18082026-ATR-01.qxd 8/17/2026 10:26 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune 30-BED WARD FOR PRISONERS AT GURU NANAK DEV HOSPITAL NO ‘HAIWAAN’ BUT A ‘WONDERFUL INSAAN’ Gurpreet Ghuggi reveals how Akshay Kumar quietly helped rebuild homes for affected families in 2025. P4 PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 31°C | MIN 26°C YESTERDAY MAX 33°C | MIN 26°C SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY HITS $2 BILLION Punjab Jail Minister Dr Ravjot Singh on Monday inaugurated a 30-bed ward for prisoners at GND Hospital. P2 FORECAST Tom Holland's Spider-Man: Brand New Day has crossed $2 billion worldwide in 17 days. P4 » » SUNSET TUESDAY 7.11 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 5.57 AM » TUESDAY | 18 AUGUST 2026 | AMRITSAR FIRING AT SECURITY VEHICLE OF EX-JATHEDAR Four arrested with seven pistols, two live rounds Pawan K Jaiswar RECOVERIES MADE FROM GHARINDA, JANDIALA GURU Tribune News Service On August 14, former Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh told the police that a bullet mark was found in his security vehicle parked outside his residence in the Partap Bazaar area. 3 days on, cops grope in dark Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, August 17 Even after three days, the police have failed to track the accused who opened fire at the security vehicle of the former Akal Takht Jathedar, Giani Raghbir Singh. Initially, the police zeroed in on a suspect who made repeated rounds near the residence of the ex-jathedar. However, during investigation, he was found to be a delivery boy who was trying to locate a house to deliver the goods. He was later let-off, said a police official. On August 14, Family attempts self-immolation over property dispute in city Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, August 17 High drama was witnessed along the Bhandari Bridge when a migrant family allegedly attempted self-immolation over a property dispute. Gokul Parsad and his wife Urmila, both residents of Tahliwala Bazaars, accused the police of inaction. They alleged that their son was arrested by the police and sent to jail in a fabricated case under the influence of the accused. The police, however, intervened on time and prevented the family from taking the extreme step. The family members were counselled, and sent to the Economic Offence wing, where their complaint was pending. According to the family, the dispute pertains to a small shop and adjoining property in Chhajju Mall Gali in the Kot Baba Deep Singh area. Gokul Parsad claimed that he had purchased the shop from his family in 2009 and that it was registered in his name. He said for the past eight years, his family had been facing harassment as the accused were threatening and asking them to vacate the property. Gokul named three persons, identified as Ramesh, Dinesh and Bunty, learnt to be his relatives. He said he had returned from Lucknow to secure his son’s release. Urmila claimed that she had also got the disputed property registered through her nephew, Dinesh, after paying the full consideration amount along with the requisite government fee. She said the dispute had been continuing for nearly eight years and that she had approached the police several times during the past year, but alleged that no concrete action had been taken. SHO Baljinder Singh said the family was counselled. Giani Raghbir Singh filed a complaint with the police regarding the bullet mark in his security vehicle parked outside his house in Partap Bazaar area. The incident came to light on August 13 when the driver was cleaning the SUV and found a bullet mark on the bonnet. The firing incident apparently took place around 11 pm on August 12. The incident gained immediate attention as on Thursday, SAD president Sukhbir Badal was injured in a murderous attack at a gurdwara in Nanded, Maharashtra. Giani Raghbir Singh had pronounced the tankhah (religious punishment) on Badal in alleged sacrilege cases in December 2024. Police Commissioner Harmanbir Singh Gill, who also visited the spot, said the bullet had hit the vehicle’s bonnet from a 90-degree angle, suggesting that it might have been a stray bullet. The forensic examination was conducted. He said the police were examining the CCTV footage and other evidence to ascertain whether the firing was deliberate and establish the identity and motive of the suspected person. Amritsar, August 17 The Amritsar police have arrested four persons and recovered seven illegal pistols allegedly smuggled from Pakistan, 12 magazines and two live rounds in two separate operations. The recoveries were made in the Gharinda and Jandiala Guru police station jurisdictions following specific intelligence inputs. The police are now probing whether the arrested persons were part of a wider illegal arms supply network. The Gharinda police arrested Kaptanpreet Singh, alias Sandhu, and Arshdeep Singh, both residents of the Bhakhna area, while in the second operation, the Jandiala Guru police arrested Ajub Singh and Navjot Singh, both residents of Kad Gill village, falling under the Sadar police jurisdiction in Tarn Taran. The police said, in the first case, an ASI-led team was patrolling near the GT Road at Attari when it received information that the duo ■ The recoveries were