30072026-ATR-01.qxd 7/29/2026 11:13 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune COMPUTER TEACHER SHORTAGE MAY HIT AI EDUCATION PUSH UNHYGIENIC CONDITIONS AT VALLAH MANDI RAISE SAFETY CONCERNS Vendors at the wholesale market are selling vegetables amid a toxic mix of stagnant rainwater and rotten waste. P3 PARTLY CLOUDY, RAIN MAX 35°C | MIN 26°C YESTERDAY MAX 37°C | MIN 24°C ADITI RAO HYDARI, VAANI KAPOOR DAZZLE AT ICW With AI as a core subject for Class I-XII students, the challenge will be to back this up with enough teacher strength. P2 FORECAST Aditi and Siddharth close Jayanti Reddy’s show, while Vaani turns showstopper for Dolly J. P4 » » SUNSET THURSDAY 7.28 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 5:45 AM » THURSDAY | 30 JULY 2026 | AMRITSAR Police seize 111 kg contraband, bust Dubai-based drug cartel in 7 months HC junks anticipatory bail plea of absconding drug smuggler Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 29 Drug smuggler Harmanjit Singh has failed to secure anticipatory bail from the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which dismissed his plea on July 27, tightening the legal noose around the absconding accused, who is wanted in a major narcotics smuggling case. Harmanjit, a resident of Naushra Dhalla village in Tarn Taran district, has been on the run since February after the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Amritsar zone unit, busted a cross-border smuggling network and seized 18 kg of contraband, including about 9 kg of heroin, 6 kg of ICE and 3 kg of opium. The NCB had launched a manhunt to arrest him and even announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh for information leading to his arrest. The agency has appealed to the public to share any information regarding his location, movement or shelter, assur- Amritsar, July 29 The police here have seized more than 111.5 kg of heroin, dismantled a Dubai-based cross-border drug cartel, while registering 1,137 NDPS Act cases and arresting nearly 1,900 drug peddlers since January this year. Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said the border city was one of Punjab’s leading districts in the state’s anti-drug campaign. According to official figures, the police have seized 111.56 kg of heroin, 11.44 kg of ICE (methamphetamine), 9.25 kg of opium, 2.25 kg of charas, besides narcotic powder, poppy husk and 26,945 intoxicating capsules and tablets. The police also seized Rs 61.12 lakh in drug money and 38 vehicles allegedly used for drug trafficking during the past seven months. One of the biggest successes achieved was the busting of a Dubai-based international drug syndicate involved in smuggling heroin into Punjab through drones across the international border. The police also seized 30.05 kg of heroin in the operation and arrested six accused, including two juveniles. Bhullar said the latest operation followed last year’s dismantling of a Pakistan and Canada-linked international Tribune News Service Police Commissioner GS Bhullar with the seized contraband and drug money in Amritsar. FILE PHOTO drug cartel that resulted in the seizure of 60.30 kg of heroin near the international border in Rajasthan and the arrest of nine accused. Apart from the anti-drug drive, Amritsar Police also intensified its campaign against organised crime under Punjab government’s ‘Gangstran te Vaar’ campaign, registering 63 Arms Act cases and arresting 153 accused. During the operations, the police seized 209 pistols and Mausers, two revolvers, eight rifles and guns, 221 magazines, 536 cartridges, besides Rs 3.80 lakh linked to hawala transactions. “Technology has been extensively integrated into investigations through the Punjab Artificial Intelligence System, VAHAN vehicle verification database, Digital Forensic Laboratory and an expanded CCTV surveillance network,” he said. While highlighting another aspect in the war against drugs and rehabilitation of addicts, he said since January, 1,553 drug users had been admitted to de-addiction centres, 2,443 referred to outpatient opioid-assisted treatment centres, while 281 individuals were extended the benefit of Section 64-A of the NDPS Act, which grants immunity from prosecution to persons who voluntarily seek medical treatment for de-addiction. The enforcement drive also resulted in the issuance of 82,274 traffic challans, impounding of 5,400 vehicles, recovery of Rs 44.48 lakh in fines and 1,609 preventive actions, during which 2,950 persons were detained for maintaining law and order. Amritsar, July 29 The BSF in coordination with the Amritsar Rural Police seized 5.620 kg of heroin from a paddy field near Kawe village in Lopoke area here late last evening. According to information, BSF jawans, deployed at Kakkar border outpost, launched a search operation yesterday following The heroin seized by a joint team of the BSF and the police near the Amritsar border on Wednesday. Two held for robbing woman lawyer Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 29 The police have arrested two persons for robbing a woman advocate, and recovered the purse and some important documents and impounded the motorcycle used in the crime. The arrested accused have been identified as Akash (25), a resident of Birbal village, and Veer Singh (19), a resident of Ball Khurd village, both under Kambo police station in Amritsar district. The arrests were made by a Majitha Road