20012026-LT-01.qxd 1/20/2026 12:51 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune LOCALS FUME AS PIPELINE LEAKS SOON AFTER REPAIRS CITY GIRLS SHINE AS PUNJAB WIN DAV CRICKET TOURNEY ‘BEING PART OF BORDER 2 FEELS LIKE LIVING A DREAM’ Fifth such leakage reported at the same spot on round-the-clock water supply network. P2 Five students from DAV Public School in BRS Nagar are part of the winning cricket team. P2 Vansh Bhardwaj speaks with immense gratitude about becoming part of a legacy he admired as a child. P4 » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 22°C | MIN 5°C YESTERDAY MAX 21°C | MIN 5°C SUNSET TUESDAY 5.49 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 7:18 AM » TUESDAY | 20 JANUARY 2026 | LUDHIANA Panic in Khanna as assailants fire shots at garment trader’s house Four suspects also tried to set parked vehicle afire, investigation on SP (Investigation) Pawanjit said police teams would soon crack the case and a probe was on to trace the suspects. Tribune News Service Ludhiana, January 19 Panic spread in the Khatika mohalla of Khanna city on Monday when unidentified assailants targeted the residence of a garment trader, Ashu Vijan. Four miscreants on two motorcycles opened fire at the victim’s residence. The man owns ‘Dev Collection’ showroom in Khanna. Upon receiving information about the incident, senior police officials rushed to the scene with a heavy police force and began investigation. A forensic team collected evidence from the scene and examined footage of nearby CCTV cameras to determine the attackers’ route and identity. As per information, around 3:40 am, the attackers reached the place and opened fire. Shots were fired at the gate of the house. A bullet also hit the windshield of the car parked outside. The suspects also attempted to set the car on fire after putting petrol on it before fleeing the scene. Vijan, his wife, mother, Recent incidents Police officials conduct a probe at the crime scene in Khanna on Monday. and two sons were present in the house at the time of the incident. The police are questioning Vijan about receiving any threatening calls, suspicious individuals or any disputes at the showroom. The miscreants opened fire at the main gate of the house and also damaged the front windshield of he victim’s car parked outside. To spread terror, these miscreants not only fired shots but also attempted to set the car on fire but were unsuccessful. Low visibility While the motive behind the attack is unclear, the police are investigating the matter from all angles. Officials said the suspects would be arrested soon. The incident had created a sense of fear and insecurity among local traders and residents. A luxury car rental showroom was targeted by armed men in Baddowal, opposite the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) camp on the Ludhiana–Ferozepur highway, by unidentified armed miscreants who opened fire in broad daylight on January 10. An extortion of Rs 2 crore was also demanded in the name of gangster Kaushal Chaudhary from the owner. On the intervening night of January 5 and 6, three bike-borne miscreants opened fire at a closed readymade garment showroom in Civil City, after which they demanded extortion by claiming to be members of the Rohit Godara gang. The showroom owner, Himanshu, claimed he received a threat call from a foreign number. The caller demanded an extortion of Rs 50 lakh. The case was cracked by the police after an encounter with the suspects. Maid drugs driver, decampswith 1/2 kg gold, diamond jewellery Tribune News Service Ludhiana, January 19 Targeting a businessman’s house, a Nepalese maid hired around 15 days ago drugged the family driver by mixing a sedative into his food and took away 50 tolas (half kg) of gold and diamond jewellery before fleeing the scene. The estimated value of the stolen jewellery is over Rs 70 lakh. Family members were shocked to find the driver unconscious on a sofa when they returned home from a birthday party. Acting on the complaint of Ravneet Singh, the house owner and a resident of Sarabha Nagar, the Police Division 5 registered a case against the suspect, identified as Parvati, and started a probe. Ravneet informed the police that he and his family had gone to attend a birthday party on Saturday. When the family returned home around 2 am and opened the door, they were shocked to find the driver lying unconscious on a sofa in the drawing room. Despite their efforts to wake him up, he remained unresponsive. When they called out for Parvati, she was found missing. Upon checking the house, they found that around 50 tolas of gold and diamond jewellery were missing. On the complaint of the house owner, the police registered a case against the woman. Raids are being conducted at her whereabouts. Two of suspect’s unidentified accomplices, who connived with the maid, were also booked by the police. Drug case suspect escapes from court after pushing cop Ludhiana, January 19 A suspect in a drug trafficking case escaped from the Court Complex parking lot after pushing sub-inspector (SI) Kashmir Singh. Following the incident, the Police Division 5 registered a case against the man, identified as Stephen Sidhu, a resident of the Salem Tabri area, based on the complaint filed by the police official. The SI, from the Salem Tabri police station, stated that a case under the NDPS Act had recently been registered against Sidhu. He, along with a police team, had brought the suspect to court for hearing. The court granted a one-day police remand for questioning. While they were taking the suspect in handcuffs out of the court towards the lawyers’ parking area, the man loosened his handcuffs. Later, he pushed him and managed to flee. Now, a fresh case was registered against Sidhu and a manhunt was launched to nab him, he said. — TNS Next NGT hearing on carcass Miraculous escape plant relocation on April 15 for two as luxury car catches fire Tribune News Service Motorists commute amid dense fog on a flyover in Ludhiana. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN Ludhiana, January 19 The administration has sought more time for the relocation of the carcass plant in the previous hearing before the National Green Tribunal (NGT). Now, the next date of hearing has been fixed for April 15. Earlier, the NGT had imposed a penalty of Rs 50,000 on the Municipal Corporation in September for failing to comply with its orders of shifting the plant. The joint action committee had shortlisted two sites at Balloke and Bhattian villages. The committee comprising officials from the Municipal Corporation, GLADA, District Town Planning Office, Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board, Punjab Pollution Control Board and the Sub- Tribune News Service The carcass plant was scheduled for inauguration at Noorpur Bet village in July 2021 but faced opposition from residents. FILE Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Ludhiana (West), was formed and given the task of its relocation. Located at Noorpur Bet village, the carcass plant was constructed at a cost of Rs 7.98 crore. The facility was designed to process cattle carcasses into poultry feed supplements and fertilisers. It was expected to modernise carcass management in Ludhiana and reduce environmental hazards caused by open dumping. The plant was scheduled for inauguration in July 2021 but faced opposition from local residents concerned about odour, pollution and its proximity to their houses. PROPOSAL TO DEVELOP FLATS ON PLOT DESIGNATED FOR PRIMARY SCHOOL LIT advt for objections draws criticism from residents Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service Ludhiana, January 19 An advertisement floated by the Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT), inviting objections to its proposal to develop residential flats on a vacant plot in Rajguru Nagar under the 129-acre scheme, has drawn criticism from residents. Several residents and social activists have opposed the move, maintaining that the land was originally designated for a primary school and is now being diverted for commercial gains. They fear the change in land use would lead to environmental Nepalese help, hired around 15 days ago, two aides booked Residents say change in land use will lead to environmental degradation and adverse ecological impact. FILE degradation and adverse ecological impact. The public notice inviting objections was published by the LIT in various sections of the media. Social activists picked up the advertisement and circulated it on social media platforms, following which a controversy erupted. Residents claimed that in an attempt to generate revenue, the state government was allegedly stooping to the level of offering the prime land to private players for financial gains. Ranjodh Singh of GS Autos alleged that the move reflected corruption as the land meant for a primary school was being sold for commercial purposes, which would cause environmental damages. Brij Bhushan Goel, an alumnus of SCD Government College, said 1.05 acres in Rajguru Nagar had been c m y b marked for a primary school in September 2025. However, recently, the LIT floated an advertisement stating that the site would instead be used for residential flats, with private players being roped in for the project. “It appears that the state government’s coffers are empty and with elections due in 2027, it needs funds. However, it is uncalled for on the part of the government to sell chunks of public land to private players. The present AAP government seems bankrupt and such attempts are being made to collect funds for reasons known to all,” said Goel. The LIT had designated the space for the construction of a primary school only in September 2025. Talking to The Tribune, LIT president Tarsem Bhinder said the space was initially marked for a “private” primary school but nearby residents objected to the proposal and no private players came forward to set up the school. “We had to make use of the land to generate income for the LIT. Eventually, it was decided to go ahead with residential activity at the site, for which the advertisement was issued recently. We have invited objections and will take a decision accordingly,” said Bhinder. Ludhiana, January 19 A BMW car caught fire near MBD Mall on the Ferozepur road here on Saturday night. The man driving the car quickly pulled over alongside the road when he saw smoke rising from the hood but he was unable to get out. Within seconds, the fire turned into raging flames. The blaze slowly engulfed the entire car, following which people gathered on the road. The fire was so intense that the car was reduced to ashes in a few minutes. The man and a woman sitting in the vehicle jumped out of the car and saved their lives. Passers-by made videos of the incident, which showed the fire first started in the front portion of the car, and then, after some time, the entire car was engulfed in flames. The flames were so intense that the passers-by had to stand at a distance. Fire turned into raging flames, engulfed entire vehicle in few minutes Ajay, who owns a shop, showed courage and tried to extinguish the fire but the flames were so intense that his efforts were ineffective. Afterwards, people informed the fire brigade. The fire brigade received information about the incident around 11:36 pm. After which, a fire tender was sent to the spot to douse the flames. Fireman Raman Kumar said when they reached the place, high flames were already rising from the car. After a few minutes, the fire was brought under control by the fire personnel, but by then, the vehicle had been reduced to ashes. The police said the exact cause of the fire was to be ascertained and further investigation was launched. Suspect flees police custody from hospital, arrested Ludhiana, January 19 A commotion broke out at the Civil Hospital when a suspect, brought in for a medical examination, escaped from police custody on Monday. However, due to the promptness of the police, the man was apprehended again within a short period. According to information received from sources, the Tibba police had taken the suspect into their custody in connection with a case involving intoxicating tablets. ASI Inderjit Singh had brought the man, identified as Saurav, to the Civil Hospital for a medical check-up. During this time, the suspect managed to dodge the police and flee. The authorities said the suspect was arrested again and further legal proceedings had been initiated. Meanwhile, when the suspect was caught by the police from the hospital, he told mediapersons that he had not escaped rather he went to the washroom. — TNS