17072026-ATR-01.qxd 7/16/2026 11:18 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY CIVIC BODY CRACKS DOWN ON ENCROACHERS INDIAN CONTINGENT TO LEAVE FOR GLASGOW ON JULY 26 PRIYANKA CHOPRA JONAS GETS CRITICS CHOICE AWARDS NOD The Amritsar Municipal Corporation carries out an anti-encroachment drive on Lawrence Road. P2 Chasing their dream to clinch gold in Commonwealth Games, 3 judokas sweat it out in Gurdaspur. P3 MAX 36°C | MIN 26°C YESTERDAY MAX 37°C | MIN 26°C Priyanka Chopra has been nominated for Best Actress in an Action Movie for her performance in The Bluff. P4 » » SUNSET FRIDAY 7.36 PM SUNRISE SATURDAY 5.37 AM » FRIDAY | 17 JULY 2026 | AMRITSAR One held with 1 kg heroin in Lopoke Tribune News Service Amid chaos, Palwinder Kaur Warehousing officer suicide: Cops file status report in HC elected Qadianas AAP, Cong come to blows MC chief Gur Dilbagh Singh made vice-prez Pawan K Jaiswar Amritsar, July 16 The Lopoke police arrested a man and seized 1 kg of heroin from his possession near Bhullar village here on Wednesday. The accused was identified as Gurdev Singh, a resident of Khiala Kalan village under the Lopoke police station. According to the police, an SHO-led patrol party was conducting routine checking and searching for suspicious persons when they noticed the accused carrying a black backpack. On spotting the police vehicle, he allegedly became nervous and attempted to turn back, prompting the police to intercept him. Following the prescribed legal procedure under the NDPS Act, the officials searched the backpack and recovered a packet wrapped in brown tape. The accused allegedly disclosed that the packet contained heroin. The recovered substance was tested using a drug detection kit, which confirmed it to be heroin. On weighing, the contraband, including the packing material, measured just over 1 kg. A case under Sections 21(C), 61 and 85 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act has been registered at the Lopoke police station. Tribune News Service Ravi Dhaliwal Tribune News Service Qadian (Gurdaspur), July 16 A scuffle broke out at the Qadian municipal council, marring the election to the posts of president and vicepresident of the civic body on Thursday. Amid the high drama in the House, Palwinder Kaur was elected the president, while Gur Dilbagh Singh was elected her deputy. Reports had predicted violence before the polls and subsequently the Batala police had tightened security throughout the city. Qadian falls under the jurisdiction of the Batala police district. Senior officers had positioned themselves at strategic points. Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Partap Singh Bajwa, along with councillors, was on his way to the MC office when the violence erupted. Congress workers claimed that the police and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders were hand in glove with each other to ensure that the nominee of the ruling party was made the president. At one time, Partap was pushed violently but before the situation could go out of AAP, Congress workers scuffle during the municipal council elections in Qadian. COPS ACTED AS MUTE SPECTATORS: LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION ■ Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Partap Singh Bajwa claimed that hand, his security men threw a cordon around him. Multiple videos of the violence have gone viral. Physical fights, chaos and high-pitched quarrels between AAP loyalists and Congressmen were a common sight. A police officer, however, said that they did not help any particular party and were Six arrested, 43 rescued from ‘illegal’ de-addiction centre Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 16 The Amritsar police with the Health Department’s help on Thursday arrested six persons and rescued 43 persons from an “illegal de-addiction centre” operating from a house in the Annagarh area. Those rescued were in bad shape and without any medical care, it was learnt. The police said the centre’s operator too was taken into custody, adding that two of the accused had NDPS cases registered against them. Acting on a tip-off, the Gate Hakima police raided the premises and found that the centre was allegedly being run without any licence. Those arrested have been identified as Kuldeep Singh, alias Chauhan, the alleged operator of the centre; Simranjit Singh, Jaspal Singh, Amandeep Singh, Shamsher 6 posing as CIA staff loot ~40K from house Tarn Taran, July 16 Nirmal Kaur, a resident of the border town of Bhikhiwind, was robbed of Rs 40,000 and her daughter-in-law’s earrings by six persons claiming to be CIA staff, Tarn Taran, on Wednesday. Nirmal Kaur was at home when Vishal Singh, a resident of Valtoha, and five unidentified armed men came to her house. One of them was in police uniform. Introducing themselves as CIA staff, they told Nirmal Kaur that they were doing illegal work and a case would be registered against them. Then they took away Rs 40,000. –– OC RESCUED INMATES IN BAD SHAPE ■ The police said the centre's operator too was taken into custody, adding that two of the accused had NDPS cases registered against them. ■ Those rescued were in bad shape and without any medical care, it was learnt. Singh and Karamjit Singh, alias Bobby. The police said the latter had been tasked with managing the facility. Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Vishaljit Singh said the inmates were kept at the facility without adequate medical infrastructure or supervision. The centre was running for the past over two months. They were taking anything between Rs 5,000 and Rs 10,000 for the treatment. He said the accused would “assault” the accused in the name of treat- ment. The police said Karamjit Singh and Jaspal Singh, who were managing the facility, were “drug addicts” and had cases under the NDPS Act registered against them. Following the raid, all 43 inmates were rescued and shifted to Swami Vivekanand De-addiction Centre at Government Medical College here for treatment and rehabilitation. Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said the investigation was on to ascertain the extent of the illegal operation and identify any other persons involved. The authorities are also verifying whether the accused had obtained any licence or approval to run the facility. He added that a sustained drive against illegal de-addiction centres would continu. A case has been registered, said the police. positioned in strength in the city to maintain law and order. Partap, by virtue of being the MLA of Qadian, is an ex-officio member of the 15-member house. The election was held by show of hands and was conducted by the Batala SDM. The recent elections had thrown up a hung house. Guriqbal Singh Mahal, who Amritsar, July 16 Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Punjab on Friday, Amritsar MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla has submitted a detailed memorandum seeking a special development package for border districts, stronger anti-drone measures, protection against Ravi river erosion and the speedy implementation of key infrastructure projects. In the memorandum, Aujla noted that this would be the Prime Minister’s third visit to Punjab since the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and urged the Centre to make concrete announcements for the border region instead of offering assurances. Describing Amritsar as a strategically important border district, the Congress MP said it continued to face serious challenges despite its significance to national security, trade and the economy. Aujla highlighted the growing threat of cross-border drone smuggling of narcotics, weapons and ammunition, saying repeated drone incursions from Pakistan had fuelled drug trafficking, gangster activity and organised Kumar was illegally detained by the district administration in violation of directions issued by the High Court,” he said. contested the 2022 Assembly polls on SAD ticket but recently shifted loyalty to the AAP was instrumental , in making Palwinder Kaur the president. When he defected to AAP in the presence of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann a few days ago, he took all the six SAD councillors along. The faithful According to the report, before taking the extreme step on March 21, Punjab Warehousing Corporation (PWC) district manager Dr Gagandeep Singh Randhawa met PWC managing director Gautam Jain and Tarn Taran Deputy Commissioner Rahul regarding the alleged humiliation he was subjected to on March 13 THE CASE Dr Gagandeep Singh Randhawa reportedly died by suicide at his Amritsar residence on March 21. Before his death, he recorded a 12second video on his mobile phone naming Bhullar, triggering a political storm and demands from the Opposition for action against the then minister. Bhullar later resigned from the Punjab Cabinet. had forcibly recorded a 32second video in which Randhawa was forced to admit that he had accepted Rs 10 lakh bribe from another firm in connection with the tender process. She claimed that the video was forwarded to her by Gautam Jain on March 21. She had alleged that the police had failed to record the statements of both managing director and the Deputy Commissioner. However, in its reply filed before the High Court, the police attached the statements of both officials. Gautam Jain, in his statement recorded before the police, said Randhawa met him in his Chandigarh office on March 16 after the tenderer (Bhullar’s father Sukhdev Singh) filed a complaint against him and shared the alleged bribery video as evidence. Jain stated that although Randhawa did not submit any written representation, the matter of harassment and assault was also discussed and he was subsequently transferred to Chandigarh. Similarly, the Deputy Commissioner stated that he had contacted Randhawa on phone after the alleged incident asking him to meet in person. Randhawa met him on March 17 at his camp office. He had advised him to submit a written complaint so that appropriate action could be initiated but added that he did not submitted any written complaint in this connection. Randhawa, had died by suicide at his Amritsar residence on March 21. Before his death, he recorded a 12second video on his mobile phone naming Bhullar, triggering a political storm and Continued on P2 MC sets up control room for sewer plaints from 20 wards Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service SEEKING BLESSINGS: Devotees in large numbers take part in the Jagannath Rath Yatra in Amritsar