police station team following an investiga- The two accused in police custody in Amritsar on Wednesday. tion into a purse-snatching incident reported on July 18. The police said an FIR had Frequent power cuts leave residents fuming Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 29 Power consumers are a harried lot these days due to frequent power outages and fluctuations, disrupting their daily lives. The city has been facing erratic power cuts due to the demand-supply gap, as residents reel under scorching heat and humidity. Intermittent showers brought the muchneeded relief and reduced dependence on electricity. However, humidity has risen over the past couple of days, compounding their problems. Kuldeep Singh, a resident of Partap Nagar, said the prolonged heatwave was broken by brief spells of rain over the last two days. However, the rain increased the humidity levels. Under these weather conditions, power outages have added to the residents’ woes. Satwant Singh, a resident of Sandhu Colony on Majitha Road, said there was a two- hour power cut at 11 pm last night. Again, the power supply remained snapped for nearly 45 minutes this afternoon. He added that power cuts were being imposed at least twice a day in his area. Ranbir Singh, a resident of Verka, said a power cut began at 5 pm on Monday and the supply was restored on Tuesday afternoon. Sharandeep Singh, a resident of Ranjit Avenue, said erratic power cuts in this scorching heat compounded residents’ problems. Meanwhile, PSPCL Chief Engineer Surinder Bains said they had been difficulties in maintaining a proper power supply as the staff were on strike. Now, the power supply is being normalised and complaints are being redressed. He admiitted that there had been regular power cuts during the monsoon season as the department got less time for maintenance work. been registered under Sections 304 and 3(5) of the BNS on July 18 at the Majitha specific inputs. During the operation, the personnel found a partially torn packet from a paddy field located in the border area. Upon opening it, they found five smaller packets, all wrapped in yellow adhesive tape and containing heroin. The total gross weight of the seized contraband was approximately 5.620 kg. A case has been registered under the NDPS Act in this regard. Road police station on the complaint of Shivani Bhatia, a resident of Nagina Avenue and a practising advocate at the Amritsar district courts. According to the complaint, Bhatia had stepped out of Sai Medical Store after purchasing medicines when two motorcycle-borne youths snatched her purse and fled. Acting on technical inputs, a police team tracked down the accused and arrested them near Trillium Mall. The police said Akash had been booked in a theft case earlier also. AAP leader in trouble after ‘threatening’ local TV channel Pathankot, July 29 Swaran Salaria, AAP vice president, has found himself in a spot over his alleged threat to a local TV channel for telecasting how illegal mining was taking place in Pathankot district despite a ban. A video of how unauthorised mining has been continuing reported by a TV channel has gone viral. A senior cop said, “This a sensitive issue and we are not in a position to comment. An inquiry has been initiated on the basis of a complaint.”— TNS ing that the identity of informers will be kept confidential. The case dates back to February 15 when the NCB arrested three alleged drug couriers — Jodhbir Singh, Harpal Singh and Jasbir Singh — soon after they allegedly collected a narcotics consignment from the IndoPak border area in Tarn Taran district. During interrogation, the trio allegedly disclosed that they had been collecting consignments for Harmanjit for several months. Investigators said Harman- 1 arrested in Ranjit Avenue shooting case 5.6 kg narcotics seized near border jit switched off his mobile phone immediately after their arrests and had been on the run ever since. The investigation later led to the arrest of Paramjit Singh, sarpanch of Kalsian village in Tarn Taran district, in March. The NCB alleged that Pamma had provided shelter to the absconding accused and that Harmanjit’s SUV was found at his residence. Pamma was reportedly associated with the village defence committee constituted under the Punjab Government’s war against drugs campaign. He is also considered close to the ruling Aam Aadmi Party, though the party has denied any association with him. With the High Court declining the anticipatory bail, the NCB is expected to intensify efforts to apprehend Harmanjit, who remains one of the prime accused in the high-profile cross-border drug smuggling case, an NCB official privy to the investigations said. Firing between two parties in Tarn Taran, 1 held some work. The accused and his associates were already present there. An argument reportedly broke out after Kunal parked his car, escalating into a violent confrontation. The accused allegedly assaulted Kunal before firing shots. One of the bullets struck the latter in the abdomen, leaving him critically injured. The assailants fled the spot in their car immediately after the attack. Some local residents, along with police personnel, rushed the injured man to a hospital for treatment. later, a case was registered at the Ranjit Avenue police station on the complaint of Kunal’s father Ashwani Arora. The police said urther investigation was underway. Tarn Taran, July 29 The