02082026-ATR-01.qxd 8/1/2026 11:01 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST MAINLY CLOUDY MAX 32°C | MIN 27°C YESTERDAY MAX 31°C | MIN 28°C AIR INDIA’S CITY-LONDON FLIGHTS GET AN UPGRADE SALMAN SHARES HEARTFELT POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA BOLLYWOOD STAR JOHN ABRAHAM VISITS SHILLONG Air India has upgraded its services from Amritsar to London Gatwick and Birmingham. P2 Salman Khan shares a heartfelt post dedicated to longtime friend and fellow actor Sanjay Dutt. P4 Bollywood star and Northeast United FC owner John Abraham has visited Shillong and interacted with locals. P4 » » » SUNSET SUNDAY 7.26 PM SUNRISE MONDAY 5.48 AM SUNDAY | 2 AUGUST 2026 | AMRITSAR ATTACK ON CHAMIARI POLICE POST Role of Pak-backed agencies in luring youths under probe Pawan K Jaiswar IN PURSUIT OF EASY MONEY Tribune News Service Officials have been directed to intensify surveillance in dengue hotspots. Admn reviews preparedness, lists steps to check dengue outbreak Tribune News Service PREVENTIVE MEASURES Amritsar, August 1 The district administration, at a review meeting, discussed ways to contain the outbreak of vector-borne diseases. Members of the District Task Force, formed under the National Dengue Control Programme, called for stepping up measures to check the outbreak of dengue and chikungunya. Additional Deputy Commissioner Pallavi Sharma urged all departments to launch awareness campaigns ahead of the peak dengue season and extend full cooperation to the Health Department. She directed officials to intensify surveillance and preven- Civil Surgeon Dr Rashmi Vij says preventing mosquito breeding remains the most effective way to check dengue and chikungunya. Officials were told to ensure that government guidelines were implemented. tive activities, particularly in identified dengue hotspots, to prevent mosquito breeding and curb the spread of the disease. Civil Surgeon Dr Rashmi Vij gave a detailed presentation on dengue and chikungunya, stressing that preventing mosquito breeding remained the most effective way to control the diseases. She appealed to all departments to check water accumu- lation in their respective jurisdictions and strictly implement government guidelines for dengue prevention. Measures like widespread public awareness on maintaining cleanliness, regularly checking water storage containers, and eliminating potential mosquito breeding sites in homes, offices and public places, were listed. District Epidemiologist Dr Harjot Kaur outlined the responsibilities of various departments and highlighted the importance of interdepartmental coordination in implementing antidengue measures effectively. The district administration appealed to residents to cooperate with the administration. Amritsar, August 1 The arrest of four suspects, including a juvenile, in connection with the attack on the Chamiari police post in Ajnala has once again put focus on the role of Pakistanbased intelligence agencies and cross-border handlers in luring vulnerable youth to execute anti-national activities in Punjab. Remanded in police custody for five days, the four accused — Manideep Singh, Pardeep Singh, Karanvir Singh and a juvenile — had reportedly received Rs 15,000 for launching the attack. They were to get another Rs 50,000 after the execution of the task. Multiple security and intelligence agencies are questioning the accused in the Joint Interrogation Cell to establish the conspiracy behind the attack, identify their handlers and ascertain whether they were part of a larger cross-border module. The case has also revived concerns over the growing involvement of juveniles and youngsters in cross- GNDU students block gates, raise slogans over ban on entry of four-wheelers Tribune News Service Amritsar, August1 Students of Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) objected to the authorities’ move to ban four-wheelers on the campus. They said the ban was implemented without any prior notice, adding that walking from one block to another on the 500-acre campus won’t be easy. Protesters blocked university gates, raised slogans against the administration, and argued that the new rules created financial burdens and unfair commuting hurdles for students. “We understand that the university has banned the move- BATTERY-OPERATED CARTS SOUGHT ■ A delegation of students also submitted a letter to Dean, Student Welfare, Satnam Singh Deol, seeking battery-operated carts for commute. ■ GNDU had previously bought battery-operated carts and e-rickshaws for intra-university commute. But those were hardly put to any use, a student said. ment of four-wheelers on the campus as a security measure. But implementing these orders without ensuring how students will commute is illogical and problematic. The university had previously bought batteryoperated carts and e-rickshaws for intra-university commute. But those were hardly put to any use,” said Jugraj Singh Majhail, president, United Sikh Student federation, a student-led organisation at GNDU. A delegation of students also submitted a letter to Dean, Student Welfare, Satnam Singh Deol seeking battery-operated carts for students. Responding to the demand of students, the Dean said, “There are two battery-operated vehicles and four more will be added.” Weed growth compounds woes; experts warn of skin allergies CM urged to fill posts under sports quota Tribune News Service Amritsar, August1 Urging Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to fill 358 vacant posts under the 3 per cent sports quota in the Punjab Police, Congress MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla, in a letter to the former, stated that the