07082026-ATR-01.qxd 8/6/2026 10:38 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY AJNALA MLA SEEKS INFRA UPGRADE IN HOUSE JUDOKA EYES COMEBACK AFTER COMMONWEALTH BLOW HONOUR FOR OSCAR-WINNING ACTOR MICHELLE YEOH MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal has urged the Punjab Government to announce a special package for Ajnala. P2 Karanjit Maan finished seventh in his weight category during the Commonwealth Games. P3 MAX 33°C | MIN 25°C YESTERDAY MAX 34°C | MIN 24°C Michelle Yeoh has been named the Asian Filmmaker of the Year at the 31st Busan International Film Festival. P4 » » SUNSET FRIDAY 7.18 PM SUNRISE SATURDAY 5:47 AM » FRIDAY | 7 AUGUST 2026 | AMRITSAR Second arrest in murder of 15-year-old Jalandhar girl Festive hues Tribune News Service Dressed in traditional attire, students of Shahzada Nand College celebrate Teej. VISHAL KUMAR 6 armed men take away bike, booked Tarn Taran, August 6 The police on Wednesday booked six persons for taking away a motorcycle at gunpoint. The incident that occurred on the overbridge near the Goindwal Sahib bypass was reported by Avtar Kumar, a resident of Mundapind. The complainant told the police that he, along with his friend Tajinderpal Singh, was on his way to village when the armed robbers struck. He added that the accused beat him up when he tried to resist the move. ASI Gurmeet Singh said a case under Sections 304, 191 (3), 190, 351 (2) 513 (3) of the BNS and Sections 25, 54, 59 of the Arms Act had been registered. — OC Amritsar, August 6 The police have arrested the second accused in the murder of 15-year-old girl from Jalandhar. The incident dates back to July 15 when the accused allegedly assaulted the victim at a house here. Assistant Commissioner of Police Surinder Singh said the police had arrested Malkeet Singh, alias Kitti, maternal uncle of the prime accused, Vineet Kumar, alias Honey, of Roopnagar. Malkeet was produced in a local court, which sent him WAS ASSAULTED ON THEFT SUSPICION The victim’s elder brother, Sujal Sahota of Phillaur, had told the police that the accused, Vineet Kumar, had assaulted the victim on the suspicion of theft. Following the victim’s death, the accused allegedly attempted to destroy the evidence and intimidate her family. to police custody for further interrogation. Vineet was held on July 28. The police said raids were on to identify and arrest the remaining suspects in the case. The victim’s elder brother, Sujal Sahota of Phillaur, had told the police that the accused, Vineet Kumar, had assaulted the victim on the suspicion of theft. Following the victim’s death, the accused allegedly attempted to destroy the evidence and intimidate her family. In his complaint, he stated ing that the victim had died, the accused stuffed the body in a car’s boot and left for Jalandhar. Near Kartarpur, Malkeet and an unidentified person intercepted them, transferred the body to their vehicle, and forced Vineet’s wife to accompany them. The accused also threatened to kill the entire family if they approached the police. A case under Sections 103 (murder), 351(2) (criminal intimidation), and 3(5) (common intention) of the BNS was registered at the Gate Hakima police station on July 15. 22 kg heroin bust puts Gharinda belt under scanner Pawan K Jaiswar LATEST RECOVERY FROM MAHAWA BORDER VILLAGE Tribune News Service Amritsar, August6 Another 5 kg heroin seizure by the Border Security Force (BSF) has once again brought the Gharinda border belt under the scanner. In the past two days, nearly 22 kg of the contraband has been seized in the area. The latest recovery was made from Mahawa border village after BSF personnel were alerted by the buzzing sound of a suspected drone and the noise of a falling object in the area. During search, the officials found a packet suspected to have contained heroin. On opening it, 10 small packets containing the contraband were recovered. A drug detection kit subsequently confirmed the sub- ■ The latest recovery was made from Mahawa border village after BSF personnel were alerted by the buzzing sound of a suspected drone and the noise of a falling object in the area. ■ During search, the officials found a packet suspected to have contained heroin. On opening it, 10 small packets containing the contraband were recovered. A drug detection kit subsequently confirmed the substance as heroin. ■ The area has emerged as a suspected transit point in cross-border drug trafficking, with investigators having encountered both dronedropped consignments and local couriers allegedly tasked with collecting and transporting the drugs. << The contraband seized by BSF personnel on Thursday. stance as heroin. The BSF later handed over the consignment to the Gharinda police, which registered a case under the NDPS Act against unidentified persons. Investigators are also