15072026-ATR-01.qxd 14-07-2026 23:47 Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune STUDENTS OPPOSE VIP COPTER LANDINGS AT GNDU IBBAN KALAN RESIDENTS CRY FOUL OVER POOR CIVIC AMENITIES Residents say civic amenities in the village are in a poor state and the authorities are not taking action. P3 MOSTLY CLOUDY MAX 33°C | MIN 28°C YESTERDAY MAX 33°C | MIN 27°C ALIA BHATT JOINS SOHUM SHAH IN ‘TUMBBAD 2’ Students raise objections to the use of the GNDU’s main sports ground for helicopter landings. P2 FORECAST The announcement marks Alia Bhatt’s first full-fledged venture into the horror genre. P4 » » SUNSET WEDNESDAY 7.36 PM SUNRISE THURSDAY 5.36 AM » WEDNESDAY | 15 JULY 2026 | AMRITSAR Tarn Taran woman found murdered in UK Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, July 14 A 24-year-old woman from Piddi village in Tarn Taran was allegedly murdered in England under mysterious circumstances. The deceased has been identified as Kirandeep Kaur, who had moved to the UK about two years ago. The victim’s father, Sukhdev Singh, and mother, Baljit Kaur, said on Tuesday that they had sold their land to send their daughter to England on a student visa nearly two years ago. She later secured a work permit and had been living and working there. According to the bereaved parents, the incident occurred on Sunday morning while Kirandeep was asleep in her room. They alleged that an unidentified assailant entered the room and attacked her with a sharpedged weapon. She sustained multiple stab wounds to different parts of her body and died on the spot. Sukhdev Singh, a small farmer, has appealed to the Government of India to facilitate the repatriation of his daughter’s body to their native village. At 74, historian Amarjit Kaur continues her literary journey NEWSMAKER OF THE WEEK CI wing busts drug smuggling module, seizes 30 kg heroin Pawan K Jaiswar Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 14 The Counter Intelligence (CI) wing of the Amritsar police has busted another cross-border narcotics smuggling module with the arrest of two alleged operatives and the seizure of 30 kg of heroin. With this recovery, the total heroin seized by the CI (Amritsar) over the past 10 days has reached 68 kg. The accused have been identified as Gurpreet Singh, alias Gopi, a resident of Shaheed Udham Singh Nagar, and Gagandeep Singh, a resident of Bhalla Colony, both in Amritsar. The police also impounded their Hero Deluxe motorcycle, which was allegedly being used to transport the contraband. Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said preliminary investigations revealed that the accused were acting on the directions of a foreign-based handler linked to cross-border drug smugglers. They allegedly collected heroin consignments from designated loca- Amritsar, July 14 Noted Sikh scholar and historian Amarjit Kaur, 74, is set to publish a new research book on the eminent Sikh saint Bidhi Chand of Sur Singh, a contemporary of Guru Hargobind Sahib. With more than 30 books on Sikh history to her credit, she also worked as a journalist for a Punjabi daily during the peak of militancy in Punjab, reporting from Bhikhiwind. Many of her books have been published by the Punjab Government’s Bhasha Vibhag and the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee. Through her writings, she has documented the lives of several lesser-known Sikh personalities who played a significant role in preserving Sikh values. Her notable works include Itihas Bibi Veero Ji, Bhai Sukha Singh (1702-1752), Sant Bilas Shahid Baba Bir Singh and Sikh Panth Ch Wapsi Baba Wad Bhag Singh Ji Di. A personal tragedy brought her back to academics, which Amarjit Kaur she had discontinued after completing her matriculation from Kalka. She married Jagdev Singh of Amritsar in 1968 and the couple had two daughters and a son. However, her husband died in a road accident in 1974, dramatically changing the course of her life. To support the family, she stitched shirt and suit cuffs for 25 paise per piece at the insistence of her mother-inlaw. Despite the hardships, she passed the Giani examination in first division in 1976, registered with the Employment Exchange, and was appointed as a clerk at Government School, Khemkaran. She made productive use of the nearly 50-km daily commute to continue her studies. She completed her graduation, followed by an MA in Punjabi and Religious Studies and later earned a PhD for her research titled Punjabi Sahit Vich Baba Budha Sahib Da Saroop: Ik Adhyayan. Alongside her academic pursuits, her essays regularly appeared in publications such as Gurmat Parkash, Sant Sipahi and Phulkariyan. She also served as a reporter for a Punjabi daily from Bhikhiwind during the height of militancy in Punjab, earning a reputation as a fearless journalist who met people from all walks of life to bring their stories to light. The contraband seized by the CI staff in Amritsar on Tuesday. tions