28012026-ATR-01.qxd 1/27/2026 11:43 PM Page 1 c m y b Amritsar tribune FARMERS TAKE OUT TRACTOR MARCH IN PARTS OF AMRITSAR ‘BATTLE OF PUL KANJRI’ — AN ENDURING TALE OF VALOUR Farmers and workers on Monday organised a tractor march in many parts of the district. P2 Pul Moran, known as Pul Kanjri, carries an important chapter from the 1971 Indo-Pak war. P3 » » FORECAST MAINLY CLEAR SKY LOGGING OUT OF SOCIAL MEDIA IS THE NEW POWER MOVE Celebrities are quietly logging out. Actors are stepping back from social media to protect themselves. P4 » MAX 19°C | MIN 9°C YESTERDAY MAX 19°C | MIN 10°C SUNSET WEDNESDAY 6.00 PM SUNRISE THURSDAY 7.25 AM WEDNESDAY | 28 JANUARY 2026 | AMRITSAR Mundian highlights development, war on drugs at R-Day function BSF jawans during the Beating Retreat ceremony on Republic Day at the Attari border. VISHAL KUMAR Celebrations held amid tight security at Attari-Wagah JCP Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 27 Patriotic fervour marked the globally famous Beating the Retreat ceremony during the 77th Republic Day celebrations at the Attari-Wagah Joint Check Post (JCP) here on Monday. However, the ceremonial gates remained closed and sweets were not exchanged in view of the strained relations between the two neighbouring nations following the Pahalgam terror attack and the subsequent Operation Sindoor launched by the Indian forces. Additional Director General, BSF (Western Command), SS Khandare, Inspector General, Punjab Frontier, Dr Atul Fulzele, along with other dignitaries, attended the Republic Day celebrations at the JCP . The ceremony attracted thousands of spectators from across the country and abroad. Marked by flawless discipline and military precision, the event evoked a strong sense of patriotism and national pride among those present. Border Security Force (BSF) personnel carried out the traditional ceremonial lowering of the Indian national flag. The atmosphere remained electrifying as the audience responded with thunderous applause and patriotic slogans. Daredevil motorcycle formations by BSF jawans were among the highlights of the event. Dog squads also performed, while Nihang youths showcased Gatka during the ceremony. Spectators were seen dancing to patriotic songs played before the flaglowering ceremony. Security arrangements were tight in view of the large gathering and the significance of Republic Day. Despite the heightened security, the mood remained festive, with families, students and tourists waving national flags and capturing memorable moments on their mobile phones. Narco-arms smuggling module busted, 4 held with 1.5 kg heroin Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 27 The Amritsar Commissionerate Police (CP) busted a cross-border narco-arms smuggling module with the arrest of four operatives and the recovery of 1.5 kg heroin and Rs 1.98 lakh drug money from their possession here on Tuesday. Those arrested have been identified as Jaskinder Singh, alias Sikander, Harpal Singh, Gurmukh Singh and Sukhdeep Singh, all residents of Ranian village in the district. Besides, police teams also recovered two sophisticated pistols, including one 9MM pistol, one .30 bore pistol and 34 live cartridges, manufactured in Pakistan Ordnance Factory (POF), from their possession. Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said that preliminary investigation has revealed that the accused, in con- nivance with their foreignbased handlers, are in contact with Pak-based smugglers through social media platforms. Acting on their directions, the arrested persons were retrieving consignments of illegal arms and heroin being transported via drones from across the border, and further supplying to various locations in Punjab, he said. The Director General of Police said further investigation is underway to trace forward and backward linkages in this case. Sharing operational details, Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said acting on specific and reliable secret information, teams of the Amritsar Commissionerate Police carried out a well-planned operation and arrested four accused involved in a crossborder smuggling and recovered drug money and 34 live cartridges from their possession. On the disclosure statements of accused Gurmukh Singh and Sukhdeep Singh, police teams recovered two pistols, while the consignment of 1.5 kg heroin was recovered on the disclosure of accused Jaskinder Singh and Harpal Singh, he added. The Police Commissioner said further investigation has revealed that the all the accused are closely related to each other and belong to the same extended family. Whereas accused Harpal Singh and Gurmukh Singh are brothers, Jaskinder Singh, alias Sikander, and Sukhdeep Singh are their nephews. He said it was also found that all four accused fall within the age group of 19 to 33 years and have no previous criminal antecedents. In this regard, a case has been registered under Section 25 of the Arms Act at Civil Lines police station in Amritsar. Amritsar, January 27 Punjab Cabinet Minister for Revenue, Rehabilitation and Disaster Management, Water Supply and Sanitation, and Housing and Urban Development Hardeep Singh Mundian unfurled the national flag and took the salute at the parade to mark the 77th Republic Day here on Monday. On the occasion, tableaux depicting development initiatives were presented by various departments. The