19012026-TTC-01.qxd 1/19/2026 12:38 AM Page 1 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 10 NO. 19 | 16 PAGES | ~5.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881 5K DEAD IN IRAN UNREST, JUDICIARY HINTS AT EXECUTIONS WORLD /thetribunechd NO MERIT IN NSA CASE AGAINST WANGCHUK: WIFE J&K INDIA’S 1st OPEN-SEA KOHLI’S 124 IN VAIN AS FISH FARMING PROJECT NZ BEAT INDIA, WIN ODI LAUNCHED NATION SERIES 2-1 SPORT monday | 19 january 2026 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com Eight soldiers injured Trump writes to Modi, invites him in Kishtwar gun battle, to join Gaza peace board initiative hunton for 2-3 terrorists Ujwal Jalali SENATOR CALLS ON EAM AMID TARIFF CONCERNS Tribune News Service 3 airlifted to hospital| 3rd gunfight in Jammu region this year Arjun Sharma Jammu, January 18 At least eight soldiers were injured in a gunfight with terrorists in the Chhatru forest area of Kishtwar on Sunday, officials said. According to reports, three of the injured personnel were airlifted to an Army hospital after sustaining serious wounds. This is the third encounter between the security forces and terrorists in the Jammu region this year. Earlier, gunfights took place on January 7 and 13 in the Billawar area of Kathua district. Officials said the Army rushed reinforcements to the Chhatru area and launched aerial surveillance after establishing contact with terrorists suspected to be from the banned outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM). Two to three Pakistani terrorists are believed to be in the area. Search operations were continuing when last reports came in. The Army launched “Operation Trashi-1” after receiv- New Delhi, January 18 US President Donald Trump has formally invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to join what he calls the “Board of Peace”, a new international body aimed at implementing his plan to end the Gaza conflict. Pak among 60 nations approached by US Prez to help end conflict Security operations underway following an exchange of fire between security forces and terrorists in the Chhatru area of Kishtwar district. ANI ing intelligence about the presence of terrorists in the Singhpura area, which is marked by difficult terrain and dense forest. “Contact was established with terrorists in the general area of Son Nar, northeast of Chhatru, during a search operation conducted as part of ongoing joint counter-terror operations with the J&K Police,” the Nagrota-based White Knight Corps said in a statement. “Operations remain underway, with additional forces inducted to reinforce the cordon, supported by close coordination with local administration and security agencies,” it added. Special forces of the Army, troops from 17 and 11 Rashtriya Rifles and the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the J&K continued on page 8 The invitation issued from the White House describes the initiative as a “critically historic and magnificent effort to solidify peace in the Middle East” while pursuing a bold new approach to resolving global conflict. Notably, Trump has extended invitations to some 60 countries for the initiative, including Pakistan. Trump referred to his “Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict”, unveiled on September 29, 2025 — a 20-point roadmap that he claimed was “quickly embraced by all world leaders, including major heads of state across the Arab world, Israel and Europe”. He noted that the plan was endorsed through UN Security Council Resolution 2803 in November. continued on page 8 PM Narendra Modi with US President Donald Trump. FILE External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday met US Senator Steve Daines in New Delhi, holding what he described as a “wide-ranging and open discussion” on the India-US bilateral relationship and its strategic significance. The meeting comes just two days after Senator Daines, along with Senator Kevin Cramer, expressed concern over India’s decision to impose a 30 per cent tariff on yellow peas. BACK PAGE Why’re Americans paying for AI use in India: Prez aide stirs fresh row Tribune News Service New Delhi, January 18 US trade adviser Peter Navarro has sparked fresh controversy by questioning the extensive use of American-developed artificial intelligence services, particularly ChatGPT, in India and other overseas markets despite being operated from the US. In an interview with former White House strategist Steve Bannon on Real America Voice, Navarro framed the Peter Navarro issue as a trade and energy concern, arguing that AI platforms such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT run on US soil using American electricity while servicing large user bases abroad, including in India and China. “Why are Americans paying for AI in India? ChatGPT is operating on US soil, using American electricity and servicing large users in India, China and elsewhere,” he said. Navarro suggested the rapid expansion of AI data centres linked to global usage could be driving up electricity costs for American consumers and hinted that a Trump administration could continued on page 8 ment in a post on Facebook. demnation. Going live on