26022026-ATR-01.qxd 2/25/2026 11:03 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 27°C | MIN 10°C YESTERDAY MAX 26°C | MIN 10°C GNDU HOSTS EVENT ON WAR AGAINST DRUGS TEENS’ SCREEN DEPENDENCY AN ALARMING HEALTH CONCERN BREWS AND BOOKS AT CAFÉ ON SHIMLA’S MALL ROAD Minister Aman Arora inaugurates ‘Junoon-e-Punjab’ to raise awareness against drug abuse. P2 Easy access to smartphones, social media content has altered kids’ behavioural patterns. P3 Cafe on the Mall Road in Shimla offers a variety of books and cuisines along with hot and cold beverages. P4 » » » SUNSET THURSDAY 6.19 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 6:51 AM THURSDAY | 26 FEBRUARY 2026 | AMRITSAR After SIR, teachers protest CM’s Health Insurance Scheme duty DTF says this interferes with regular teaching and examination related work Tribune News Service Amritsar, February 25 The Democratic Teachers' Front (DTF) is once again up in arms against the non-academic duties being given to teachers in the state. Earlier, the preparation of Special Intensive Revision (SIR), directed by the Election Commission of India (ECI), kept the teacher BLOs (Booth Level Officers) away from school education. And now, following the launch of the Mukh Mantri Sehat Bima Yojana, the Health Department has assigned computer teachers and other staff the task of managing enrollment camps. These duties included data entry, operating portals and docu- Burglar nabbed four days after committing theft Tribune News Service Amritsar, February 25 Chheharta police have arrested a burglar, identified as Vijay Kumar alias Johney in a four-day-old burglary case. Lovepreet Singh, SHO, Chheharta police station, said that Shiv Kumar, a building material shop owner, lodged a complaint with the police that an unknown person had decamped with Rs 1.75 lakh from the cash box of his shop. He had gone for some work at that time. The entire incident was captured on the CCTV camera of the shop. The SHO said that police teams analysed the CCTV footage. Using technical analysis and human intelligence, the accused was later identified as Vijay Kumar, a habitual offender. He had around eight theft cases registered against him at various police stations in Amritsar, Tarn Taran and Hoshiarpur. The police recovered Rs 10,000 in cash from him. Further probe is on to recover the entire amount. OBJECTIONS RAISED ■ The Mukh Mantri Sehat Bima Yojana duties included data entry, operating portals and documentation to create health cards for the public. ■ The district administration in Amritsar has assigned 55 teachers away from their home for MMSY, despite the orders earlier that Common Service Centres (CSCs) and Sewa Kendras will be used for enrollment instead. ■ Earlier, about 20,000 teachers were assigned BLO duties and kept out of school for about one and a half months for SIR and other poll-related duties during the exam preparations period. ■ Teachers say that the duties are assigned during crucial periods, including impending practical and final exams, which disrupt their primary academic focus. ■ DTF says arrangements should be made to provide jobs to unemployed for the Chief Minister's Health Scheme and other administrative duties. mentation to create health cards for the public. DTF state finance secretary and district president Ashwini Awasthi alleged that last month, the state government had left school education in the hands of Almighty. "The current government and the Education Minister have repeatedly talked about teachers only doing education-related tasks but the government engages them in Amritsar, February 25 Chairman of the Amritsar Improvement Trust, Karamjit Singh Rintu, on Wednesday initiated the renovation work of Anand Park at a cost of approximately Rs 1 crore, giving the main park a new and modern look. Rintu, who is also in-charge of the Aam Aadmi Party's North Assembly constituency, stated that the redevelopment work was undertaken fulfilling the demands placed by the Anand Park Association. The work will cost school for about one and a half months for SIR and other poll-related duties during the exam preparations period. The organisation has strongly condemned these untimely non-educational duties and strongly demanded new recruitment from the government. Teachers argued that the duties were assigned during crucial periods, including impending practical and final exams, which disrupted their primary academic focus. Gurbinder Singh Khairah, another member of DTF said , that arrangements should instead be made to provide jobs to the unemployed for the Chief Minister's Health Scheme and other administrative duties. Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, February 25 A team of the local city police arrested two more members of a gang whose kingpin was arrested one and half months back from the area and illegal weapons recovered. Sukhbir Singh, DSP (City), informed here today that the police team led by SHO Navdeep Singh, arrested the two, identified as Arshdeep Masih alias Shubham, a resident of Kakka Kandiala and Phillips alias Pawan, a resident of Johal Kotla Gujran, in district Amritsar. The police recovered 264 grams of heroin, a pistol, one magazine of AK-47 and 17 rounds of ammunition from them. DSP (City) Sukhbir Singh said that so far, four pistols, 37 rounds of ammunition, three magazines of AK-47 and 528 grams of heroin have been recovered from the accused. A case has already been registered in this regard on January 13. The main member of the gang, Laras Masih, a resident of Kakka Kandiala village, was arrested about a month and half back. After that, his associate Sandeep Masih was arrested on February 3 and illegal weapons and heroin recovered from him. The DSP (City) said that so far, four pistols, 37 rounds of ammunition, three magazines of AK-47 and 528 grams of heroin have been recovered from the accused. A case in this regard has already been registered by the local city police on January 13. Further investigation in the matter is on. BSF seizes over 1 kg heroin near Muhawa BOP Tribune News Service Amritsar, February 25 The Border Security Force (BSF) has recovered a packet with over 1 kg of heroin here on Tuesday. The seizure was made in the Muhawa border outpost (BOP) area. The incident came to light when the BSF handed over the contraband to Gharinda police for further necessary action. Gharinda police have registered an FIR under relevant provisions of the NDPS Act in this connection on the basis of statement given by BSF inspector Absalom Sema, officiating Company Commander of 181 Battalion. Amandeep Singh, SHO, Gharinda police station, said that further probe is on to identify the suspects who had got the contraband which was apparently smuggled from Pakistan via drone. Dr Karanvir Singh GMCincreases MD seats; introduces PG courses takes charge as Tarn Taran SDM Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, February 25 In a significant boost to post-graduate medical education and tertiary healthcare services in the region, Government Medical College (GMC), Amritsar, has received permission for increasing the number of several MD seats, while introducing new postgraduate and super-speciality courses for the upcoming academic session. Principal Dr Rajiv Devgan said seats in both MD (anaesthesia) and MD Dr Karanvir Singh, the new Tarn Taran SDM. PHOTO: GURBAXPURI Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, February 25 A 2025 batch PCS officer, Dr Karanvir Singh, took charge as SDM, Tarn Taran, on Wednesday. Before this, he was rendering his services as Chief Minister's Field Officer in Tarn Taran itself. Taking charge of his new post, Dr Karanvir Singh said that he will give priority to implementing the schemes of the Punjab Government under the leadership of Deputy Commissioner Rahul. He said that his main goal will be to provide clean, effec- tive, efficient and transparent administration to the people as well as to implement the major programmes and schemes of the Punjab Government in an effective manner. He said that the residents of Tarn Taran can directly contact him regarding any kind of problem. He said that the work of the people will be done on priority basis and their complaints will be redressed in a time-bound manner. The new SDM was warmly welcomed by the entire staff of the office. City Improvement Trust initiates renovation work of Anand Park Tribune News Service non-academic work all throughout the year. The administration assigns noneducational duties to the teachers and then classroom teaching suffers. At a time when several teachers are busy with exam duties for non-board classes in schools, the administration has assigned a large number of teachers for the Chief Minister's Health Scheme duty." The district administration in Amritsar has assigned the duties of 55 teachers away from their residence for MMSY, despite the orders earlier that Common Service Centres (CSCs) and Sewa Kendras will be used for enrollment instead. Earlier, about 20,000 teachers were already assigned BLO duties and kept out of Two gang members held after kingpin’s arrest; arms recovered approximately Rs 1 crore, giving the main park a new and modern look. Local residents' concerns were carefully heard at the meeting held by the Anand Park Association, and many were resolved on the spot, he said, adding that daily visits to the public in the North Assembly constituency are being made to redress their grievances and resolve them on priority basis. He added that other important development projects in the area were also reviewed in today's meeting. During the meeting, the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) public welfare policies were also explained to those present. He stated that in a historic initiative to strengthen food and nutrition security on a large-scale in Punjab, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann had announced the launch of "Meri Rasoi" scheme. Under the scheme, free food kits (ration kits) will be distributed to four million families in Punjab every three months, starting in April. These food kits will be provided in addition to the wheat provided under the National Food Security Act. BOOST TO MEDICAL EDUCTION IN REGION ■ Principal Dr Rajiv Devgan said ■ Two new post-graduate seats in both MD (anaesthesia) and MD (obstetrics and