24082026-ATR-01.qxd 8/23/2026 11:13 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 33°C | MIN 28°C YESTERDAY MAX 34°C | MIN 27°C BJP ACCUSES CM MANN, WIFE OF CORRUPTION, BURNS EFFIGY NEED TO UPGRADE INFRA TO FIX WATER TABLE DEPLETION TAAPSEE PANNU RETURNS TO ACTION WITH GANDHARI BJP district president Salil Kapoor seeks CM Bhagwant Mann’s resignation, fair probe. P2 Locals feel installation of percolation tanks can help recharge groundwater. P3 The actor hopes her latest action outing satisfies fans who have long awaited her return to the genre. P4 » » » SUNSET MONDAY 6.56 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 5:55 AM MONDAY | 24 AUGUST 2026 | AMRITSAR TWIN GRENADE BLASTS AT JATTAN VILLAGE BKI terrorist Passia’s mother held, sister on run Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, August 23 The twin hand grenade blasts at Jattan village took a curious turn with the Amritsar rural police arresting the mother of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terrorist Harpreet Singh, alias Happy Passia, while nominating his sister in the case. The house that was attacked belonged to Daljit Singh. The twin blasts had left three, including two women, injured with shrapnel injuries. The police had found the involvement of Happy Passia group in the attack after a social media post claimed responsibility. According to the police, a verbal dispute between Daljit Singh and his associates with Passia’s mother and sister at Passia village a few days ago was the reason behind the grenade attack. Nevertheless, the police are yet to identify the two motorcycle-borne suspects who had hurled the grenades at the house. 3 HURT IN ATTACK ■ The house that was attacked belonged to Daljit Singh. The twin blasts had left three, including two women, injured with shrapnel injuries. ■ A verbal dispute between Daljit Singh and his associates with Happy Passia’s mother and sister a few days ago was the reason behind the attack. << The house that was attacked at Jattan village in Amritsar district. FILE “We have arrested Bhupinder Kaur (Passia’s mother), while her daughter Kirandeep Kaur has been absconding,” said an official privy to the investigation. The probe has revealed that Daljit Singh of Jattan village allegedly opened fire outside Happy Passia’s house on Tuesday night and issued threats while creating a ruckus. During the incident, Daljit reportedly had an argument with Bhupinder Kaur and Kirandeep Kaur. The police subsequently registered a case against him. Sources said the two women informed Happy Passia, who is believed to be operating from the US, about the inci- dent. In an alleged retaliatory attack, Happy Passia reportedly sent his associates to Daljit Singh’s house, where two hand grenades were hurled on Thursday night. Bhupinder Kaur and Kirandeep Kaur had earlier been arrested for allegedly providing shelter and support to the accused who allegedly plant- ed IED outside the Ajnala police station. They remained in jail before securing bail from the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The police said further investigation was underway to establish the exact role of the accused and identify the others involved in the grenade attack. Passia, a notorious gangsterturned-terrorist with links to Pakistan’s ISI, has been accused of orchestrating at least 14 grenade attacks across Punjab, targeting police stations, religious places, and residences of public figures. He entered the US illegally in 2021 through human trafficking routes and continued to coordinate terror activities from there, using burner phones to avoid detection. The FBI had arrested him in Sacramento in April 2025, which was termed as major success. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had placed a reward of Rs 5 lakh for information leading to his arrest. Arms smuggling module busted; 2 held with 10 pistols Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, August 23 With the arrest of two persons, the Counter Intelligence, Amritsar, on Sunday claimed to have busted an alleged illegal arms smuggling module and recovered 10 sophisticated pistols, magazines and 10 live 9 mm cartridges from them. Those arrested were identified as Gurpreet Singh (son of Iqbal Singh) and Gurpreet Singh (son of Gulzar Singh), both residents of Hawellian village in Tarn Taran. Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said nine of the recovered pistols were 9 mm calibre, while one was .30 bore. A grey Bajaj Platina motorcycle (PB38-1658) Rid villages of garbage crisis: ADC to officials DRONES USED ■ Information was The police with the seized pistols. TRIBUNE PHOTO allegedly used for transporting the consignment was also impounded, he added. The operation followed specific information received by the Counter Intelligence on August 22 that the accused were allegedly in contact supplying them to other parties in Punjab on the handler’s directions. Acting on the information, police teams intercepted the two accused near Khasa village on the Amritsar-Attari road while they were Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, August 23 A probe into the recovery of 40 gm of heroin from two alleged drug peddlers has led the cops to a suspected spying racket. The police are now examining whether the narcotics network operating in the Tarn Taran belt was also being used to pass sensitive information onto Pakistan-based agencies. The development has added a security dimension to what initially appeared to be a routine drug peddling case. Investigators have reportedly found that the two accused allegedly transferred crucial data, photographs and other information to Pakistan-based agencies. The nature of the information shared, the identity of the recipients and the possible role of other persons are being examined. According to information, the Gharinda police arrested Arman Singh of Girja Mohalla and Sunny of Khemkaran in Tarn Taran with around 40 gm of heroin three days ago. ASSEMBLY POLL Tribune News Service Amritsar, August 23 The 2027 Assembly election battle in Majitha is set to pique the interest of pundits, with Akali Dal Waris Punjab De naming Pappalpreet Singh, a close associate of Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh, as its candidate from the constituency. The Majitha Assembly seat has long been considered a stronghold of SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia. And, both the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party candidates failed to dislodge Majithia in the previous Assembly elections. The entry of the Akali Dal Waris Punjab De, a relatively ■ Investigators have reportedly found that Arman Singh of Girja Mohalla and Sunny of Khemkaran in Tarn Taran allegedly transferred crucial data, photographs and other information to Pakistan-based agencies. The nature of the information shared, the identity of the recipients and the possible role of other persons are being examined. ■ The accused were held with around 40 gm of heroin three days ago. ■ The investigation gained momentum as during questioning, the police stumbled upon their alleged links with Pakistan-based handlers. The investigation gained momentum as during questioning, the police stumbled upon their alleged links with Pakistan-based handlers. The focus has since shifted from the narcotics seizure to establishing the extent of the suspected espionage network and its links with the drug trade. Yadwinder Singh, Deputy Superintendent of Police (Attari), said the accused had shared the pictures of Jalandhar cantonment, Beas bridge and several other sensitive locations to their handlers in Pakistan. According to the FIR, ASI Jaswinder Singh, along with constable Nishanpal Singh and PHG Davinder Singh, was patrolling the area when they received information that duo, Arman Singh and Gurmeet Singh, had just supplied heroin to drug retailers and could be apprehended if a raid was conducted at the appropriate time. Acting on the tip-off, the police launched a search operation and registered a case under Sections 21, 29, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act. The police are also probing the source of the heroin, the financial trail and the possible involvement of additional suspects. Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, August 23 The police on Saturday arrested a Kulla resident in possession of illicit liquor. ASI, Chohla Sahib, Amarjit Singh said the accused had been identified as Ranjit Singh. He was on his way to sell the illicit liquor when the police, following a tip-off, nabbed him. The ASI said 40 bottles of illicit liquor were recovered from the accused. Constituency a stronghold of SAD’s Bikram Singh Majithia new political outfit, and Pappalpreet Singh, a rookie, could, however, add a new dimension to the contest. Pappalpreet Singh is currently lodged in the Goindwal Sahib jail in the Ajnala police station violence case. The party officially announced Pappalpreet Singh’s candidature on Sunday. His mother Randhir Kaur and party leader Amarjit Singh Vanchiri were also there. The party leadership appealed to its office-bearers, workers and Majitha residents to support Pappalpreet Singh. 