14042026-ATR-01.qxd 4/13/2026 11:24 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 34°C | MIN 16°C YESTERDAY MAX 32°C | MIN 15°C SCHOOL STUDENTS WARNED ABOUT DRUG ABUSE RISKS STUDENTS LEAD KHALSA SAJNA DIWAS, BAISAKHI CELEBRATIONS THE MAKING OF UPCOMING SERIES MATKA KING A programme was organised at Sacred Heart School to educate students on the dangers of drug abuse. P2 Schools celebrated the Khalsa Sajna Diwas, Baisakhi and Dr BR Ambedkar's birth anniversary on Monday. P2 Bollywood actor Vijay Varma talks about his character Brij Bhatti, who rides the highs and lows of fortune. P4 » » » SUNSET TUESDAY 6.58 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 6.01 AM TUESDAY | 14 APRIL 2026 | AMRITSAR Services in govt hospitals back to normal after nurses call off stir Manmeet Singh Gill Tribune News Service Amritsar, April 13 Healthcare services in government medical colleges across Punjab returned to normal on Monday as nursing staff called off their protest and resumed duties, bringing much-needed relief to patients. The employees had been protesting since March 26. The mass resumption of duties followed a meeting between leaders of the United Nurses Association of Punjab and state Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh. Association leaders said the meeting was held in a positive and constructive atmosphere, with the government assuring that their demands would be taken up seriously. Patients at major institutions, including government medical colleges in Amritsar, Patiala and Mohali, expressed relief as normal services resumed after days of disruption. Hospital wards and OPDs, which had been affected during the protest, have now begun functioning smoothly. As per the minister’s assurance, a detailed meeting with a Cabinet sub-committee, led by the Finance Minister and the Health Minister, will be held on April 16 to discuss the nurses’ demands. The gov- 5K intoxicant tablets seized near Alival village, 1 held Tribune News Service Pawan K Jaiswar Members of the nursing union resume work after meeting with Punjab Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh. ernment has also promised immediate financial benefits and said the demand for restoration of grade pay to Rs 4,600 would be considered by the newly formed committee for an appropriate decision, said association president Ramanjit Singh. Employee leaders added that the government assured no action would be taken against any nurse who participated in the strike. The state had earlier invoked the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) to prevent employees from continuing the protest. The government also promised that there would be no victimisation and that salaries for the strike period would be released. However, the association has made its stand clear. It warned that if the government fails to honour its commitments or adopts a negative approach during the April 16 meeting, the understanding reached with the minister would be considered null and void. In that case, the protest, currently suspended, will be resumed in a more intensified form, the union warned. For now, patients and their families have welcomed the temporary relief, but uncertainty remains as the future of healthcare services in the state depends on the outcome of the crucial meeting later this week. Amritsar, April 13 The Amritsar Rural Police have arrested a youth and recovered 5,000 unmarked intoxicant tablets during a routine patrol near Alival village here on Sunday. A police party, led by SubInspector Pushpajot Singh, intercepted the accused riding a white colour scooter coming from the village side. His nervous behaviour upon spotting the police raised suspicion, prompting them to stop and check him. The accused was identified as Raju Masih, a resident of Thoba village falling under the Ramdas police station. During the search of the scooter, the police recovered the tablets concealed in a black polythene packet. Interrogation revealed that Masih had procured the consignment from Bittu, a resident of Kurali village. A case has been registered against the accused under Sections 22, 29, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act against the duo. The police have launched efforts to nab the supplier and uncover further links in the drug supply chain. Families of Jallianwala Bagh victims protest denial of freedom fighter benefits Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Amritsar, April 13 Descendants of the victims of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre abstained from participating in the tributepaying and wreath-laying ceremony organised by the Union Ministry of Culture and Tourism on the 107th anniversary of the tragedy here on Monday. Instead, they held a separate programme under the banner of the Jallianwala Bagh Freedom Fighters’ Foundation. Among others, RSS national joint secretary Krishan Gopal attended the official event held at Jallianwala Bagh. Foundation chairman Sunil Kapoor said the government’s programme commenced at 3 pm, while the descendants paid their tributes an hour earlier at 2 pm at the national memorial before leaving the venue. Kapoor pointed out that the martyrs were granted the status of freedom fighters only in 2008, 89 years after the massacre, making them eligible for benefits meant for freedom fighters. However, he said these benefits were later denied on policy grounds. On the anniversary, the descendants reiterated their long-pending demands for benefits such as reservation in jobs, free travel and priority in gas or petrol pump dealerships, which they claim have been denied to them. Kapoor criticised the policy governing such benefits, which restricts eligibility to the grandchildren of martyrs. In this case, he said, the recognition came nearly 90 years later, by which time two to three generations had