11072026-LT-01.qxd 7/11/2026 12:43 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune DRIVER INJURED AS TWO TRUCKS COLLIDE CITY GEARS UP FOR JAGANNATH RATH YATRA TEAM ODYSSEY ARRIVES IN MUMBAI FOR PREMIERE Victim is undergoing treatment at a local hospital, where doctors say he is ‘out of danger’. P2 The Jagannath Rath Yatra will start in Ludhiana on July 16, with rituals akin to those in Puri, Odisha. P3 Christopher Nolan and actor Tom Holland in Mumbai for premiere of their film The Odyssey. P4 » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 34°C | MIN 26°C YESTERDAY MAX 33°C | MIN 25°C SUNSET SATURDAY 7:27 PM SUNRISE SUNDAY 5:30 AM » SATURDAY | 11 JULY 2026 | LUDHIANA by past ghosts, Dhoka Unregulated road cuts, missing traffic Hauntedresidents fear rainfall Mohalla lights nightmare for city commuters Water from overflowing drain has already flooded streets Residents demand immediate intervention by civic body, traffic police Sukhpreet Singh Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 10 Unauthorised road cuts and the absence of traffic signals at several busy intersections have become a major reason for traffic congestion across the city, with residents demanding immediate intervention by the Municipal Corporation and the traffic police. One of the worst-affected locations is the J Block intersection in BRS Nagar near the Lodhi Club underpass, where commuters face long traffic snarls every evening. Residents said vehicles coming from multiple directions enter the intersection simultaneously, resulting in chaos and long queues during peak hours. Another major bottleneck is the intersection near the Dugri police station, where the lack of traffic regulation often leads to congestion, especially during office closing hours. Motorists said vehicles remain stuck for several minutes as there is no proper traffic management at the junction. Residents said similar problems are being witnessed at several other locations, including Kakowal Road, Shivpuri, Mad- sections, leading to frequent near-miss incidents. They said proper signalling would not only improve traffic movement but also reduce the risk of accidents. Traffic experts believe that junction improvements, scientifically planned road cuts, functioning traffic signals and better enforcement can significantly ease congestion on city roads. Residents said the city’s road network had expanded rapidly but traffic infrastructure had not kept pace. They urged the corporation and the traffic police to jointly identify congestion-prone intersections and take corrective measures before the situation worsens further. They maintained that closing unnecessary road cuts and installing traffic lights at major junctions would go a long way in ensuring smoother traffic flow and improving road safety across the city. Superintending Engineer of the MC Sham Lal Gupta said: “I will ask officials to conduct a survey of unwanted cuts and also, if any more traffic lights are needed, the same will also be installed.” Sukhpreet Singh Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 10 While most of the city residents are hoping for good rainfall, people staying in Dhoka Mohalla are praying for no rain in the coming days. Their concern is not weather but the overflowing black drain water that has been entering streets and creating unhygienic conditions in the locality. The issue came to the fore again on Thursday night when area councillor Arun Sharma, along with local residents, went live on social media to highlight the situation. They alleged that if the problem was not resolved soon, they will launch a protest against the authorities. Residents said the problem had persisted for over two years and had become worse over the past few months. They claimed that since February, sludge and drain water had been accumulating in the streets even without rainfall, making it difficult for people to move around. During the monsoon, they fear that the situation could worsen and filthy water may again enter their homes. According to residents, they have repeatedly raised Dhoka Mohalla residents have threatened a protest against the authorities if the problem is not resolved soon. FILE the issue with the Municipal Corporation and had also staged a protest in the past, demanding a permanent solution. However, they alleged that despite repeated complaints, the problem continues every rainy season. Councillor Arun Sharma visited the affected area on Thursday night and showed the condition of the road near Buddha Dariya through a live video. He claimed that water had already started accumulating on the road and blamed the temporary closure near the drain for slowing the flow of water. Residents demanded that the authorities should find a permanent solution before the area starts getting heavy rains, saying they should not have to suffer every monsoon. Sharma said they would give the authorities 15 days to resolve the issue. If no concrete action was taken, residents would be left with no option but to hold a protest. Responding to the allegations, Municipal Corporation nodal officer Kamal Ram said he was not aware of the situation that developed during the night but assured that civic teams were working in the area. He said efforts were being made to stop drain water from entering streets and residential areas. He said the temporary closure had been put in place to prevent untreated wastewater from directly flowing into the Buddha Dariya and said the civic body was trying to balance environmental concerns with public convenience. Jailed gangster on video call 85 nabbed, 114 taken into preventive as aides thrash man, father custody under Operation Prahar 3.0 Cong councillor booked in property fraud case Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 10 Around 12 miscreants carrying sharp weapons and sticks entered a house in Rishi Nagar and attacked a man