made in the Gharinda and Jandiala Guru police station jurisdictions following specific intelligence inputs. ■ The police are now probing whether the arrested persons were part of a wider illegal arms supply network. ■ The Gharinda police arrested Kaptanpreet Singh, alias Sandhu, and Arshdeep Singh, both residents of the Bhakhna area. ■ In the second operation, the Jandiala Guru police arrested Ajub Singh and Navjot Singh, both residents of Kad Gill village, falling under the Sadar police jurisdiction in Tarn Taran. had allegedly procured illegal weapons from Pakistan and that they were going from Rampura village to Amritsar for delivering the weapon consignment. The two suspects were allegedly travelling on a black Hero Honda Splendor motorcycle when the police intercepted them. They recovered six .30bore pistols and 10 magazines. The motorcycle was also impounded, the police said, adding that the alleged Pakistan connection had emerged as a key line of investigation, with the police ascertaining how the weapons reached the accused and whom they were supposed to be delivered to. As for Jandiala arrests, a police team was conducting checks along the Tarn Taran road when it received information about two suspicious youths travelling in a white Volkswagen car bearing registration number PB-65-BK-7121. The two were intercepted and after search, a .32-bore pistol with a magazine and two live cartridges were recovered from them. The car was impounded. The accused could not produce any documents regarding the weapons and failed to give a satisfactory answer to police queries. An FIR under the Arms Act was registered against them. The police are now investigating former and backward links of the accused with other arms suppliers or handlers. Also, they are trying to establish their links with Pakistan-based smugglers. Eight held for taking heroin in Tarn Taran Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, August 17 The police arrested eight persons for consuming heroin. A police party led by SubInspector Hardeep Kumar said caught the accused, Mehakdeep Singh, a resident of Manochahal, Akashdeep Singh, a resident of Tung, Manjit Singh,a resident of Baler, and Ajay Preet Singh, a resident of Manochahal Kalan, red-handed. Officials said a lighter, two Rs 10 notes and a silver foil were recovered from them. In another incident, a police party led by Sub-Inspector Ruhan Singh arrested two persons for consuming heroin. The accused have been identified as Savinder Singh of Sarhali Kalan and Pawandeep Singh, a resident of Naushera Pannuan. A silver foil, a lighter and a Rs 10 note were recovered from the accused. Meanwhile, the Chohla Sahib police arrested Satnam Singh Satta, a resident of Chamba Kalan, for consuming heroin. A person identified as Sahil, a resident of Muradpur locality, Tarn Taran, was also arrested. Cases under Sections 27, 29, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act have been registered. Massive explosive haul has cops worried; 10 terror cartels busted till July 27 Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, August 17 The recovery of a 690-gm improvised explosive device (IED) near a police establishment in Amritsar has added another worrying chapter to Punjab’s growing trail of explosive recoveries, with security agencies increasingly encountering devices in cases linked to alleged crossborder terror modules. The latest recovery, made on the intervening night of August 15 and 16 in the Gaggomahal area, included an electronic detonator, battery, timer and iron box. The device, found wrapped in wax, was subsequently defused by the bomb disposal squad. The recovery comes after a series of IED seizures across SERIES OF IED SEIZURES ACROSS STATE THIS YEAR ■ The latest recovery, made on the intervening night of August 15 and 16 in the Gaggomahal area, included an electronic detonator, battery, timer and iron box. The device, found wrapped in wax, was subsequently defused by the bomb disposal squad. ■ The recovery comes after a series of IED seizures across the state this year. The Punjab Police had stated that by July 27, their intelligence-led operations against terror modules had resulted in the recovery of 12 RDX-based prefabricated IEDs, besides RDX, detonators, grenades, firearms and an RPG. The force had by then busted 10 terror modules and arrested 137 persons. the state this year. The Punjab Police had stated that by July 27, their intelligenceled operations against terror modules had resulted in the recovery of 12 RDXbased prefabricated IEDs, besides RDX, detonators, grenades, firearms and an RPG. The force had by then busted 10 terror modules and arrested 137 persons. The pattern has been visible since the beginning of the year. In January, the Hoshiarpur police and the Counter Intelligence, Jalandhar, busted a suspected BKI module and recovered a nearly 2.5-kg RDX-based IED along with two pistols. The police said the device was allegedly intended for a targeted attack around the Republic Day celebrations and that the module was being operated by USbased handlers. Another IED was recovered behind the Rayya police post in Amritsar district in February and was later defused by a bomb disposal team. The loca- tion itself raised concern as the device had been found close to a