31102026-LT-01.qxd 10/31/2026 12:54 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune CONG WORKERS ON TOES FOR RAHUL’S RALLY IN SANGRUR BOOK CHRONICLES ’84 ANTI-SIKH RIOTS, LASTING IMPACT ON STATE WHY GEN Z & MILLENNIALS ASK CHATBOTS HOW TO LOVE... Senior party leader Rana Gurjit Singh has been tasked with mobilising masses from Ludhiana. P2 The 1984 anti-Sikh violence is one of three narratives explored in Dr Ajay Sharma’s new book. P3 Aisle’s 2026 survey of 8,240 urban Indian singles finds 51.2 per cent run their dating messages via AI. P4 » » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 29°C | MIN 16°C YESTERDAY MAX 28°C | MIN 17°C SUNSET SATURDAY 5:35 PM SUNRISE SUNDAY 6:37 AM SATURDAY | 31 OCTOBER 2026 | LUDHIANA Clothing shop owner’s nephew dies as fire engulfs Field Ganj building DC marks magisterial probe, cause behind blaze being examined Sukhpreet Singh Tribune News Service Ludhiana, October 30 A 26-year-old man was killed and panic gripped the densely populated Field Ganj area after a massive fire broke out in a two-storey building housing a clothing business on Friday afternoon. A series of explosions, reportedly involving crackers stored inside the building, further intensified the blaze and led to the collapse of parts of the structure. The deceased has been identified as Sahil Sabarwal, nephew of clothing shop owner Goldy Sabarwal. The fire broke out at Pulkit Fashion in Field Ganj, around 1.30 pm. According to fire officials, two to three loud explosions were heard soon after the fire started. The blasts were powerful enough to damage the structure while the air-conditioner also reportedly exploded as the flames spread. Fire officials said crackers had been stored on the first and second floors of the building. The presence of firecrackers reportedly led to repeated explosions and made it difficult for firefighters to enter the premises. The lintel of the second floor also collapsed during the fire, Kin of the deceased in shock after the incident in Field Ganj on Friday. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN further adding to difficulties faced by rescue teams. Goldy Sabarwal said Sahil had gone upstairs following a fluctuation in the electricity supply. He suspected that a short-circuit in the inverter could have triggered the fire. He said crackers left over from the previous year had been stored inside the building. Sahil had barely gone upstairs when a powerful explosion occurred. A shopkeeper from the adjoining area also witnessed the incident. Sarabjit Singh, who owns a shop in Gali Number 9, said several heavy explosions were heard around 2 pm. “We heard heavy explosions. There was a suspected cylinder blast and an AC blast, while crackers also kept bursting for around 15 to 20 minutes. Sahil was even seen asking for help from a window, but there was heavy smoke and flames all around. The fire eventually engulfed him,” he said. Fire official Dinesh Kumar said the narrow lane made the operation difficult. Firefighters had to take water pipes deep inside the lane to reach the building and douse the flames. The operation continued for nearly three hours before the blaze was brought under control. The intense heat and repeated explosions damaged the structure, with portions of the building collapsing during the incident. As a precautionary measure, shops in Gali Numbers 9, 10 and 11, besides establishments in the nearby Kucha Gali area, were closed. The decision was taken as the fire had spread rapidly and there were fears that the flames could reach adjoining buildings. The area is known for its large number of clothing shops, and the incident created panic among traders, residents and people working in surrounding establishments. The reported storage of crackers inside the commercial building has also raised questions over fire-safety norms and the storage of inflammable material in a densely populated commercial area. Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain said a magisterial inquiry had been ordered into the incident. “A magisterial inquiry has been marked to the SDM (East). Strict action will be taken against those found guilty of violating the rules,” he said. The inquiry will look into circumstances leading to the fire, the alleged storage of crackers inside the building and possible violations of the safety norms. Meanwhile, the Fire Department and the police are also examining the exact cause of the blaze. The possibility of an inverter short-circuit, along with the reported presence of crackers and other factors, is being investigated. Man nabbed within 48 hours of firing at Jagraon gurdwara Tribune News Service Ludhiana, October 30 The Jagraon police have arrested a man in 48 hours of a firing incident outside Gurdwara Gopalsar Sahib in Gagar village. The police have also recovered a countrymade .32 bore pistol, a magazine and the motorcycle allegedly used in the crime during his arrest on Thursday. According to the police, two shots were fired outside the gurdwara on the night intervening October 26 and 27 by an unidentified man wearing a mask. A threatening letter was also found near the main gate of the gurdwara, in which its head, Baba Amarjit Singh, was threatened. The police had registered an FIR on October 27 under Sections 109 and 351(2) of the BNS and Sections 25 and 27 of the Arms Act at the Jagraon Sadar police station. Senior Superintendent of Police (Rural) Ankur Gupta said special teams were formed under the supervision of senior police officials to crack the case. The police examined CCTV footage from routes connected