28102026-LT-01.qxd 28-10-2026 00:48 Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune TOP COPS HOLD PUBLIC MEETING IN DRUG HOTSPOT FASHION INSPIRATION FOR KARVA CHAUTH DIG Sandeep Goyal and Khanna SSP Dr Darpan Ahluwalia visit drug hotspot Bondali village. P2 AHEAD OF INDIA AURA TOUR, DOSANJH VISITS TAJ MAHAL Discover festive wear, from elegant sarees to embroidered suits, for a glamorous Karva Chauth look. P4 » Punjabi singer Diljit Dosanjh shared an adorable video capturing glimpses of his visit to Taj Mahal in Agra. P4 » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 32°C | MIN 15°C YESTERDAY MAX 32°C | MIN 16°C SUNSET WEDNESDAY 5:38 PM SUNRISE THURSDAY 6:35 AM WEDNESDAY | 28 OCTOBER 2026 | LUDHIANA F&CC clears 45 of 49 proposals Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, October 27 The meeting of the Finance and Contracts Committee (F&CC) of the Municipal Corporation was held here on Tuesday. In the meeting, 49 agenda items were listed and around 45 were passed. Councillor and F&CC member Gaurav Bhatti raised several concerns during the meeting, questioning a number of development and financial proposals. During the meeting, one file under the councillor quota was approved but several agenda items were opposed. One of the major issues raised by Bhatti was regarding a proposal for awarding road construction works worth nearly Rs 20 crore to contractor Somaya. Bhatti argued that before handing over fresh projects to the firm, the Municipal Corporation should conduct a detailed assessment of its previous works and overall performance. “The corporation should first examine whether the contractor had completed earlier projects satisfactorily and within stipulated timelines,” he said. He also emphasised the ISSUES RAISED ■ One file under councillor quota was approved but several agenda items were opposed during the meeting ■ One of the major issues raised was regarding a proposal for awarding road construction works worth nearly ~20 crore to contractor Somaya ■ Following objections, another 18 table agenda proposals placed before the committee were not taken up for consideration need to verify the contractor’s available machinery, technical manpower, financial resources and overall capability to execute the project. Objection was also raised regarding installation of two tube wells in Hira Nagar, located in the Mayor’s ward. Responding to the concern, the Mayor clarified that the newly approved tube well would instead be shifted to Ward 75 and both tube wells would not be installed at the same location. After deliberations on 49 listed agenda items, another 18 table agenda proposals were placed before the committee. Bhatti objected to taking immediate decisions on the proposals and stated that the members should be given sufficient time to study and evaluate them. He said decisions involving public funds should not be taken without proper examination and discussion. Following his objections, the table agenda items were not taken up for consideration during the meeting. Proposals related to development works in various streets falling under the Central constituency were deferred and kept for consideration in the next F&CC meeting. The committee also cancelled a proposal for developing a park on a vacant plot in Focal Point. During the discussions, it was suggested that a green belt area could instead be utilised for creating a park, making the earlier proposal unnecessary. A proposal seeking approval for an agreement with Jeevashray Gaushala Sanstha was also rejected by the committee during the meeting. A proposal regarding the laying of a sewerage line in Ward 25, submitted by Cabinet Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian, was kept pending and referred to the next F&CC meeting for further consideration. Concerns were raised regarding a proposal for laying interlocking tiles and constructing roads in Hargobind Nagar, Ward 36. The proposal stated that roads would be constructed at an estimated cost of nearly Rs 4 crore through SASCI funds and if grants were not received, the work could be undertaken through the Municipal Corporation funds. Bhatti opposed the clause permitting the use of civic body funds. He maintained that the road project should be executed only through the designated SASCI funds and not through the corporation’s resources. Another issue that drew attention was a proposal to remove Geeta Bajaj from the position of retainerbased part-time law officer and instead, appoint Abhay Sahota on the post on a monthly remuneration of Rs 10,000. The proposal was objected by Bhatti and argued that any appointment involving public money should be made only after a detailed assessment of candidate’s qualifications, legal experience and performance record. “If required, the appointment can be made on a case-to-case panel basis. Proper scrutiny is essential to safeguard the corporation from any future financial or legal complications,” Bhatti said. Despite his objections, no other committee member reportedly supported his concerns and the matter was forwarded for further approval. Bhatti also requested the Municipal Secretary to officially record his objections in the meeting proceedings. The factory owner shows the huge stock gutted in fire in Ludhiana. PHOTO: ASHWANI DHIMAN Stock destroyed in garment unit fire Tribune News Service Ludhiana, October 27 A fire broke out at garment