police establishment. The threat has also extended to critical infrastructure. An IED had resulted in the blast near Army Cantonment area in Khasa located on the Amritsar-Attari road in May this year. Similarly, a blast on a rail- way track near Sirhind in January damaged the track and derailed a freight train, injuring its loco pilot. The incident triggered a multiagency probe. In July, the Counter Intelligence, Jalandhar, and the Jalandhar Rural Police busted another alleged Pakistan-linked BKI module and recovered a 1.3-kg IED containing explosives along with shrapnel and ball bearings. The police described it as preparation for a highimpact attack. What makes the latest recovery significant is the apparent diversification of targets and methods. From police, Army and security establishments to railway infrastructure, terror modules appear to be looking for vulnerable targets while foreign-based handlers rely on local operatives for logistics and execution. The repeated recoveries indicate that interception by security agencies has prevented several possible attacks. But the frequency with which the IEDs are being pushed into Punjab also points to a persistent challenge: the terror networks operating through the border state continue to adapt their arsenal and modus operandi. In the meanwhile, the Amritsar rural police claimed to have got some clues in the recovery of IED from the Gaggomahal police post. Officials expressed hope to arrest the suspects in the case soon. Fake agents leverage new visa norms to their advantage Manmeet Singh Gill Tribune News Service Amritsar, August 17 As Australia and Canada tighten their student visa norms, thousands of youngsters stare at a bleak future. As legitimate pathways narrow, unscrupulous immigration agents enter the picture. While the exact number of youngsters falling prey to such fraudsters is difficult to ascertain, many continue to part with large sums of their families’ hard-earned money in hope of securing work or student visas. One such victim — Prabhjeet Singh, a resident of Bhaini Sahib village in Ludhiana district — who claims to have lost nearly Rs 17 lakh to a local agent, said: “I was promised an Australian work visa for Rs 22 lakh. After taking nearly Rs 11 lakh from me, they told me that the visa had been issued, but said nothing about the ordeal that followed.” “I was made to travel to Bangkok, Jakarta and Bali. At every place, I was made to Fraud victim Prabhjeet Singh claims to have lost nearly ~17 lakh to a local agent stay in crowded rooms with around 15 to 20 other persons. All of them had been promised an Australian work visa,” Prabhjeet said, adding that the experience eventually made him realise that something was seriously wrong. Another youngster, Daljit Singh of Batala, said he too was taken from one place to another and kept in overcrowded accommodation, while agents continued demanding more money. “Every day, the travel agents demanded more money. Four of us eventually c m y b realised what was happening and decided to return to India on our own,” he said. Prabhjeet is now trying to recover his money. He has been seeking the return of the amount from Umesh Prashar and Lakshami Prashar, residents of the Naraingarh area, who allegedly run an immigration office, KY Destinations, in Ranjit Avenue. According to Prabhjit and members of the Jamhoori Kisan Sabha, the couple has already left their residence. Communist leader Balwinder Singh Jhabal alleged that the agents had returned Rs 2 lakh in cash and issued cheques for the remaining amount, but the cheques subsequently bounced. “The agents have now left their home. Residents of the locality told us that those duped often come looking for the two,” he said. Border Area Sangharsh Committee leader Rattan Singh Randhawa said the tightening of legitimate immigration routes was exposing vulnerable youngsters to greater risks. “When it becomes difficult to get visa, youngsters adopt various means to realise their foreign dream, and eventually fall prey to fraudster,” he said. Randhawa urged the government to act against such immigration agents. Cabinet minister Lal Chand Kataruchak (centre) with PWD officials in Pathankot on Monday. In poll mode, AAP asks workerstospeed upworks Ravi Dhaliwal Tribune News Service Pathankot, August 17 The AAP dispensation has ordered its ministers to speed up the construction of link roads and bridges and ensure that the work is completed before the elections. Cabinet minister Lal Chand Kataruchak met PWD officials in Pathankot today and told them that no laxity should be shown as far as completion of bridges and roads in his Assembly constituency of Bhoa was concerned. Similarly, the other ministers have been ordered to ensure all ongoing projects are finished well in time. An AAP MLA said, “Our government is fast-tracking pending infrastructure projects like repairing hundreds of kilometres of rural link roads and clearing stalled bridges primarily to showcase tangible, visible development right before the elections to boost the public perception of progress.” Kataruchak has already brought in Rs 200 worth of projects basically pertaining to link roads and three bridges in his area. Bhoa, a mining rich area, is considered to be one of the most backward areas of Punjab.