19062026-ATR-01.qxd 6/18/2026 11:53 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY TARN TARAN COPS BUST CRIME SYNDICATE, 1 HELD GHAI TO REPRESENT INDIA AT 2027 WORLD POLICE GAMES BACKLASH, COURSE CORRECTION & BIGGER QUESTION A suspected member of a five-person criminal gang involved in drug trafficking has been arrested. P2 He was recently conferred the prestigious Maharaja Ranjit Singh Award for sporting excellence in swimming. P3 The outrage over the hypersexualisation of the heroine in Peddimade director Buchi Babu Sana take corrective measures. P4 » » » MAX 35°C | MIN 26°C YESTERDAY MAX 36°C | MIN 24°C SUNSET FRIDAY 7.38 PM SUNRISE SATURDAY 5:25 AM FRIDAY | 19 JUNE 2026 | AMRITSAR In Case of An EMERGENCY We are READY FOR YOU! 24*7 Emergency Ready Hospital 9915133330 Scan the QR code to download the MyFortis app 8 linked to cross-border arms smuggling module held with 11 sophisticated pistols In service of humanity Tribune News Service Volunteers prepare ‘chabeel’ on the occasion of the martyrdom day of Guru Arjan Dev at the Golden Temple on Thursday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR Amritsar, June 18 The Amritsar Commissionerate Police has busted a crossborder arms smuggling module with the arrest of eight persons and seized 11 sophisticated pistols from their possession, said Director-General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav on Thursday. Those arrested persons were identified as Gulabjit Singh, alias Prince (21), and Harpreet Singh, alias Preet (23), both residents of village Attari in Amritsar, Gurpreet Singh, alias Gopi (24), a resident of village Hardowal in Kalanaur, Gurdaspur, Kuljit Singh (39) and Shamsher Singh, alias Shera (40), both residents of village Ranian in Amritsar; Aman Rana, alias Chini (20), a resi- Martyrdom day of Guru Arjan Dev observed Police question 32 hawala operators Tribune News Service Amritsar, June 18 The Amritsar Commissionerate Police launched a major crackdown on illegal hawala operators as part of the ongoing “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign of the Punjab Police. Officials said 32 suspected hawala operators were apprehended and questioned during coordinated intelligence-led operations conducted across the city. Of these, one accused was formally arrested after preliminary investigations who revealed his involvement in unlawful financial transactions linked to drug proceeds. According to the police, the action forms part of a focused statewide drive aimed at dismantling Tribune News Service Amritsar, June 18 The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) observed the martyrdom day of Guru Arjan Dev with devotion and respect in the city today. After the bhog of Akhand Path at Gurdwara Sri Ramsar Sahib, a kirtan was organised. Granthi Singh Sahib of Sachkhand Sri Harmandir Sahib Giani Balwinder Singh apprised the sangat of the history of the martyrdom of the Guru. He appealed to the sangat to draw inspiration from the life history of Guru Sahib and encouraged them to connect with the Bani and Bana. ~1.80-CR DRUG MONEY SEIZED Cops said the crackdown showed their commitment to targeting not only drug traffickers, but also those who facilitated the movement, concealment and laundering of illicit funds through hawala networks. hawala channels used for the movement and laundering of money generated through narcotics trafficking.The identified individuals were summoned for questioning and their financial transactions were examined to ascertain their role in facilitating illegal fund transfers and handling drug-related proceeds. Officials said the latest operation was backed by sustained intelligence gathering and financial investigations targeting the monetary networks that enabled drug traffickers and organised criminal groups to operate. The Commissionerate Police stated that they had arrested 21 hawala operators and seized drug money amounting to Rs 1.80 crore till date. The arrested persons included two Afghan nationals, a dry fruit businessman, a hosiery trader from Ludhiana, a Nigerian supplier, two Karnataka residents operating from Delhi and a Rajasthan-based suspect. Will revive Maharaja Ranjit Singh Panorama at Rambagh: State BJP chief Kewal Dhillon Neha Saini Amritsar, June 18 Maharaja Ranjit Singh Panorama inside the historic Rambagh is an aesthetically designed cylindrical building located near the historic Summer Palace in Ram Bagh. It was built in 2006 at a cost of Rs 5 crore by the National Council of Science Museums, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. Built as a main tourist attraction in the heart of Amritsar, the place is a visual documentation and celebration of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s reign. Among other displays and attractions is a recreation of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s Darbar-e-Khalsa (royal court). On Thursday, when BJP Punjab chief Kewal Dhillon and MP Rajya Sabha Tarun Chugh paid a visit to Panora- PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR Tribune News Service Punjab BJP chief Kewal Dhillon and MP Tarun Chugh at the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Panorama inside Rambagh in Amritsar on Thursday. ma, the BJP Punjab chief said the obvious. “Ujjhdeya peya (its lying in ruins).” The potential tourist attraction that houses a museum and a public library continues to suffer from poor upkeep and limited footfall, overshadowing its cultural and historical significance. It is under the Municipal Corporation’s maintenance just like the entire stretch of Rambagh, which suffers from encroachments and poor upkeep. A place built with a promise of celebrating the special bond that Sher-e-Punjab Maharaja Ranjit Singh, also called “Sarkar”, shared with Amritsar, is now in need of revival. “We have been discussing this issue with Chugh ji (MP Tarun Chugh) and we will do whatever we can to revive the place. We will write to Tourism Ministry and even PM Modi to do the needful,” said Kewal Dhillon who, along with BJP’s senior Punjab leaders, have been sharing their vision on Sarkar-e-Khalsa model of governance for Punjab. Sarkar-e-Khalsa was a governance model established by Maharaja Ranjit Singh and BJP’s reference is to the historical legacy of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. While they invoke Sarkar-e-Khalsa, Dhillon also said that the Central government had given Punjab so much funds, which were not utilised. “Over the past 12 years, the Centre gave Punjab crores for various development and welfare schemes. I do not know what happened to it. People of Punjab are now waiting for governance change,” he said. c m y b Commissioner of Police Gurpreet Singh Bhullar addresses the media regarding the seizure of 11 sophisticated pistols in Amritsar on Thursday. TRIBUNE PHOTO dent of Chheharta in Amritsar; Sharanjit Singh, alias Sunny (29), a resident of village Kiralgarh in Amritsar; and Ajay Singh (23), a resident of village Malia in Tarn Taran. The seized weapons included four .30 bore (made in China), four .30 bore PX5 Storm, one .30 bore Zigana, one 9MM Glock (made in Austria) and one 9MM (made in Austria) along with eight live cartridges. Apart from this, police teams impounded their motorcycle. DGP Yadav said preliminary investigation had revealed that the accused were in con- tact with foreign-based operatives involved in the supply of illegal weapons. The seized arms were intended for distribution among criminal elements and for use in extortion, violent crimes and other unlawful activities. The DGP said further investigation was on to establish backward and forward linkages in this case to identify other associates connected with the network, and ascertain further seizures and arrests. Sharing operational details, Commissioner of Police (CP) Amritsar Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said, acting on secret information and carrying out a planned intelligence-based operation, police teams have arrested accused Gulabjit and Harpreet and seized two pistols from their possession.