Ludhiana rocked by gang murder, domestic violence arrest, and anti-drug sweep
Punjab Police booked six suspects in a gruesome gang murder in which a man was killed and his severed hand delivered to a neighbourhood grocery store. In a separate case, a Ludhiana man was caught on CCTV beating his wife after she failed to bring dowry. Meanwhile, police swept eight drug hotspots across the city, registering up to 20 FIRs and detaining more than 50 suspects.
Murder victim's hand left at grocery store; six booked, one arrested
Punjab Police booked six people and arrested one suspect in connection with a gruesome murder that shocked Ludhiana on the night of October 24. According to ETV Bharat, a group of attackers entered the residence of a man, assaulted him, and severed his hand before fleeing. The severed hand was subsequently deposited at a nearby grocery store, accompanied by what investigators described as an instruction message intended for the shop owner. The victim, who sustained severe injuries during the attack, later succumbed to those injuries. Police registered the case at Daba Police Station in Ludhiana and quickly moved to detain suspects. One person was placed under formal arrest, while five others named in the case remained at large as the initial investigation got underway. ETV Bharat photographs showed the exterior of the grocery store where the hand was placed, and the Daba police station where the investigation was based. The calculated delivery of the severed limb to a public commercial establishment — combined with the accompanying instruction message — led investigators to treat the killing as a targeted, premeditated act, raising the prospect of organised criminal involvement. Punjab Police subsequently appealed to witnesses and community members for information as they sought to apprehend the remaining suspects in what quickly became one of the most high-profile crimes of the week in Ludhiana. [8]
Husband caught on CCTV assaulting wife over dowry demands in Ludhiana
A disturbing case of domestic violence in Ludhiana came to public attention after CCTV footage emerged showing a man physically assaulting his wife outside their home. NDTV reported that the incident occurred on the night of October 21, when Ritish Sharma was recorded on camera slapping and grabbing his wife, Twinkle, by her hair outside their residence on a Ludhiana street. According to the report, Sharma had demanded that Twinkle bring a Mahindra Thar vehicle and a motorcycle to the marriage, and the attack was allegedly linked to her failure to fulfil those dowry demands. The footage, captured by a street-facing camera near their home, showed Sharma throwing Twinkle onto the road during the confrontation. Neighbours, alarmed by her screams, rushed out of their homes and intervened, managing to rescue Twinkle from the situation. She subsequently approached police and filed a formal complaint against her husband, submitting the CCTV video as evidence to support her account. The case drew widespread attention after NDTV broadcast the footage on October 25, highlighting the persistent challenge of dowry-linked violence in Punjab. Twinkle's decision to file a complaint and share the footage publicly was widely noted as a step toward seeking legal accountability for the abuse she had suffered. [7]
🗳️ Punjab police register 20 FIRs, detain 52 suspects in Ludhiana anti-drug hotspot raids
Punjab Police registered between 18 and 20 First Information Reports and rounded up 50 to 52 suspects during a targeted anti-drug operation in Ludhiana, Kalinga TV reported on October 24. The enforcement drive was part of the state government's ongoing War Against Drugs campaign, which the Bhagwant Mann-led administration has prioritised as one of its central policy commitments since coming to power. Assistant Commissioner of Police Rupinder Singh confirmed that operations were being conducted simultaneously at eight identified drug hotspots across the city. Singh stated that the initiative was being carried out with coordination and support from the Punjab Director General of Police and the ADG Haryana Commissionerate. Speaking to media, the ACP noted that police teams had revisited locations previously flagged as sites of drug activity, with enforcement action producing the arrests and FIRs tallied so far. Officials indicated the numbers could rise as the operation continued to unfold, with authorities still assessing the full scope of the drug network being targeted. The crackdown reflected the broader pressure on Punjab law enforcement to demonstrate visible progress in curbing drug trafficking and use, an issue that has dominated political discourse in the state for over a decade. Additional suspects were being identified as the drive at the eight hotspots continued through the day. [4]
Sources: [8] ETV Bharat · [7] NDTV · [4] Kalinga TV