unit in Sunder Nagar reducing the huge stock of jackets to ashes on Tuesday. The stock was reportedly kept on the first and second floors of the unit while the flames could not reach ground and third floors where the machinery was lying. Firefighters took almost four hours to douse the flames. As per information, a fire broke out between 7.30 am to 8 am. Onlookers after noticing the fire, raised the alarm and informed the unit owner. Afterwards, the fire brigade was also informed. Fire officials said they had to coordinate with the Electricity Department to get the power supply disconnected before carrying out the operation. They said the fire was intense and they faced difficulty in dousing the flames. They said the main entrance was opened by the owner but the upper floors were locked. Firefighters had to make efforts to open doors and windows to ventilate the building. The incident again highlighted challenges faced by emergency services in the Sunder Nagar area, which has residential properties and industrial units. The fire officials said the incident had occurred early in the morning, when traffic was relatively less. The situation could have been difficult to manage had the fire broken out later during the daytime. Drugs seized in 62 cases destroyed Man opens fire at gurdwara gate Ludhiana, October 27 Reaffirming its zero-tolerance policy against drug trafficking, the Khanna police on Tuesday destroyed a substantial quantity of narcotics and related case property seized in 62 cases registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The contraband was incinerated at the Government Incinerator in Focal Point, Ludhiana, in strict compliance with provisions of the NDPS Act and prescribed disposal procedures. The destroyed case property included 24 kg of poppy husk, 16.5 kg of ganja, 5.249 kg of heroin, and 53 empty cloth bags used for the packaging and transportation of the contraband. The items had been recovered during various anti-drug operations conducted by the Khanna police and were retained as Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Police officials destroy narcotics seized under NDPS cases, in Ludhiana. case property pending completion of legal proceedings. Khanna SSP Dr Darpan Ahluwalia said, “The destruction of these narcotic substances marks an important step in our sustained campaign against the drug menace. The Khanna police are committed to ensuring that seized drugs are not only removed from circulation but are also destroyed in a transparent and lawful manner, eliminating any possibility of their re-entering the illegal market. We will continue to act decisively against drug peddlers and traffickers while adhering strictly to the process of law.” She said officials verified every item against official records before its destruction, ensuring full compliance with prescribed norms. — TNS Ludhiana, October 27 A masked man opened fire at the gate of Gurdwara Bhagat Dhanna Ji in Gagra village, located in the jurisdiction of the Jagraon police station, late on Monday night and fled after throwing a threat letter targeting the gurdwara head and a Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) worker. According to the police and the CCTV camera footage, the unidentified man, whose face was covered with a cloth, came to the gurdwara around 12.30 am. He threw a letter inside the gate, then pulled out a pistol. After checking the weapon a couple of times and dropping it once, he fired two rounds towards the gate before escaping. The bullets hit the wall of the sanctum sanctorum. The letter contained death threat against Baba Amarjit Leaves letter threatening gurdwara head, SAD worker A CCTV grab of the suspect at Gagra village in Jagraon. Singh, head of the gurdwara, and Gurinder Singh Roomi, a worker of the SAD. It also used abusive language against the Akal Takht Jathedar. The letter alleged that Baba Amarjit Singh and Roomi were extending support to SAD and BJP leaders by offering them siropas and a platform at the gurdwara. It warned that both of them would be eliminated before the elections and ended with slogans of ‘Akali Dal-BJP murdabad’. Roomi informed the police about the incident. The next morning, a team comprising 14-year-old girl ends life Inter-dist snatching gang busted, four land in police net Ludhiana, October 27 A 14-year-old girl, a student of Class IX, died by suicide in the Guru Nanak Nagar area here on Tuesday morning. The body of the victim was found when the mother called her for having tea, before leaving for work. According to the police, the victim’s family hails from Parsauli village in Bihar and has been staying in Ludhiana, where her parents work as daily wage labourers. Her mother is a factory worker. When the woman called her daughter and received no response, she sought help from neighbours. The door was forced open and the girl was found lying on the floor near the entrance. The police said the teenager had locked herself in the room before taking the step. Her parents informed the police that the girl had been mentally disturbed for some time. — TNS Tribune News Service Ludhiana, October 27 In a major breakthrough, the Malerkotla police have busted an inter-district gang that targeted women and snatched their gold jewellery. The gang committed at least eight such crimes in Malerkotla, Ludhiana and Tarn Taran. Four suspects have been arrested. Gang