06082026-ATR-01.qxd 8/5/2026 10:03 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES GO ON TWO-DAY STRIKE HEALTHCARE, SUSTAINABILITY GO HAND IN HAND, SAYS DOC ANAMIKA KHANNA LAUNCHES 1ST INT’L RESORT COLLECTION Employees of the state government have begun a pen-down strike over allowances and other dues. P2 Dr Satnam Singh Nijjar says pollution and climate change have become major drivers of diseases. P3 Rooted in the idea that ‘resort is not a destination, but a state of ease’, the selection redefines vacation wear. P4 » » » MAX 34°C | MIN 26°C YESTERDAY MAX 33°C | MIN 026°C SUNSET THURSDAY 7.18 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 5:48 AM THURSDAY | 6 AUGUST 2026 | AMRITSAR Low-cost incendiary devices — new weapon of choice for terror modules Pawan K Jaiswar EASY TO ASSEMBLE Tribune News Service Firefighter battle a blaze on the Pandori road in Amritsar. PHOTOS: VISHAL KUMAR Massive fire at textile factory Tribune News Service No loss of life reported; damage runs into crores dousing the blaze around 7.45 am, and failed to bring it under control till the filing of this report. Learning about the fire, Amritsar Textile Processors Association president Krishan Kumar Sharma said the flames wouldn’t have spread had the fire tender reached the spot on time. Meanwhile, after the fire tenders on the job sought more manpower to douse the raging fire, the former were joined by experts from the airport, Town Hall, Berry Gate, Raja Sansi, Shivala area and Khanna Paper Mill. Over 12 fire brigades have been engaged. Amritsar, August 5 After hand grenades and improvised explosive devices (IEDs), petrol bombs appear to be emerging as a new weapon of choice for carrying out low-cost targeted attacks in Punjab, with a series of recent incidents highlighting the changing tactics of terror and criminal networks. The latest indication came with the Amritsar police busting two alleged Pakistan-based ISI-backed cross-border terror modules and arresting nine persons, including four juveniles. Three illegal pistols, nine live cartridges and four petrol bottle bombs were recovered from the accused. The arrests have also brought into focus the alleged attempts by foreignbased handlers to recruit young and inexperienced locals for executing attacks, conducting surveillance of security installations, procuring weapons and creating fear and disruption. The arrested accused were getting training online from ■ Investigators believe incendiary devices such as petrol bombs offer handlers a relatively inexpensive and easily executable option for targeted attacks as these can be assembled locally without the sophisticated logistics required for explosives or firearms. ■ The trend was witnessed in Sangrur, where two miscreants allegedly hurled petrol bombs at a BJP office on the intervening night of July 26 and 27. Two youths were arrested in the case. The accused allegedly carried ISI handlers for preparing and using petrol bombs. Investigators believe incendiary devices such as petrol bombs offer handlers a relatively inexpensive and easily executable option for targeted attacks, as they can be assembled locally without the sophisticated logistics required for explosives or firearms. However, the police are still probing the exact links between the recent petrol bomb incidents and the broader terror networks. The recent cases indicate a possible shift towards lowcost and low-skill attacks, in which local recruits are allegedly given relatively simple assignments for out the attack in return for money and even filmed the act. They reportedly received an advance payment of Rs 2,200 against a larger amount promised for the assignment. ■ The attack on the Chamiari police post in the Ajnala area on July 21 provided another indication of how foreign-based handlers are allegedly using the social media to reach potential recruits. The Amritsar Rural Police arrested four persons in connection with the attack. The accused were allegedly paid ~15,000 to carry out the attack, with another ~50,000 promised after its execution. small sums of money. The use of petrol bombs is particularly significant in this context. Such devices can cause fires, damage property and spread fear, making them useful for intimidation, extortion and targeted attacks. On July 12, three petrol bombs were allegedly hurled at the residence of Vikram Singh in Pandori Waraich village, Amritsar district. He had allegedly received an extortion call from a foreign-based gangster demanding Rs 30 lakh. The Amritsar Rural Police arrested two alleged assailants on July 15 following a brief exchange of fire near Bhaini village. The trend was also witnessed in Sangrur, where two miscreants allegedly hurled petrol bombs at a BJP office on the intervening night of July 26 and 27. Two youths were arrested in the case. The accused allegedly carried out the attack in return for money and even filmed the act. They reportedly received an advance payment of Rs 2,200 against a larger amount promised for the assignment. The attack on the Chamiari police post in the Ajnala area on July 21 provided another indication of how foreign-based handlers are allegedly using the social