17022026-ATR-01.qxd 16-02-2026 23:07 Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY TAKE CALL ON BRTS CORRIDOR, SAYS FORMER MLA DUTTI DOOR-TO-DOOR WASTE USER CHARGE COLLECTION BEGINS FILM STARS CHEER INDIA’S BIG T-20 WIN OVER PAKISTAN Former Congress MLA Sunil Dutti has urged CM Mann to take a clear decision on ‘virtually defunct’ BRTS. P2 Field teams of 3R Company have started collecting user charges for door-to-door waste collection services in Amritsar. P2 MAX 24°C | MIN 10°C YESTERDAY MAX 24°C | MIN 8°C Film stars flooded social media with celebratory messages after India crushed Pakistan by 61 runs in the World Cup. P4 » » SUNSET TUESDAY 6.18 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 7.09 AM » TUESDAY | 17 FEBRUARY 2026 | AMRITSAR Garbage piles at GMC premises raise serious health concerns Manmeet Singh Gill Tribune News Service Amritsar, February 16 Heaps of garbage, scattered polythene bags, and discarded paper cutlery strewn across the premises of Government Medical College (GMC) and its associated Guru Nanak Dev Hospital have turned one of the city’s premier healthcare institutions into an unsightly mess. Patients and visitors have sharply criticised the unhygienic conditions, saying they defeat the very purpose of a hospital. The problem is particularly visible at the Bebe Nanaki Mother and Child Care Centre and near the nursing college, where piles of unattended waste emit a foul smell. Relatives of patients complained that in the absence of adequate dustbins, sanitation staff dump waste at these spots, creating inconvenience for visitors. Used food containers, plastic cups, and leftover food were also found scattered along pathways meant for patients and attendants. Many visitors expressed concern that such unhygienic surroundings could increase the risk of infections, especially for those with weakened immunity. “People come here for treatment and recovery. Instead, they are forced to walk through garbage. It is shocking that a hospital cannot maintain basic cleanliness,” Two held from Delhi in elderly woman’s murder case Tribune News Service A view of garbage dump on the premises of Government Medical College in Amritsar on Monday. said a woman waiting outside the Bebe Nanaki Mother and Child Care Centre. Patients’ attendants also pointed to stray animals rummaging through open waste piles, further worsening the situation. They said the hospital authorities must address the issue and implement an effective solution. “At least large containers like bins can be placed at these locations so that sanitation staff can dispose of garbage bags properly. Moreover, plastic waste is being mixed with plant residue such as dry leaves, which increases the overall volume of waste. Plant residue should be decomposed in pits and not mixed with plastic waste,” said Rajbinder Singh, a visitor. Health experts have repeatedly warned that poor sanitation on hospital premises can undermine public confidence and pose serious health hazards. Clean surroundings are considered a critical component of patient care, particularly in government-run tertiary care centres that witness heavy daily footfall. Hospital authorities stated that waste from the designated spot near the Bebe Nanaki Mother and Child Care Centre is lifted by the municipal corporation. They added that instructions would be issued to sanitation staff to avoid mixing plant residue with plastic waste. An official further said that surprise inspections would be conducted and strict action taken if lapses were found. Amritsar, February 16 Days after the brutal murder of an elderly woman allegedly by her tenants, the Sadar police arrested the two suspects from Delhi. The accused have been identified as Gurdev Singh and Shamsher Singh, alias Shera, Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar confirmed. Veena Rani (65), a retired employee of PSPCL, was allegedly murdered by her two tenants at Indira Colony on Majitha Road on the intervening night of January 28 and 29. According to the police, the two tenants had organised a party and invited the deceased’s son, Varinder, on the pretext of celebrating a visa approval for one of them. During the gathering, the accused allegedly served him spiked drinks before committing the crime. The incident came to light when another woman living on rent on the upper floor of the house raised an alarm after finding Veena Rani lying in a pool of blood in her room, while her son was continued on page 2 NCB seizes 8.8 kg heroin in another border crackdown Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, February 16 The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Monday arrested three more alleged drug traffickers and seized a fresh consignment of narcotics on the second consecutive day of its crackdown near the India-Pakistan border. Acting on specific intelligence and in coordination with the Border Security Force, NCB teams conducted raids near Kakkar and Pandori villages close to Attari. During the operation, three suspects, including Jaspal Singh, alias Jassa of Ajnala, were taken into custody. “Following sustained interrogation, officials recovered 8.8 kg of heroin, 5.6 kg of methamphetamine, popularly known The seized contraband in the custody of the NCB in Amritsar. as ‘ICE’, and 3 kg of opium from them,” said an NCB official on condition of anonymity. A case has been registered under the relevant provisions of the NDPS Act. The identities of the other two suspects have been withheld as the operation is still underway. NCB officials said preliminary investigations indicate the possible involvement of a prominent political figure in the trafficking network. “The role of a politician is under the scanner, and further action is expected after verification,” the official added. The latest arrests come a day after a Sunday evening operation in which the NCB seized 8.5 kg of heroin and over half a kilogram of opium, arresting three individuals identified as Karanbir Singh of Chaminda village, Beeru Singh of Sansra village and Bebak Singh. The trio was produced before a court on Monday and sent to four-day police custody for further investigation. Officials said continued questioning of the earlier accused yielded fresh leads, culminating in Monday’s arrests and the recovery of additional contraband. Further investigations are underway to trace the wider network behind the smuggling racket, NCB authorities added. Man ends life over family feud ; two booked Tribune News Service Amritsar, February 16 A man allegedly committed suicide following a domestic dispute in the Shaheed Udham Singh Nagar area under the BDivision police station limits on Sunday, prompting the police to register a case of abetment to suicide against his wife and brother-in-law. The deceased was identified as Harshdeep Singh, also known as Giftie. Acting on a complaint filed by his brother Harmeet Singh Goldy, the police booked Harshdeep’s wife Manjit Kaur Rani and her brother Gaurav on charges related to abetment to suicide. According to the complaint, Harshdeep worked continued on page 2 REAL ESTATE EXPO’26 EXHIBITION GROUND,SECTOR 34 OPP. FURNITURE MARKET CHANDIGARH Title-Sponsor Vera Developers Pvt. Ltd. The biggest Real Estate Expo of the region is back and it’s bigger and better. Visit the Expo and have a look at a host of real estate options on offer by the leading developers of the region. From residential to commercial, from high end luxury to affordable housing as well as attractive loan offers from leading banks, the Expo has it all. So get ready to choose the property you have been looking for. Powered By: SURPRISE GIFTS for the First 50 Visitors Radio Partner FOR DETAILS : 98728 80155, 98554 40805, 98148 14006 c m y b Gifting Partner