20052026-TT-01.qxd 19-05-2026 23:14 Page 1 c m y b FORMER UTTARAKHAND CM KHANDURI DIES AT 91 NATION /thetribunechd 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 146 NO. 138 | 16 PAGES | ~6.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881 HIMACHAL PRADESH PUTIN TO ATTEND BRICS MEET IN DELHI ON SEPT 12 BACK PAGE wednesday | 20 may 2026 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com SC allows euthanasia for stray Proud democracy, says India after face-off over Norwegian reporter’s rights question dogs posing threat to human life Ajay Banerjee Tribune News Service Refuses to recall order on relocation, sterilisation of canines Satya Prakash Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 19 As incidents of stray dog bites and attacks continue to occur across India with “alarming frequency and severity”, the Supreme Court on Tuesday, for the first time, allowed euthanasia of rabid, incurably ill or demonstrably dangerous stray dogs to curb the threat to human life. A three-judge Bench led by Justice Vikram Nath, however, made it clear that such action might be taken only after assessment by veteri- RIGHT TO LIFE STANDS AT HIGHEST PEDESTAL The right to live with dignity encompasses the right to move freely without threat from canines. The right stands at highest pedestal of constitutional protection. WILL NGOs TAKE BLAME FOR ATTACKS? Are NGOs and individuals, who claim to care for stray dogs in a given locality, willing to accept liability in respect of any harm caused by the canines to public. — SC Bench ❝ ❝ nary experts and strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, and other appli- cable statutory protocols. The Bench, which also included Justice Sandeep Mehta and Justice NV Anjaria, refused to recall its November 7, 2025 directions that stray dogs picked up from public places such as hospitals, bus stands, schools and railway stations must not be released back to the same locations after vaccination or sterilisation. “This court cannot remain oblivious to the deeply disturbing ground realities emerging from various parts of the country where young children and elderly persons have been attacked, ordinary citizens have been left vulnerable in public places, and continued on page 6 edit: dog menace Another petrol, diesel hike, rates up 90 paise PM ignoring own austerity appeal: Rahul Aditya Rangroo Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 19 The Centre on Tuesday raised the prices of petrol and diesel by about 90 paise per litre, marking the second hike in less than a week, as state-run oil firms sought to reduce mounting losses caused by soaring crude oil prices globally due to the West Asia crisis. The price of petrol in New Delhi climbed from Rs 97.77 to Rs 98.64 per litre, while that Second fuel rate hike in 5 days of diesel went from Rs 90.67 to Rs 91.58 per litre. On May 15, the government announced continued on page 6 Pb DSP sent murabba, 2 caps as birthday gift to Bishnoi in Gujarat jail Was sacked over gangster’s interview THE TRIBUNE SPECIAL Jupinderjit Singh Tribune News Service Chandigarh, May 19 When a probe was on into how Lawrence Bishnoi gave two TV interviews from jail after the Sidhu Moosewala killing, a Punjab Police DSP was allegedly sending him birthday gifts, including a box of murabba, through one of the gangster’s accomplices. The DSP Gursher Singh , Sandhu, was later dismissed from service for facilitating one of Bishnoi’s infamous interviews. This new revelation has come to light in disclosures made by Bishnoi gang member Rajvir Singh, alias Ravi Rajgarh, to the Khanna police. The interrogation report of July 2025, which has not been officially made public, has been accessed by The Tribune. The report, confirmed by multiple police sources, reveals that Rajvir received a call from Bishnoi on February 10, 2024, asking him to collect items from DSP Gursher Singh and deliver these at Sabarmati Jail, Ahmedabad, on the occasion of Bishnoi’s birthday on February 11. On February 10, he visited Gursher Singh’s office at Phase 7, Mohali. Interestingly, just a month earlier, the Punjab Police, on the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, had registered two FIRs regarding two back-toback interviews of Lawrence. The DSP sent the gifts when the probe was on. Rajvir has revealed that the DSP handed him one or two caps and a box of murabba — a traditional fruit preserve — for the gangster. Rajvir, accompanied by another gang member, Supinder Singh, travelled to Ahmedabad by air and handed the items to Bishnoi inside Sabarmati Jail. continued on page 6 Faridkot sizzles at 47°C; Met issues four-day orange alert Tribune News Service Chandigarh/NewDelhi, May19 The ongoing heatwave conditions further intensified on Tuesday in various parts of the country, including Punjab and Haryana, with Faridkot sizzling at 47.3 degrees Celsius and Rohtak registering a high of 46.9 degrees Celsius. The maximum temperatures hovered close to 45 degrees at several other places in the two states. Delhi recorded 45.1 degrees Celsius, which was 4.7 notches above normal, and Chandigarh 43.2 260 GW: India sets new power demand record degrees Celsius, over four notches above normal. In Haryana, Sirsa saw a high of 46.4 degrees Celsius, followed by Faridabad (46 degrees Celsius), Hisar (45.3 degrees Celsius), Jind (45.2 degrees Celsius) and Narnaul (45 degrees Celsius). In Punjab, Patiala recorded a high of 45.3 degrees Celsius, followed by Ludhiana (44.2 degrees continued on page 6 c m y b New Delhi, May 19 Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Norway, part of a five-nation tour, has produced an unlikely flashpoint as a Norwegian journalist’s question on “human rights violations” and India’s response terming it based on reports of “ignorant NGOs” has gone viral on social media. “I am wondering as we strengthen our partnership, why should we trust you,” Helle Lyng asked Sibi George, Secretary (West), Ministry of External Affairs, last night at a press briefing to mark Modi’s visit to Oslo, Norway. “People have no understanding. They read one or two news PM Narendra Modi with his counterparts (L-R) Jonas Gahr Store (Norway), Petteri Orpo (Finland), Ulf Kristersson (Sweden), Kristrun Frostadottir (Iceland) and Mette Frederiksen (Denmark) at the Nordic-India summit at Norway’s Oslo City Hall. REUTERS reports published by some godforsaken, ignorant NGOs and then come and ask ques- tions,” George retorted after Lyng posed her question. Earlier, the same journalist had posted on X a video of PM Modi as he was leaving the hall after delivering media statements with Norwegian PM Jonas Gahr Store. “Modi would not take my question, I was not expecting him to,” Lyng said. She also referred to India’s ranking in the World Press Freedom Index, saying, “Norway has the number one spot, while India is at the 157th”. In response to her post, the Indian Embassy in Norway invited her to attend an official press briefing later in the evening. The question and answer session at the press briefing resulted in a verbal spat between Lyng and George. Responding to her, George continued on page 6
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).
