01032026-TTB-03.qxd 3/1/2026 12:39 AM Page 1 c m y b 123 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 146 NO. 59 | 22 PAGES | ~7.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881 DELHI PM OPENS NATION’S FIRST CHIP FACILITY IN GUJARAT NATION /thetribunechd 331 FIGHTERS KILLED: PAK AS CLASHES WITH AF ENTER DAY 3 WORLD THE FORGOTTEN MODERNISTS WHO BUILT CHANDIGARH SPECTRUM REPORT ON BARAMATI CRASH REVEALS SAFETY FAILURES BACK PAGE sunday | 1 march 2026 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com After weeks of military build-up across West Asia, US 85 schoolkids among 200 dead across Iran, Tehran hits Khamenei’s offices attacked; Trump calls on Iranians and Israel strike Iran, seeking to topple its leadership US bases in Qatar, UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi, Jordan to ‘seize control of destiny’; Iran strikes Dubai hotel US, Israel attack Iran, West Asia on edge Russia, China seek UNSC meet; UK, France call for talks T HE US and Israel launched a major attack on Iran on Saturday, barely 48 hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded his visit to Tel Aviv. The first wave of strikes in what the Pentagon named “Operation Epic Fury” mainly targeted areas around the offices of Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. It wasn’t clear whether 86-year-old Khamenei was in his office when the attack occurred. Over 200 people were killed across Iran, of them 85 at a girls school. India has traditionally maintained a careful balance in West Asia, cultivating close defence and technology ties with Israel while preserving working relations with Iran, a longstanding energy partner and a strategic gateway to Afghanistan and Central Asia. As tensions escalate between Washington, Tel Aviv and Tehran, that balancing act grows more complex. Calling the strikes “unprovoked and illegal”, Iran retaliated by firing missiles and drones towards Israel and US continued on page 6 Smoke rises on the skyline after US and Israel launched an attack on Tehran, Iran, on Saturday. AP/PTI OIL ROUTE SHUT, LIKELY TO HIT FUEL PRICES Iran shut down the strategic Strait of Hormuz, the 33-km channel linking the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea, on Saturday evening, sparking fears of a spike in crude and gas prices. The waterway is crucial for India, with about 2 million barrels per day of its oil imports passing through it. A prolonged closure could disrupt supplies and sharply raise India’s energy costs. OPERATION EPIC FURY STRIKES BY US, ISRAEL STRIKES BY IRAN Animesh Singh Tribune News Service Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi addresses a Congress rally in Barnala on Saturday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: PAWAN SHARMA Work as team or sit home, Rahul tells Pb Cong leaders Tribune News Service Barnala, February 28 The Congress on Saturday sounded the bugle for the next Punjab Assembly elections at its ‘MGNREGA Bachao Sangram’ rally held at the Barnala grain market, with Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi issuing a stern warning to feuding state leaders to work as a team or Sounds poll bugle with Barnala rally be prepared to sit at home. Just before concluding his 30-minute address, Rahul said, “I want to send a message to the Congress leadership. Work gets done through teamwork. A single player cannot win a game. We have a continued on page 6 New Delhi, February 28 Almost 62 lakh names have been deleted from the final voters’ list of West Bengal post the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, thus showing a fall of 8 per cent in the total electorate from 7.66 crore before the purification of the rolls. The final list of 7.04 crore electors was released by the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of the poll-bound state on Saturday. According to the final list, there are 7,04,59,285 electors, which is almost 62 lakh less than the 7,66,37,529 voters registered in the state prior to the commencement of the SIR. The precise figure of voters who have been excluded from the final list is 61,78,244. However, the list includes the names of 60.06 lakh voters who have been flagged for review by Supreme Court-appointed judicial officers. Until their names are cleared and published in 8%dip in voter count under SIR exercise supplementary lists, these electors will not be able to cast their votes. “The fate of these voters hangs in balance and there is a likelihood that not all of them may clear the scrutiny,” said EC sources. West Bengal is now the third state with the highest number of voters’ names deleted after two rounds of revision of electoral rolls across the country. The volume of deletions can be juxtaposed with the issue of illegal immigrants being a constant factor in West Bengal, which shares its boundary with Bangladesh. The BJP-led NDA government at the Centre has been bullish about removing infiltrators from the state if the party comes to power in West Bengal after the Assembly elections, which are due in April-May this year. continued on page 6 Champs at last!J&K end 67-year wait for Ranji glory Adil Akhzer Srinagar, February 28 Jammu and Kashmir scripted history in domestic cricket by clinching their maiden Ranji Trophy by showing an extraordinary performance against heavyweights Karnataka. This victory comes 67 years after Jammu and Kashmir’s debut in India’s premier domestic competition. On Saturday, as the final match between J&K and Karnataka ended in a draw on the fifth day at the Hubballi cricket ground, the J&K team by virtue of its massive 291-run lead in the first innings, secured the title by keeping Karnataka at bay in the entire Ajay Banerjee Saudi Arabia slams ‘Iran’s aggression’ 62L WBvoters dropped, 60L more under review Archit Watts 10 mnnationals working in warzone, India urges calm Moscow, February 28 Russia and China have requested an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss the situation around Iran even as Britain, France and Germany have called for a resumption of US-Iran negotiations while condemning Tehran’s attacks on countries in the region. Shyam Bhatia in London & Agencies ~2-CR REWARD BY UT Calling it a “watershed” moment for J&K cricket, CM Omar Abdullah said the “landmark win has filled the entire region with pride and inspiration”. He announced a ~2 crore reward for players and support staff. HISTORIC TRIUMPH Congratulations to the J&K team for their first-ever Ranji Trophy win! This historic triumph reflects the grit, discipline and passion of the team. Narendra Modi, PM ❝ <
The Tribune, now published from Chandigarh, started publication on February 2, 1881, in Lahore (now in Pakistan). It was started by Sardar Dyal Singh Majithia, a public-spirited philanthropist, and is run by a trust comprising four eminent persons as trustees.
The Tribune, the largest selling daily in North India, publishes news and views without any bias or prejudice of any kind. Restraint and moderation, rather than agitational language and partisanship, are the hallmarks of the paper. It is an independent newspaper in the real sense of the term.
The English edition apart, the 133-year-old Tribune has two sister publications, Punjabi Tribune (in Punjabi) and Dainik Tribune (in Hindi).
