06082026-LT-01.qxd 8/6/2026 12:50 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune NUKKAD NATAK MARKS BREASTFEEDING WEEK The ESIC hospital staged a nukkad natak and is conducting various sessions during week. P3 » CELEBRITY BLOGGER PEREZ HILTON HOSPITALISED PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 34°C | MIN 28°C YESTERDAY MAX 34°C | MIN 27°C ANAMIKA KHANNA LAUNCHES 1ST INT’L RESORT COLLECTION Taken to a hospital after he shared what appeared to be a video in which he self-harms. P4 FORECAST Rooted in the idea that ‘resort is not a destination, but a state of ease’, the selection redefines vacation wear. P4 » SUNSET THURSDAY 7:12 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 5:45 AM » THURSDAY | 6 AUGUST 2026 | LUDHIANA Ayushman kendras shut as CHOs launch indefinite strike, patients left in lurch Union leaders allege promises made during negotiations not kept Manav Mander WHAT THEY ARE DEMANDING Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August 5 Health services across rural areas were severely disrupted in the district on Wednesday as 250 Ayushman Arogya Kendra dispensaries remained closed following the launch of a statewide strike by Community Health Officers (CHOs). From the morning, the CHOs staged a protest demonstration outside the Civil Surgeon’s office raising slogans against the state government. They also burnt copies of letters regarding guidelines about benchmark/achievement incentive to the health officers issued by the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare Department, Chandigarh. Union leaders accused the authorities of betrayal and breach of trust, alleging that promises made during several rounds of negotiations had been dishonoured. They said the government had assured the CHOs of a Rs 5,000 increase in the monthly ■ Permanent salary hike of ~5K ■ Loyalty bonus ■ Nod to regular CHO cadre ■ Merger of salary & incentives Community Health Officers protest outside the Civil Surgeon’s office in Ludhiana. ASHWANI DHIMAN salary. However, a notification issued on July 22 converted the increment into an incentive scheme, tied to performance benchmarks. The union claims these benchmarks were unrealistic and deny CHOs the promised financial benefit. The matter was escalated further after new guidelines issued on August 4, which imposed additional conditions. The protesters symbolically burnt copies of the guidelines during the demonstration, calling them “anti-employee” and designed to weaken the CHOs’ rights. The union announced a Man booked for sexually harassing Delhi resident Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August 5 The Ludhiana police have registered a case against a man, who pretended to be a priest, on the charge of sexually harassing a 22-year-old Delhi-based girl studying in Canada. She faced sexual harassment at a hotel on the Ferozepur road here. The suspect was identified as Rahul Sood of the Civil Lines. After the registration of the case, the Sarabha Nagar police launched a probe and a raid was being conducted to nab the suspect. The complainant told the police that she stays with her parents in Delhi. She went to Vancouver in Canada on a study visa and returned to India on July 16. On July 18, on the recommendation of the suspect, who claimed to be a priest, she, along with her mother and younger brother, came to Ludhiana by train to perform a puja for her brother. The victim said after reaching the Ludhiana railway station she went to the hotel. The puja was to be performed by the suspect at the hotel. When he came, his brother and mother were in the hotel room. The suspect first told her brother to go outside and later gave ‘prasad’ to the girl and her mother. “My mother consumed the prasad and became unconscious. Afterwards, the suspect started telling me that I was possessed by spirits. He held my wrists and told me that he will cast the spirits out,” she said. The victim alleged that the man touched her inappropriately and pushed her for about 30-35 minutes. Then he tried to rape her. He said in this way he would cast the spirits out. “I screamed to save myself but nobody listened to my cries. Later, I pushed him and rushed outside and went to my brother,” she said. The victim claimed that when her mother regained consciousness, she told her the incident. mass protest at the National Health Mission headquarters in Chandigarh on August 10 with thousands of CHOs expected to participate. The leaders warned that if the government continues to renege on its commitments, the agitation would intensify further. Vehicle overturns, 25 suffer injuries Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August 5 A road accident occurred in the city late on Wednesday evening. The driver of a Tata 407 vehicle carrying people lost control over it and the vehicle overturned near the Harnampura cut on the Tibba Bridge. Around 25 persons were injured in the accident. After the incident, passersby safely rescued the injured victims trapped inside the vehicle and informed the police control room and ambulance. The passengers were returning home from work. The vehicle was at a high speed and after jolting a couple of times it overturned. All injured were rushed to the Civil Hospital. The union leaders stressed that the closure of rural health centres was not due to CHOs’ unwillingness to serve but the government’s “false promises, betrayal, and anti-worker policies”. They said the inconvenience caused to villagers and patients was the sole responsibility of the state government and the Health Department. Patients visiting the clinics had to return without consultation as the CHOs were on strike. “My daughter had fever but on reaching the clinic, I found that doctors were on strike,” said