chief guest awarded first place to the tableau of the Education Department, second place to the tableau of the PSPCL Department and third place to the tableau of the District Legal Services Authority. Addressing the people of Amritsar, Mundian said the AAP government had launched the second phase of its war against drugs to make Punjab a drug-free and gangster-free state. Under the “War on Drugs” campaign, three ‘Baz Akh’ anti-drone systems have been installed to intercept drones being used for smuggling drugs and weapons from across the border. He said the government remained devoted to the mar- Three nabbed with 795 gms of heroin Our Correspondent Tarn Taran, January 27 Three persons were arrested in two separate cases with a total recovery of 795 grams of heroin. The Khalra police, in a joint operation with the Border Security Force (BSF), arrested two persons at Dall village and recovered 511 grams of heroin along with a broken drone. In another case, a team from the Sarai Amanat Khan police station arrested one person and recovered 284 grams of heroin on Republic Day. The police informed here today that during the Khalra operation, two accused were arrested while their associate managed to escape from the spot. The joint police and BSF team recovered a packet containing 511 grams of heroin along with 44 milligrams of packing material. The arrested accused have been identified as VanshPal continued on page 2 Cabinet Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian honours cops during the Republic Day function at Guru Nanak Dev stadium in Amritsar. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR tyrs and played a key role in naming the Mohali International Airport after Sardar Bhagat Singh, besides installing a statue of Shaheed-e-Azam at the airport. Referring to development works in Amritsar, Mundian said Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann recently initiated repair work worth Rs 11.32 crore under which 23 rural link roads in Majitha will be repaired. He said the foundation stone of a new government college costing Rs 15 crore was laid in the Ajnala area. To improve traffic management in Amritsar city, the minister said a new flyover worth Rs 39.85 crore was being constructed at Bhai Gurdas Ji Nagar in New Amritsar on the AmritsarJalandhar highway, which is expected to be completed within the next 24 months. Mundian said the Mann government rescued 1,023 children under ‘Project Jeevanjot’ to secure their future by linking them with education and rehabilitation. He added that 64 child marriages had been prevented during the current financial year through the appointment of 2,076 Child Bank employees strike hit services in district Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 27 Banking operations at public sector banks across the district were disrupted on Tuesday as the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) observed a nationwide oneday strike, demanding the immediate implementation of a five-day work week and the resolution of long-pending issues. Amid downpour, employees held a protest outside the PNB branch on the Lawrence Road here. The protest was led by Kishor Singh, president of the Punjab National Bank Staff Union, Punjab, and deputy general secretary of the Punjab Bank Federation. Addressing the gathering, Kishor Singh said the strike was a symbolic one-day action being observed by bank employees across the country. He said around 8.3 lakh banking sector employees have joined the strike, leading to disruptions in routine banking services. He said the demand for a five-day work week is not new and has been pending since Bank employees during a protest outside the PNB branch office on the Lawrence Road in Amritsar on Tuesday. PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR 2015. Several issues linked to wage settlements, which were agreed upon earlier, remain unresolved. He pointed out that at the time of signing the wage agreement, representatives from the Department of Financial Services, the Indian Banks’ Association, the Government of India and major banks were involved. A written agreement, including a memorandum of understanding and a joint note, was signed with the United Forum of Bank Unions, but its full implementation is still awaited. Kishor Singh said the agreement clearly stated that the remaining issues would be resolved in a timebound manner. However, even after nearly two years, no concrete action has been taken. He stressed that bank employees are not raising new demands but are asking for the imple- SI gets CM’s medal on R-Day GNDU makes Punjabi mandatory alongside English for research Gurdaspur, January 27 Gurdaspur-based SubInspector (SI) Bhupinder Singh Chinna was honoured with the Chief Minister’s medal for ‘Outstanding Devotion to Duty’ on Republic Day. The Sub-Inspector hails from Bhaini Mian Khan in Qadian, which forms a part of Gurdaspur district. He is posted as a motor transport officer with the Anti-Narcotic Task Force (ANTF). Chinna’s services were recognised for providing efficient transport and operational support for anti-narcotic missions across the state. — TNS Tribune News Service Neha Walia Amritsar, January 27 In a move aimed at democratising access to knowledge and strengthening the foundations of higher education in Punjab, Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) has approved