police here arrested one person in connection with firing between two parties at Palika Bazaar near the office of the local DSP subdivision office here last night. The arrested accused has been identified as Pradeep Singh, a resident of Gali Masters Wali, Sachkhand Road, Tarn Taran. The SHO of the city police, Paramjit Singh Virdi, said that armed men who came in two cars at the bazaar started firing against each other without any provocation. This not only put the people present there at great risk, but also led to panic in the vicinity. The police have registered a case under Sections 125, 191 and 190 of the BNS and Sections 25, 27, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act. The police have also launched a search for the remaining accused. — OC Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 29 The Ranjit Avenue police have arrested one of the accused involved in firing at a youth following a parking dispute in EBlock of Ranjit Avenue a few days ago. The police have also impounded the Creta and seized the pistol allegedly used in the crime. Investigating officer Robin Hans said the accused had been identified as Harmanbir Singh, a resident of Mahal village. He is currently being interrogated to identify and arrest his accomplices. According to the police, the incident took place late on the night of July 27 when Kunal had reached EBlock, Ranjit Avenue, for Smuggler Harmanjit Singh Safe drinking water remains a distant dream in many Chheharta localities Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, July 29 Despite the bustling Chheharta Bazaar leading to the historic Gurdwara Chheharta Sahib and Guru Ki Wadali, thousands of residents living in the area’s inner localities continue to struggle for a basic necessity — safe drinking water. In Kartar Nagar and several adjoining colonies, residents allege that the municipal water supply has been getting contaminated with sewage for years, forcing families to depend on RO systems, bottled water, or drinking water sourced from relatives, neighbours and nearby gurdwaras. The issue has sparked repeated protests and representations to elected representatives and civic authorities, but residents say no lasting solution has been found. Frustrated over the prolonged neglect, the residents alleged that political leaders made promises during campaigns, but failed to act after assuming office. On Tuesday also, the residents raised slogans against the MC authorities for failing to find a permanent solution to their problem as the drains were choked with stagnant, filthy water. “The water is unsafe even for washing, let alone drinking,” said Satnam Singh, a resident of Kartar Nagar. According to some residents, the problem extends beyond Kartar Nagar to Jagdish Niwas, Shori Nagar, Pencha Wala, Bhalla Colony, Japani Mill Colony, Mohalla Baltian and Gobind Singh Nagar, affecting thousands of c m y b households in the Amritsar West Assembly constituency. Kanwaljit Singh, president of the Chheharta Sangharsh Committee, said nearly 1.5 lakh people living across 11 municipal wards continued to suffer because of the contaminated water supply. He said memorandums had been submitted to local MLAs, MPs, Deputy Commissioners and Municipal Commissioners over the years, but no permanent solution had been found. Residents blame the crisis on an overburdened sewerage. They claimed that the Khapar Kheri Sewage Treatment Plant (STP), designed to handle 95 million litres per day, is currently receiving nearly 135 million litres per day of sewage. The excess load frequently causes sewage overflows, leading to contamination of drinking water pipelines. Illegal water connections and indiscriminate wastage of water have further worsened the situation, they alleged. Ironically, while Amritsar has three sewage treatment plants with a combined treatment capacity of 217.5 million litres per day, developed under a Rs 360-crore project funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, a significant portion of the treated wastewater continues to be discharged into drains instead of being recycled for agricultural or other non-potable uses. The MC authorities said that they were looking into the problem and trying to identify the point at which the contamination was occurring. Farmers continue their protest on Wednesday. GURBAXPURI Protest for sugar mill revival enters Day 70 Tarn Taran, July 29 The ‘pucca morcha’ started by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha against the transfer of ownership of the cooperative sugar mill at Sheron entered the 70th day today. The protesting farmers remained steadfast even in the rain and warned the state government that they would continue their struggle until the mill was made operational again. On the occasion, farmer leaders Devinder Sohal, Harjinder Singh Tanda, Tarsem Singh Luhar, Nachhattar Singh Pannu and Harbhajan Singh Chuslewar addressed the gathering. The speakers said that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had announced to make the mill operational, but instead of doing so, the government had given its land to other departments, which had started the construction of godowns and other structures. The leaders said that the mill should be made operational again. They said that this would provide employment to the youth and farmers would be able to get rid of their traditional crops and show interest in growing sugarcane. — OC