Ludhiana: Punjab's Tallest Ravana, CBI Raid Protests, and Drug-Free Cyclists

Ludhiana is set for Punjab's most spectacular Dussehra yet, with a record 121-foot Ravana effigy prepared for burning. Political tensions flared simultaneously as AAP workers protested a surprise CBI raid on the Chief Minister's office, triggering clashes with police in the streets.

🎉 Punjab's Tallest 121-Foot Ravana Effigy to Blaze at Ludhiana's Dussehra

Ludhiana is set to mark Dussehra with a landmark spectacle this year as organisers unveiled plans to burn a 121-foot Ravana effigy — the tallest ever constructed in Punjab. The towering structure, painstakingly built over several weeks by skilled artisans, will take centre stage during the city's main Dussehra celebration. Festival organisers said the effigy surpasses all previous records in the region and is expected to draw enormous crowds of families and devotees from across the district and beyond. Ludhiana has long celebrated Dussehra with great enthusiasm, and this year's event promises to exceed past editions in both scale and grandeur. The effigy burning represents the triumph of good over evil — a core message of the Ramayana — and reflects the deep spiritual and cultural significance Dussehra holds for Punjab's Hindu and Sikh communities alike. Local authorities deployed additional security and crowd management personnel at the venue to ensure a safe celebration. Food stalls, cultural performances, and devotional programmes are expected to run alongside the effigy-burning ceremony, making the event a full community festival experience for Ludhiana's residents. [1]

AAP Workers Clash with Police After CBI Raids CM's Office in Ludhiana

Tensions boiled over in Ludhiana after Central Bureau of Investigation officials conducted a raid on the Chief Minister's office in the city, prompting swift and angry protests from Aam Aadmi Party workers. AAP supporters took to the streets almost immediately, accusing the BJP-led central government of using the CBI as a political weapon against the elected Punjab administration. The protest turned confrontational as workers clashed with police deployed at the scene, resulting in scuffles and detentions. Senior AAP leaders condemned the raid as an act of vendetta, alleging that central agencies were being weaponised to destabilise a democratically elected state government. The incident intensified the ongoing political battle between the ruling AAP in Punjab and the central government, with state leaders calling for calm while defending the party's right to protest. The CBI did not immediately disclose the full scope or purpose of the raid. Critics of AAP noted that opposition parties have raised ongoing concerns about governance, but party officials rejected all such claims as politically motivated and demanded that the centre be held accountable for what they described as an unprecedented overreach into state affairs. [2]

🎓 Four Ludhiana Schoolgirls Earn Places at National Cricket Tournament

Four schoolgirls from Ludhiana have earned the distinction of representing their state at a national-level cricket tournament, bringing pride to their families, schools, and the broader sporting community of Punjab. The young cricketers, all students at local schools, were chosen following a rigorous selection process evaluating batting, bowling, and fielding skills across district and state-level trials. Their selection is celebrated as a milestone for girls' cricket in Ludhiana, a city historically more associated with industrial prowess than national sporting achievement. Coaches and sports administrators praised the players' dedication, noting they trained consistently despite limited infrastructure for women's cricket in the city. The development reflects a growing trend of greater participation by young girls in competitive sports across Punjab, driven in part by government sports promotion schemes and increased community support for female athletes. Parents and school principals expressed immense pride, with one teacher describing it as proof that Ludhiana's youth can compete at the highest levels when given the right opportunities. The four players are now preparing intensively for the national tournament, with the entire district rallying behind them. [3]

Ludhiana Cyclists Rally Through City Streets for a Drug-Free Punjab

In a powerful show of community solidarity, cyclists from across Ludhiana took to the city's streets to raise awareness about Punjab's ongoing drug crisis and advocate for a drug-free society. The cycling rally, organised by local civil society groups and sporting associations, drew participants of all ages — from schoolchildren to senior citizens — united by a common message: that substance abuse has devastated too many families and communities across Punjab, and that collective action is needed. Riders carried banners bearing anti-drug slogans as they pedalled through major roads and neighbourhoods, drawing attention from passersby and garnering widespread public support. Organisers said the rally aimed not only to raise awareness but also to demonstrate that healthy alternatives to drug dependency exist, and that sports and physical activity can play a role in rehabilitation and prevention. Punjab has grappled for decades with high rates of drug addiction, particularly involving heroin and synthetic opioids, affecting both rural and urban populations. This cycling rally is part of a broader civil society effort to push local authorities to increase support for de-addiction centres, counselling services, and community outreach. Participants pledged to continue advocacy work in the weeks ahead. [9]

Former Sarpanch Shot Dead in Ludhiana, Raising Fears Over Safety of Local Leaders

A former village headman was shot dead in Ludhiana district, triggering widespread alarm about the safety of local elected leaders and former office-holders across Punjab. The victim, identified as a former sarpanch, was gunned down in what police are investigating as a targeted attack, with initial reports citing a possible land dispute as the motive. The killing was captured on a dashcam, which recorded the attacker firing approximately ten rounds at the victim's vehicle. Family members alleged that the murder was carried out by the victim's own brother over a longstanding property dispute — a claim that authorities are treating seriously as they examine available evidence. The incident adds to a growing list of attacks on sarpanches and former sarpanches in Punjab, raising urgent questions about law enforcement's ability to protect local leaders, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas where land and resource conflicts are common. Opposition parties seized on the killing to demand that the AAP government take immediate measures to improve security for village heads and elected representatives. Human rights advocates called for a broader review of factors driving violence over land ownership in Punjab, pointing to gaps in land administration and dispute resolution mechanisms as contributing factors to this troubling trend. [4]

Sources: [1] ETV Bharat · [2] Punjab Newsline · [3] The Tribune · [9] The Times of India · [4] The New Indian Express