and delivered them to various recipients across Punjab. According to the DGP the , CI (Amritsar) team received specific intelligence that the two suspects had recently retrieved a large heroin consignment and were on their way to deliver it near Gaunsabad village under the Kambo police station. Acting on the information, the police set up checkpoints, intercepted their motorcycle and recovered 30 kg of heroin from their possession. This is the third major drug seizure by the CI (Amritsar) since July 6. The agency had earlier recovered 13 kg of heroin on July 6 after arresting three accused, followed by the seizure of 25 kg on July 7 with the arrest of three more persons. With Tuesday’s recovery, the CI (Amritsar) has seized 68 kg of heroin in just 10 days, underscoring the scale of cross-border drug trafficking Suspected ISI-linked terror module busted, PHSC Chairman pays surprise three arrested with AK-47, hand grenade visit to health centre at Attari Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 14 In a major breakthrough, the Amritsar Rural police, in a joint operation with the Counter Intelligence wing, have busted a suspected terror module allegedly linked to Pakistan’s intelligence agency, the ISI. Three suspects, including the alleged mastermind, have been arrested. According to police officials, the operation was carried out as part of the state’s ongoing crackdown on gangsters and organised crime. Those arrested include Joban (20), Akashbir (24) and a 17year-old juvenile. The police said Akashbir had previously been booked in another case and was currently out on bail. The police alleged that the The seized arms and ammunition in Amritsar. suspects were in contact with handlers based in Pakistan and were involved in efforts to spread fear and disturb peace in Punjab. Investigators believe the accused were receiving instructions and logistical support from across Petrol bomb attack accused arrested after brief encounter Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 14 The Amritsar Rural Police on Tuesday arrested two alleged assailants after a brief exchange of fire near Bhaini village. The duo was wanted in connection with a petrol bomb attack on a house at Pandori Waraich village on Sunday. One of the accused, identified as Gurlal Singh, a resident of Bal Khurd village, sustained a bullet injury during the encounter, while the second accused, Krishan Singh, also of the same village, was arrested unharmed. According to the police, three petrol bombs were hurled at the residence of Vikram Singh in Pandori Waraich village on Sunday. Although no one was injured, the attack caused extensive damage to the house. Deputy Superintendent of Police (Attari) Yadvinder Singh said the police received specific intelligence that the two accused were travelling on a motorcycle from Bhaini village towards the Baoli village bus stand. Acting on the input, a police team laid a naka and signalled the suspects to stop. Instead of complying, the accused allegedly opened fire on the police party in an attempt to flee. The police retaliated in self-defence, during which Gurlal Singh sustained a bullet injury. Both accused were overpowered and arrested, while the injured was shifted to a hospital for treatment. The police official further revealed that Vikram Singh had allegedly received an extortion call from a foreign-based gangster, who demanded Rs 30 lakh. When the victim failed to pay, the gangster allegedly threatened him with dire consequences. The petrol bomb attack on Sunday is suspected to have been carried out as part of the extortion bid. Taking serious note of the incident, the police had registered an FIR and launched an investigation, which led to the identification and arrest of the two suspects. The police recovered a pistol from the accused and impounded the motorcycle used by them. Further investigations are underway to ascertain their criminal antecedents and establish their forward and backward linkages, including the role of the foreignbased gangster. attempts. The police said further investigations are underway to establish the forward and backward linkages of the network, identify the foreign-based handler and trace other members of the supply chain. A case has been registered under Sections 21, 25 and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at the State Special Operations Cell (SSOC) police station, Amritsar. SAD leader Iqbal Sandhu quits party the border. During the operation, the police recovered a cache of arms and ammunition, including a hand grenade, an AK-47 rifle, a .30-bore semi-automatic rifle, a .30-bore pistol, magazines and ammunition. A case has been registered under the relevant provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the Arms Act and other applicable laws at the State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) police station in Amritsar. Senior police officials said further investigations