media to reach potential Amritsar, August 5 A massive fire broke out at a textile unit on the Pandori road near Verka-Majitha bypass on Wednesday. Factory owner Nirmal Kumar Sureka said one of his family members noticed smoke billowing out of the warp knitting and a processing unit at 6.30 am. “We immediately called fire tenders, but they took over an hour to reach the spot,” Sureka added. As workers on night shift had left the factory, no loss of life was reported, the owner said. He added that machinery and other valuable assets were engulfed in flames, with the damage being estimated at Rs 10-12 crore. Fire tenders started Threat emails received by 2 schools turn out to be hoax City on alert after threat email targets police stations, tracks Panic grips Sultanwind as rival groups exchange fire ‘Drunk’ cop lands PCR vehicle on rail tracks, video goes viral Ravi Dhaliwal Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Gurdaspur, August 5 Panic spread after two prominent schools received threat emails on Wednesday morning. The police immediately sent a dog squad and an anti-sabotage team to the schools only to find those fake later. The staff of Little Flower Convent Senior Secondary School and Delhi Public School checked their official accounts and came across “threat emails”, prompting an emergency response by the police. One of the schools is barely 100 m from the residences of the Deputy Commissioner (DC) and the SSP . SSP Aditya immediately Amritsar, August 5 Ahead of the 80th Independence Day, security agencies in Amritsar were put on alert after a threat email warning of grenade attacks on police stations and IED blasts on railway tracks was received by three police stations today. The email was sent to the official email IDs of the airport, D division and E division police stations. The sender claimed affiliation to a terror outfit and threatened attacks on police stations and railway infrastructure in Punjab before the I-Day. The message specifically mentioned Amritsar, Ludhiana and Bathinda, besides Ambala, and warned of blasts on rail tracks. It also threatened grenade Amritsar, August 5 Panic gripped the Sultanwind road area after two rival groups allegedly exchanged fire on Tuesday night. Eyewitnesses said the incident stemmed from an old rivalry between two youths, identified as Bawa and Prabh, both residents of the Sultanwind area. The two had reportedly been involved in disputes in the past. The confrontation reportedly began when the two groups went to each other’s houses and allegedly exchanged abuses. Later, around 15 to 20 persons from both sides gathered on the Sultanwind road, where the altercation escalated and shots were fired. The police reached the spot and began an investigation. Empty bullet shells were recovered from the scene. — TNS Amritsar, August 5 A purported video of an Assistant Sub-Inspector driving a PCR vehicle onto the railway tracks near the Bhagtanwala level crossing on Tuesday night has been doing rounds on the social media. Identified as Balwinder Singh, the official appeared to be under the influence of alcohol, onlookers claimed. The incident has turned out to be an embarrassment for the department, it is learnt. The video, made by locals, shows a Punjab Police PCR vehicle being driven onto the railway tracks near the crossing with a policeman inside. According to eyewitnesses, the police official lost control of the vehicle and ended up driving it onto the One of the Gurdaspur schools is in vicinity of residences of DC and SSP rushed to Little Flower School, where he held deliberations with the staff and told them to not panic till the police completed their investigation. The SSP said, “Nothing incriminating was found during checks. However, iInvestigations are still on.” Similar threats have been received by schools across the state in the past. Investigations have repeatedly found such emails to be a hoax. A police official said the authenticity of the claims of the emails was under investigation. The Gurdaspur police cyber cell and technical analysis team are trying to trace the origin of the messages. The police are already on alert in view of the Independence Day. Sender claims affiliation to terror outfit attacks at police stations during specified hours and asked people not to travel by train or send their children to schools, and Independence Day functions.The police have begun a probe, with technical teams are examining the email for clues regarding its origin and possible links with earlier threat messages. A senior police official confirmed receiving threat emails.Meanwhile, security arrangements around police stations, railway stations and other vital installations are being reviewed and strengthened. The development comes amid heightened security in Punjab in view of the August 15 celebration. Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service The video, made by locals, shows a PCR vehicle on the railway tracks near Bhagtanwala. railway tracks. No attempt was made by him to get the vehicle off the tracks. When asked why he had driven the vehicle onto the tracks, the policeman was heard saying, “I’m not that drunk and have no idea as to how the vehicle got here.” Following the incident, the Anngarh police reached the spot and removed the vehicle. Locals said the incident could have had serious consequences. They questioned how a police official entrusted with maintaining law and order could drive a government vehicle in such a condition. Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Vishaljit Singh said strict departmental proceedings had been initiated in accordance with the rules. Negligence or indiscipline on duty would not be tolerated and that action would follow after the inquiry established the facts, he added. recruits. Four persons were arrested in connection with the attack. The accused were allegedly paid Rs 15,000 to carry out the attack, with another Rs 50,000 promised after its execution. Another incident was reported on July 24 when an incendiary object was allegedly hurled at the residence of a BJP leader in the Chheharta area of Amritsar. The police maintained a guarded stance on the incident, while the purported Khalsa Liberation Army claimed responsibility for the attack on the social media. The authenticity of the claim is being verified. Security agencies have been closely monitoring attempts by Pakistan-based handlers and foreign-based criminal-terror networks to exploit local youth for reconnaissance, logistics and attacks. The latest arrests have therefore once again brought the focus of security agencies on the evolving tactics of cross-border terror networks and their attempts to build a pool of local recruits for carrying out attacks in Punjab. Pistol, car recovered from imposter Tribune News Service Amritsar, August 5 The Civil Lines Police have recovered a pistol and a car from a 26-year-old youth posing as a police official. The accused, identified as Sukha Singh, alias Sukhdeep Singh, a resident of Madanpur village in Rajpura, Patiala, was arrested from the Ram Tirath Road area on August 3 on the basis of technical evidence and a tip-off. The police said the accused had managed to take away a licensed pistol from a city gun house by posing as a police official sent by the SHO of Civil Lines. They also recovered a white Swift car bearing a fake registration number, a Punjab Police uniform, a fake police identity card and a mobile phone from his possession. Continued on page 2 Open sewage channels, waterlogging plague interstate bus terminus Manmeet Singh Gill Tribune News Service Amritsar, August 5 Poor sanitation, waterlogging and open sewage channels have turned the city’s interstate bus terminal into a perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes. One of the busiest public transport hubs in the region witnesses thousands of commuters every day, still the authorities have failed to do the needful. With a little done to drain out rainwater from various spots at the bus stand, water stagnation poses a risk of dengue and malaria outbreaks. Stench emanating from open drains aggravates the commuters’ woes. In several areas, manhole covers are either broken or completely missing, posing a danger to pedestrians, especially elderly Little done to prevent water-borne diseases, say locals Stench emanating from open drains makes it difficult for commuters to pass through the area. PHOTOS: VISHAL KUMAR passengers and children. Commuters say they have to navigate carefully while carrying luggage to avoid accidents. The quality and hygiene of food sold by several eateries and roadside vendors inside the terminal have also come c m y b under scrutiny. Passengers alleged that there appeared to be little monitoring of food preparation or storage conditions. With flies hovering around uncovered food items and poor waste disposal practices, the possibility of food-borne illness- es can’t be written off. “Overflowing dustbins and litter scattered around waiting areas and platforms further reflect the lack of regular sanitation,” said Balram Singh, a passenger. Plastic waste, disposable cups and food leftovers can be seen at several places, while stray dogs and cattle often roam freely around the premises. Passengers and shopkeepers said their repeated complaints had gone unheard. They urged the authorities to undertake regular cleaning drives, ensure proper drainage and repair damaged infrastructure without delay. Periodic inspection of food stalls by the Health Department to ensure compliance with hygiene standards was also sought. Public health experts pointed out that transport hubs with a huge footfall required continuous sanitation measures, particularly during the monsoon, when stagnant water and poor waste management significantly increased the risk of infectious diseases. Locals have appealed to the authorities concerned to treat the issue as a public health priority. They stated that maintaining cleanliness at the bus terminal was essential not only for the convenience of travellers, but also for preventing disease outbreaks and ensuring a safe environment for commuters and employees alike. “When was the last time, the Health Department took samples of food being served to passengers at these eateries,” questioned another resident Sevak Kumar, adding that checks should be frequent and regular.