14092026-LT-01.qxd 9/13/2026 11:58 PM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune REINSTALLATION OF MAJOR BHUPINDER SINGH’S STATUE WELCOMED Civil society activists have welcomed the reinstallation of the statue of Maha Vir Chakra recipient Major Bhupinder Singh.P2 » AGRI VARSITY TRAINS FARMERS IN MUSHROOM CULTIVATION The university organised five-day training course on mushroom cultivation for farmers and farm women of Punjab. P2 » CELINE DION GETS EMOTIONAL DURING PARIS CONCERT Celine Dion became emotional as she returned to the stage to begin her 26-show Paris residency. P4 FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 35°C | MIN 25°C YESTERDAY MAX 35°C | MIN 25°C SUNSET MONDAY 6.33 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 6.10 AM » MONDAY | 14 SEPTEMBER 2026 | LUDHIANA Speeding truck injures 5 near old vegetable market Tribune News Service Ludhiana, September 13 A speeding truck struck several people, including an e-rickshaw, near the old vegetable market in Salem Tabri, Ludhiana, leaving five people injured. The injured were rushed to a hospital for treatment. Following the accident, the truck driver allegedly attempted to flee the spot but was caught by onlookers and handed over to the police. The injured have been identified as Pappu Singh, Neha, Ramesh Lal, Jasvir Kaur and others. Sandeep Singh, brother of nurse Jasveer Kaur, said his sister was on her way to work at DMC Hospital in the morning when the speeding truck hit her. She sustained serious injuries in the accident. Suraj, son of injured Pappu Singh, said his father was on his way to a hospital to check on his daughter when the truck hit him from behind. Pappu Singh suffered serious injuries to his legs and other parts of his body. E-rickshaw driver Ramesh Lal said he had stopped near the old vegetable market to drop off a passenger when the speeding truck rammed into his vehicle. The impact left the passengers in the e-rickshaw injured. Gangster Doni’s name surfaces after police foil mass shooting bid He is among 61 criminals wanted under Operation Prahar Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, September 13 The name of notorious and wanted overseas gangster Doni Bal has once again surfaced in Ludhiana. Bal has allegedly been linked to several extortion cases and shootings in Ludhiana, Khanna and Jagraon in the recent past. The latest case, the police said, could have resulted in multiple casualties had the Ludhiana police and AntiGangster Task Force (AGTF) not intervened. According to the police, they foiled a massshooting bid and neutralised two armed operatives allegedly belonging to the Doni Bal gang during an encounter near the Atam Park Underbridge in Ludhiana. The accused were allegedly tasked by Doni Bal to carry out a mass killing at a blood donation camp organised in memory of former Congress sarpanch Ravi Khwajke. The Punjab Police also took down several social media pages allegedly created in Doni Bal’s name. In June 2026, the Ludhiana police arrested two alleged associates of Doni Bal, Sukhwinder Singh, alias Raji Neela, and Rajveer Singh, alias Raji, and recovered illegal weapons from them. The The police inspect the site where two gangsters were shot dead near Atam Park in Ludhiana on Sunday. PHOTO: ASHWANI DHIMAN police said the duo had been tasked with targeting local industrialists and extorting money from them. A subsequent probe allegedly found that several youngsters from the area were in contact with criminal elements based overseas and were being recruited through social media. Apart from money, gangsters such as Doni Bal allegedly provide recruits with sophisticated weapons and financial incentives to carry out assigned tasks. The arrested accused reportedly told investigators that they had been tasked with killing a businessperson and were promised Rs 1 lakh for the assignment. On May 4, 2026, Payal AAP MLA Manvinder Singh Giaspura allegedly received a death threat from Doni Bal. Following the threat, the Khanna police tightened his security. Bal had allegedly threatened to kill both the legislator and Payal Arhtiya Association president Avinashpreet Jalla. In May 2026, five alleged aides of Doni Bal and Shaganpreet were arrested in connection with the Khanna dhaba firing case. Shaganpreet, the former manager of slain singer Sidhu Moosewala, and gangster Doni Bal were allegedly identified as key conspirators in the case. Their gang members had allegedly Municipal Corporation to install 56 storagecompactorstoprotectrecords Two arrested for bid to kidnap nine-year-old girl Mayor Inderjit Kaur inspects a storage compactor at the Municipal Corporation office in Ludhiana. Tribune News Service Ludhiana, September 13 The Municipal Corporation (MC) is installing storage compactors to ensure the proper maintenance and safety of official records. Mayor Principal Inderjit Kaur recently inspected the compactors installed at the MC’s Zone D office in Sarabha Nagar recently. The initiative aims to ensure the proper storage and safety of records that were earlier kept in open racks. The installation of storage compactors will not only save floor space but also protect records from dust and moisture. Officials of the civic body said that 56 storage compactors would be installed at MC offices at a cost of around Rs 1.76 crore. Mayor Inderjit Kaur said the initiative would help maintain records in a more organised manner while making better use of available space. She said the civic body had received complaints about records being damaged because they were kept in open racks. The compactors would provide