05092026-ATR-01.qxd 9/4/2026 10:36 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY FIVE PAK PRISONERS SENT HOME VIA WAGAH BORDER JALLIANWALA BAGH CHAIR LAUNCHES 3RD BOOK ON HISTORY CRISPY CRUST, WARM FILLING ON WORLD SAMOSA DAY! The District Legal Services Authority facilitates the repatriation of five Pakistani prisoners. P2 The Jallianwala Bagh Chair discusses literature, folklore and the Jallianwala Bagh massacre at GNDU. P3 On World Samosa Day, meet celebs for whom this triangular delight is not just a snack, but an emotion. P4 » » » MAX 34°C | MIN 26°C YESTERDAY MAX 34°C | MIN 25°C SUNSET SATURDAY 6.45 PM SUNRISE SUNDAY 6:03 AM SATURDAY | 5 SEPTEMBER 2026 | AMRITSAR Medical store sealed over pregabalin sale A sight to behold Tribune News Service The lit-up Durgiana temple on Janmashtami in Amritsar on Friday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR GNDU mandates gate pass for vehicle entry Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 4 The Senate and the Syndicate of Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) on Friday gave a go-ahead to the gate pass management system. Other issues discussed included research, security and measures to strengthen the functioning of the university. Under the gate pass management system, the entry of fourwheelers will be regulated, which means that those seeking entry for their four-wheelers will have to apply on the university website first. For scholars, subject experts, distinguished visitors, guests and other persons, a designated procedure will be followed. The system aims at ensuring a more organised and transparent mechanism for vehicle entry, while facilitating the movement of authorised visitors and strengthening security on the campus. The move comes following an uproar over the imposition of curbs on the entry of four-wheelers. The establishment of an internal quality assurance cell (IQAC) was also okayed. Amritsar, September 4 A medical store near Guru Tegh Bahadur Gate in Vallah was sealed over alleged violation of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. During an inspection on September 2, Drugs Control Officer, Amritsar-III, Sukhdeep Singh, under the supervision of Zonal Licensing Authority (Drugs), Amritsar Zone, Kulwinder Singh, found that Nahar Medical Store was selling Schedule H and H1 medicines without any prescription. The officials stated that Malkit Singh and Amanpreet Singh, who were present at the store, were not qualified enough, and the proprietor, Sawinderpal Singh, failed to show up. During search, the officials found seven types of medicines containing pregabalin up for sale. These included pregabalin 300 mg capsules, pregabalin 75 mg with methylcobalamin, and combinations of pregabalin with nortriptyline and dicyclomine. Empty strips of pregabalin 300 mg were also found. The seized medicines were val- Police clueless in Nihang Sikh youth’s murder Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 4 Six days after the murder of a Nihang Sikh youth, the police are groping in the dark. Raja Singh (21), a resident of Maglani village, was shot by unknown persons on the evening of historic Rakhar Punya fair. “There are no CCTV cameras near the spot. But we are probing the matter and working on every angle,” said Gurwinder Singh, SHO, Beas police station. Officials of the Drugs Control Department during a raid at a medical store in Vallah, Amritsar. MEDICINES WITH SCHEDULE H, H1 TAG ■ Officials found seven types of medicines containing pregabalin up for sale. These included pregabalin 300 mg capsules, pregabalin 75 mg with methylcobalamin, and combinations of pregabalin with nortriptyline and dicyclomine. ■ Empty strips of pregabalin 300 mg were also found. The seized medicines were valued at around ~19,912, officials said. ued at around Rs 19,912, Drugs Control Officer, Amritsar-III, Sukhdeep Singh said. He said the store incharge allegedly failed to produce purchase records for the drugs, including pregabalin 300 mg, and could not produce corresponding sale records for other medicines. The department seized the seven types of drugs for alleged violation of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and Rules, 1945. The officials also found that the mandatory Schedule H1 register had neither been maintained nor produced when demanded. Shot at venue for Rakhar Punya fair Dressed in Nihang attire, he was found dead at a secluded place at the rear of the Civil Hospital, Baba Bakala. The police received information about the body at around 9.30 pm on August 28, following which a team reached the spot and took the body into custody. The family of the deceased told the police that he had gone to fair. Gurwinder Singh said they were tracking the call history to get to the accused. He added that the personal enmity angle would also be looked into. Cop attacked in Tarn Taran 8 kg heroin seized; five arrested MC cracks down on unauthorised shop Our Correspondent Tribune News Service Tarn Taran, September 4 Three unidentified persons attacked a policeman and fled with his motorcycle near Sarhali. The victim, Rustambir Singh, works with the cyber cell here. A resident of Nabipur (Harike police station), Rustambir Singh was on his way back home when the accused struck. They attacked him with a sharp weapon and fled with his motorcycle and a bag. The bag contained important documents, he added. A case under Section 309(4) 3(5) of the BNS has been registered. Bring sarpanch attackers to book: MP Aujla Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 4 Amritsar MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla today met IG, Border Range, Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, seeking a fair probe into the alleged attack on Attari sarpanch Harpreet Singh “Happy” and Congress worker Sunny Singh. The MP alleged that those providing information to the police about drug trafficking and opposing the drug menace were being targeted. Accompanied by the sarpanch and other Congress workers, Aujla submitted a memorandum to the IG, demanding action against those responsible and security for the alleged victims. He said the alleged attack followed the interception of a major drug consignment and claimed that certain persons possessed audio and video evidence purportedly showing discussions about the attack. Happy alleged that he had been facing threats and continued on page 2 Pawan K Jaiswar Amritsar, September 4 The Border Security Force (BSF), Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) and Amritsar rural police have seized around 8 kg of heroin and arrested five alleged drug smugglers in separate operations in the district. The accused are suspected to be in touch with Pakistanbased smugglers. Five mobile phones recovered from them are being examined by forensic teams, with