjit Kaur, popularly known as “Bhabhi Chummewali”, and her husband, Jatinder Pal Singh, in connection with an alleged obscenity case registered at the Moti Nagar police station in Ludhiana. The couple approached the Sessions Court seeking anticipatory bail after an FIR was registered against them under provisions of the Information Technology Act. The FIR alleges that videos uploaded on their social media platforms contained obscene and objectionable content. The case has attracted considerable public attention owing to the couple’s large social media following. Appearing for the petitioners, Advocate Harjot Singh Harikay argued that the allegations were false, baseless and motivated. He submitted that the couple, being law-abiding citizens, had been unfairly targeted because of their popularity on social media. The defence further contended that custodial interroga- tion was unnecessary, as the case was based entirely on digital content already in the possession of the investigating agency. Counsel also assured the court that the petitioners were willing to join the investigation whenever required. After hearing the submissions, the court directed that no coercive action, including arrest, be taken against the petitioners until the next date of hearing. The court also issued notice to the State and directed the investigating agency to file its response to the anticipatory bail petition. The matter has been adjourned to July 15, 2026. Beyond the badge: SI Chouhan’s acts of kindness restore faith in khaki Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 9 Sub-Inspector (SI) Ashok Kumar Chouhan of the Ludhiana Traffic Police is widely known for his social work and has emerged as one of the most popular policemen on social media. With 438K followers on Instagram and over 20 lakh subscribers on YouTube (YT), he regularly shares heart-warming videos of himself helping the poor and needy while carrying out his official duties. The police force often faces a negative public perception, but SI Chouhan’s compassionate approach has helped change the way many people view the khaki uniform. His acts of kindness have shown that policing is not just about enforcing the law but also about serving society. He keeps shoes, clothes, food items, helmets and other essential supplies in his vehicle. Whenever he comes across someone in need, he stops and offers assistance based on their requirements. What makes his efforts even more special is that he often spends money from his own pocket, saying that helping others gives him immense satisfaction. Most of his videos receive lakhs of views, with several crossing the million mark. One such video, in which he gifted a new pair of shoes to a pedestrian walking in worn-out footwear, received more than 12 million views on Instagram. Speaking to The Tribune, SI Chouhan recalled an incident from August 2010, when he was posted as a Head Constable in Ludhiana. While returning home after duty, he saw a family stranded on the roadside after their car broke down. Since it was nighttime, he tried to repair VIDEOS HELPED REUNITE PEOPLE WITH THEIR FAMILIES Sub-Inspector Ashok Chouhan (L) deployed at a naka; and (right) helps a physically challenged person in Ludhiana. the vehicle himself but could not fix the problem. He then went to Oswal Cancer Hospital Chowk, brought a mechanic, and helped get the car repaired. The Ludhiana-based family, who were returning from a wedding in Patiala, resumed their journey after the repair. However, as they left, Chouhan noticed a gold, diamond-studded necklace lying on the road. He imme- c m y b diately chased their vehicle and returned the valuable jewellery to the family. The family was astonished, as the necklace was worth several lakhs. “When the family saluted the ASHWANI DHIMAN khaki, it gave me immense inner satisfaction for being a part of the Punjab Police,” SI Chouhan said. In recognition of this gesture, he received a special commendation from Chouhan has also shared several instances where his videos helped reunite people with their families. During the Covid-19 pandemic, he posted a video of a critically ill man lying on the road. The man’s family in West Bengal identified him through the video shared on Chouhan’s social media handle and travelled to Ludhiana to bring him back home. In another instance, one of his videos helped reunite a missing man from Kotkapura with his family. “I receive calls from across India. People motivate me, and even my seniors in the department encourage me to continue my social work,” said SI Chouhan. the Ludhiana Police on August 15, 2015. He was also honoured by the Ludhiana Police in 2025 for saving the lives of occupants of an Innova car that caught fire in 2021. During the Covid-19 pandemic, SI Chouhan started his YouTube and Instagram accounts to share videos of his social initiatives. “Within a few days, my followers grew from thousands to lakhs,” he said. He received YouTube’s Silver Creator Award after crossing one lakh subscribers and, two years ago, was honoured with the Golden Play Button after his channel crossed 20 lakh (two million) subscribers. Despite having a massive following, Chouhan has never earned income from YouTube or Instagram and has no plans to monetise his platforms. “My purpose behind making these videos is not to earn money but to inspire others to participate in social work and help those in need. My grandfather is my role model; he used to help people. I will continue to serve society and make the khaki proud,” he said.