28022026-ATR-01.qxd 2/27/2026 11:34 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY FARMERS DEMAND WITHDRAWAL OF CASES FILED AGAINST JOURNALISTS JIM CARREY RECEIVES HONORARY AWARD EXPLORE MODERN ARCHITECTURE VIA STORIES, EXPERIENCE SHARING Staging a demonstration outside the DC office, protesters seek fair probe in Gurdaspur encounter case. P2 At the 51st edition of Cesar Award ceremony, the actor delivered a speech entirely in French. P4 City Dialogues will hold the event near the Underpass, Sector 17, Chandigarh, at 11.30 am on February 28. P4 » » » MAX 28°C | MIN 13°C YESTERDAY MAX 28°C | MIN 12°C SUNSET SATURDAY 6.27 PM SUNRISE SUNDAY 6.57 AM SATURDAY | 28 FEBRUARY 2026 | AMRITSAR Daily flights from Amritsar to Kuala Lumpurfrom March 28 Tribune News Service Amritsar February 27 In a major boost to international connectivity from Punjab, Malaysia-based carrier AirAsia will increase its Amritsar-Kuala Lumpur service frequency from four weekly flights to daily operations effective March 28, under the Summer Schedule. FlyAmritsar Initiative convener Yogesh Kamra said the move would ensure shorter layovers, smoother transit options and better alignment with international departures from Kuala Lumpur by eliminating the need to plan travel around a limited number of operating days. The flight departs Kuala Lumpur daily at 6.10 pm local Malaysia time, arriving in Amritsar at 9.45 pm Indian time. The return flight departs Amritsar at 10.30 pm IST and reaches Kuala Lumpur at 6.50 am Malaysia time, allowing convenient onward morning connections across AirAsia’s extensive network. The airline operates its 253-seater Airbus A321XLR aircraft on this route. Sameep Singh Gumtala, global convener of the FlyAmritsar Initiative, said that through Kuala Lumpur, pas- Bomb threat emails trigger panic in schools during board exams Neha Saini Tribune News Service A view of Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport in Amritsar. sengers from Amritsar now enjoy daily one-stop connectivity to major Australian cities, including Melbourne, Sydney and Perth. In addition, onward connections are available to key Asian destinations, such as Bangkok, Hanoi, Langkawi, Singapore, Krabi, Penang, Hong Kong, Manila, Bali, Phuket, Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta and Macau. Alongside AirAsia, Malaysia Airlines continues to operate daily flights to Kuala Lumpur, while Scoot operates widebody Boeing 787 Dreamliner services five days weekly to Singapore and Thai Lion Air flies four days weekly to Bangkok Don Mueang Airport. Together, these carriers offer nearly 4,800 seats each way per week to their respective hubs. With this robust network of full-service and low-cost carriers, the Initiative leaders urged the Punjabi diaspora to bypass long, strenuous travel to Delhi. By choosing Amritsar as their preferred gateway, travellers will help sustain these routes and encourage more airlines to launch direct international services in the future. Kamra further appealed to airport authorities to continue upgrading passenger facilities, including pushing for early privatization, and called upon the Punjab Government to introduce dedicated bus connectivity from major cities across Punjab to Amritsar airport. Amritsar, February 27 Amid ongoing board examinations, several private schools in Amritsar received bomb threats on Friday morning, triggering panic and confusion. The threats were sent anonymously via email. Heads and principals of several prominent private schools received similar messages claiming that bombs had been planted on their campuses. School authorities immediately informed the police upon receiving the emails, as examinations conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) and the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) were underway as per schedule. There was reportedly no disruption to the conduct of examinations at any of the schools at the time. Confirming the development, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order), One of the schools that received bomb threat in Amritsar. FILE PHOTO Amritsar, Alam Vijay Singh released a video message stating that special task force teams, including bomb disposal squads, had conducted thorough searches of the schools concerned. “Several schools received bomb threats today, and our teams have carried out inspections at the identified premises. We are still assessing the situa- tion, but there is no need to panic or feel scared. As board examinations are being conducted, this could also be the handiwork of miscreants intending to create fear or panic. We are examining all possibilities,” he said. This is the second instance in two months of private schools in the city receiving bomb threats. The incidents may also be linked to a broader, deliberate attempt to create panic, as a series of similar email threats have been reported since July 2025 in private schools across Delhi, Chandigarh and various parts of Punjab. Following standard procedure, the police have deployed gazetted officers at each affected school, and anti-sabotage checks are underway. The cyber police station is working to trace the source of the emails. District Education Officer Rajesh Sharma said he visited schools in border belt areas that received threats to ensure the safety of students. “We immediately dispatched teams, and I personally visited schools in Mahwa, Attari and several other areas where threats were reported. The police must identify those responsible for these repeated attempts to cause social disruption, particularly when schools are being targeted,” he said. Meanwhile, the head of one of the affected schools said, “Today we had the Computer Applications and Information Technology examinations for CBSE Class X and the Fine Arts examination for Class XII. Therefore, student attendance was not at full strength. We alerted the police promptly and ensured that students were sent home safely without any disruption,” she added. PSPCL employees hold protest over arrest of farmer union leaders Our Correspondent Cabinet Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO along with others visits a counter; and a mud hut set up during the festival in Amritsar on Friday. PHOTOS: VISHAL KUMAR Three-day Rangla Punjab festival begins in city Tribune News Service Amritsar, February 27 The three-day Rangla Punjab Utsav, organised by the Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs of the Punjab Government at the Ranjit Avenue grounds, was inaugurated by Cabinet Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO on Friday. The minister said the purpose of the Rangla Punjab Utsav is to promote Punjab’s cultural heritage, lifestyle, and cuisine at the global level. “Punjabi culture is one of the richest and most vibrant in the world, known for its unique lifestyle, food, folk dances, and spirit of brotherhood. Its heritage includes traditional arts, dialects, and hospitality. Our government is making special efforts to preserve and promote the rich heritage of the state,” he said. Director of Tourism Sanjeev Tiwari said the Rangla Punjab Utsav is dedicated to Punjab, Punjabi, and Punjabiyat. “Through various stalls and cultural activities, visitors can witness a beauti- ful glimpse of Punjab’s cultural heritage, lifestyle, and cuisine. A craft market has been set up to provide business opportunities for small enterprises. In addition, 30 stalls offering different cuisines have been installed in the food court during the festival. We will also host a drone show and live Punjabi singing concerts by popular artistes,” he said. The inaugural evening featured performances by folk singers Virasat Sandhu, Jaspinder Narula and Jazzy B. Footfall remained low until the afternoon on the first day but increased significantly in the evening due to the performances by popular Punjabi singers. Tarn Taran, February 27 Employees of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) on Friday staged a protest in front of the Circle Office of the utility company. They were protesting against the arrest of 17 leaders of various farmer unions on Thursday, who had staged a demonstration against the allotment of land belonging to the cooperative sugar mill at Sheron to other government institutions. The employees demanded the reopening of the cooperative sugar mill and the immediate release of the arrested farmer leaders. The protesters were led by leaders of various organisations representing Powercom employees, including Gurbhej Singh Dhillon, Kulwinder Singh Bagrian, Puran Das, Ranjit Singh, Baljinder Singh, Dilbagh Singh, Tara Singh Khaira, Kanwaljit Powercom employees during a protest in Tarn Taran on Friday. Kaur, Jasbir Kaur, Narinder Singh Bedi, Lakhwinder Singh Behla, Palwinder Singh and others. Addressing the gathering, the speakers condemned the Punjab Government and the management of Powercom for allegedly ignoring their demands. The leaders stated that seeking the peaceful reopening of the mill, which has remained closed for several years, was not unreasonable in any way. They reiterated their demand for the immediate release of the arrested farmer leaders and raised slogans against the government during the protest. Northern Railway establishes Rly passengers demand restoration of cancelled trains Rapido counter at city station Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Amritsar, February 27 For the convenience of railway passengers, the ‘Rapido’ app-based transportation service was launched on Friday at Amritsar railway station, which falls under Northern Railway’s Ferozepur division. The service has been introduced for a period of three years under the NonFare Revenue Service initiative. To assist passengers, a dedicated Rapido counter has also been set up at the station, where travellers can obtain information and support regarding the app. Rapido is an Indian app-based taxi service that allows users to book e-rickshaws, autos, A kiosk of Rapido set up at the Amritsar railway station. bikes and cabs. Senior Divisional Commercial Manager Paramdeep Singh Saini said the initiative will significantly enhance passenger convenience. He added that based on passenger needs, similar services may be expanded to other railway stations in Ferozepur division in the future. The initiative aims to improve passenger amenities while strengthening non-fare revenue sources. He further stated that a proposal has been sent to IRCTC to integrate the Rapido app with the RailVan app, enabling passengers to book train tickets and taxi services on a single platform. Amritsar, February 27 The rush of passengers at the Amritsar railway station shows no signs of easing despite the introduction of several special trains. Commuters have demanded the immediate restoration of train services that were cancelled two to three months ago due to dense fog in the region. They argue that the introduction of special trains has had only a limited impact on managing the heavy passenger load. The daily Amritsar-Chandigarh Intercity Express, the weekly Kolkata-Amritsar service, the weekly AmritsarDibrugarh train, AmritsarPurnia Court, AmritsarGorakhpur and the Amritsar-Kolkata train, popularly known as the Akal Takht Express, continue to c m y b A rush of passengers at the railway station in Amritsar on Friday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR remain suspended. While the Railways has restored some trains in recent days, passengers are demanding that the remaining services be resumed in view of the clear weather and rising temperatures. Another demand raised by passengers and vendors is the parking of more trains at platform number one for their convenience. They pointed out that trains such as the Amritsar-Delhi Intercity Superfast Express, which departs at 6.10 am, and the Amritsar-Bandra Paschim Express are no longer stationed at this platform. The Delhi-Amritsar Shatabdi Express was also not parked at platform number one in December. Similarly, other trains are not being stationed there for boarding and de-boarding of passengers. Railway authorities do not operate any other train from platform number one after the departure of the JammuTatanagar (Tata Mori) train at 7.50 pm. Earlier, the daily Amritsar-Dehradun Express, popularly known as the “Phulan Wali Gaddi”, and the thrice-a-week JammuHirakud Express used to originate from platform number one. These trains are now being handled at platforms three, four and five. Passengers alleged that unnecessary shunting operations are being conducted at platform number one, which is equipped with better amenities, including air-conditioned and general waiting halls, toilets, improved seating arrangements, maximum food stalls and 24x7 operational ticket windows. They said that after securing continued on page 2