to the crime scene and used technical and human intelligence to identify the suspect. The suspect has been identified as Sandeep Singh, alias Soni, a resident of Kariyal vil- The suspect in police custody in Ludhiana. lage in Moga district. During preliminary questioning, the man allegedly told the police that he had earlier been a follower of Baba Amarjit Singh and used to stay at Gurdwara Gopalsar Sahib. He had returned to his native village around a year ago. The suspects allegedly claimed that he had planned the firing on the instructions of Baba Amarjit Singh, as the latter wanted police security. The police said the suspect reached the scene alone on a Bajaj Discover motorcycle. To conceal his identity, he wore a turban, covered his face with a cloth and wrapped himself in clothes to hide his appearance. Later, he fired two shots outside the gurdwara Tribunal imposes ~10K costs on MC Valmiki Samaj leaders demand for delay in filing action-taken report accountability, impartial probe DISRESPECT TO DR AMBEDKAR’S STATUE Sukhpreet Singh Tribune News Service Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service Ludhiana, October 30 Tension gripped the city again after the glass enclosure around Dr BR Ambedkar’s statue at Jalandhar Bypass Chowk was allegedly damaged on Friday morning. Though the woman accused of vandalising the protective shield was arrested, the third such incident at the site has raised serious concerns over security arrangements around the statue, including police deployment and CCTV surveillance. Members of the Bhartiya Valmiki Dharam Samaj (BHAVADAS) have demanded accountability, alleging repeated attempts to disturb peace and communal harmony in the city. Vijay Danav, chief organiser of BHAVADAS, said antisocial elements were trying to disrupt peace but would not be allowed to succeed. “A delegation will meet the authorities over the issue. Similar assurances were given after the earlier incidents, yet another attempt was made on Friday. The authorities must take responsibility for the lapse despite their commitments to ensure the statue’s safety,” he said. Calling it a political ploy, BJP (Ludhiana Urban) president Sunil Moudgil said the government had failed to honour its promises. “Despite repeated assurances regarding the security of Dr Ambedkar’s statue, another attempt was made to damage it,” he said. Ashwani Sahota, chief director of the Bhartiya Valmiki Dharam Samaj, said the community was concerned by the recurring incidents. “It suggests that someone is attempting to disturb peace in the state. On the previous occasion, the police claimed that a mentally unstable person was involved. This time too, they have said the woman accused of pelting stones was mentally unstable. We want an impartial probe into the incidents,” he said. Chaudhry Yashpal said the police must identify those orchestrating the repeated attempts to provoke unrest. “These could be electionrelated stunts but the community deserves answers. Merely arresting individuals and claiming they are mentally challenged does not address larger questions surrounding such incidents,” he said. It is the third reported attempt to damage Dr Ambedkar’s statue at Jalandhar Bypass Chowk. Each such incident has triggered tension in the city and sparked reactions from members of the Valmiki community. Community leaders warned the authorities to identify and book those actually responsible for desecrating the statue of Dr Ambedkar. Otherwise, the administration should be prepared to face widespread resentment from the community, they said. Ludhiana, October 30 The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed costs of Rs 10,000 on the Municipal Corporation, Ludhiana, for seeking yet another adjournment to file an action-taken report in a case concerning alleged unauthorised openings of commercial establishments towards a green belt along Model Town Extension Road here. The Principal Bench of the NGT in New Delhi granted the civic body one final week to submit the report, while directing it to deposit the cost with the NGT Bar Association, Principal Bench, within the same period. The matter pertains to alleged unauthorised doors and shutters of commercial establishments opening towards the green belt along Model Town Extension Road and near the Rotary Club. During a hearing on September 17, the Tribunal examined an additional action-taken report sub- Case pertains to 'illegal' access to commercial establishments from a green belt mitted by the MC Commissioner on July 30. The Bench found the report inadequate, noting that it did not mention measurements and dimensions of the green belt. The Tribunal also raised concerns over the civic body’s earlier report dated May 8, in which the MC had stated that four shops adjoining the green belt had been completely closed and sealed. Questioning the action, the Tribunal observed that if no encroachment existed, there appeared to be no reason to seal the shops. If unauthorised encroachments were present, it sought an explanation as to why they had not been removed. The NGT made it clear that merely locking or sealing doors and shutters would not amount to compliance with its directions. It directed that openings facing the greenbelt should be permanently closed through appropriate construction, if they were not specifically permitted under sanctioned building plans. The MC was instructed to submit a comprehensive report detailing the status of every such opening, the measurements of the green belt, relevant sanctioned building plans and supporting documents. The Tribunal also