the police hoping to gather information about their network and other associates. Separate cases under the NDPS Act have been registered against all five accused. Acting on a tip-off that a consignment of heroin had been dropped by Pakistani smugglers using a drone in the Attari sector, the ANTF , 5 mobile phones recovered from accused along with the BSF launched , a search operation on Friday morning. Within about 30 minutes, the teams recovered 5 kg of heroin lying abandoned in the area. According to the police, the consignment was to be picked up by smugglers here. However, no one arrived at the spot, apparently due to the presence of the security agencies. The police are now trying to identify the persons who were supposed to collect the consignment. In another operation, the ANTF arrested Paramjit Singh, alias Pamma, a resident of Dhanoa Khurd village, and Harpreet Singh, alias Happy, of Hardo Rattan village. The duo was allegedly carrying 1 kg of heroin near Hardo Rattan village when they were intercepted during a naka. In a separate operation, the Amritsar rural police arrested three persons with 2 kg of heroin in the Gharinda area. Their criminal antecedents are being verified. The police are also examining the mobile phones seized from the accused. Investigators suspect that the devices may provide crucial leads about their links with Pakistan-based smugglers and other members of the drug network. Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 4 The Estate Department of the Municipal Corporation sealed a shop constructed on disputed land opposite Company Bagh. The civic body also launched a probe into the alleged sale of municipal land worth crores near Thandi Khui on Mall Road. The action follows the directions of Municipal Commissioner Bikramjit Singh Shergill and Additional Commissioner Dr Jai Inder Singh. The team, led by Secretarycum-Estate Officer Sushant Bhatia, reached the site and sealed the shop after finding that the occupants had allegedly proceeded with the construction despite receiving notices by the corporation. According to civic officials, the land measures around MC staff seal a shop along Mall Road near Ram Bagh. 1,000 sq yards. The occupants had earlier been warned against carrying out any construction on the site but allegedly went ahead and constructed a shop and subsequently rented it out. Following the action, Bhatia wrote to the district administration and the electricity authorities, seeking legal action against the occupants and disconnection of the electricity connection to the unauthorised structure. Meanwhile, the Estate Department has begun a separate probe into around 1,000 sq yards of prime land located opposite Thandi Khui on Mall Road. The civic body is examining allegations that local kiosk operators had purportedly sold or transferred municipal land to a prominent private hospital for crores. As part of the inquiry, the Estate Department conducted a fresh measurement of the land. Civic officials said notices had previously been issued to the parties concerned and that they had been given opportunities to establish their ownership or lawful possession of the property. However, no valid ownership documents had so far been produced before the civic body, they added. The parties concerned have now been directed to submit documents establishing their proof of ownership. The officials said the allegations would be examined on the basis of revenue and municipal records as well as documents produced by the parties. “If the land is found to belong to the Municipal Corporation or any irregularity is established, legal action will be taken,” they stated. Civic body to sterilise Excessive screen time overshadows clay pottery; 20k stray dogs in 2 yrs traditional art revived only around festivals, say sellers Charanjit Singh Teja Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 4 The Municipal Corporation targets to sterilise 20,000 dogs over the next two years. Relaunching the sterilisation drive, Mayor Jatinder Singh Bhatti said after learning that over 300 persons turned up at government health facilities for rabies shots every day, the move was taken. Under the programme, halted after the previous contract ended in August 2025, as many as 225 dogs were sterilised in the past one week. The renewed drive was initially launched in four wards, including 56, 58, 59 and 60, where two teams are catching stray dogs from streets and localities. Around 25 dogs are caught and sterilised every day (except Sundays). Complaints received from other parts of Amritsar, September 4 Indigenous toys do not interest children anymore. Over the years, excessive screen time has overshadowed hobbies like clay pottery. The walled city, known for its Khadoniyan Wala Bazaar, has been witness to the changing trend. Artists in the traditional market say though the hobby no longer piques the interest of kids, festivals like Diwali and Janmashtami breathe life into it. “It’s only around these two festivals that terracotta toys are sold,” said an artist. Fifteen-year-old Asmeet Sachdeva, who bought couple of a terracotta toys, said with only a little time left after school and coaching, he rarely enjoyed clay pottery. “In free time, I either play the city are also being attended to, civic officials said. The city would be given a priority, considering the number of complaints and concentration of stray dogs in its densely populated localities, added the officials. According to civic estimates, Amritsar has around 60,000 stray dogs. The drive continued on page 2 c m y b A local buys an indigenous toy on Janmashtami in Amritsar. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR games on mobile phone or watch some web series,” he added. Sachdeva said when his school assigned him any project that had something to do with pottery, he would go to the market and buy the earthenware. Meanwhile, sellers at the centuries-old Khadoniyan Wala Bazaar that witnesses footfall only during Janmashtami and Diwali, expect minting good profit around this time. A seller said after suffering losses in the pottery busi- ness, they started selling cosmetics, stationery items and groceries. He added that it was only around Janmashtami and Diwali that they made toys out of terracotta. A majority of the sellers get these earthen items from Kolkata, Lucknow, Agra and parts of Punjab. “In the digital era, such ancient artworks are not valued, with the people going in for fancy stuff,” said a trader, Vikas Kumar. He said only a handful of shops were now selling terracotta items, while a majority preferred dealing in confectionery and tailoring. Only a few families made earthen lamps these days. Feeling the pulse of the changing trend, a majority of houses involved in the trade had shifted to other vocations to earn a living.