15052026-ATR-01.qxd 5/14/2026 11:45 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 36°C | MIN 24°C YESTERDAY MAX 38°C | MIN 20°C JAPJIT KAUR TOPS MEDICAL STREAM WITH 99.2% HOCKEY ACADEMY REVIVED AFTER FIVE-YEAR HIATUS THE ERA OF THE CONVERSATION CLUTCH The atmosphere at Sri Guru Harkrishan Sr Sec Public School was filled with dhol beats, garlands & bhangra. P2 During the recent two-day trials held in city, 60 players across different categories were selected. P3 The accessory trend for 2026 is all about bags that feel conversational, collectible and deeply personal. P4 » » SUNSET FRIDAY 7.19 PM » SUNRISE SATURDAY 5.33 AM FRIDAY | 15 MAY 2026 | AMRITSAR Kashmiri, Bihari students clash at KCET campus, six injured Neha Saini Tribune News Service Faculty wear black badges as a mark of protest against the state government at Government Medical College in Amritsar on Thursday. Medical, dental teachers hold protest over delay in promotions Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 14 Faculty members at government medical and dental colleges across Punjab launched a symbolic protest against the Aam Aadmi Party-led state government on Thursday by wearing black badges. Leading the protest, the Punjab State Medical and Dental Teachers’ Association expressed concern over the delay in implementing timebound re-designation and promotion of faculty members working in government medical and dental colleges across the state. In a press note issued here, the association said that despite repeated meetings, representations and assurances from the government, no concrete action had been taken regarding their long-pending demand. The teachers said the delay had led to growing dissatisfaction among faculty members. Association president Dr Jaspreet Singh warned that the protest would be intensified if the government failed to take immediate action on the issue. “As of now, the faculty members are wearing black badges while performing their regular duties in government medical and dental colleges across the state,” he said. General secretary Dr Darshanjit Singh Walia appealed to the government to initiate meaningful dialogue at the earliest to avoid further escalation of the matter. He said timely action was necessary to ensure the smooth functioning of medical education and healthcare services in state-run medical and dental colleges. Amritsar, May 14 An argument between two groups of students at Khalsa College of Engineering and Technology (KCET) turned violent on Wednesday night, leaving six students injured and prompting police intervention. The incident occurred in the hostel mess when a minor dispute over language between two groups of students — one from Kashmir and the other from Bihar — escalated into a violent clash. According to eyewitnesses, the verbal argument soon turned into a physical altercation. Within moments, students from both groups confronted each other, leading to a fierce fight on the campus. The injured students were immediately rushed to various hospitals for treatment. Following the incident, chaos gripped the campus, with nearly half a dozen students reportedly injured in the scuffle. The police reached the spot soon after receiving information and brought the situation under control. Security on the campus was also tightened. Although the dispute initially appeared to A view of Khalsa College of Engineering & Technology in Amritsar. have been resolved after intervention by security personnel and faculty members, tensions escalated again after some Bihari students alleged that a faculty member had slapped one of the students. “The three students who sustained minor injuries have been treated and the matter between the student groups has been resolved after intervention by the management. We have also expelled all students involved in the violence from the hostel for six months, although they will be allowed to appear for examinations. On the demand of some Bihari students, we have also recommended termination of the services of the faculty member involved,” said Dr Manju Bala, Director, KCET, Ranjit Avenue. Meanwhile, the police have launched an investigation into the incident. Initial investigations revealed that the two groups had an altercation over an old dispute before the clash intensified. Police officials said the matter is being thoroughly investigated. Footage from CCTV cameras installed ~27 cr okayed for sewerage projects in Gurdaspur Majithia alleges SAD candidates denied NOCs ahead of civic polls Ravi Dhaliwal Tribune News Service Gurdaspur, May 14 Thousands of residents of Tibber village, officially reckoned to be the largest one of this border district with a population exceeding 10,000 people, heaved a sigh of relief after the state government sanctioned several sewerage projects, including a Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP), worth Rs 27.43 crore. Raman Bahl, former chairman of the Punjab Health Systems Corporation (PHSC) and AAP halqa in-charge of Gurdaspur assembly seat, said, “I have been running from pillar to post to get this project sanctioned. I had also met AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal and Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann to expedite things. Finally, the Punjab Government sanctioned the venture. The village has 1,500 households and all of them had complained that the present sewerage system had become outdated. The villagers had neither access to potable drinking water nor did they have an across the college campus is also being examined to determine the exact cause of the altercation and identify the students involved. Inspector Robin Hans, SHO, Ranjit Avenue division 2, said, “We have recorded statements of all parties involved. Appropriate action will be taken regarding the complaint lodged by Bihari students against the faculty member under investigation.” A first-year BTech (CSE) student who witnessed the incident said the dispute began during lunch in the hostel mess. According to him, some students from Bihar were conversing in their regional language when students from the other group objected. An argument followed, which later escalated into a violent clash. Following the incident, some students accused the college administration of bias. They alleged that they were instructed to remain inside the hostel after the incident, while students from the other group were treated differently. However, the college administration denied the allegations. 