used to target victims in Malerkotla, Ludhiana, Tarn Taran They have been identified as Samu of Tarn Taran, Mukaddra Kumar of Jalandhar, Kada Ram of Tarn Taran, and Sanjay Kumar of Hoshiarpur. Sharing details with the media, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Harka- mal Preet Singh Khakh said the action was part of the district’s drive against drug smugglers and anti-social elements. The operation was carried out by a team of CIA Staff Mahorana, led by Inspector Harjinder Singh, under the supervision of SP (Investigation) Ramandeep Singh Bhullar and DSP (Investigation) Deepvinderpal Singh. On October 19, a police team led by ASI Lakhvinder Singh was investigating a case registered on July 1 on attempt-to-murder charges. During checking of suspicious persons and vehicles, the police received specific information that the suspects were trying to spend the night on Chhauni Road, Malerkotla. When the police team reached the spot, four youths saw the police vehicle and tried to flee. The complainant in the case, Dara Singh, identified them. Three of them, Samu, Mukaddra Kumar and Kada Ram, were caught on the spot. The fourth suspect, Sanjay Kumar, managed to escape. During interrogation, the suspects confessed to eight crimes. They said they committed the crimes along with their associates Lambu Baba, a resident of Mohalla Muradpura, Tarn Taran; and Mamta, a resident of a mohalla near the railway station in Tarn Taran. In Malerkotla, the gang committed four crimes. About three to four months ago, they snatched an earring from a woman on the Ludhiana road. About eight months ago, near the Ludhiana Bypass, they duped a woman of her earrings. About eight months ago, they snatched an earring and a ring from a c m y b woman on Sarod Road. About 25 days ago, they stopped a woman on Ratola Road and snatched her earrings. The gang also struck outside Malerkotla. About eight months ago, they snatched earrings from an elderly woman near Sabzi Mandi, Jalandhar Bypass, Ludhiana. They also snatched an earring from an elderly woman at Khadoor Sahib. Around eight months ago, they snatched ear tops from a woman on Jandiala Road. About a year ago, they snatched an earring from a woman at Khemkaran Bypass in Patti city. The gang members travelled on motorcycles from Tarn Taran and other districts. To avoid arrest, they did not stay in hotels and instead, spent nights at public places, such as spots near religious places. They usually targeted women, especially elderly, walking alone on busy roads and near bypasses. They would first engage the victim in conversation and distract her. Then they remove her gold earrings, ear tops or rings, sometimes by deceit and sometimes by snatching. Within moments they flee crime scenes on their motorcycles. They used to sell stolen gold to jewellers in Tarn Taran, which made it harder to trace them. On October 20, the three arrested suspects were produced before a court in Malerkotla and three days of police remand was obtained. On October 21, during the remand, Kada Ram led the police to Sanjay. Sanjay was arrested and a motorcycle used in the crimes was also seized. During further questioning, the suspects revealed that they had sold the snatched gold jewellery to two brothers, Rajvinder Singh, alias Rajan, and Harpreet Singh, alias Bholu, both sons of Balvinder Singh. The brothers, residents of Master Colony, Muradpura, Tarn Taran, run a jeweller’s shop in Tarn Taran. Both have been nominated in the case. The police have recovered one Pulsar motorcycle, mobile phone, one gold ring, one gold nose pin and one pair of gold earrings. Further interrogation of the suspects is underway and more recoveries are expected. SSP Khakh said the safety and dignity of women was top priority for the Malerkotla police. He said strict action would be taken against those who commit such crimes and also against those who buy stolen gold. the DSP and SHO of Sadar Jagraon and CIA staff inspected the scene and collected evidence. Speaking to mediapersons, Baba Amarjit Singh said the bullets had hit the wall but the incident has hurt the Sikh community. “The gurdwara is open to all political parties. We have no affiliation with any particular party. The attack is an assault on the entire Sikh sangat,” he said, expressing full faith in the police investigation. DSP Jaswinder Singh told mediapersons that a case was registered. “Cyber SHO and CIA teams are working under the direct supervision of the SSP We . will soon identify and arrest the suspects,” he said. The police launched a manhunt and appealed to the public to share any information related to the incident. 17 booked in assault case Ludhiana, October 27 Armed miscreants attacked the manager of a ice cream parlour in the Gopal Nagar area after he stopped some unidentified youths from attacking a youth. The victim, Rajesh Sharma, manager of the Basant Ice Cream outlet, said a few days ago when a group of youths were thrashing a youth, he got pushed the attackers back. They abused him but residents intervened after which he returned home. He said on the evening of October 24, a group of over 15 men, including Sukhpreet, Ravi, Rahul, Shubham and Vicky, barged into the house and thrashed him and his family members. Before fleeing, they looted around Rs 7,000 and vandalised the Baleno car parked outside. A case has been registered against 17 persons. — TNS