Parmimder Kaur. Another patient said as the doctor was not there at the clinic, he was left with no other option but to visit a private doctor. Monkey menace rises during rainy season, 22 cases reported in July Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August 5 During the monsoon season, another threat that looms large over Ludhiana is that of monkeys descending from hills. Their seasonal movement has already resulted in a surge in bite cases and people should be cautioned not to indulge in playful acts or feed monkeys as these can be dangerous. At the Civil Hospital, Ludhiana, 86 cases of monkey bite have been reported from the district this year so far. The numbers have turned double digit from April onwards. January and February reported four cases followed by seven in March. In April, 13 persons were reported at the Civil Hospital and given anti-rabies vaccine. In May, the cases reported went to 20 and in June, 16 cases of monkey bite were reported. In July, 22 persons were administered anti-rabies vaccine after monkey bite. Deputy Director, Animal Husbandry, Deepak Jangra, said usually it was observed that monkeys come towards plain areas during the rainy season in search of food and shelter. “Monkey bite cases CASES REPORTED AT CIVIL HOSPITAL January February March April May 4 4 7 13 20 June July 16 22 IMMEDIATE CARE AFTER MONKEY BITE ■ Wash wound thoroughly with soap and water ■ Apply an antiseptic solution ■ If bleeding heavily, press gently with a clean cloth to control it ■ Visit doc immediately for rabies vaccination and further getting wound care increase during this time as the simians who come from the hills are new to the terrain and frightened and they attack if they see any danger. People should avoid getting too close, showing food or making sudden movements as the same can easily provoke an aggressive response,” he said. He said places with forest areas such as Mattewara, Maachiwara, Ladhowal and the Khaira Bet region have monkey population while they also descend from the 45 councillors submit memo to Mayor, seek election of 2 F&CC members via secret ballot Ludhiana, August 5 A joint resolution signed by 45 councillors of the Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) was submitted to the Mayor, demanding election of two councillor members of the Finance and Contracts Committee (F&CC) of the Municipal Corporation (MC) through secret ballot. The resolution demands that the matter be included in the agenda of the General House meeting of the corporation and discussed in the House and that the election be conducted through secret ballot as per law, so that the poll process can be completed in a fair, transparent and democratic manner. Councillors submit the resolution to the Mayor in Ludhiana. The councillors said the F&CC was the most important committee of the corporation, which takes decisions related to financial matters, development works, tenders and contracts. Hence, the election process must be transparent, regulated and free from political bias to achieve full trust from city residents and elected councillors. Senior councillor Sham Sundar Malhotra said the civil writ petition filed by councillor Gaurav Bhatti in the Punjab and Haryana High Court was still under consideration. Following the High Court proceedings, the appointment of High Court refuses bail in murder case, says Youth abducted, victim’s kin can’t be left in helpless situation thrashed over old enmity, 9 booked Saurabh Malik Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 5 Refusing regular bail to a man accused of murdering a woman in the presence of her 78-year-old father, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has held that the victim’s family cannot be left in a helpless situation merely due to a lacuna in the prosecution’s case. Justice Sanjay Vashisth dismissed the petition filed by Harshdeep Singh in custody for over three years in connection with the FIR filed on April 9, 2023, for murder under Section 302 of the IPC at the Focal Point police station in Ludhiana. It was registered by the complainant, Bant Singh (78), whose daughter Babaljit Kaur was allegedly murdered in his presence. The Bench clarified that the trial court would not cause unnecessary delay in taking final decision on any of the pending application and “also if the application is allowed, prosecution agency would not cause any unnecessary delay in production of the witnesses. In any case, any such exercise, if required, be completed within the next two-three months’ period”. The petitioner had sought regular bail contending that the trial was progressing slowly, with only seven out of 21 prosecution witnesses examined, despite having spent around three years and two months in custody. Referring to the FIR, Justice Vashisth observed that the complainant had mentioned that the petitioner was holding a knife in his hand and was giving multiple blows to his daughter Babaljit Kaur on her neck and face. She was already lying down in a serious condition and the complainant’s granddaughter aged about 18 was inside her room due to fear. During the hearing, counsel for the petitioner argued that the complainant, an eyewitness, died after his examination-in-chief was recorded. It was further submitted that another eyewitness had been given up by the prosecution while yet another witness had turned hostile during the trial. Though one witness supported the prosecution, the defence pointed out that he had “not originally cited as an eyewitness of the incident.” The petitioner also challenged the prosecution’s move to summon another witness residing abroad. It was added that her name did not figure in the original list of prosecution witnesses, and the application had been