gynaecology) courses had been increased from nine to 13 ■ The Psychiatry Department had also seen an increase, from three to five seats courses have been introduced: radiation oncology, with two seats; and emergency medicine, with three seats ■ The institution has expanded its super-speciality portfolio with the creation of MCh (plastic surgery) and MCh (surgical oncology) courses, each with two seats (obstetrics and gynaecology) courses had been increased from nine to 13. The Psychiatry Department had also seen an increase, from three to five seats, strengthening mental health training capacity at a time when psychiatric services were witnessing growing demand, he added. In addition, two new post- graduate courses have been introduced: radiation oncology, with two seats; and emergency medicine, with three seats, marking a significant step towards strengthening trauma care and cancer treatment services in the region. The institution has expanded its super-speciality portfolio with the creation of MCh (plastic surgery) and MCh (surgical oncology) courses, each with two seats. Dr Devgan said the expansion reflected the institution’s commitment to strengthening healthcare delivery and medical education. “This is in line with the government’s efforts to increase the number of specialists and super-speciality doctors to provide quality medical services to all the patients of this region. The enhancement of seats and introduction of new courses will go a long way in addressing the shortage of trained specialists,” he added. “With the increase, GMC now has a total of 162 MD/MS seats across specialities, and four seats for super-speciality DM/MCh courses.” Majithia holds roadshow in constituency SAD leader demands suspension of Batala Market Committee chief Tribune News Service Amritsar, February 25 Senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and former minister Bikram Singh Majithia was accorded a grand welcome upon his arrival in his constituency, Majitha. He arrived in Majitha for the first time since his release from jail, where he was greeted by a large crowd, who showered flowers on him and burst crackers. Majithia, along with his supporters, organised a massive roadshow. Sukhjinder Raj Singh (Lali Majithia), once a staunch political opponent of Bikram Majithia, participated in the roadshow. Putting aside political differences, Lali Majithia, along with his colleagues, participated in the welcome ceremony, which is being seen as a major change in the politics of the Majitha constituency. With this massive roadshow, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has accelerated preparations for “Mission 2027.” Majithia conducted a roadshow in an open vehicle through various markets in the city, giving the impression that the entire city had gathered on Majitha’s streets. On the occasion, the city’s residents showered him with flowers, and the c m y b SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia addresses a public meeting in his constituency, Majitha, on Wednesday. TRIBUNE PHOTOGRAPH entire route was decorated with party flags. During the road show, workers raised slogans in favour of Bikram Majithia and the Akali Dal. Addressing the roadshow, Majithia openly targeted the Aam Aadmi Party government and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for the deteriorating law and order situation in the state. Majithia demanded the immediate suspension of Aam Aadmi Party’s Batala Market Committee Chairman Manik Mehta for using Punjab Police personnel to film his prewedding shoot. Asserting that police personnel who had participated in the filming of the pre-wedding shoot should also be suspended, Majithia asked officiating DGP Gaurav Yadav to explain why police personnel were allowed to participate in such antics. The Akali leader said it was shocking that police personnel were being used as “extras” in film shoots of AAP leaders at a time when anti-national elements were gunning down police personnel on the international border with Pakistan. “This is being done at a time when securing the safety of its own force as well as fellow citizens is most important. It seems pre-wedding shoots of leaders are more important than maintaining law and order in the state for the AAP government,” he added. Majithia also pointed to the tardy investigation into the killing of two police personnel, including an ASI, saying the Punjab Police were yet to ascertain as to who carried out the murder as well as the reason for doing so. “This has demoralised Punjabis who are now convinced that no one is safe in Punjab,” Majithia added. HIGHLIGHTS ■ Sukhjinder Raj Singh (Lali Majithia), once a staunch political opponent of Bikram Majithia, participated in the roadshow. Putting aside political differences, Lali Majithia, along with his colleagues, participated in the welcome ceremony, which is being seen as a major change in the politics of the Majitha constituency. ■ Majithia openly targeted the Aam Aadmi Party government and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for the deteriorating law and order situation in the state. The roadshow is seen as gearing up for “Mission 2027”.