21032026-ATR-01.qxd 3/20/2026 11:24 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune ‘PUNJAB LEADING MATCHLESS MASS MOVEMENT AGAINST DRUGS’ SGPC PLANS CELEBRATION AS SRI KIRATPUR SAHIB TURNS 400 The SGPC president said a grand Gurmat Samagam will be held at Gurdwara Sri Kiratpur Sahib from April 29. P2 PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 20°C | MIN 14°C YESTERDAY MAX 22°C | MIN 15°C CELEBS SHOW US THE WAY TO NAIL FESTIVE EID LOOK Senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia said Punjab was fighting a well-planned battle against drugs. P2 FORECAST Festive fashion leans into fluid silhouettes and craftsmanship that speaks quietly, but beautifully. P4 » » SUNSET SATURDAY 6.42 PM SUNRISE SUNDAY 6.32 AM » SATURDAY | 21 MARCH 2026 | AMRITSAR LPG shortage forces schools to halt mid-day meal services Ravi Dhaliwal Tribune News Service Gurdaspur, March 20 The mid-day meal scheme, mandatory for primary and middle classes in government schools, has gone for a toss following the shortage of LPG cylinders. This development, teachers fear, is leading to students dropping out of schools. It is a known fact that a majority of students studying in government schools belong to the poor and lower-middle class strata of society. The meal is the primary reason for school attendance. It is seen as a powerful incentive for families to send children, particularly girls, to school rather than keeping them at home. There are more than 50,000 workers in the state out of which 5,200 have been asked to reach Ludhiana on March 22 to lodge a protest. The mid-day meal society has written to all District Education Officers (Secondary and Elementary) to make alternative arrangements. “We have to scout for firewood and cowdung cakes as alternative arrangements. With the entire state having intermittent rainfall, finding firewood has Shortage of LPG gas pushes families to other alternatives Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Mid-day meals being served to students in a school in Gurdaspur. become difficult. Cow-dung cakes, which act as a fuel for burning the traditional ‘chullah’, too, are not available. “Under these circumstances, we are unable to feed the students. Even we are asked to shell out money for the firewood notwithstanding the fact that we are paid a meagre Rs 3,000 per month. Even if we manage to bring in alternative fuel, the cooking cost rises manifold. Who will pay the extra amount?” asked Gurpreet Kaur Kahali, president of the Gurdaspur unit Democratic Mid-Day Meal Workers’ Union. The cooking cost for students studying in primary schools is Rs 6.78 per student per day while it is over Rs 10 for children studying in middle schools. This rises significantly if alternative measures are taken. Teachers fear that the dropout rate may increase further if there is no improvement in the situation. Balwinder Kaur, a spokesperson for the Democratic Teachers Front (DTF) said, “The scheme is a crucial factor in reducing dropout rates in India. Disruptions in this service are posing a direct threat to student attendance particularly among economically vulnerable households.” Amritsar, March 20 Getting LPG refills has become increasingly expensive for families whose cylinders are exhausted before the stipulated 25-day period. The situation remains particularly difficult for such households, as well as for migrant labourers who have not subscribed to LPG connections locally. Many are now forced to buy refills at higher prices from the open or black market. Shubash Khanna, a city resident, said there are seven members in his family and with frequent visitors, LPG consumption at home is naturally high. As a result, they need a refill every 20 to 22 days. “Before the outbreak of the war involving the US, Israel and Iran, a refill was easily available between Rs 1,000 and Rs 1,100. Now, a refill bought outside the system is being sold for Rs 2,000 to Rs 2,500,” he said. Harjit Singh, a resident of The sale of induction cooktops has increased manifold amid the LPG crisis in Amritsar. VISHAL KUMAR Majitha Road, said there is otherwise no supply glitch in his area, as delivery tempos and rickshaws supply refills to households daily. “Delivery staff charge the price mentioned on the receipt. However, customers usually pay an additional Rs 30 to Rs 40 over the fixed price for each refill,” he added. Sundeep Khosla, president of the Bal Kalan Industrial Welfare Association, said the situation has been particularly tough for migrant workers employed in factories and shops who have been residing here temporarily. “For them, buying a refill for over Rs 2,000 is extremely expensive,” he said. Disruptions in LPG supply due to the ongoing West Asia conflict have pushed consumers to seek alternative cooking methods. Punit Sharma, a kitchenware store owner, said there has been a sharp rise in the sale of induction cooktops since the issue emerged. “Many families are buying them as a stopgap arrangement in case the crisis continues. Earlier, we used to sell only a couple of units a month,” he said. The Ram Talai Chowk area in the city, known as a hub for traditional tandoors and bhatthis (hearths), has also seen increased demand. Sunil, a seller, said there has been a spike in the sale of small hearths used for domestic purposes. “We are now selling a bhatthi for Rs 350, which earlier cost between Rs 250 and Rs 300,” he said. Amid the ongoing energy crisis, residents say that despite government assurances, household LPG supply has been affected, leading to extended booking times and irregular deliveries. Anil Vinayak, a resident, suggested that households should adopt measures to reduce gas consumption. “One practical way is to skip one meal a day. This can save around 300 grams of LPG daily, or 3 to 4 kg per month. A cylinder that usually lasts 30 days could last up to 45 days,” he said, adding that such steps could help reduce panic booking and black marketing. Dhotian residents City youth shot dead in Canada, seek removal of liquor family members seek justice vend from market Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Our Correspondent SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal addresses a gathering at Sheron village in Tarn Taran. GURBAXPURI SAD gets major boost in Patti Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, March 20 The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) received