FB The development comes from Rasokhana Shri Nabh days after Chief Minister Bhag- Kanwal Raja Sahib, the place want Mann’s declaration that at the centre of the controver169 of the missing 328 sy, Sukhi said, “This saroops of Guru site is not a place for Granth Sahib had politics for me.” been found from a He said, “I am religious place at Banresigning from the ga in Nawanshahr. Cabinet rank and the Sukhi’s resignaposition of chairman tion is being seen as bestowed on me by Sukhwinder Singh Sukhi the first fallout in the state government. AAP of the CM’s statements I pray to God to grant me powregarding the saroops, which er to tell the truth to CM Mann have invited widespread con- and the AAP leadership so that the misgivings (surrounding the issue) can be removed.” Also referred to as Rasokhana or Darbar, the century-old religious site in Banga has been the centre of hectic political activity for the past few days following the CM’s statements. The trust of the Darbar held a press conference on January 15, issuing a detailed rebuttal of the allegations made by the CM regarding the missing saroops. continued on page 8 TMC hurting national security, end ‘jungle raj’ in Bengal: Modi in Singur PM blocking funds, WBpeopletoremove BJPfromCentre:TMC Tribune News Service Tribune News Service New Delhi, January 18 India’s power distribution companies have reported a collective Profit After Tax (PAT) of Rs 2,701 crore in FY 2024-25, reversing a long trend of losses and marking the first return to profitability since the unbundling of state electricity boards, officials said on Sunday. The Power Ministry says the profit follows a steep loss of Rs 25,553 crore in FY 2023-24 and a far deeper loss of Rs 67,962 crore in FY 2013-14, underscoring what it described as a structural correction in the distribution sector. Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said the return to profitability signalled a new chapter for the sector and attributed the shift to sustained reforms aimed at restoring financial and operational stability. He added that the government remained committed to strengthening the distribution network so the power sector could support India’s economic growth. According to the ministry, the turnaround has been driven largely by the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme, under which infrastructure upgrades and the rollout of smart meters have improved billing efficiency and reduced power theft and leakages. Tighter prudential norms have been introduced, linking access to finance for power utilities to performance against key operational benchmarks. The government said this had compelled distribution utilities to improve accountability and adopt fiscal discipline. Amendments to electricity rules have also ensured timely tariff revisions, transparent subsidy accounting and improved cost recovery, reducing the financial stress that has long plagued state-run discoms. The ministry said the Electricity Distribution (Accounts and Additional Disclosure) Rules, 2025, had standardised accounting practices across states, improving financial continued on page 8 Jalandhar, January 18 Amid the raging controversy in Punjab over 328 missing “saroops”, the Aam Aadmi Party on Sunday suffered a major setback in Doaba when its Banga MLA Sukhwinder Singh Sukhi announced his resignation from the post of Chairman, Punjab State Container and Warehousing Corporation (CONWARE), as well as his Cabinet rank. Sukhi made the announce- Shekhar Singh Tribune News Service New Delhi, January 18 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday accused the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government in West Bengal of “playing with national security by protecting infiltrators” and said it had turned governance into “jungle raj” that was marked by corruption, lawlessness and fear. He also charged the Congress with weakening Assam through years of infiltration- Accuses Cong of weakening Assam through ‘infiltration-driven politics’ driven politics and said the party had now been pushed to the margins even in Mumbai where it was founded. Speaking at rallies in Kaliabor (Assam) and Singur (West Bengal), Modi asked voters in both states to back the BJP for development, security and administrative stability ahead of the coming elections. In Kali- abor, Modi said the Congress had been reduced to a marginal political force, pointing to its performance in the recent Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections where it finished fourth with just 24 seats. He said the party had lost public trust and had no credible development agenda, adding that voters across the country were turning away from what he termed the Congress’ negative politics. The PM accused the Congress of continued on page 8 Kolkata, January 18 TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee on Sunday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of blocking Central funds meant for West Bengal and asserted that contrary to the BJP’s call for “change” in the 2026 Assembly elections, the people of the state would lead the process of dislodging the saffron party from power at the Centre