better protection against dust and other environmental factors, she added. The Mayor directed officials to expedite the installation of compactors at civic body offices as per their requirements. She also issued necessary directions to ensure the safety and security of records kept in MC offices. During her inspection, Mayor Inderjit Kaur also interacted with residents at the Suvidha Kendra. She directed the staff to ensure that residents receive hasslefree and efficient services. Ludhiana, September 13 The police have arrested two persons who were allegedly caught by local residents while attempting to kidnap a nine-year-old girl. The girl’s maternal grandmother raised an alarm, following which people present at the spot cornered and apprehended the alleged kidnappers. The grandmother alleged that the accused had come to kidnap the girl. Hearing the commotion, the girl’s mother, Anupriya, also came out of the house and, with the help of neighbours, apprehended the two accused. The accused were identified as Onkar Singh, a resident of Harkrishna Nagar in Shimlapuri, and Tejpal Singh, a resident of New Shimlapuri. During questioning, the accused allegedly told the police that they had been sent to kidnap the girl by her father, Amandeep Sharma, and grandfather, Hemraj Sharma. The police booked both of them in connection with the case. According to the police, the alleged kidnapping attempt was linked to a marital dispute between the girl’s parents. — TNS demanded Rs 50 lakh in extortion from the dhaba owner. In February 2026, the Ludhiana police registered a case against Doni Bal after an alleged extortion demand of Rs 2 crore was made in his name from Jagjit Singh, a local businessman. In January 2025, a group allegedly linked to Doni Bal, rather than the gangster himself, was accused of attacking a cosmetics trader in Mohali. Gurpreet Singh and Tarandeep Singh, residents of Barewal Awana village in Ludhiana district, were named as accused in the case. Following their arrest, the police seized three illegal weapons, including a 9mm Glock pistol and two .30-bore pistols, along with two magazines and 15 rounds of ammunition. In October 2025, the Punjab AGTF arrested alleged gangster Gurpreet Singh, alias Vicky Nihang, a key associate of Doni Bal and Munn Ghanshampuria, following a brief exchange of fire near Sidhwan Bet. Nihang was wanted in connection with the August 23 murder of social media influencer Kartik Baggan. According to the AGTF the arrested accused , and his associates had allegedly been instructed by foreignbased handlers to carry out sensational killings in Punjab. School friend cheats man of ~10 lakh with fake Punjab Police job promise Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, September 13 A school friend allegedly cheated a man of Rs 10 lakh by promising to get him a job in the Punjab Police. The accused allegedly handed over a sealed parcel, claiming it contained an official police belt as part of the recruitment process. When the victim opened the parcel, he was shocked to find a brick and fake recruitment-related documents inside. “Deputy Commissioner’s Office, Ludhiana” was written on the parcel. The incident has exposed yet another case of employment fraud carried out in the name of government jobs. The accused, a golgappa seller who owns a cart in Samrala, has been arrested. Khanna Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Dr Darpan Ahluwalia said the police arrested the accused on Sunday and launched an investigation to ascertain whether he had duped others using a similar modus operandi. Fake identity card Complainant Amaninder Singh, a resident of Hario Kalan village in Samrala, told the police that accused Gobind was his schoolmate when they were studying in Class X in 2013. The two Accused a golgappa seller in Samrala, owns a cart had remained friends since their school days. “We started visiting each other’s houses as we were friends. I left school after completing Class XII and enrolled in a computer course in Samrala. In 2023, I went to Dubai, where I worked for about two years. I returned in 2025,” the complainant said. In March 2025, Gobind allegedly told Amaninder that he knew a person who could get candidates recruited as head constables in the Punjab Police and demanded Rs 10 lakh for the job. “After consulting my family, I struck a deal with Gobind, who promised to get me recruited in the Police Department. Initially, he took Rs 4,000 for preparing my recruitment papers. Later, I paid the remaining amount in instalments. I mortgaged gold ornaments to arrange the entire amount,” the complainant said. Amaninder further alleged that Gobind took his Class X and XII certificates, SC certificate and birth certificate and gave him a handwritten Civic body demolishes eight illegal commercial buildings in Zone C A JCB machine demolishes an illegal building in Ludhiana. Tribune News Service Ludhiana, September 13 Continuing stern action against illegal constructions, Municipal Corporation (MC) demolished eight illegal buildings in different areas falling under the Zone C of the civic body. The illegal constructions were situated at Star road, Satsang Ghar Road, Hero Suman Nagar, Jaspal Bangar and 33-feet road. The civic body officials said the drive against illegal constructions was launched on the directions of MC Commissioner Ojasvi Alankar. Despite warnings issued in the past, the owners contin- ued the illegal constructions, following which illegal structures were demolished. Officials further appealed to residents that they should start construction works only after getting