already passed. Kapoor, whose great- Six held in Bhindi Saida grenade attack case; ISI link suspected RSS leader Krishna Gopal (right), BJP leader Shwait Malik, former Deputy CM and Congress leader OP Soni along with others pay tribute to the martyrs in Amritsar on Monday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR grandfather Wasu Mal Kapoor was killed in the massacre, added that a state government committee headed by the Chief Secretary had been formed to recommend solutions to the Centre, but no progress had been made. Rajinder Sharma, 55, great-grandson of Amin Chand, also expressed disappointment, stating that successive governments had failed to address their concerns. He said their key demands include the inclusion of two representatives of martyrs’ families in the Prime Minister-headed Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial Trust and the display of a complete list of martyrs at the site. He further alleged that the government has not treated them on par with other freedom fighters, resulting in the denial of benefits such as job reservations, free travel and dealership priorities. Addressing the gathering, RSS national joint secre- tary Krishan Gopal remarked that the Hunter Committee was a government-appointed body whose report was influenced by the British administration. He said that a separate report by freedom fighter Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya is considered more credible. Earlier, Shwait Malik, trustee of the Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial Trust, welcomed participants and paid homage to the martyrs. He recalled that the site was in poor condition before the Narendra Modi government sanctioned Rs 20 crore for its renovation. Improvements included murals, patriotic paintings, a light-andsound show, and upgraded facilities. He added that seven years after its virtual inauguration, the memorial continues to be well maintained. Deputy Commissioner Dalwinderjit Singh paid floral tributes at the memorial, accompanied by Addi- tional Deputy Commissioner Rohit Gupta, SDM-1 Alka Kalia, Trust secretary Mukherjee, Mala Chawla and other officials. He stated that the massacre sowed the seeds of India’s independence and that the sacrifices of the martyrs would always be remembered. A painting competition was also organised, where students expressed their thoughts on the martyrs, the national memorial and the freedom movement. Amritsar Mayor Jatinder Singh Moti Bhatia was present on the occasion. Congress leaders, including Krishan Kumar Sharma, former minister Rajkumar Verka, and former MLAs Jugal Kishore Sharma and Sunil Dutti, also paid homage to the martyrs. Krishan Kumar said that the significance of the day, highlighting that it coincided with Baisakhi and commemorated the founding of the Khalsa Panth, an important chapter in Sikh history. c m y b Tribune News Service Amritsar, April 13 The Punjab Police have arrested six persons in connection with the grenade attack on the Bhindi Saida police station carried out on March 30, with a suspected link to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The accused were allegedly promised Rs 4 lakh by handlers of a Pakistan ISIbacked terror module to execute the blast. However, they reportedly received only a small amount before being apprehended by the police. Those arrested were identified as Baljit Singh of Chak Dogra, Prabh Singh of Chota Fatehwal, Rajbir Singh of Baba Gum Chak Ballarwal, Sukhpreet Singh of Thehra Rajputan, Ajaydeep Singh, alias Ajay, alias Gazni, of Lopoke and Sahib Singh, alias Saba, of Sarangdev, all villages fall in Ajnala subdivision here. Calling it a “classic pattern of exploitation,” Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sohail Qasim Mir said anti-national elements from across the border were radicalising vulnerable local youth by luring them with promises of substantial Three accused in the custody of the Amritsar Rural Police on Monday. financial rewards that often never materialise. Director General of Police (DGP), Punjab, Gaurav Yadav said that preliminary investigations revealed the accused were in regular contact with a Pakistan-based handler operating from abroad, who was directing terror activities in the border state. He added that the module members had been radicalised and motivated to target police establishments. According to the investigation, Baljit Singh and Prabh Singh retrieved two hand grenades from a hideout near Gharinda on the intervening night of March 29 and 30. The following night, the trio — Baljit, Prabh, and Rajbir Singh — rode a motorcycle to within 1-2 km of the Bhindi Saida police station and executed the attack. Providing further details, SSP Mir said the accused parked their motorcycle in nearby fields and approached the rear side of the police station on foot through standing wheat crops. They hurled grenades at the premises, while Rajbir Singh allegedly recorded the attack on his mobile phone from a distance. After the blast, the trio hid in the fields for three to four hours, later dumped their clothes in a nearby drain to destroy evidence and fled at dawn after retrieving their motorcycle. The police first arrested Baljit and Prabh from Faridkot in an intelligence-based operation and subsequently apprehended the remaining four accused from Amritsar. During the operation, the police recovered two .30 bore pistols along with magazines from Baljit and Prabh. Baljit Singh has a criminal history, with several cases, including murder and attempt to murder, registered against him. Investigations also revealed that the accused came into contact with a Pakistanbased smuggler through fellow inmates during their time in jail. The police have invoked provisions under the Explosive Substances Act, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Arms Act.