13102026-LT-01.qxd 10/13/2026 12:48 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune 6 FOOD SAMPLES COLLECTED FOR TESTING DURING DRIVE OFFICIAL STATUS FOR PUNJABI LANGUAGE IN J&K SOUGHT Approximately 25 kg of spoiled food items and flour were also seized and destroyed during the drive. P2 A Sikh educational and religious organisation seeks official-language status for Punjabi in the Valley. P3 » REFLECTING ON THE MANY SHADES OF NAVRATRI PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 30°C | MIN 16°C YESTERDAY MAX 29°C | MIN 15°C SUNSET TUESDAY 5:54 PM Celebs reflect on finding festival's meaning in faith, family and celebratory outfits. P4 » FORECAST SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 6:23 AM » TUESDAY | 13 OCTOBER 2026 | LUDHIANA 34 agenda items passed amid chaos over sweeping project, 1,208 sanitation workers Extortion case with Pakistan link unearthed in Malerkotla Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service Cong, BJP, AAP councillors oppose key proposals; over 300 MC employees walk out technical issues were clarified. The BJP and Congress maintained that the project should not be approved without resolving their objections. Sukhpreet Singh Tribune News Service Zero-hour demand triggers uproar The proceedings got off to a stormy start as several councillors insisted that they be allowed to raise issues concerning their wards before the list- BJP stages protest HIMANSHU MAHAJAN Ludhiana, October 12 The Municipal Corporation General House meeting began amid chaos and ended on a similar note on Monday at Guru Nanak Dev Bhawan, with 34 agenda items, including the controversial mechanical sweeping project and extension of the contract of 1,208 outsourced sanitation workers, being passed amid strong protests by Congress, BJP and a few AAP councillors. The meeting witnessed repeated arguments and a scuffle among councillors, protests over the manner in which the agenda items were being taken up and a walkout by over 300 MC employees, including sanitary inspectors, Junior Engineers, Executive Engineers, Superintending Engineers, health officials and employees from other wings. The employees left the House after a heated exchange involving BJP councillor Bhavneet Kaur and sanitary inspector Nishu Ghai. Meanwhile, AAP councillor Nidhi Gupta also accused MC officials of not resolving issues in her ward and started levelling allegations them. Afterwards, rest of the officials also left the House. Later, Congress councillors said they would approach the Punjab and Haryana High Court over the passage of the two contentious agenda items, maintaining that 38 AAP councillors were present and the Opposition had jointly submitted written objections to the proposals with a majority of 45. Councillors scuffle with each other as cops try to pacify them during the MC House meeting in Ludhiana. ed agenda items were taken up. Nidhi Gupta repeatedly sought “zero hour” to raise ward-related issues and demanded a response from the MC Commissioner. Other councillors, including Gaurav Bhatti, Gauravjit Gora and Arun Sharma, also pressed for their issues to be heard. Mayor Inderjit Kaur warned councillors to follow the House proceedings and said those refusing to follow the directions could be asked to leave. At one point, Gora raised his voice and questioned the Commissioner for not responding. He was later pushed out of the House following an argument and scuffle with other councillors. Police personnel were involved in taking him outside. 1,208 workers become major flashpoint The issue of the 1,208 outsourced sanitation workers remained one of the biggest points of contention. BJP councillor Poonam Ratra sought physical verification of the workers and questioned discrepancies in lists supplied by the MC. She said the House had earlier received a list of 34 workers in a particular context while a Rain halts paddy harvesting in region Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, October 12 Sunday’s unseasonal rainfall brought paddy harvesting to a halt across the region while disrupting procurement operations in several grain markets, compounding concerns of farmers. Their anxiety has intensified as the Punjab Agricultural University weather forecast predicts a partly cloudy sky with the possibility of light to moderate rainfall at isolated places in Ludhiana and adjoining areas over coming days. Thousands of acres of mature paddy standing in the fields have been affected as combine harvesters are unable to operate on waterlogged land. “The wet conditions will delay harvesting by at least two to four days, as heavy machinery cannot function in muddy fields,” said Harvinder Singh of Samrala. Farmers fear that an extended spell of damp weather could damage the crop and adversely affect yields. “The crop is fully mature and ready for harvesting, but the rain has made it impossible for combines to enter the fields,” said a local farmer, Gurpreet Singh. “We will have to wait for the land to dry, which may take several days. If the weather remains unsettled, the crop may suffer and farmers could incur substantial financial losses,” he added. The rainfall has also affected paddy stocks lying in grain markets. “My produce got wet and procurement agencies refused to purchase it as the moisture content exceeded the prescribed limit. As a result, procurement operations have been disrupted,” said Gursewak Singh, a farmer from Machhiwara. The rain has also exposed glaring deficiencies in storage infrastructure. The farmers alleged that the shed at the Machhiwara grain market, already in a dilapidated state, failed to provide adequate protection during the rain. Rainwater seeped through the damaged roof, soaking several bags of produce stored underneath. “We work hard throughout the year to raise this crop but inadequate facilities continue to put our harvest at risk,” said another farmer. A similar situation was reported at the Gill Road grain market. subsequent list contained 54, raising questions about the remaining names. BJP councillor Rohit Sikka demanded ward-wise details of all 1,208 workers and questioned why the complete information had not been provided. AAP councillor Isha Dhingra also demanded that the list be provided