40 KG OF CONTRABAND WAS RECOVERED FROM 2 Man held with illicit liquor Waris Punjab De picks Pappalpreet for Majitha seat Tribune News Service Amritsar, August23 In a bid to rid villages of garbage crisis, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Rural Development) Surinder Singh has directed officials to get solid waste management projects executed in rural areas. At a meeting with Block Development and Panchayat Officers (BDPOs), Block Development and Panchayat Secretaries, the official said villagers should be encouraged to segregate waste. This would ease the entire process, he added. Officials were asked to strengthen door-to-door waste collection in villages. with a Pakistan-based arms smuggler identified as “Shah”. The police claimed that the duo had been receiving weapons through drones near the India-Pak border fencing in the Havelian area and allegedly received by the Counter Intelligence on August 22 that the accused were allegedly in contact with a Pakistanbased arms smuggler identified as “Shah”. ■ The police claimed that the duo had been receiving weapons through drones near the India-Pak border. allegedly on their way to deliver the arms consignment. A search led to the recovery of 10 pistols and ammunition. A case under Sections 25, 25(1)(A), 25(8) of the Arms Act and Section 61(2) of the Bhartiya Nayaya Sanhita (BNS) has been registered at the State Special Operation Cell police station, Amritsar. The police said the investigation was being conducted to trace the forward and backward linkages of the network and establish the possible involvement of other anti-national or gangsters. The accused are to be produced before a local court, where the police will seek their remand for tracing their alleged accomplices. Heroin bust blows lid off spying racket Civic officials say the drive is part of their efforts to generate revenue. Kiosk owners given Sept 15 deadline to clear dues, pay rent Tribune News Service Members of the Akali Dal Waris Punjab De meet in Amritsar. Amritsar, August 23 The civic body has appealed to all kiosk allottees/occupiers to clear their rent and other outstanding dues within the stipulated time. As per the official record, recovery of dues from the khokha allottees is being carried out in accordance with the directions of Municipal Commissioner Bikramjit Singh Shergill and Additional Cmmissioner Dr Jai Inder Singh. A recovery amount of Rs 37,27,828 has been deposited from April 1 to August 13 this year. In addition, Rs 2,04,000 was deposited on August ~37,27,828 recovery till Aug 13 this year 12 and Rs 5,00,600 on August 13 this year. The MC has now asked kiosk occupiers to clear all dues by September 15 this year. Secretary-cum-estate officer Sushant Bhatia has appealed to all khokha occupiers and allottees to check their outstanding dues and deposit the pending amount by September 15. Civic officials said the drive was part of their efforts to generate revenue and ensure compliance of norms by kiosk owners. Slow pace of work on Rego overbridge puts locals’ patience to test Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service The Rego railway overbridge connects the old and new parts of Amritsar. It was demolished in 2023 for reconstruction. Amritsar August 23 The completion of the Rego railway overbridge that connects the old and new parts of the city seems a distant dream. The slow pace of work has earned locals’ ire, with the Amritsar Vikas Manch writing to Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, seeking its completion before the end of this year. In a letter to the minister, manch patron Kulwant Singh Ankhi said the bridge constructed during the British era was demolished in 2023 for reconstruction. Residents were assured that the new bridge would be completed and opened to traffic within two years. However, even after nearly three years, only half the c m y b Letter shot off to Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw work has reportedly been completed. The letter stated that if the work was not sped up, the project could take another two to three years to complete. The manch sought the Railway Minister’s intervention in the matter. The Rego overbridge is an important traffic link in the city, particularly for vehicles travelling towards the Attari-Wagah border. The manch, in its letter, stated that around 1-1.5 lakh tourists and devotees visited Amritsar every day, with many travelling through the route to attend the Retreat Ceremony at the Attari-Wagah border. With the overbridge under construction, the traffic is diverted to Bhandari Bridge, resulting in congestion. Access to the Durgiana Temple, Hathi Gate, has also been affected, the letter read.The manch members pointed out that the estimated cost of Rs 48.79 crore for the project had already been approved by the Central Government in March 2013. Despite the approval and the passage of the stipulated construction deadline, the reconstruction remained incomplete. A copy of the letter has also been sent to BJP Rajya Sabha MP and national general secretary Tarun Chugh, they added.