after the state elections. Addressing a rally at Chopra in Nadia district after a roadshow, the TMC national general continued on page 8 7 girls of Bhiwani’s Alakhpura village kick their way to national glory Deepender Deswal Tribune News Service Girls play football in Alakhpura village of Bhiwani district. TRIBUNE PHOTO Alakhpura(Bhiwani), January18 From the legacy of pre-Independence philanthropist Seth Chhaju Ram to his greatgranddaughter Bollywood actress Mallika Sherawat, this small village in Bhiwani district has long held a place in Haryana’s social narrative. Today, it is women’s football that has propelled the village into the national spotlight. With the Indian team gearing up for the Asian Football Championship scheduled for January Picked for camps ahead of Asian c’ship next year next year in Saudi Arabia, seven girls from Alakhpura have been selected for Indian camps by the All India Football Federation in the senior, Under-20 and Under-17 teams. While Sanju Yadav is a member of the Indian senior women’s team, which has departed for a training camp in Turkiye, Pooja Jakhar, Muskan, Parul, Himanshi and Ritu are members of the Under-20 team Today’s issue is of 16 pages, including four-page Jalandhar Tribune. c m y b and are presently attending a camp in Bengaluru. Another girl has also been selected for the Under-17 team and is currently attending a camp at Anantapur in Andhra Pradesh. With the consistent performance of the girls from the village in various national and international events, the Haryana Government recently set up a women’s football nursery here. Football coach Sonika Bijarania, while talking to The Tribune, said, “Most of the girls belong to families continued on page 8 NEW DELHI: A Hindu business- man, Liton Chandra Ghosh (55), was beaten to death in Bangladesh’s Gazipur district following a dispute over bananas, with the police detaining three members of a family in connection with the incident, media reported on Sunday. The deceased owned a hotel in the Kaliganj area of Gazipur. BACK PAGE Techie dies after car falls into pit in Noida GURUGRAM: A 27-year-old software engineer died after his car went out of control and plunged into an over 20-footdeep, water-filled pit in Sector 150 of Greater Noida amid fog, the police said on Sunday. The police said an FIR had been lodged against two real estate developers in connection with the incident. — TNS Jakhar hospitalised after chest pain CHANDIGARH: Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar was admitted to Fortis Hospital in Mohali on Sunday after experiencing breathlessness and chest pain. He was initially taken to a hospital in Panchkula before being shifted to Fortis. Following medical evaluation, Jakhar was discharged. — TNS TRIBUNE PHOTO After years in the red, PbMLAquitsascorpchiefoversarooprow discoms buck trend, post ~2,701-cr profit Aparna Banerji Hindu trader beaten to death in B’desh The Chanshal mountain beyond Rohru is bereft of snow during peak winter. Snow eludes Himachal, bare mountains flag growing climate stress Subhash Rajta Tribune News Service Shimla, January 18 Despite peak winter, mountains such as Chanshal in Shimla district and Churdhar in Sirmaur remain bereft of snowfall. Kinnaur’s Kinnar Kailash has only traces of snow, while Chamba’s higher reaches are covered with light layers. At this time of year, these mountains are usually buried under several feet of snow. Locals are shocked to see the ranges bare in mid-winter. “I’ve grown up watching the Chanshal range and have never seen it without snowfall in winter. These mountains remain snow-covered even in summer, let alone winter,” said Harish Chauhan, an apple grower from Jubbal. “The only time it is without snow is during the monsoon. From October onwards, snow usually starts piling up,” he added. For Lalit Mohan, a mountaineer from Kotgarh in Shimla district, waking up to the snow-clad Kinnar Kailash range has been a childhood routine. “From my place, a large portion of the range is clearly visible. The snow cover has been thinning over the last few years, but what we are seeing this time is unprece- Experts warn of long-term impact on state’s ecology AMRITSAR SHIVERS AT 1.7°C Amritsar shivered at a low of 1.7°C on Sunday as biting cold intensified in parts of Punjab and neighbouring Haryana. Amritsar was the coldest place in Punjab, with the minimum being 2°C below the normal, according to the Met department in Chandigarh. dented. There is hardly any snow, just traces,” he said. “It’s not just snow that is dwindling. While mountaineering, when we revisit places we were at two or three years ago, we find glaciers have shrunk significantly. The situation is alarming,” added Lalit, a member of the Indian Mountaineering Foundation and its Glacier Preservation Committee. Why are mountains rising above 12,000 feet not receiving snowfall even during peak winter? The weather department attributes this to weak western disturbances. “The Western Himalayan region did not receive strong western disturbances this winter. That appears to be the immediate reason for the lack of snowfall,” said a weather official. continued on page 8