the building plan approved from the civic body otherwise strict action would be taken against owners. receipt bearing his signature. “When I asked Gobind about the recruitment, he kept making excuses,” he said. The complainant alleged that Gobind visited his house in 2025 and handed him a parcel wrapped in tape. He told Amaninder not to open it, claiming it contained a police belt. Gobind also allegedly handed over a Punjab Police identity card bearing Amaninder’s photograph and a stamp, besides showing him a khaki-coloured uniform comprising a shirt and trousers. He told the complainant that the items would be handed over to him after his recruitment. “After a few days, I opened the parcel given to me by Gobind. I was shocked to find a brick packed inside along with some papers related to the recruitment. I asked the accused to return my money, but he started avoiding me and also issued threats. I then filed a police complaint, which led to his arrest,” Amaninder said. SSP Dr Ahluwalia said the police had initiated a probe to ascertain who had printed the fake police identity card, affixed the stamp and got the uniform stitched. The police are also investigating whether the accused had targeted other people using the same modus operandi. Warring flags 12-hour power cuts in cities Ludhiana, September 13 Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring today said that the Aam Aadmi Party had pushed Punjab into darkness as 12 to 18 hour long power cuts were being imposed across the state. He said, the state’s power crisis had deepened, with farmers struggling to save paddy crop, industries facing restrictions and villages witnessing prolonged power cuts. “Crops nurtured like sons are drying up, while paddy is wilting,” the PPCC president said. The Congress leader also raised concerns over the impact of the crisis on Punjab’s industrial sector. He said industries were being asked to shut down from 8 pm, while power cuts in the residential areas had become frequent. Warring said the Rajpura thermal plant had only around seven days of coal stock, while the Talwandi Sabo thermal plant had approximately four days of coal remaining. — TNS MC to place 187 development proposals before F&CC; ~1,195-cr waste project set for fresh push Sukhpreet Singh Tribune News Service Ludhiana, September 13 The Ludhiana Municipal Corporation (MC) is set to place around 187 developmentrelated proposals before the Finance and Contracts Committee (F&CC) at its meeting on Monday. The proposed Rs 1,195-crore Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM) project is likely to be the most significant item on the supplementary agenda. The civic body has prepared the terms and conditions for implementing the waste-management project under the recently notified state-level rate contract and is expected to seek the committee’s approval to take the process forward. The plan is to initially introduce the system in Zones B and C before expanding it to other parts of the city. The state government has already approved Mumbaibased Krystal Integrated Ser- vices Limited as the L-1 agency under the rate contract and fixed a rate of Rs 3,677 per metric tonne for processing more than 200 metric tonnes of waste a day. However, the state-level approval does not automatically allot the Ludhiana project to the agency. The MC will have to finalise its own scope of work, terms and conditions and complete the required approval process. The proposed system will cover door-to-door collection, transportation, processing and scientific disposal of municipal solid waste. Ludhiana generates around 1,100 metric tonnes of waste every day, making the project crucial for improving garbage collection and reducing pressure on the city’s existing dumping sites. The financial implication will be a major consideration for the civic body. At the notified rate of Rs 3,677 per metric tonne, processing 1,100 MT of waste would cost roughly Rs c m y b 40 lakh a day. The exact payment liability, however, will depend on the final terms of the contract, the quantity of waste handled and other components of the agreement. The project has already gone through several rounds of tendering. An earlier proposal, estimated at more than Rs 1,400 crore, failed to attract an adequate response and was subsequently cancelled. The MC then decided to use the state-level rate-contract mechanism for the fresh process. The earlier tender envisaged collection, transportation, processing and disposal of waste under the public-private partnership model. Officials are now looking at a phased implementation, with Zones B and C proposed as the starting point. This approach is expected to allow the MC to assess the collection, transportation and processing arrangements before extending the system across the city. Apart from the waste-man- agement proposal, the F&CC agenda includes several road and infrastructure works, installation of LED and highmast lights, tubewell-related works, improvement of parks and other civic projects. Several proposals for road relaying and repairs have been listed for different wards, while works related to water-supply infrastructure and public lighting also figure on the agenda. One of the agenda items also concerns the provision and upgrading of infrastructure in several areas before their transfer to the MC. Other proposals relate to road improvement and civic amenities. However, the ISWM project has already faced opposition. A few months ago, sanitation workers had locked the Ambedkar Bhawan during a General House meeting at which the project was being considered for scrapping.