delay in the recruitment process had affected Punjab’s rich sporting legacy. The MP also sought revival of the Punjab Armed Police (PAP) sports complex in Jalandhar, saying, “Once known as the ‘Mecca of Punjab Sports’, the PAP sports complex has been crying for the authorities’ attention for long.” As for the vacant posts, the MP said the delay in the recruitment process had hit the job prospects of several deserving athletes. He added that the recruitment of around 2,600 district police posts and 800 armed police posts might proceed without adequately filling the sports quota vacancies. — TNS Amritsar, August1 Compounding the monsoon chaos, the prolific spread of weed along roadsides, vacant plots and the premises of government institutions has left the health authorities worried. The growth of invasive species, especially Parthenium hysterophorus (congress grass), during the rainy season poses health risks to both people and animals. Health experts say congress grass can cause skin allergies, eczema, dermatitis and breathing problems, such as asthma. The pollen from the weed spreads easily through the air, increasing the risk of allergies. Animals grazing in areas where the weed grows are also vulnerable to skin diseases like dermatitis. Continuous rainfall has helped the weed spread rapidly across the city. It is commonly Health experts say congress grass can cause skin allergies, eczema, dermatitis and breathing problems, such as asthma. seen along roads and open spaces, where stray cattle often feed on it along with grass. Besides flourishing in the warm, wet conditions, the weeds not only spoil the city’s appearance but also trigger allergies, respiratory problems and skin ailments, while providing ideal hiding places for snakes and rodents Residents say the unchecked growth of the weed has become a serious problem. The dense vegetation also provides shelter to snakes and other reptiles. “People living in the colonies on the outskirts of the city where vacant plots abundant are worried and do not allow their children to play outside because of the overgrown weed,” said Joginder Singh, a resident. c m y b ■ The case has revived concerns over the growing involvement of juveniles and youngsters in cross-border drug smuggling and terror-related activities. ■ The police believe that Pakistan-based handlers were increasingly targeting impressionable youth through the social media and encrypted messaging applications, offering easy money, adventure or ideological propaganda to recruit them for illegal operations apart from helping in realising their foreign dreams. border drug smuggling and terror-related activities. The police believe that Pakistan-based handlers were increasingly targeting impressionable youth through the social media and encrypted messaging applications, offering easy money, adventure or ideological propaganda to recruit them for illegal operations apart from helping in realising their foreign dreams. A senior police official wishing anonymity said the accused were being questioned about their communication with foreign handlers, the source of weapons and funds, and whether they had been assigned additional targets. Digital devices recovered from the accused were also being examined for evidence of chats, financial transactions and links to cross-border networks, the official added. It is learnt that there has been a noticeable shift in the modus operandi of Pakistanbased handlers in the past couple of years. Instead of relying solely on seasoned smugglers, they are increasingly using first-time offenders, unemployed youth and juveniles to transport narcotics, collect drone-dropped consignments, conduct reconnaissance of security installations and, in some cases, execute attacks on police establishments. Young recruits often attract less suspicion and are easier to manipulate through financial inducements. In the past 15 months, more than 50 juveniles have been arrested by the city police. SSP Amritsar Rural, Kan, walpreet Singh Chahal appealed to parents to keep an eye on their wards while using the social media. Meanwhile, the police said the probe into the police post attack would also examine whether the accused had any role in earlier incidents or were linked to other cross-border modules operating in the border districts of Punjab. More arrests were likely, they added. “The interrogation of the accused is expected to provide crucial leads on the recruitment process, funding channels and the operational structure of the network behind the Chamiari police post attack,” sources said. Five held for mobile theft, snatching Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, August 1 The Jandiala Guru police on Saturday arrested five members of a gang allegedly involved in the sale of stolen and snatched mobile phones. They also recovered 57 devices from their possession. SHO Harpal Singh said the accused had been identified as Hardev Singh, alias Bheja, of Kabirpur in Kapurthala district, Amritpal Singh of Shaheed Udham Singh Nagar, Tarn Taran road, Rajesh Kumar of Mohkampura, Batala road, Sahil of New Kapoor Nagar, and Rajesh Bansal of Mohan Nagar under Division No. 7, Ludhiana. Their fifth accomplice Ajay Singh of Baba Budha Singh Avenue, Sultanwind, managed to flee. The SHO said on receiving information that the accused were engaged in disposing of stolen and snatched mobile phones, they laid a naka near Gehri Mandi and apprehended all five suspects. During the search, 57 mobile phones were recovered from their possession. During interrogation, the accused confessed to have targeted people in religious places and fairs. A case has been registered in this connection.