12062026-ATR-01.qxd 6/11/2026 11:50 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY 9 BANGLADESHIS IN CENTRAL JAIL TRANSIT CAMP REPATRIATED A QUIET BIRTHDAY, MOUNTING ANTICIPATION… VIR DAS ANNOUNCES CAST FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL HORROR FILM Nine Bangladeshi nationals, lodged in the Amritsar Central Jail, were repatriated to their native country today. P2 Bollywood Actor-singer Vedang Raina, who turned 26 on June 2, has a lot to be thankful for. P4 Actor-comedian Vir Das announced cast of his upcoming film Baara Number, a found-footage psychological horror . P4 » » » MAX 35°C | MIN 24°C YESTERDAY MAX 39°C | MIN 25°C SUNSET FRIDAY 7.35 PM SUNRISE SATURDAY 5.24 AM FRIDAY | 12 JUNE 2026 | AMRITSAR In Case of An EMERGENCY We are READY FOR YOU! Local court defers Majithia bail decision to June 15 9915133330 Scan the QR code to download the MyFortis app 30-KG HEROIN SEIZURE Probe brings spotlight once again on Dubai-based Karan Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, June 11 A local court on Thursday deferred its order on the bail plea of former Punjab minister and Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia till June 15 after hearing arguments from both sides. Majithia had sought bail in a case related to the alleged storming of the Majitha police station to secure the release of his supporter Jobanpreet Singh. The Amritsar Rural police had booked Majithia and his supporters under various Sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Arms Act for allegedly assaulting public servants, obstructing their duty, attempting to rescue a legally arrested person and other charges. Majithia has been absconding since the incident. Amanbir Singh Sayali, counsel for Majithia, argued that the police had failed to produce any video evidence to substantiate the allegations of assault on police personnel, tearing of documents or violation of the Arms Act. 24*7 Emergency Ready Hospital Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Members of the district core committee of Punjab Human Rights Commission with the family of the victim. PHRC demands action-taken report in schoolgirl suicide case Tribune news Service Amritsar, June 11 Taking cognisance of a report submitted by members of the district core committee of the Punjab Human Rights Commission (PHRC) in the case of a schoolgirl, who allegedly died by suicide following fee-related pressure from her school management, the Commission has sought an action-taken report (ATR) from the Senior Superintendent of Police (Rural), Amritsar. The 17-year-old girl died after allegedly facing harass- ment over unpaid school fees. Following the incident, an FIR under charges of abetment to suicide was registered against members of the school management. The Punjab Government and the Education Department had announced that strict action would be taken and that the matter was under investigation. However, the police are yet to make any arrests in the case, as the accused principal and a teacher remain absconding. District core committee members, including coordinator Ram Singh, Shweta Mehra and Gagandeep Singh, recently met the bereaved family, which has demanded stringent punishment for those responsible. “We appreciate the Commission’s prompt intervention and hope for a fair and thorough investigation. We interacted with the family to understand their concerns and have submitted our report to the Punjab Human Rights Commission,” said Ram Singh. Meanwhile, Jatinderpal Singh Shanty, a member of the Punjab Human Rights Commission, is actively monitoring the case to ensure swift and appropriate police action. Road repair near Golden Temple vexes devotees; Gargaj takes up matter with DC Amritsar, June 11 The investigation into the recent 30-kg heroin seizure by the Amritsar police has once again brought the spotlight on Karan, a resident of Chheharta currently based in Dubai, who is allegedly operating a transnational drug trafficking network. According to the police, Karan was in direct contact with Pakistan-based smugglers and anti-national elements involved in large-scale cross-border smuggling of drugs and weapons. His name has surfaced as the alleged mastermind behind several major drug seizures reported in recent months. The contraband was allegedly smuggled into Indian territory through drones operating along the Indo-Pak border. The 30-kg heroin consignment recently seized by the police was also reportedly pushed into Neeraj Bagga India through the Attari border using a drone. Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said that while residing in Dubai, Karan coordinated with foreign-based traffickers and used local associates to retrieve and distribute drug consignments across Punjab. Police records show that Karan is wanted in at least three major cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. One of the most significant cases was registered in the Rajasansi area following the recovery of 42 kg of heroin. In that case, his mother and sister were arrested, while Karan managed to evade arrest and remains absconding. Authorities have also linked him to two separate cases reg- Punjab Police crack down on hawala networks Tribune News Service Three operatives of Dubai-based smuggler Karan Chheharta in police custody in Amritsar on Thursday. istered at the Chheharta police station. In one case, the police recovered 7.5 kg of heroin from his associates, while another involved the seizure of 10 kg of ICE (methamphetamine) and 4 kg of heroin. Bhullar said Karan allegedly targeted unemployed youth and first-time offenders, luring them with promises of quick money to work as couriers and handlers. The latest investigation has also revealed that juveniles were allegedly used to retrieve narcotics from designated drop points before the drugs were distributed to peddlers and consumers. With multiple cases already registered against him, the Punjab Police have intensified efforts to trace Karan’s international connections and gather evidence for further legal action. Bhullar said the matter would be pursued at the appropriate level to secure Karan’s extradition to India. Tribune News Service Amritsar, June 11 After devotees were inconvenienced by the scraping of the upper layer of a road leading to the Golden Temple, Akal Takht, the highest temporal seats of the Sikhs, took up the matter with the district administration. Bitumen was removed from a small stretch