are underway to identify other members of the alleged network and trace its links. They added that strict action would continue against terror and criminal elements attempting to disrupt peace and harmony in the state. Tribune News Service 7 booked for firing at ASHA worker’s house BJP begins 2-day cleanliness drive ahead of PM Narendra Modi’s Punjab visit on July 17 Our Correspondent Tribune News Service Tarn Taran, July 14 The police have booked seven persons for allegedly opening fire at the house of Veerpal Kaur, an ASHA worker posted at the Civil Hospital in Sarhali Kalan. The incident is reportedly linked to a dispute over space in a narrow street. According to the police, the accused were upset because Veerpal Kaur had allegedly not left sufficient space for their car to pass while constructing her house. They had allegedly threatened her over the issue earlier as well. In her complaint, Veerpal Kaur told the police that on June 30, the accused threatened her after their car was unable to pass through the street in front of her house. She alleged that on the night of July 6, they returned to her continued on page 2 Amritsar, July 14 Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Punjab on July 17, the Punjab BJP has launched a statewide cleanliness drive under the leadership of state BJP president Kewal Singh Dhillon. On Tuesday, Amritsar BJP president Harvinder Singh Sandhu held a meeting with senior party leaders to announce a two-day cleanliness campaign to be carried out on July 15 and 16 to mark the Prime Minister’s visit and promote awareness about cleanliness across the state. Sandhu said Prime Minister Modi will visit Punjab on July 17 to inaugurate the newly built modern railway station at Jalandhar Cantonment. During the visit, he will also flag off a new train to Varanasi for the Ravidasia community from Jalandhar. Sandhu said the BJP has c m y b Amritsar, July 14 Punjab Health Systems Corporation (PHSC) Chairman Gursharan Singh Chhina on Tuesday paid a surprise visit to the Primary Health Centre (PHC) at Attari to review the healthcare services being provided to residents of the border area. During the visit, Chhina inspected the functioning of the health centre and interacted with doctors, medical staff and patients. He reviewed the facilities available at the centre and discussed the requirements and challenges faced by the staff. The Chairman also met patients undergoing treatment and sought their feedback on the quality of healthcare services. He said the visit was part of the state gov- Punjab Health Systems Corporation Chairman Gursharan Singh Chhina (3rd from left) inspects a healthcare centre in Amritsar. ernment’s ongoing efforts to strengthen healthcare infrastructure and improve medical services across Punjab. Speaking to mediapersons, Chhina said all doctors and staff members were found present on duty during the surprise inspection. He added that resi- dents of the Attari border belt should not face any difficulty in accessing healthcare services and that the government was committed to providing quality treatment closer to their homes. He said the Punjab Government was continuously continued on page 2 Tarn Taran, July 14 Senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Iqbal Singh Sandhu has resigned from all party posts as well as the party’s primary membership. He submitted his resignation to SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal through a letter on Tuesday. Sandhu, who previously served as a member of the Punjab Subordinate Services Selection (PSSS) Board, said he had been associated with the party since 1996. He added that he would decide his political future after holding consultations with his supporters. Sandhu was among the contenders for the SAD ticket in the Tarn Taran bypoll held last year. Political circles are speculating that he may join the BJP although no offi, cial announcement has been made. — OC BJP leaders, including district party president Harvinder Sandhu (6th from right), in Amritsar. decided to organise a special cleanliness campaign across Punjab to make the Prime Minister’s visit memorable. “The Prime Minister has consistently emphasised cleanliness and good health. In line with this vision, the BJP will conduct a two-day cleanliness campaign on July 15 and 16 to spread awareness among the people of Punjab,” he said. He added that under the direction of Punjab BJP president Kewal Singh Dhillon, cleanliness drives will be organised at more than 100 locations across the 21 BJP Mandals falling under Amritsar’s five Assembly constituencies to promote cleanliness and public health. Sandhu said that although the AAP-led Punjab Government has accorded Amritsar the status of a holy city, its civic health continues to remain a matter of concern. He urged BJP workers to organise cleanliness drives in their respective areas and encourage public participation in maintaining cleanliness.