examining whether the consignment was part of a drone-assisted cross-border smuggling operation. The latest recovery comes a day after the Amritsar rural police seized nearly 17 kg of heroin in three operations and arrested four alleged drug peddlers. Jasbir Singh, alias Monu, and Amritpal Singh, alias Mota, both residents of Ran- garh village, were arrested with 10.3 kg of heroin. Bikramjit Singh, alias Bikka, of Attari Kacha Qila was held with 1.94 kg, while another 5 kg was recovered from Gurjit Singh of Dhanoe Kalan village. The four accused were produced before a local court on Wednesday and were sent to three-day police remand for interrogation. “We are looking into their backward and forward linkages, apart from ascertaining the source of the contraband,” the police authorities said. The successive seizures have once again highlighted a recurring pattern in the Gharinda and adjoining border areas, where major narcotics recoveries have been made in recent months. The area has emerged as a suspected transit point in cross-border drug trafficking, with investigators having encountered both dronedropped consignments and local couriers allegedly tasked with collecting and transporting the drugs. With repeated recoveries, the investigation is increasingly continued on page 2 Day after threat emails, intensive security checks across district Tribune News Service Amritsar, August 6 A day after threat emails warning of grenade attacks on police stations and railway tracks, the police on Thursday carried out a major cordon and search operation (CASO) at the railway station, bus stand and other sensitive locations in the city. The operation aimed at strengthening security and keeping a close watch on suspicious persons and activities ahead of the Independence Day. Teams of the Commissionerate Police, along with the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government that the accused had asked him to bring the girl to his house to discuss an urgent matter. When the complainant, along with his parents, sister and a family friend, reached his place in Amritsar, Vineet accused the girl of stealing gold earrings. When the girl denied the allegation, Vineet allegedly assaulted both siblings, forced the brother out of the room and locked the door from inside. Vineet then allegedly called his brother Nannu, who too reportedly assaulted the minor. He alleged that after learn- HOTELS, GUEST HOUSES ON CHECKLIST ■ Searches were conducted at the bus stand under the supervision of ADCP City-3 Jasroop Kaur Bath. Police teams also checked hotels, guest houses, sarais, paying guest accommodation, crowded places and other vulnerable locations. ■ The measures came a day after threat emails were received by three police stations. << The police conduct checks at the Amritsar railway station and frisk passengers. VISHAL KUMAR Railway Police (GRP), conducted intensive checking at the railway station. The parking area, passengers and their baggage were thoroughly searched, while suspicious persons and vehicles were checked and their identities verified. The operation at the rail- way station was conducted under the supervision of DCP (Law and Order) Alam Vijay Singh, with ADCP City-2 Sirivennela leading the police teams. Similar searches were conducted at the bus stand under the supervision of ADCP City-3 Jasroop Kaur Bath. Police teams also checked hotels, guest houses, sarais, paying guest accommodation, crowded places and other vulnerable locations. The intensified security measures came a day after threat emails were received by three police stations of the Amritsar Commissionerate. The emails had warned of grenade attacks on police stations and explosions targeting railway tracks in Punjab, including the AmritsarLudhiana-Bathinda and Ambala routes. The police have directed personnel to remain vigilant and take immediate action on noticing any suspicious activity. Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said the search operation and heightened checking would continue in the coming days as part of the security arrangements in the city. He also appealed to residents to immediately report any suspicious person, unattended object or suspicious activity to the nearest police station or emergency helpline 112. The security is has been tightened in Punjab in view of the August 15 celebration. Officials say sand was being excavated at three sites in Ballarwal village. Illegal sand mining unearthed in Ajnala, three trucks seized Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, August 6 The Mining Department, along with the Ajnala police, on Wednesday raided Ballarwal village in Ajnala and unearthed three sites allegedly being used for illegal sand mining. During the raid, officials found three pits dug up at the sites and seized three trucks loaded with illegally excavated