filed after prolonged incarceration of the accused. Examining the record, Justice Vashisth observed that the presence of the witness at the scene was evident from the FIR itself. “The court notices that the newly summoned witness is the granddaughter of the complainant Bant Singh and her presence at the spot is very much there in the detailed version. It is both shocking and surprising as to why she was not cited as a prosecution witness by including her in the list of witnesses,” the Bench observed. The Bench also expressed dissatisfaction with the state’s inability to explain the omission. Justice Vashisth recorded: “The state counsel is not in a position to explain as to for what reason she was not made a witness or why her statement was not recorded earlier or why the application has been moved at such a belated stage, thereby giving the accused an opportunity to seek bail on the grounds of prolonged incarceration and the slow pace of trial, saying that only seven out of a c m y b hills during monsoon. Health officials caution that residents must remain vigilant, avoid feeding monkeys and seek immediate medical attention in case of a bite. Experts note that monkey bites were not only a nuisance but also a serious public health concern as rabies remains a fatal disease if untreated. Neha, a 12-year-old girl, said she was carrying a fruit in her hand and a monkey from nowhere came and attacked her. When she resisted, it bite her and later her family took her to a hospital where she was administered an injection. Morning and evening walkers near the Leisure Valley in Sarabha Nagar are also threatened by monkeys around the area. “A monkey family keeps roaming around and has also bitten a senior citizen here. We need to be cautious while walking around the area,” said an evening walker from the area. Dr Amardeep Bajaj, a medicine specialist said after a monkey bite, always see a doctor as the victim needs immediate medical care. Always avoid using home remedies such as turmeric, lime or chilli as these can worsen the wound. total 21 prosecution witnesses have been examined.” Rejecting the plea, Justice Vashisth referred to the broader principles governing criminal trials. “The court cannot ignore the core purpose of criminal jurisprudence in the country. Merely due to a lacuna in the prosecution’s case, the victim’s family cannot be left in a helpless situation, and that too without any remedy to correct the error done by the prosecution agency while the accused is seeking permission to enjoy liberty,” the Bench asserted. The court clarified that it was refraining from commenting on the conduct of the prosecution regarding her omission from the original witness list. “At this stage, no comment is warranted regarding the conduct of the prosecution, as to why she, now sought to be summoned, was omitted from the original list of witnesses.” Ludhiana, August 5 A youth was allegedly kidnapped in Jagraon, taken to Raikot and brutally thrashed by abductors. Victim’s leg and arm were fractured in the attack. After receiving the complaint, the Jagraon City police on Tuesday registered a case against five named and over five unidentified suspects on charges of kidnapping, attempt to murder and assault. The victim, Sunny Kumar, a resident of Ajit Nagar, told the police that on the evening of August 3, he was going somewhere with his friend Akashdeep. Jashnpreet Singh, alias Jassa, and his companions began chasing them on motorcycles. Sensing danger, they tried to escape but the suspects surrounded him. “The assailants first threat- ened to kill Akashdeep and drove him away. Afterwards, they assaulted me. The suspects forcibly took me on a motorcycle to Raikot and brutally attacked me on the Barnala road. My leg and arm were fractured in the attack. The miscreants brought me back to Jagraon, dumped me by the roadside and fled the scene as they thought I was dead. Some passers-by, who saw me, informed my family, after which I was admitted to a hospital,” the victim alleged. He said months’ old rivalry and some misunderstanding might had been the motive behind the attack. The police registered a case against Jashnpreet Singh, alias Jassa, Jashnpreet Singh, alias Guma, both residents of Raikot, Arsh and Mohit, residents of Jagraon, and five unidentified persons. — TNS two members of the F&CC by the Local Government Department had been cancelled but the process of electing new members for those posts was still pending. The resolution also demands that timely notice be given to every eligible councillor, the entire election process be videographed and the counting of votes be done with transparency. They appealed to the Mayor to include the resolution, signed by 45 councillors, in the agenda of the General House meeting as soon as possible and to conduct the election of two members of the F&CC through secret ballot as per law. — TNS Cong leader’s son attacked with sword over minor dispute Ludhiana, August 5 A minor dispute over honking a car horn in Mohalla Ranjit Singh Park here escalated into a clash. Three youths attacked a Congress leader’s son with a sword on Monday night. The victim sustained injuries on his hands in the attack. He was admitted to the CMCH, where doctors performed an operation. He got over 100 stitches on his hands. The Police Division 3 registered a case against the main suspect, Sukhwinder Singh, Vicky Rana and an unidentified person. The victim’s father, Cong leader Dharminder Sharma, told the police that His son, Karan Sharma, was returning home on Monday night. Sukhwinder was reversing his car into the street. Karan honked his vehicle horn to clear the way, which angered the suspect. Later, Sukhwinder and his aides attacked the victim with a sword. — TNS