23032026-TTC-01.qxd 3/23/2026 12:33 AM Page 1 c m y b WANGCHUK: IT’S NOT MY FIGHT, BUT LADAKH’S J&K /thetribunechd 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 10 NO. 80 | 12 PAGES | ~5.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881 RAUT ALLEGES ED ROLE IN DHANKHAR'S EXIT NATION monday | 23 march 2026 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com SHANDAAR 4 SAAL, BHAGWANT MANN DE NAAL DIPR, Punjab India’s first Sadak Surakhya Force in Punjab 50% reduction in road accident deaths For more information, scan here US, Iran trade threats over energy targets; Trump sets 48-hr deadline to open Hormuz Tehran says will destroy all US facilities in W Asia| Asserts strait open to all but enemies Ajay Banerjee Tribune News Service New Delhi, March 22 The US and Iran have issued fresh threats against each other, with President Donald Trump “giving” Tehran 48 hours to reopen the Strait of Hormuz for shipping or face the destruction of its energy infrastructure. Iran on Sunday launched its most destructive attack yet on Israel and responded to Trump’s threat saying all US facilities in West Asia, including desalination plants and energy infrastructure, will be destroyed in retaliation. Trump’s ultimatum came just a day after he stated that he was considering “winding down” military operations after three weeks of war as the “five objectives” had been nearly met. Trump wrote on Truth Social that the US would “hit and obliterate” Iranian power plants — “starting with the biggest one first” — if Tehran did not fully reopen the strait within 48 hours. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran had imposed restrictions only on vessels from countries involved in the attacks against Iran, and would assist others that stayed out of the conflict. In response to Trump’s threat, Iran’s army said it would target energy and desalination continued on page 8 edit: iran’s gambit PARDEEP TEWARI Over 100 persons were injured in an Iranian missile attack on a residential area close to a nuclear facility in Israel’s Dimona area, considered “Littile India” due to the presence of 7,500 Indian Jewish community. REUTERS Punjab stakes claim to BBMB township land, rejects lease-out move Lalit Mohan Tribune News Service LoP Partap Singh Bajwa, Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar and SAD’s Bikram Singh Majithia at a joint protest in Chandigarh on Sunday. Ex-minister Bhullar, father, PA booked for Pb official’s suicide Pawan K Jaiswar Tribune News Service Amritsar, March 22 The police have booked former Punjab Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar of AAP his father Sukhdev , Singh Bhullar and his personal assistant Dilbagh Singh on charges of abetment to suicide and criminal intimidation in connection with the suicide by Punjab Warehousing Corporation district manager Gagandeep Singh Randhawa at his residence here yesterday. The incident has triggered a political storm in Punjab with opposition parties training guns at the AAP government. Prominent political leaders No post-mortem till accused arrested: Kin visited the aggrieved family at its residence at Ranjit Avenue here and lodged a protest over the delay in the registration of an FIR, which was registered at midnight. Upinder Kaur, wife of the deceased, in her complaint to the police, alleged that the former AAP minister, his father and PA Dilbagh Singh physically assaulted the victim, hit him with a pistol, besides humiliating him, which forced him to commit suicide. She said her husband had continued on page 8 Ropar, March 22 A fresh tussle has emerged between the Punjab Government and the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) over the ownership and leasing of land in key project townships, with the state asserting that “the board has no authority to frame a lease policy for such properties”. In an official communication addressed to the BBMB Chairman, a copy of which is available with The Tribune, the Punjab Government has contended that the land in Nangal and Talwara townships and other areas situated within the state belongs to Punjab and not the BBMB. The board land in the Nangal township is over 800 acres. The letter, issued by the state’s Water Resources Department, refers to the BBMB’s proposed lease policy for private occupants of its land and properties. Citing provisions of the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966, the state government has argued that under Section 48(1), land of the erstwhile Punjab vests with the successor state in Says any land lying beyond project sites belongs to state which it is located. It further maintained that the ownership and the management of such land fall under the jurisdiction of Punjab as per Sections 6, 48(1) and 48(6) of the Act. The communication emphasised that the BBMB, constituted under Section 79 of the Act, is mandated only to operate and maintain the Bhakra-Nangal and Beas project works. “The BBMB can manage only those properties which are necessary for discharging its functions. Any land beyond that scope remains under the control of the state,” the letter noted. Punjab has also referred to a report submitted by former Chairperson of the Central Electricity Authority, Neerja Mathur, in December 2014, which was accepted by the Union Government in October 2016. The report clearly stated that land forming part of the project should remain under continued on page 8 Valley, Ladakh open heart, wallet for embattled Iran Arjun Sharma Gold, cash donations pour in towards rebuilding efforts Jammu, March 22 As the war rages in West Asia, people across Jammu and Kashmir as also Ladakh have come forward in support of Iran by making donations to help rebuild infrastructure damaged in the strikes. From jewellery and cash to traditional copper utensils, residents have opened their hearts — and homes — towards the relief efforts. Moved by the gesture, Iran has “thanked” the people of India. Cash, jewellery and utensils donated by people in Kashmir. COURTESY: FB Social media platforms have been flooded with visuals of people, including elder- ly women, parting with their gold and silver ornaments to raise funds, reflecting a deep sense of humanitarian concern, cutting across age and economic backgrounds. Members of the Muslim community — especially the Shias — have been at the forefront of these efforts. Infrastructure, including hospitals and educational institutions, has reportedly suffered significant damage in Iran, prompting widespread concern among communities with cultural and religious ties to the region. The Embassy of Iran, in a post on its official handle continued on page 8 c m y b Shield citizens: CCS reviews war impact Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, March 22 As the West Asia conflict entered the fourth week with no signs of abatement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) to review the impact and discuss mitigation. At this first high-level government review since the crisis began on February 28, the PM asked ministers to prioritise safeguarding the citizens at all costs and draft short, medium and long-term measures to tide over the crisis. The PM has directed the formation of a group of ministers and a group of secretaries to assess the impact of the ongoing war and finalise solutions. At the end of the meeting, the PM’s message PM Narendra Modi during the high-level meet in New Delhi. ANI to the ministers and officials was, “No inconvenience should come to the citizens”. In a rerun of the Covid-19 response when India adopted a whole-of-government approach, the PM has directed all stakeholders to work together. “All arms of the government should work together to ensure least inconvenience to the continued on page 8 Modilongest-serving headofgovtinIndia NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday became the longest-serving head of government in India, surpassing the 8,930-day record of former Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling. The occasion saw his ministerial colleagues laud his journey, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh taking the lead. BACK PAGE ULFA(I)targetspolice camp; four injured TINSUKIA (ASSAM): At least four security personnel were injured in a militant attack on an Assam Police Commando camp in Tinsukia district early on Sunday, a senior officer said. Claiming responsibility for the incident, ULFA(I) said, “The attack was carried out in retaliation against the Assam Police's repeated action against the outfit.” — PTI