on Thursday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR Ahead of PM visit, MP raises border security, Ravi issue Tribune News Service ■ “Another councillor Rajesh despite the appointment of an observer of the Punjab and Haryana High Court to ensure a free and fair election, the district police acted as mute spectators, while AAP-backed goons kidnapped Congress councillors Joginder Kumar and Narinder Kumar as they were about to enter the municipal council office. Amritsar, July 16 In their status report submitted before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the city police stated that before ending his life, Punjab Warehousing Corporation (PWC) district manager Dr Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, who was allegedly humiliated and harassed by former Punjab minister Laljit Singh Bhullar over the allotment of godown construction tenders, had approached senior government officials, including the corporation’s managing director and the Tarn Taran Deputy Commissioner. The report comes in view of a petition filed by Randhawa’s wife, Opinder Kaur, seeking a CBI probe into the case. Kaur alleged that the local police had failed to arrest Bhullar’s father Sukhdev Singh and his private personal assistant Dilbagh Singh. According to the report, before taking the extreme step on March 21, Dr Gagandeep Singh Randhawa met PWC managing director Gautam Jain and Tarn Taran Deputy Commissioner Rahul regarding the alleged humiliation by Bhullar at his residence on March 13. In her petition, Opinder Kaur alleged that Bhullar WHAT REPORT SAYS crime in Punjab. He said he had repeatedly raised the issue in Parliament and called for a stronger response from the Centre. He urged the Union Government to deploy advanced antidrone technology along the International Border, improve coordination among security agencies and launch a comprehensive drive to dismantle cross-border drug and arms smuggling networks. Referring to recent grenade attacks on police establishments and the rise in organised crime, Aujla said such incidents posed a serious threat. c m y b 24-year-old burnt alive, woman, cousin booked Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 16 The Majitha police on Wednesday booked a woman and her cousin for allegedly setting a 24-yearold man on fire at Bal Khurd village. The woman (in her late twenties) after learning that the deceased (Sandeep Singh) had married another woman, called the latter to her house, where she poured petrol on him and set him on fire following an argument, said the police. The woman’s cousin has been identified as Harpal Singh. When Sandeep was set ablaze, he reportedly pulled the woman towards him, causing her to suffer severe burn injuries. Harpal Singh also suffered burns while trying to save the woman, the police said. All three were rushed to a hospital, where Sandeep succumbed to his injuries and the other two are undergoing treatment. Majitha SHO Karam Pal Singh said a case was registered against the woman and her cousin on the complaint of the deceased’s family. The SHO said the woman’s statement was yet to be recorded. Amritsar, July 16 The Amritsar Municipal Corporation (MC) has set up a 24x7 control room to address sewerage-related complaints in 20 wards where operation and maintenance of the sewer network has been outsourced to a private company. Residents of these wards can now lodge complaints round the clock through dedicated helpline numbers. The control room has been established at the former Seva Kendra building near Sheranwala Gate Chowk. Complaints from the walled city wards can be registered on 62800-20903, while residents of the remaining outsourced wards can call 98726-20903. The civic body has awarded Rs 12-crore contract to a private firm for the maintenance of the sewerage network in 20 wards for a period of two years. The contract covers desilting of sewer lines ranging from 8 inches to 42 inches in diameter, removal of blockages, repair works and redressal of sewer-related complaints. To monitor the contractor’s performance, the Municipal Corporation has deputed two SubDivisional Officers (SDOs) and three Junior Engineers COMPLAINT NUMBERS Residents can report rainwater accumulation at the Lahori Gate Control Room (01832558364) or the Company Bagh Control Room (01832563490). Officials have been assigned duties on a roster basis to respond promptly to such complaints. (JEs). Complaints received through the helpline will be forwarded to the control room for immediate action. The private company has deployed three super sucker machines for sewer cleaning. In addition, the Municipal Corporation has stationed four jetting-cum-suction machines and five grab bucket machines to strengthen the sewer maintenance system in the outsourced wards. Mayor Jatinder Singh Bhatia said the Municipal Corporation may outsource sewer maintenance in more wards in the future depending on the results of the pilot project. He said officials would monitor the contractor’s work on a daily basis to ensure timely resolution of complaints. Meanwhile, the MC has also activated two separate control rooms for complaints related to waterlogging. The control room has been established at the former Seva Kendra building near Sheranwala Gate Chowk.