18102026-LT-01.qxd 10/18/2026 12:27 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune VET VARSITY STUDENTS BAG 7 PRIZES AT NAT’L EVENT BRINGING TO THE SCREEN BHAGAT SINGH’S LAST WISH A DANCE OF DEFIANCE AMID PUJO FESTIVITIES They secured seven prizes at first National Online Clinical Case Symposium of Vet Surgery and Radiology. P2 Bhagat Singh’s rebellion was not just against the British rule, but also deep-rooted prejudices. P3 A dance drama that delves into women’s enduring quest for identity, dignity and freedom. P4 » » FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 29°C | MIN 16°C YESTERDAY MAX 29°C | MIN 17°C SUNSET SUNDAY 5:50 PM SUNRISE MONDAY 6:26 AM » SUNDAY | 18 OCTOBER 2026 | LUDHIANA NGT pulls up civic body over solid waste mismanagement Told to submit affidavits detailing status of refuse at 23 identified locations in six weeks Sukhpreet Singh Tribune News Service Ludhiana, October 17 The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has pulled up the Municipal Corporation (MC), Ludhiana, over the handling of solid waste in the city, noting that over three years after its directions, waste management issues remain unresolved at several locations. Hearing a case concerning the unscientific dumping of solid waste in violation of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, on October 7, the NGT directed the Deputy Commissioner and the Municipal Commissioner, Ludhiana, to submit affidavits detailing the status of waste at 23 identified locations and steps taken to clear it. The Tribunal has sought details of the total quantity of legacy waste lying at dumping sites, action taken to clear it, the proposed plan and timeline, availability of funds and the agency responsible for the work. The officials have also been asked to disclose the daily generation of ~13.8 CR COMPENSATION The PPCB informed the National Green Tribunal that it had imposed environmental compensation of around ~13.8 crore on the MC for violations of the solid waste management rules between July 2020 and December 2025. However, only ~1.8 crore had been deposited so far. Taking note of the poor recovery, the NGT directed the PPCB to initiate action to recover the outstanding amount. << Garbage lies unattended in a vacant plot on GT Road in Ludhiana. FILE municipal waste, the city’s waste treatment capacity and the actual quantity treated every day, along with the gap between waste generation and treatment. The affidavits must be filed within six weeks. The case was filed by Kapil Dev, who had earlier highlighted at least 23 locations where solid waste was lying in the open. On May 2, 2023, the NGT had constituted a joint committee comprising the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), the District Magistrate and the Municipal Corporation, Ludhiana, to verify the complaints and take remedial action. The Tribunal had directed the authorities to lift waste from the identified locations, transport it to designated processing sites, prevent fresh dumping at unauthorised places and ensure daily waste processing so that no legacy waste remained. However, when the matter came up for hearing in July this year, the counsel representing the district administration and the MC could not provide details of the untreated waste or the action taken to clear it. The Tribunal also noted that the Deputy Commissioner and the Municipal Commissioner had not filed their responses despite directions. Meanwhile, the PPCB informed the Tribunal that Court acquits former MLA, Samrala civic body chief, vice-chief in defamation case Rajneesh Lakhanpal Ludhiana, October 17 The Court of Judicial Magistrate First Class Satvir Kaur has acquitted six persons, including a former SAD MLA from Samrala, Samrala MC president and vice-president and former councillors, in a defamation complaint filed by police officer Gurmukh Singh, holding that allegations against them were not proved beyond reasonable doubt. The accused, Jagjiwan Singh Khirnia, former Akali MLA from Samrala; Mangat Rai, alias Lala Samrala, MC president; Dr Sikander Singh, MC vice-president; former councillors Satvir Singh Sekhon and Avtar Singh and Avtar Singh, a resident of Ward 5 in Samrala, were facing a trial as they had levelled “false” allegations against the policeman through a complaint submitted to the police authorities and thereby, lowered his reputation. The complainant, ASI Gurmukh Singh, had alleged that former councillors Satveer Sekhon had submitted a complaint to the CP Ludhiana, , alleging that he was associated with criminals and was sheltering persons involved in criminal and drug-related cases by misusing his influence while working in the crime branch. The police official claimed that the complaints were false and defamatory and were intended to put his government service in jeopardy