with names and arranged ward-wise. The Commissioner subsequently directed officials to release the list. When councillors sought a deadline for physical verification, the Commissioner assured the House that the exercise would be completed within a week. Later, the BJP said the verification timeline given was 10 days. Councillors also raised questions about workers shown in official records but allegedly not found on the ground. BJP councillor Bhavneet Kaur claimed that 10 workers were shown in the records but none could be found in the field in her ward. Tensions escalated after Nidhi Gupta accused officials of not cooperating with elected representatives and alleged that officials were playing politics with councillors. A heated exchange occurred between Gupta and sanitary inspector Nishu Ghai. Following the confrontation, a large number of MC officials walked out of the House. Councillors objected to the officials leaving without responding to their questions. Several members demanded action against the officials and said such a situation had never occurred in the House. The protesting councillors alleged that the elected House comprising 95 members had been reduced to a situation where officials were refusing to answer questions. Oppn objects to mechanical sweeping proposal The mechanical sweeping project was another major flashpoint. Councillors questioned the proposal and sought a legal opinion on the relevant agenda. Gaurav Bhatti pointed out that the proposal included a provision for obtaining legal vetting and sought clarity from the Commissioner. The Commissioner said the legal report would be provided. Some councillors demanded that the mechanical sweeping proposal be kept pending till the legal and BJP district president and councillor Sunil Maudgil also staged a protest over the 1,208 workers issue, demanding complete details and physical verification. The BJP alleged that around 288 workers were not available in the field and sought verification before the contract extension was approved. Other issues, including pending fogging work, solid-waste management and ward development matters, were also raised during the meeting. Despite the protests and objections, the House ultimately passed 34 agenda items. The meeting remained tense through much of the proceedings, with councillors repeatedly raising questions over transparency, physical verification, ward-wise deployment of sanitation workers and the proposed mechanical sweeping contract. The Opposition maintained that the two contentious proposals should have been kept pending till their objections were addressed while the civic administration proceeded with the agenda and passed the resolutions amid the uproar. Councillors of all parties demanded strict action against MC officials who left the meeting. Mayor Inderjit Kaur said: “Strict action will be taken against officials who left the House in between and also asked the MC Commissioner to take action against them. Moreover, all proceedings and agenda items have been passed in a legal and proper manner with a majority of AAP councillors.” Couple hit by rashly driven vehicle, woman dies Ludhiana, October 12 A scooter-borne woman was killed on the spot and her husband seriously injured in an accident near a dhaba on the Jagraon-Moga stretch of the Ludhiana-Ferozepur highway on Monday. The incident occurred when an unidentified speeding vehicle hit them. The deceased has been identified as Sukhwinder Kaur, wife of Harjinder Singh, a resident of Galib Khurd village. Her husband, former Subedar Harjinder Singh, sustained serious injuries in the mishap. Harjinder Singh, along with his wife Sukhwinder Kaur, was returning to their village on a scooty after purchasing household items from Jagraon. As they reached near Pardesi Dhaba on Moga Road, an unidentified vehicle coming from the rear hit their scooter. The impact of the collision caused the two-wheeler to lose balance and fell on the road. The uncontrolled vehicle then ran over them. Sukhwinder Kaur died a on the spot. Harjinder was rushed to the Civil Hospital, Jagraon. However, due to serious head injuries, doctors, after providing primary treatment, referred him to a hospital in Ludhiana. The police sent the body for autopsy. A case has been registered. — TNS Ludhiana, October 12 The Malerkotla police claimed to have busted an extortion racket allegedly operated by handlers based in neighbouring Pakistan. Two local residents have been arrested and a juvenile apprehended for allegedly conducting surveillance of a complainant’s house and sharing its video and location with the handlers across the border. The arrested suspects have been identified as Numan Ansari, a resident of Ludhiana Bypass near Gulzar Hospital, Malerkotla, and Mohd Gulfam, a resident of Pandiyan Mohalla, Malerkotla. A juvenile has also been apprehended in the case. Senior Superintendent of Police Harkamalpreet Singh Khakh told The Tribune that it was the first extortion case reported in Malerkotla in which the handlers were allegedly operating from Pakistan. Commending the district cyber crime cell, the SSP said the complainant, Lavneet Singh of Dhuri Road, Malerkotla, had received a series of WhatsApp calls from foreign-based numbers. The callers allegedly sent him a video and the location of his residence, demanded money and threatened to kill him if their demands were not met. Khakh said the dis- Two of the suspects in custody of the Malerkotla police. trict police acted swiftly on the complaint and, through sustained technical and field investigation, unravelled the entire conspiracy. During the investigation, the police examined the CCTV footage, which helped identify the individuals who had filmed the complainant’s house. Technical analysis of their mobiles allegedly established links with Pakistanbased handlers. Based on the complainant’s statement, an FIR dated October 10 was registered under Sections 308(4) and 351(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita at the Cybercrime police station, Malerkotla. The cyber team’s investigation revealed that Numan Ansari first came into contact with Pakistan-based operators through Instagram and later communicated with them via WhatsApp. Along with Mohd Gulfam, he