and his father late on Thursday evening . The shocking aspect of the incident was that the attackers were connected live via WhatsApp video call to a gangster in jail. The gangster was issuing orders from behind the bar while his henchmen were carrying out the operation. The CCTV footage of the incident has also surfaced, which shows the suspects entering the house, armed with swords and axes. Rahul, who seriously injured in the attack, is currently battling for his life at the DMCH. From his hospital bed, the victim narrated the entire incident in front of the camera. Vehicles stuck in a jam at an intersection near the Lodhi Club underpass. INDERJEET VERMA hopuri, Field Ganj, Haibowal and other busy stretches where unnecessary road cuts have been created over the years. According to commuters, these openings allow vehicles to take sudden turns or move in the wrong direction, disrupting traffic flow and increasing the chances of accidents. People alleged that instead of improving connectivity, many of these road cuts have become traffic bottlenecks. During evening rush hours, motorists often ignore lane discipline while trying to cross through these open- Rahul, who suffered head injuries and multiple stitches, said he was sitting at home with his family in the evening when about 12 miscreants came, broke the main door of the house and entered inside. They were armed with sharp weapons and an illegal weapon. They repeatedly struck him on the head and forehead with the butt of the pistol. Rahul revealed that one of the attackers was holding a mobile phone with a WhatsApp video call in progress. On the other end of the call was the jailed gangster, Movish Bains. The latter was shouting from jail, “Beat him, abuse him”. “When my father Bagga Lal saw me lying in a pool of blood and ran to my rescue, the assailants did not spare him either. They assaulted my father also. They pointed the pistols at me and the father ings, creating confusion and resulting in long traffic jams. Daily commuters said they spend an extra 15 to 30 minutes on several stretches due to poor traffic management. They claimed that the situation worsens during weekends and school closing hours when traffic volume was at its peak. Residents have urged the Municipal Corporation to conduct a survey of all unnecessary road cuts and permanently close those that are no longer required. They said only essential openings and threatened to kill us if we made any noise,” Rahul said. The attackers included Yuvraj Sidhu, his brother Vishal, Tanish, Sam and Mutu. There were several assailants who are being identified through the CCTV footage. Sources said both sides had openly challenged each other on social media. The rivalry had led to the same attackers appearing outside Rahul’s house about a week ago, abusing him and threatening. Based on the statements of Rahul and his father Bagga Lal and the CCTV footage, the police launched an investigation. The police are also conducting a probe into the entire network operating from the prison. SHO, PAU police station, Amritpal Singh, said the statement of the victims were yet to be recorded and action would be taken in the case as per law. should remain after proper traffic assessment. Besides closing unwanted cuts, residents have demanded the installation of traffic signals at busy intersections where traffic volume has increased significantly over the years. They also suggested deploying traffic police personnel during morning and evening peak hours till permanent traffic management measures are put in place. Several residents pointed out that in the absence of traffic lights, motorists often rely on guesswork to cross inter- Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 10 The Ludhiana Commissionerate Police carried out a massive, synchronised districtwide crackdown on Friday under ‘Operation Prahar 3.0’, launched by the Punjab Police to root out gangsters and organised crime. Beginning at 4 am, a force of 400 police personnel, spearheaded by 20 gazetted officers, 25 SHOs and inspectors, swung into action. CP Swapan Sharma said utilising intelligence-backed tracking data, the teams launched simultaneous raids targeting notorious criminal hotspots and hideouts across the entire district. Under the operation, 226 raids conducted, 44 FIRs registered, as many as 199 persons, including 85 arrested under Police officials during Operation Prahar 3.0 in Ludhiana on Friday. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN specific FIRs and 114 detained under preventive action. Besides, one proclaimed offender was also arrested during the drive, the CP said. The district-wide search operations led to the recovery of substantial quantities of narcotics, illegal weapons, 226 44 RAIDS FIRs smuggled liquor and vehicles. The recovery includes 141 gm of heroin, 10 gm of Ice drug, 217 intoxicating tablets, three countrymade pistols, two cartridges, 11 boxes and 33 bottles of illicit liquor (including countrymade and whisky). Besides, the police also seized 1 SUV, five motorcycles, three mobile phones and Rs 2,027 in cash from gambling spots. High Court orders probe after key court document goes missing Saurabh Malik Tribune News Service Chandigarh, July 10 The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ordered a fact-finding inquiry into the disappearance of a document from a judicial file in a Ludhiana civil case. The Bench has directed the fixing of responsibility on the officials concerned. The direction came while dismissing a revision petition against a trial court order permitting the plaintiff to prove the document by way of secondary evidence or by producing the original. Justice Harsh Bunger observed that the trial court had committed no error in allowing the petitioner to prove the disputed document through secondary evidence or by producing the original. The Bench, however, said a