and damage his reputation. The complainant examined himself and three other witnesses during the proceedings and produced several documents, including copies of the complaint submitted to the police and inquiry reports. The court noted that inquiry reports relating to the complaint did not record that they had been falsely filed with the intention of defaming the complainant. Rather, the reports stated that no convincing evidence or witness had been produced and that the complaint appeared to have arisen out of inimical relations between the parties. It further observed that the complainant himself had admitted during cross-examination that inquiry findings did not state that the applications were false, though he maintained that After man’s death, police step up checks at medical stores Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, October 17 Following the death of a man who had allegedly consumed intoxicating medicines purchased from a medical store on Karabara Road, the Ludhiana Police Commissionerate has intensified checks at chemist shops across the city. The move comes after an angry mob attacked and vandalised the medical store in the Old Sabzi Mandi area on Thursday, alleging that the chemist had sold prohibited intoxicating medicines to the victim. Sources said Commissioner of Police (CP) Swapan Sharma had issued strict directions to all 28 SHOs in the commissionerate to take immediate action against medical shop owners found involved in the illegal sale of banned intoxicating drugs. Additional DCP-I Sameer Verma said the Ludhiana Commissionerate Police and the civil authorities had joined forces to hold intensive inspections at medical shops across the city as part of efforts to curb the drug menace. “SHOs are conducting regular checks at shops and strict action is being taken against owners found indulging in the illegal sale of banned medicines. The owners had earlier also been warned that the police would recommend cancellation of the licences of offenders to the drug authorities,” Verma said. The deceased, Sahil Thakur, alias Sampi, a resident of the Karabara area, had reportedly purchased medicines from the shop in the afternoon. According to the police, Sahil no truth was found in them. Relying on the eighth exception to Section 499, IPC, the court held that an accusation made in good faith to a person having lawful authority over the subject matter cannot be treated as defamation. The court also found substance in the defence contention regarding lack of territorial jurisdiction of Ludhiana, observing that the complainant and the accused were permanent residents of Samrala and the alleged occurrence was related to Samrala. But instead of filing before the Samrala court, the complaint was filed at Ludhiana. Holding that the prosecution had failed to establish the offence beyond reasonable doubt, the court dismissed the complaint and acquitted all six suspects.. it had imposed environmental compensation of around Rs 13.8 crore on the MC for violations of the solid waste management rules between July 2020 and December 2025. However, only Rs 1.8 crore had been deposited by the civic body so far. Taking note of the poor recovery, the Tribunal directed the PPCB to initiate action under law to recover the outstanding amount so that the money could be used for specified purposes. The PPCB Chairman informed the Tribunal that action would be taken to issue a revenue recovery certificate against the MC. The Tribunal directed the PPCB to file an affidavit within eight weeks detailing the recovery action initiated, the calculation of environmental compensation for the remaining period and verification of disclosures made by the district administration and the MC regarding legacy waste and daily waste generation. The matter will now come up for hearing on January 20, 2027. Police officials inspect a drug hotspot in Malerkotla district. DC, SSP inspect drug hotspots in M’kotla, review security measures people with meaningful opportunities to build a better future. He emphasised that every section of society must come forward to channelise the energy of the youth towards sports, education, skill development and employment. He said individuals struggling with drug addiction needed compassion, treatment and rehabilitation opportunities rather than rejection or social stigma. The SSP issued a stern warning, saying those involved in the illegal drug trade and jeopardising the future of young people would not be spared under any circumstances. He said the district police had adopted a zerotolerance policy and stringent legal action would be taken against drug traffickers. He added that intensified checking, surprise inspections and search operations would continue to dismantle drug supply networks. No leniency would be shown towards anyone