allegedly con- Speeding SUV hits car, kills bike rider Ludhiana, October 12 A youth died after being hit by a speeding Fortuner near Ishar Nagar bridge here. The errant driver first rammed into a Maruti Swift car going ahead and then, without stopping, hit and ran over a bike rider on Sunday. The youth, who was seriously injured in the accident, later died at a hospital. The deceased has been identified as Varinder Singh, alias Gogi. On the statement of the victim’s father, the Sadar police on Sunday registered a case against the SUV driver. In his complaint, Ranjit Singh, a resident of Guru Nanak Colony, said he works with the private sector. He, along with his son Varinder Singh had gone on a motorcycle to the house of his son-inlaw Kritpal Singh. From there, they proceeded to the house of his daughter in Ishar Nagar. After spending some time at the sister’s house, when they started returning, Varinder was riding his bike alone ahead while he was following him on his son-in-law’s motorcycle. As they reached near the Ishar Nagar bridge, a Fortuner came from the rear at a high speed. CCTV footage showed that the the SUV first hit another Maruti Swift car and then, without blowing horn, slammed into the bike of Varinder, who was riding ahead. The impact was so severe that he sustained serious injuries on his head and other parts of the body. His family members and passers-by took him in a critical condition to SPS Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. The Fortuner driver was identified as Baljit Singh, alias Ballu, a resident of Amaltas Enclave, Ludhiana. — TNS Swimmer Abhipsha strikes gold twice at Asian c’ship Improves national timing, sets sights on World Masters Championship in Budapest in 2027 Anil Datt Ludhiana, October 12 City swimmer Abhipsha Thakur Arora has added another significant milestone to her sporting career, winning two gold and two silver medals at the 2nd Asian Masters Swimming Championship, held at Bengaluru from October 4 to 10. The impressive performance has further strengthened her resolve to excel at the international level and bring laurels for the country. Abhipsha clinched gold medals in the 400m freestyle and 200m individual medley Abhipsha Thakur Arora events while also claiming silver medals in the 50m butterfly and 400m freestyle. c m y b Adding to her achievement, she improved her timing compared with those recorded at National Championships, reflecting her steady progress and commitment to raising her performance standards. For Abhipsha, the medal haul represents much more than success on the podium. It is the outcome of sustained preparation, perseverance and the encouragement she has received from those who have supported her sporting ambitions. She credited her mentor, Ajay Sharma, for playing a pivot role in her journey, acknowledging that his guidance, motivation and unwavering belief in her abilities had helped her overcome challenges and pursue her goals with renewed confidence. “Your belief in my abilities has been a source of strength, motivating me to push my boundaries and strive for excellence,” she said, acknowledging the role his encouragement had played in turning her aspirations into achievements. With the World Masters Championship scheduled to be held in Budapest, Hungary, in 2027 as her next major target, Abhipsha is determined to build on her latest success. The upcoming championship presents another opportunity for her to test herself against international competitors, improve her performance and represent India with pride. Abhipsha also extended thanks to Balraj Sharma, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Punjab Swimming Association, and a former national-level swimmer, for his guidance and encouragement. Congratulating Abhipsha on her latest success, Sharma said it was both a reward for her efforts and a stepping stone towards the next challenge. spired with the handlers to have the complainant eliminated. Mohd Gulfam, who remained in contact with the operators through Ansari, filmed the complainant’s house and shared its location with them. We have also learnt that Gulfam had an old rivalry with the complainant,” the SSP said. A juvenile accompanied the two suspects and was riding the motorcycle when the video of the house was recorded. The police said the juvenile was aware of the conspiracy. The SSP said the suspects would be produced before a competent court and the police would seek their remand to establish the links of the module. The juvenile would be produced before the Juvenile Justice Board and dealt with in accordance with the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. Men on motorcycle open fire at visa consultancy office Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, October 12 Two unidentified men on a motorcycle allegedly opened fire at the office of Rightway Visa Consultants in Model Town Extension, here, late on Sunday night. The pillion rider fired around three rounds at the office before the duo fled the scene. As the incident occurred late at night, no one witnessed the firing. It was only on Monday morning, when the owner and employees reached the office that they discovered bullet shells outside the premises and bullet marks on the office door. The assailants arrived on a motorcycle and targeted the office before escaping. The police suspect a .32-bore weapon was used in the crime. Four rounds were reportedly fired. Initial probe revealed that the office owner had earlier received threatening phone calls demanding money and had lodged a complaint with the police. The complaint was still under probe. The police said it was not yet clear who had made the extortion demands or how much money had been sought. ACP (Civil Lines) Sarabjit Cheema said the motive behind the firing would become clear only after recording the victim’s statement. “The complaint regarding the threatening calls is being verified and the status of the investigation is being checked. Though the owner claims he received threatening calls, nothing can be said definitively at this stage as the probe is still underway,” the ACP said. “Every angle is being probed. CCTV footage of the suspects has been recovered. The suspects will soon be arrested,” Cheema added.