sought video recordings of the site to verify the ground situation. At the subsequent hearing on October 26, the civic body sought another week’s time to file the report. While allowing the request, the Tribunal imposed a costs of Rs 10,000. The MC has now been directed to submit the complete action-taken report within a week. The matter has been listed for hearing on December 7 along with exe- cution application of 2025. The applicants, Kapil Arora and Vikas Arora, have maintained that the green belt was meant for environmental protection and public use and should not be compromised by unauthorised commercial openings or access points. They have further argued that physically closing unauthorised openings, rather than merely sealing or locking them, is necessary to ensure compliance with the Tribunal’s directions. According to the applicants, the MC should ensure effective compliance on the ground and provide complete information to the Tribunal instead of filing incomplete reports or repeatedly seeking extensions. The case has again drawn attention to the protection of green belts in the city and the need for authorities to prevent commercial establishments from using such public spaces through unauthorised openings or access points. Four farm fires in a day, district admn on alert Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service A farm fire site near Lalton village in Ludhiana. ASHWANI DHIMAN Ludhiana, October 30 Four farm fires in the district on October 29 have sent the district administration in a tizzy. The fires noticed by the Punjab Remote Sensing Centre have put the authorities on high alert as the Deputy Commissioner has asked the officials concerned to send the action-taken report. The DC has sought a detailed compliance report of all the spots. The four farm fires have been reported on Thursday from Dhollan village in Jagraon tehsil, Roomi village in Jagraon tehsil, Chomon village in Payal and Chak Bhaika village in Raikot tehsil. The data of fire incidents (Kharif season) suggests that from September 15 to October 29, Ludhiana has so far reported six incidents of farm fires whereas in 2024, during this period, 48 cases were reported, while in 2025, 17 c m y b cases were reported. In the past three years, on October 29, the district had received almost similar reports of farm fires. In 2024, five farm fires were reported while in 2025 and 2026, four each were reported in the district. In the past three years, from September 15 to October 29, maximum farm fires were reported from Ferozepur district — 45 in 2024, 32 in 2025 and 49 in 2026. Though the authorities have started taking stern action against the fires in open fields as FIRs have also been registered for creating health hazards by burning straw in open, the practice continues. Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain said the administration would continue to adopt a stern approach towards burning of straw in open fields and it will not be allowed. “We will take action as per law by registering FIRs, imposing penalties, etc. We cannot allow anyone to play with the health of the people and degrade the environment”, he said. The three main districts responsible for degrading the environment with maximum farm fires are Tarn Taran 1,093 farm fires in three years, followed by Amritsar with 840 incidents and Ferozepur with 495 farm fires. In Ludhiana district, 71 farm fires were reported in the past three years. and fled towards his village. The suspect also allegedly told the police that he had purchased the countrymade .32 bore pistol and cartridges from an area near Mirzapur in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, around six months ago. The police have recovered the pistol along with its magazine, the motorcycle allegedly used in the crime and the clothes worn by the suspect at the time of the incident. Sandeep was produced before a court on Friday and remanded in seven-day police custody. Further investigation is underway to verify the claims made by the suspect and ascertain the motive behind the firing and the threatening letter. Property dealer gets ~5-crore extortion threat Tribune News Service Ludhiana, October 30 A city-based property dealer has approached the police after allegedly receiving a Rs 5-crore extortion demand from a caller who claimed to be gangster Rohit Godara and threatened to kill him if the money was not paid. The threat was allegedly made through WhatsApp from an international number. Following a complaint by the businessman, the Sarabha Nagar police have registered a case against an unidentified person under Section 308(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The complainant, Varun Bagga of Baddowal, is involved in the property business. According to his complaint, he received a WhatsApp call from an international number on October 23. He could not speak to the caller during the first call. The suspect contacted him again through the same number that day. Bagga told the police that the caller introduced himself as gangster Rohit Godara and demanded Rs 5 crore. The caller allegedly issued a death threat and warned Bagga of serious consequences if he failed to pay the amount. The businessman subsequently approached the police, following which an FIR was registered. Jagdeep Singh said the police were examining WhatsApp calls and other available technical information to trace the person behind the threat. The police are also working to establish whether the caller had any connection with the gang or was impersonating the gangster to intimidate the businessman.