Ludhiana Dussehra: 121-Foot Ravana, Sarpanch Killing Raises Alarm, and AAP-CBI Clash
Ludhiana this week prepared for one of Punjab's most dramatic Dussehra celebrations while confronting two stories that placed the city at the centre of serious political and security questions: the targeted killing of a former village leader and a street-level confrontation between ruling party workers and central investigators.
Ludhiana to Burn Punjab's Tallest 121-Foot Ravana Effigy at Dussehra
Ludhiana is preparing to light Punjab's tallest Ravana effigy this Dussehra, a 121-foot structure that has become a defining feature of the city's festive calendar. ETV Bharat reported that the massive effigy is being crafted by Asgar Ali and his family, a Muslim family that has been making Ravana effigies for Ludhiana's Dussehra celebrations across three generations. The detail is striking both for what it says about the city's interfaith traditions and for the craftsmanship involved in building a structure of this scale. Ravana effigies of this height require weeks of skilled construction, careful engineering to ensure safe burning, and detailed coordination with local fire safety and event authorities. Ludhiana's Dussehra grounds typically draw large crowds from across the district, and a 121-foot effigy is likely to attract visitors from beyond the city limits as well. The fact that this tradition has been carried by one family across generations makes it not just a festival spectacle but a living piece of the city's cultural memory, one that embodies the shared celebration of a Hindu festival by artisans from a different faith community. Preparations were well underway at the time of reporting, with the effigy nearing completion ahead of the Vijaya Dashami date. [1]
Former Sarpanch Navtej Singh Shot Dead, Raising Questions About Punjab Security
Former sarpanch Navtej Singh, alias Neetu, 60, was killed by two men on a motorbike in Ludhiana, in a targeted attack that has deepened concerns about the safety of local elected leaders in Punjab. The New Indian Express reported that the killing came against the backdrop of a series of attacks on sarpanches and other local politicians in the state, raising questions about the effectiveness of the AAP-led Punjab government's anti-gangster drive, known as 'Gangsteran Te Vaar.' Singh was shot while returning home in an Innova vehicle, according to ETV Bharat. The pattern of attacks on village-level leaders has been a persistent challenge for successive Punjab governments, with organised crime and politically motivated violence often intersecting at the local governance level. Sarpanches occupy a crucial position in rural Punjab, overseeing panchayat funds, land disputes, and community services, which makes them both influential and exposed to pressure from vested interests. The latest killing prompted demands from opposition parties and civil society groups for a more robust protection framework for local elected representatives. Investigators were examining possible links to criminal networks operating in the Ludhiana district and the broader Punjab landscape of gangster-affiliated violence that has persisted despite high-profile crackdowns. [3]
AAP Workers Clash with Police During Protest Over CBI Raid on CM Office
Aam Aadmi Party workers in Ludhiana clashed with police during protests against a CBI raid on the Chief Minister's office, in a confrontation that placed the city at the centre of one of Punjab's most charged political disputes of the week. Punjab Newsline reported the incident on October 7, 2026, capturing the tension on the streets as party workers mobilised in response to what AAP leadership characterised as a politically motivated central investigation. The CBI, as a central government agency, operates under the supervision of the Union government, and raids on the offices of state governments led by opposition parties have become a recurring flashpoint in Indian centre-state relations. For AAP, which came to power in Punjab on a strong anti-corruption mandate, any investigation by central agencies is politically sensitive, as it touches the party's core identity. The protest scenes in Ludhiana, one of Punjab's largest commercial cities and an important organisational stronghold for AAP, underscored the depth of feeling the raid had generated among the party's grassroots base. Workers carrying banners and slogans filled key intersections before police intervened to disperse the gathering. The broader political fallout from the raid and the subsequent street-level response was expected to continue to dominate Punjab's political discourse in the coming days. [5]
Sources: [1] ETV Bharat · [3] The New Indian Express · [5] Punjab Newsline