sand. Around 1,500 cubic feet of sand was found loaded in the vehicles. However, drivers of the trucks and other persons allegedly involved in digging and loading the sand managed to flee the spot during the raid. Interestingly, the Mining Department had already taken action against one of the huge pits found during the latest raid, raising questions over the recurrence of illegal mining activity at the same location right under the nose of the police and the authorities concerned. The Ajnala constituency is represented by AAP chief spokesperson and MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal. Vishavpal Singh, XEN, Mining Department, said a complaint had been lodged with the police following the raid. The police subsequently registered a case under Section 303(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 21(1) of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act. He said the department took prompt action whenever they received any information regarding illegal sand mining. He said the police would investigate the matter and identify owners of the land where illegal mining was allegedly being carried out. Further action would be taken against those found involved in the activity, he added. The seizure of the trucks and discovery of fresh excavation despite earlier action by the department has brought the issue of persistent illegal sand mining in the area into focus. 4 booked for criminal intimidation Govt staff discontent may impact poll outcome: Analysts Tribune News Service Amritsar, August 6 The police have booked four persons after a 19-year-old woman alleged that one of them had forced her into a sexual relationship against her will and later blackmailed her. The complainant, a resident of Ghuman Khurd, Gurdaspur, who is currently staying at Talwandi Dasondha Singh here, stated that she had been in a relationship with Gurvinder Singh for about one-and-a-half years. On June 16, 2025, Gurvinder Singh and his sister took her from the village on a sewa bus service to Gurdwara Shaheed Baba Deep Singh (Shaheedan Sahib) in Amritsar. There, Gurvinder took the complainant to a hotel, where he forcibly established physical relations with her despite her resistance. When she objected, he allegedly threatened to kill her and her family if she disclosed the incident to anyone, she alleged. He also took her photographs, she told the police. The two later returned to the village by bus. Out of fear, the woman did not report the matter to the police then. She further stated that Gurvinder subsequently began harassing and blackmailing her. Among those booked included Gurvinder Singh, Jagir Singh, Jasvinder Singh and Sukhraj Singh, all residents of Talwandi Dasondha Singh. The police said except Sukhraj Singh, all other three accused had been arrested while further investigations were on. A case of rape and criminal intimidation under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita has been registered. Tribune News Service Amritsar, August6 As the Punjab Assembly elections draw closer, growing resentment among government employees over pending financial and servicerelated demands has emerged as a fresh political challenge for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. The state-level rally scheduled to be held in Chandigarh on August 7 is expected to draw thousands of employees from across the state, reflecting growing dissatisfaction over issues, including the c m y b The state-level rally scheduled to be held in Chandigarh on August 7 is expected to be joined by thousands of employees. non-payment of pending Dearness Allowance (DA), salary anomalies and other pending demands. Unlike the last Assembly elections when a majority of the government employees had supported the AAP this , time, the former feel that they had been cheated by the par- ty by not fulfilling the promises made to them before the elections. The rally has been called by various organisations after weeks of protests and demonstrations by various government departments. Ministerial employees of all government departments, who are on a pen-down strike for the past two days, before proceeding on mass leave to participate in the Chandigarh protest, are the main driving force behind this protest. Several other worker unions have also extended support to the agitation, making it one of the largest coordinated protests by government staff in recent months. Punjab State Ministerial Staff Union leader Jagdish Thakur said, “The AAP government had promised to bring back the old pension scheme. It even made announcements regarding this and issued advertisements taking credit for bringing back the OPS. However, to date nothing has been done.” With the elections nearing, most other unions are trying to exert pressure on the government. Last week, a series of continued on page 2