but of a road popular among devotees. Troubled devotees immediately brought the matter to the attention of acting Jathedar Kuldip Singh Gargaj. Jathedar Gargaj rang up Deputy Commissioner Dalwinderjit Singh and directed him to get the work immediately stopped. He asked Dalwinderjit to ensure that devotees are given hasslefree movement around the Golden Temple. Devotees are vexed as the upper layer over the entire The scraped upper layer of the Ghee Mandi road leading to the Golden Temple in Amritsar. VISHAL KUMAR width of the road has been removed. It would have been convenient had the workers taken off the upper layer over half of that stretch. That way, the devotees would have got a narrow path to move. Though the stretch is small, it is vital as it connects three roads leading to the holiest Sikh shrine and the Jallianwala Bagh. An anguished devotee even made a video of the spot and requested Akal Takht Jathedar to intervene. The Jathedar asked the authorities to ensure hassle- free roads to devotees around the Golden Temple periphery keeping in the view the 450th anniversary of the holy city next year. The Deputy Commissioner has promised prompt action and has given directions to the authorities concerned. Food safety team raids pvt hospital canteen Tribune News Service Amritsar, June 11 The Food Wing of the District Health Department conducted an inspection at the canteen of a renowned private hospital and collected food samples following reports that the facility was serving expired tomato ketchup to visitors. District health officials said the raid was planned after a video circulating on social media allegedly showed the canteen serving expired tomato ketchup. During the inspection, the team found that the manufacturing date printed on the small ketchup sachets distributed to visitors had been punched, making it difficult to read. The department also seized 400 ketchup packets weighing 8 grams each from the canteen premises. Assistant Food Commissioner Rajinderpal Singh said samples of ketchup and other food items were collected during the inspection. The samples have been sent to a food testing laboratory for analysis. The official said strict action would be taken if the samples fail quality tests. He also warned eateries across the district against using expired, substandard or spurious food products. “Serving food that can potentially harm human health is not only illegal but also a crime against humanity. Food business operators continued on page 2 c m y b Amritsar, June 11 In the third phase of the Punjab Government’s flagship anti-drug campaign, ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’, the Punjab Police have launched a statewide crackdown on hawala networks allegedly facilitating the movement of drug money. The primary objective of the operation is to dismantle the financial backbone of illegal smuggling syndicates involved in trafficking drugs and weapons into the border state. The Amritsar police have also intensified action against individuals suspected of engaging in unlawful financial transactions linked to the narcotics trade. Acting on intelligence inputs and financial investigations, police teams identified 32 suspected hawala operators. Of these, one accused has been formally arrested, while the remaining individuals have been summoned for questioning. Their financial transactions are being scrutinised to determine their involvement in hawala operations and the transfer of proceeds generated through drug trafficking, said Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar. Bhullar said that since the launch of the ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ campaign, the city police have arrested 21 continued on page 2 District BJP president Harvinder Sandhu along with other senior party leaders in Amritsar. BJP gears up for Nabin’s maiden Punjab visit starting from city Neha Saini Tribune News Service Amritsar, June 11 The BJP cadre in Amritsar is displaying considerable enthusiasm ahead of Punjab BJP in-charge Nitin Nabin’s first visit to the state after assuming office. The state BJP leadership and district unit appear to be treating Nabin’s visit as a major organisational and political event in the run-up to the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections. Nabin is scheduled to begin his Punjab tour from Amritsar, where party workers, particularly in the rural belt, are being mobilised. The preparations suggest that the visit is more than ceremonial and could mark the BJP’s early campaign push for the Assembly polls. A special meeting of state and district office-bearers was held at the BJP district office in Amritsar on Thursday. The meeting, chaired by district BJP president Harvinder Singh Sandhu, focused on finalising the roadmap for programmes to be held during Nabin’s visit. In-charges and assistant incharges from the five Assembly constituencies of Amritsar, appointed by the state and district leadership, participated in the meeting. They were asked to build momentum at the grassroots level and engage with people on issues such as drug abuse, development and the Centre’s welfare schemes. The meeting also included detailed discussions with former MLA and former minister Arunesh Shakar, Ambika Sahni, North Assembly incharge Sukhminder Singh Pintu, Central Assembly incharge Dr Ram Chawla and other leaders regarding a review of all power centres in the urban district and possible organisational changes. “Nitin Nabin’s visit to Amritsar is extremely important. The party has assigned former MLA and former minister Arunesh Shakar, along with several senior Punjab BJP leaders, including Paramjit Singh Batra, Mohit Mahajan, Gurpratap Singh Tikka and former MP and former state president Shwait Malik, to interact with party workers. We will focus on booth-level strengthening, border belt issues and other key matters during the visit,” said Sandhu. The visit assumes significance as the BJP has repeatedly indicated its intention to contest the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections independently without entering into an alliance. During his stay in Amritsar, Nabin will pay obeisance at the Golden Temple and other religious sites and is also scheduled to visit the Jallianwala Bagh memorial. “There is unprecedented enthusiasm among party workers regarding this visit. No stone will be left unturned in welcoming him and the entire city will be awash in BJP colours,” Sandhu added.