involved in unlawful activities. The DC urged residents to recognise the fight against drugs as a collective social responsibility and actively contribute to the campaign. Tidke also appealed to the public to share information regarding drug trafficking through the state government’s ‘Safe Punjab’ Anti-Drug WhatsApp Helpline’ at 97791 00200. DSP (H) Sumit Sood and Prabhjot Singh, social media incharge, Punjab Police, Malerkotla, were also present. — TNS 650 kg ‘fake’ paneer seized in major crackdown in city School peon held for molesting 16-yr-old girl Ludhiana, October 17 In a major crackdown on food adulteration, the Food Safety Wing of the Health Department on Saturday confiscated 650 kg of suspected fake paneer in Ludhiana. Acting on a tip-off received from a city resident, health officials reached the Subzi Mandi around 6.30 am and intercepted a vendor carrying 150 kg of suspected fake paneer. “We questioned the vendor and learnt that he was sourcing paneer from Haryana,” said Dr Ashish Chawla, District Health Officer. To trace the source of the fake product, officials asked the vendor to place a fresh order for a large quantity of paneer. Soon after, the supplier arrived with Ludhiana, October 17 To further strengthen the state government’s ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ campaign at the grassroots level, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Viraj S Tidke and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Harkamal Preet Singh Khakh inspected identified drug hotspots across Malerkotla district. During the inspection, they reviewed cleanliness, lighting arrangements, CCTV surveillance and security measures at sensitive locations and directed the officials concerned to take necessary action. The Malerkotla Deputy Commissioner said a lasting solution to the drug menace lay not only in enforcement but also in providing young Tribune News Service Health officials with the seized suspected fake paneer. 500 kg of paneer, which was also found to be fake. “The supplier himself came to deliver the order of 500 kg. The entire lot was fake. The stock has been seized and after sampling, it will be destroyed. Action will be taken after the arrival of the report,” Dr Chawla said. He urged people to be vigilant while purchasing dairy products. “People should buy paneer only from reputed and licensed shops. Consumers should be cautious of paneer being sold at unusually low prices, as such products may be adulterated or fake,” he said. “Saving a few rupees can put health at risk. If anyone suspects the quality of food being sold, they should inform the Health Department,” he said. — TNS Finishing touches was a drug addict. After returning to his factory, he collapsed and lost consciousness. Factory workers rushed him to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him dead. His family alleged that a banned medicine given to Sahil had led to his death. The incident triggered anger in the area, with a large number of people gathering outside the medical store, smashing its windows and ransacking its stock of medicines. The police nabbed medical shop owner Jaswinder Singh on the charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Chemist’s past sale of banned drugs being probed The ADCP said a probe was also under way to ascertain whether the chemist had previously been selling banned drugs to addicts. Ahead of Dasehra, an effigy being prepared by an artist at Daresi ground in Ludhiana. TRIBUNE PHOTO: HIMANSHU MAHAJAN c m y b Ludhiana, October 17 An incident of molestation of a schoolgirl allegedly occurred in a school in the city. The suspect, the peon at school, allegedly forcibly grabbed a girl who was looking for a book in the teacher’s room of the school and made obscene advances towards her. The police registered a case against the person, Prince Pal, on Friday and also arrested him. The complaint also alleged that he made a video of the 16-year-old student. While lodging the complaint at the Tibba police station, the girl’s mother stated that her 16-year-old daughter informed her that she needed a book at the school. She spoke to her class teacher about it, who asked her to collect the same from his office. According to the complaint, when the girl went to the teacher’s office to collect it, the peon also reached the place. While the girl was searching for the book, he forcibly grabbed her, pinned her against the wall, and molested her. The complainant alleged that they later came to know that the suspect had also made a video of the student. Considering the seriousness of the matter, the police registered a case against Prince Pal under Section 75 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The Tibba police after taking the suspect into their custody, began further investigation into the case.