22-year-old shot dead in Tehsilpura area Charanjit Singh Teja Punjab Health Systems Corporation former chairman Raman Bahl, along with others, addresses a press conference at Tibber village in Gurdaspur on Thursday. infrastructure to collect, transport and treat waste water.” The Punjab Government has floated tenders for the project. “Work is likely to start next month after the contractor is finalised. With this, a longpending demand of Tibber residents has been fulfilled,” said an administration official. Bahl added, “Leaders of traditional political parties had also remained in power earlier, but they never paid attention to the problems of residents of this village. Residents were forced to live in appalling conditions caused by unhygienic wastewater.” A local resident said, “A Punjab Government spokesman has informed us that a 1.50 MLD Sewage Treatment Plant, too, will be established. Approximately 19 km of sewerage pipelines will be laid, and 11 km of old water supply pipelines will be replaced. It is indeed a redletter day for us.” Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 14 Senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia on Thursday alleged that the Executive Officer (EO) of the Majitha municipal council was refusing to issue noobjection certificates (NOCs) to SAD candidates for the forthcoming municipal elections. Majithia said party leaders, including Dilbagh Singh and Salwant Seth, visited the EO’s office to seek NOCs for party candidates. “The leaders also submitted in writing that if there were any discrepancies related to house tax or any other certification, they should be given an opportunity to rectify them,” he said. He alleged that instead of attending to the party leaders, the EO left the office despite being required to remain there till 5 pm during the crucial election period. Majithia also accused AAP Majitha halka in-charge Talbir Singh Gill of staging a “drama” Amritsar, May 14 A 22-year-old youth was reportedly shot dead by a group of assailants in the Tehsilpura area late Wednesday night. The deceased was identified as Kunal, a resident of the area. The Ram Bagh police have registered a murder case against key accused Vansh and 15 to 20 unidentified accomplices on the complaint of the victim’s father, Pawan Kumar, a resident of Tung Bala. According to the complaint, Kunal had left home around 9 pm on Wednesday to buy momos from the local market. Around 10 pm, his father spoke to him over phone and asked him to return home early. Kunal reportedly told him that he would return soon. However, the family later received a call from the Ram Bagh police on Thursday morning informing them that an unidentified body continued on page 2 SAD leader Bikramjit Singh Majithia addresses mediapersons in Amritsar on Thursday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR CONG LEADER LEVELS SAME CHARGE ■ Bhagwant Pal Singh Sachar, Congress leader from the Majitha assembly segment, on Thursday accused the ruling party of not issuing no-objection certificates to opposite party candidates. The Congress leader claimed that their candidates spent the entire Wednesday to get these papers from the officials concerned but returned empty-handed in the evening. ■ However, a video of AAP’s halqa in-charge from Majitha is also figured, in which he is asking an official to issue NOCs to all aspirants irrespective of their parties. by calling the Executive Officer and directing that NOCs should be issued to everyone. continued on page 2 Handmade Punjabi doll contest announced ahead of World Doll Day CM attends religious congregation in Batala Charanjit Singh Teja Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 14 A fading folk tradition of Punjab is set to find new life through the creativity of young girls and women, as a cultural organisation has announced an online “Guddiyan Patole” making competition on the occasion of World Doll Day on June 13. Though “Guddiyan Patole” (Punjabi cloth dolls) today survive largely in folk songs and oral traditions, the centuries-old craft was once an integral part of childhood and cultural life in rural Punjab. In an effort to revive this disappearing folk art, the The Sabhiacharak Sathh Punjab has invited schools, colleges and universities to encourage students to participate in the handmade “Guddiyan Patole” competition. Sabhiacharak Sathh Punjab has invited schools, colleges and universities across Pun- jab and Haryana to encourage students to participate in the handmade “Guddiyan Patole” competition. The organisation has written to directors of Youth Welfare Departments, principals and heads of educational institutions in Punjab and Haryana, urging them to motivate students to reconnect with Punjab’s traditional folk arts through creative participation. Folk arts expert Dr Davinder Kaur Dhatt said the competition aims to preserve a unique cultural heritage that once reflected the imagination, emotions and social traditions of Punjabi girls. She said cash prizes of Rs 3,100, Rs 2,100 and Rs 1,100, along with trophies, would be c m y b awarded to the top three entries. The winners will be announced on World Doll Day on June 13. According to the competition guidelines, participants aged between 15 and 35 years can take part free of cost. The Punjabi doll must be handmade using cloth, cotton and fabric scraps, and should measure between 12 and 15 inches in height. Participants may use needlework, decorative beads, stars and traditional embellishments such as gota kinari, but the use of ready-made structures, plastic faces or bottles has been prohibited to maintain authenticity. Participants have been asked to record a complete single-sitting video of the doll-making process along with multiple photographs of the finished doll in different poses and submit them through WhatsApp before May 30. Shortlisted participants will later be required to send the original dolls for the final round before June 10. Organisers clarified that the submitted dolls would not be returned. The competition is open to participants from India and abroad, and more than one student from a college or institution may participate. Tribune News Service Batala, May 14 Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann visited the dera of Darshan Dass Maharaj, also known as Dera Sachkhand Nanak Dham, on the occasion of its 38th Guru Gaddi Diwas here on Thursday. He was accompanied by MLAs Sherry Kalsi, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal and Gurdeep Singh Randhawa. The CM refrained from delivering any political speech keeping in view the election code of conduct due to the forthcoming municipal corporation (MC) elections. A seminar on anti-drugs and the recently passed antisacrilege law was held by the organisers. It turned out to be a heavily attended event. He had confabulations with Tarlochan Dass, the present dera head and son of Darshan Dass and the MLAs. He left after spending about 90 minutes at the venue. The dera is considered to be a significant spiritual centre. Elaborate security arrangements contintued on page 2