the Punjabi-First Education, Research and Governance Policy 2026, making Punjabi in Gurmukhi script a mandatory medium for major research outputs alongside English. Announcing the policy, Vice-Chancellor Prof Karamjeet Singh described it as a “historic and people-centric step” that aligns with the spirit of the National Educa- tion Policy (NEP) 2020 while ensuring GNDU’s continued commitment to global academic excellence. “Knowledge generated in Punjab must not remain confined to elite academic circles or locked behind language barriers,” said Prof Karamjeet Singh. “By requiring PhD theses, dissertations, project reports and funded research outputs to be submitted in both English or the primary academic language and Punjabi, we are making research accessible to Punjabi-speaking students, teachers, parents, policymakers and the wider society. This initiative promotes inclusion, equity and cultural confidence with- out compromising quality.” The Vice-Chancellor said that under the policy, the Punjabi version of research work will be academically rigorous, faithful to the original content and evaluated for clarity, accuracy and fidelity to research findings. He emphasised that students would not be penalised for natural stylistic variations in Punjabi expression, provided the meaning and scientific integrity remain intact. “The focus is on empowering scholars, particularly those from rural, border and first-generation learner backgrounds, who think and articulate ideas more naturally in Punjabi,” he said. “This c m y b Marriage Prevention Officers. On fulfilling the guarantees made during the elections, the minister said most of them had already been implemented and the remaining would be fulfilled soon. He said Punjab had become the first state in the country to provide facilities such as education, healthcare, free bus travel and free electricity to its residents. The Cabinet Minister also honoured officials, employees and social service organisations for their outstanding work by presenting appreciation letters. Deputy Commissioner Dalwinderjit Singh honoured the chief guest with a memento. Among those present on the occasion were District and Sessions Judge Jatinder Kaur, MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, MLA Dr Jasbir Singh Sandhu, MLA Dr Inderbir Singh Nijjar, ADGP RK Jaiswal, Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, Mayor Jatinder Singh Moti Bhatia, former minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla, Prabhbir Singh Brar, Chairman Ravinder Hans, Chairman Satpal Sokhi, Jaskaran Singh Bandesha, Talbir Singh Gill and Labour Commissioner Harjit Singh Ahluwalia. — TNS approach will deepen engagement with research while preserving national and international academic mobility,” he said. The policy draws inspiration from NEP 2020’s emphasis on multilingualism and mothertongue-based education. Prof Karamjeet Singh said it positions Punjabi not only as a language of heritage and culture but also as a dynamic medium for science, innovation, agriculture, health, environment, law, entrepreneurship and social sciences. To ensure smooth implementation, GNDU will put in place several support mechanisms, including department-specific Punjabi academic glossaries, a comprehensive Punjabi academic writing and citation guide, a dedicated Punjabi Academic Support Unit for terminology development and translation assistance, and a bilingual digital repository to archive research in both languages. The Vice-Chancellor clarified that modern tools, including the responsible use of AI-assisted translation, will be permitted, but scholars will remain fully accountable for accuracy and academic integrity. The rollout of the policy will be phased to ensure a smooth transition, with doctoral theses and funded research included in the first year, master’s dissertations in the second year, and major project reports and institutional research in the third year. Limited exemptions will apply only in highly technical or legally restricted domains, where mandatory Punjabi summaries will still be required. Prof Karamjeet Singh said the initiative reaffirms GNDU’s role as a public university that bridges global knowledge systems with local realities. “This is a decisive step towards a more inclusive, rooted and socially meaningful higher education ecosystem in Punjab. We are building a university where excellence, equity and cultural leadership go hand in hand,” he said. The policy will come into effect from the next academic session. mentation of commitments already made. The protesting employees said that the strike may have caused inconvenience to customers, but they had no intention of disrupting essential services. They said bank staff have played a crucial role in implementing major schemes such as the Jan Dhan Yojana and remain committed to providing efficient customer service. Reliance Foundation honoured Tribune News Service Amritsar, January 27 Reliance Foundation was honoured by the district administration, Amritsar, on the occasion of Republic Day in recognition of its social welfare work during the Punjab floods. A certificate of appreciation issued by the district administration, Amritsar, acknowledged Reliance Foundation’s services in the district for social welfare initiatives. The certificate was presented by Hardeep Singh Mundian, Minister for Water Supply and Sanitation.