25072026-ATR-01.qxd 7/24/2026 11:20 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY AFTER YEARS OF NEGLECT, DABURJI SHUTS DOORS ON POLITICIANS MIRI PIRI KHALSA MARCH BEGINS FROM AKAL TAKHT MUSIC COMPOSER AMAAL MALLIK BLASTS TANISHK BAGCHI Residents of Daburji village have decided to boycott all political parties until their civic issues are resolved. P2 The Miri Piri Khalsa March, dedicated to Miri Piri Diwas, was on Friday flagged off from Akal Takht. P3 MAX 30°C | MIN 26°C YESTERDAY MAX 31°C | MIN 26°C Music composer Amaal Mallik has launched a sharp attack on fellow composer Tanishk Bagchi. P4 » » SUNSET SATURDAY 7.31 PM SUNRISE SUNDAY 5.42 AM » SATURDAY | 25 JULY 2026 | AMRITSAR Opium smuggling along Pak border sees spurt Ajnala clash accused, US citizen Man stabbed during held for illegal entry into India domestic dispute dies Pawan K Jaiswar Amritsar, July 24 The UP Police have arrested Vikramjit Singh, an accused in the 2023 Ajnala police station clash and reportedly a member of “Waris Punjab De” organisation, at the IndiaNepal border for trying to gain illegal entry into India. The police also arrested a US citizen, identified as Manveer Singh, who is wanted by the Moga police, it is learnt. Three other persons, accused of facilitating their Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 24 Although opium smuggling from Pakistan is not a new phenomenon, a noticeable increase in seizures along the Punjab Frontier in recent months, suggest that crossborder trafficking networks are increasingly using the route to push raw opium into India alongside heroin, ICE and sophisticated weapons. The Border Security Force (BSF), which has been battling a surge in drone-based smuggling, has made a series of opium recoveries in the Gharinda and Lopoke areas along the International Border in Amritsar in recent weeks, highlighting what security agencies believe is an emerging trend in crossborder narcotics trafficking. On July 19, BSF troops recovered nearly 1 kg of opium from the Gharinda area during a search operation. Earlier, on July 7, the force seized 718 gram of opium along with three mobile phones from the Lopoke area, indicating the involvement of local handlers tasked with collecting consignments. On June 27, BSF personnel recovered 790 gram of opium and seized a drone in the Gharinda sector, underscoring the growing use of 15 KG OPIUM RECOVERED SINCE START OF 2026 DATE RECOVERY July 19 1 kg opium 718 gm opium 790 gm opium July 7 June 27 unmanned aerial vehicles to ferry narcotics across the International Border. According to official figures, the BSF has recovered over 15 kg of opium along the Punjab Frontier so far this year. Although heroin continues to account for the bulk of cross-border drug seizures, the recent spate of opium recoveries suggest that smugglers are increasingly attempting to send raw opium into Punjab as well. A BSF official wishing not to be named said Pakistan-based smugglers were increasingly relying on drones to deliver narcotics, weapons and other contraband into Indian territo- According to official figures, the BSF has recovered over 15 kg of opium along the Punjab Frontier so far this year. ry. Once the consignments are dropped in agricultural fields or border villages, they are collected by local operatives and routed through drug trafficking networks. Yadwinder Singh, Deputy Superintendent of Police (Attari), confirmed that there had been a surge in opium smuggling. The BSF in coordination , with the Punjab Police and other security agencies, has intensified anti-drone surveillance, intelligence-based operations and border domination measures to counter Pakistanbacked smuggling networks operating along the International Border. MASTERMIND AT LARGE Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service ■ Vikramjit Singh had been evading arrest for over two years. ■Three other persons, accused of facilitating their illegal entry into India, have also been nabbed, while Joga Singh of the Pilibhit area, the mastermind, is at large. illegal entry into India, have also been nabbed, while Joga Singh of the Pilibhit area, the mastermind, is at large. The arrests came to light after the Uttar Pradesh Police shared information about the illegality with the Punjab Police. Vikramjit Singh had been evading arrest for over two years. During this period, he allegedly hid at various locations, including Mumbai, Rajasthan, Delhi and Udhampur, before escaping to Kathmandu, Nepal, nearly a year ago. Confirming the arrests, Uttar Pradesh Superintendent of Police Vishwajeet Srivastava told the media that both men were taken into Continued on page 2 Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 24 A 43-year-old man, allegedly stabbed during a domestic dispute at Chauhan village, falling under the Khalchian police station limits, succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment, following which the police registered a murder case against his wife and nephew. The deceased has been identified as Buta Singh, a resident of Chauhan village. According to the police, the 43-year-old woman reunited with family in WB Charanjit Singh Teja OVERCOMING BARRIERS Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 24 After a wait of nearly four years, a 43-year-old woman, living in a community home for persons with intellectual disabilities, was reunited with her family in West Bengal. The efforts put in by the district administration and the Social Security Department fructified as Sombri Mudi, who had been living at the Community Home for Mentally Retarded on Majitha Road since July 5, 2021, finally found her people and home. District Social Security Offi- ■ The efforts put in by the district administration and the Social Security Department fructified as Sombri Mudi, who had been living at the Community Home for Mentally Retarded on Majitha Road since July 5, 2021, finally found her people and home. ■ District Social Security Officer Aseesinder Singh said the woman expressed the desire to return home but the authorities were unable to A counsellor was tasked with culling out information about the trace her family owing to language whereabouts of Sombri Mudi’s family. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR barrier and information inadequacy. cer Aseesinder Singh said the woman expressed the desire to return home, but the authorities were unable to trace her family owing to language barrier and informa- tion inadequacy. The official said her Aadhaar card helped Continued on page 2 Wife, nephew booked on murder charges case was registered on the statement of the victim’s brother, Lakhwinder Singh. In his complaint, he alleged that on the night of July 18, at around 8 pm, he heard commotion from his brother’s house and rushed inside. He claimed that he saw Buta Singh’s wife, Manjit Kaur, and her nephew, Amritpal Continued on page 2 Two held for murder bid Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 24 The Majitha Road police have arrested two persons wanted in an attempt-to-murder case registered last month and recovered two illegal pistols along with live cartridges from their possession. The accused have been identified as Satnam Singh and Rajpreet Singh, alias Billa, both residents of Chabba village, here. 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