separate issue remained regarding the disappearance of the photocopy retained on the judicial file after the original had been seen and returned. “It would still be a matter of concern as to why the photocopy of the said document is missing from the record,” the Bench observed. Ordering an inquiry, Justice Bunger directed: “The lapse is required to be inquired into. Therefore, let a fact-finding inquiry be got conducted by the District and Sessions Judge, Ludhiana, in this regard, so as to fix the responsibility of the official(s) responsible regarding the missing document and submit a report to the Registrar-General of the court within a period of three months from today.” The order’s copy was directed to be THE ORDER The Bench has directed the fixing of responsibility on the officials concerned. The direction came while dismissing a revision petition against a trial court order permitting the plaintiff to prove the document by way of secondary evidence or by producing the original. forwarded to the Administrative Judge of Ludhiana district. The case has its genesis in a recovery suit for over Rs 32 lakh filed by a gurdwara against its former office-bearer. According to the plaint, a threemember committee constituted by the gurdwara had submitted a report which allegedly revealed large-scale embezzlement of funds, leading to the institution of suit for recovery. During the trial, the gurdwara moved an application seeking directions to the “civil ahlmad” to trace the threemember committee report, after it was found missing from the judicial file. The trial court disposed of the application by granting liberty to the plaintiff to prove the document by way of secondary evidence or by producing the original, while also directing that the District and Sessions Judge, Ludhiana, be informed about the loss of the document from the judicial file. During the revision proceedings, the High Court sought reports regarding efforts to trace and reconstruct the missing exhibit. The reconstruction exercise included recording statements of the then ahlmad, c m y b previous and present ahlmads, the plaintiff’s representative, previous counsel, the local commissioner and other persons concerned. The District and Sessions Judge, forwarded the report dated May 29 submitted by the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Ludhiana. Among other things, he said the report recorded that the plaintiff had tendered 194 documents during evidence, all as photocopies, with the originals having been seen by the court and returned. It, therefore, concluded that the plaintiff’s stand that the original of the lost document itself had been exhibited appeared “highly improbable.” The report further recorded that the plaintiff’s previous counsel as well as the local commissioner had categorically stated that the original report had been produced in court, compared with the photocopy tendered in evidence and returned to the plaintiff. However, despite those statements and a specific query from the court, the plaintiff failed to produce either the original report or even a photocopy. The committee members, whose report was allegedly exhibited, also expressed their inability to produce any copy. It was added that despite exhaustive efforts by the officers concerned to reconstruct the exhibit from all available sources, “neither the original document (three-member committee report) nor photocopy, draft, duplicate or any other secondary material thereof could be procured for its reconstruction.” Justice Bunger observed the petitioner-plaintiff’s counsel responded that no copy had been retained, when asked during the hearing whether it possessed a photocopy of the report. The court found the explanation difficult to accept, observing: “The stand taken by counsel for the petitionerplaintiff appears to be doubtful as no prudent person would tender/submit any document to any person/authority, let alone the court, without keeping a copy thereof for his own records.” Finding no infirmity in the trial court’s order, the HC dismissed the revision petition. It nevertheless held that the disappearance of the photocopy retained on the judicial file warranted an independent inquiry to fix responsibility for the lapse. Ludhiana, July 10 A case of fraud has been registered against Congress councillor Gurmeet Singh, a resident of Mundian Kalan. The police took action on a complaint made by Moti Lal. In his complaint, Moti Lal said he wanted to purchase a plot. He came into contact with Congress councillor Gurmeet Singh through his uncle, Kishan Pal, who had also purchased a plot from him through his office on Tajpur Road. Gurmeet showed him plots on Tajpur Road, claiming it was his colony and he liked one of them. On February 5, 2023, the two signed an agreement for a 70 sq-yard plot at a price of Rs 6,400 per sq yard. The total deal for the plot was made at Rs 4,48,000. After finalising the deal, he paid Gurmeet Rs 1 lakh as earnest money in the presence of witnesses. The remaining amount was to be paid in 30 monthly installments and the registration date was set for August 5, 2025. The victim had paid the suspect a total of Rs 2,27,600 on various dates. In 2024, when he arranged the remaining Rs 2,20,400 and requested the registration, the suspect began to procrastinate, saying he would delay the process. “When the registration process went on hold for a long time, I conducted aprobe at my own level and found that Gurmeet was not the real owner of the land. The real owners were Inderjit Singh and his wife Sukhjinder Kaur,” the complainant alleged. He alleged when he demanded his money back, the suspect began abusing him and refused to return it. A thorough probe into the matter was conducted. Based on its report, a case was registered on July 7 on the orders of the Commissioner of Police and further probe was assigned to ASI Anil Kumar. — TNS