a major boost in the constituency of Patti with hundreds of sarpanches, Zila Parishad and Block Samiti members joining the party in the presence of party president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Friday. The new joinees included Sheron sarpanch Avtar Singh Billa and his mother Darshan Kaur, who were earlier associated with the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Ramandeep Kaur and other Block Samiti members, along with hundreds of their supporters, also joined. Thanking the local leaders for showing faith in the poli- cies and programmes of SAD, Badal said, “The fact that thousands of people have congregated here on such short notice shows their enthusiasm towards our party.” Asserting SAD’s commitment to developing the border areas, he said, “The Congress and Aam Aadmi Party have failed to do anything for the border belt. The SAD will come out with a special industrial package for the belt once it forms the government in 2027.” He also announced that SAD would increase the compensation for farmers tilling land across the barbed wire fence that traces the border with Pakistan. Additionally, Badal announced that efforts would be made to provide maximum jobs to border youth. “Industrialists wishing to set up their units in these areas will be given concessions, but they will have to reserve 75 per cent of the jobs for Punjabis,” he said, adding that a SAD government would establish a ‘Skill University’ that would employ corporate sector experts to train youth according to industry demands. According to sources, there is a possibility of Avtar Singh Billa being made incharge of the Patti Constituency, which has been represented by Adeshpartap Singh Kairon, Badal’s brother-in law, in multiple past terms. Tarn Taran, March 20 Residents of Dhotian village have opened a front against the local administration to protest the opening of a liquor vend in the area. Most members of the village panchayat, social workers and former sarpanches have written a letter to the Deputy Commissioner in this regard today and demanded that the liquor vend be removed from the market. Social worker Ravinder Singh Gill, former Sarpanch Ranjit Singh Rana, international coach Saroop Singh Dhotian, Chairman Paramjit Singh, Numbardar Kawaljit Singh, leader of the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC) Kulwant Singh and many others submitted a letter in this regard to the Deputy Commissioner today. The residents of Dhotian have stated that due to the opening of a liquor vend in the village market, the place gets crowded Auto driver arrested in AK-47 seizure case Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 20 The Amritsar Rural Police have arrested an auto-rickshaw driver, identified as Malkit Singh, for his alleged role in transporting arms and narcotics. His name surfaced during investigations into the recent seizure of an AK-47 assault rifle and three Glock pistols from a cross-border module in the area. According to police officials, the accused was acting as a key logistics handler for the network, using his auto-rickshaw to ferry consignments of weapons and drugs at the behest of other suspects. Investigations suggest that Malkit Singh regularly disposed of or relocated illegal consignments to safe locations as directed by the main operatives. Earlier, the police had arrested five other accused in the case, identified as Vanshdeep Singh, Avinash alias Kaka, Sukhwinder Singh alias Bablu, Gursewak Singh alias Sonu, and Amarjit Singh alias Rohit, all residents of Navi Abadi in Attari. continued on page 2 c m y b People consume liquor from vend and quarrel among themselves throughout the day and women and children are reluctant to come to the market for work. People said that since Dhotian is a historical town, the liquor vend was closed here during the British rule. They said that at night, people consume liquor from the vend and quarrel among themselves, which has a negative effect on the villagers. Tarn Taran Deputy Commissioner Rahul could not be reached on his mobile or through messages sent on his WhatsApp number. Inderjit Singh Sehjra, Excise and Taxation Officer (ETO), also did not respond to mobile phone calls. Local residents warned that if the liquor vend is not removed from the market, people will be forced to come out in protest against the administration. Amritsar, March 20 Shock and grief have engulfed the family of 22-yearold Amritsar youth Birinder Singh, who was shot dead in Edmonton, Canada. His family has urged the Canadian government to ensure justice for their son and enhance safety for Punjabi, especially Sikh and immigrant communities, who they allege are increasingly becoming victims of hate crimes. Ranjit Singh, father of the deceased, is a devastated man. Birinder, whose birthday fell on March 12, was the only son of the family. Relatives and residents from the area have been visiting their home to offer condolences to the bereaved family. “I urge the Canadian government to bring the perpetrators to justice and take immediate steps to curb hate crimes so that no other parent loses their child in such incidents,” he said. Birinder had moved to Canada three years ago on a study visa and was currently working on a valid work permit. He had been living in Alberta and was employed in Ranjit Singh shows the picture of his son Birinder Singh who was shot dead in Canada recently, in Amritsar. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR the construction sector. Sharing details, Ranjit Singh said the incident took place near Edmonton on March 14, when Birinder, along with his friends, was reportedly on his way to celebrate his birthday. What was meant to be a joyful outing turned into a nightmare within moments. He said another vehicle began following them. After some time, the suspicious vehicle overtook their car and abruptly stopped in front of them. An individual inside allegedly rolled down the win- dow and gestured towards the group. When Birinder and his friends responded with a wave, the assailant suddenly opened fire. Birinder sustained a bullet injury to the neck and succumbed to his injuries on the spot, leaving his friends in shock. Meanwhile, the victim’s family has raised serious concerns, suspecting that the killing may have been a hate crime. His father, describing Birinder as an Amritdhari Sikh who continued on page 2