27092026-TTC-01.qxd 9/27/2026 12:44 AM Page 1 c m y b 123 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL.10 NO. 267 | 22 PAGES | ~7.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881 WANGCHUK APOLOGISES FOR LADAKH, TIBET COMPARISON >> J&K /thetribunechd US 5TH-GEN F-35S LAND IN JODHPUR, SET TO JOIN DRILL >> NATION ILLUMINATING THE PAST: HP’S 1ST ‘DIGITAL MUSEUM’ >> SPECTRUM TRUMP REJECTS IRAN’S 7-DAY PEACE PROPOSAL >> WORLD sunday | 27 september 2026 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com CEC, ECs meet in dissent shadow, say all SIR decisions unanimous Poll panel eases voter registration steps, extends Delhi, Maha deadlines Animesh Singh Tribune News Service New Delhi, September 26 In the eye of a storm over reports of internal division over the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls across states, the Election Commission (EC) met here on Saturday and said all SIR-related decisions were taken unanimously. The EC also defended Form 6 for fresh voter enrolment, saying its validity had been upheld by the Supreme Court. For non-SIR period, forms prescribed under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, would continue to be used, the EC said. In this first meeting of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and Election Commissioners SS Sandhu and Vivek Joshi since a media expose, the full commission also issued a slew of measures to ease voter registration under the SIR, and assured mechanisms for greater oversight of ECINET, the digital platform for citizens, which has also been under the scanner for “tight central controls”. While admitting that field officers have role-based access to the ECINET system Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi during a meeting at Nirvachan Sadan in New Delhi. ANI STRICT COMPLIANCE WITH COMMISSIONERS’ DIRECTIONS n For all commission meetings, an agenda will n Approval of the Election Commission will be be circulated in advance and minutes issued n Annual performance appraisal reports of all officers will be completed by December 31 n All directions issued by the commissioners to the in accordance with their statutory powers, the EC said a committee headed by a senior Deputy Election Commissioner and including an independent expert from an IIT or IIIT would review ECINET to ensure compliance with the provisions of the relevant Acts and Rules and submit a report to the commission. taken for foreign trips of officers In important pro-people orders today, the EC extended deadlines for filing of objections and claims under the SIR in Delhi (until October 30) and Maharashtra (until October 12). The period of disposal of notices and claims and objections has been extended till November 30 in Delhi and November 10 in Maharashtra. Tribune News Service Amritsar, September 26 Four days after escaping from custody, Karanbir Singh, alias Nandi (19), an accused in the shooting of Assistant SubInspector Jaswant Singh, was killed in an encounter with the police at Kandowal village in the Jhander area of Amritsar on Saturday. Head Constable Amritpal Singh, attached to the CIA staff, also sustained a leg injury in the exchange of fire. Inspector General (Border Range) Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said ASI Jaswant Singh was shot dead in Bhala Pind village on September 11. Following investigations, the police arrested Karanbir Singh and his accomplice Gurpreet Singh, alias Gopi of Jhanjoti village, from Nihal Singh Wala in Moga on September 19. The police have also arrested three persons who allegedly sheltered the accused while they were hiding in Ludhiana and Moga. On September 22, Karanbir escaped from police custody after dodging the police during a weapon recovery operation based on his disclosure. Bhullar said the Jhander police received information on Friday night that Karanbir, a resident of Jhanjoti village under the Rajasansi police station jurisdiction, was moving around in the area and allegedly planning to commit a crime. Following the tip-off, joint teams of the Jhander police and the CIA staff were formed to arrest him. According to the police, the accused was spotted riding a motorcycle near a drain. When asked to stop, he allegedly opened fire at the police team. In retaliation, the police fired five rounds, two of which struck Karanbir in the leg and chest. He was taken to the Civil Hospital, Ajnala, where he later succumbed to his injuries. The police claimed to have recovered a Glock 9-mm pistol, a .30-bore pistol and the motorcycle from the spot. The police said Karanbir was earlier booked in an arms recovery case registered at the Gharinda police station in 2025. As he was a juvenile at the time, he was dealt with under the juvenile justice framework and was later granted bail. Bhullar said the names of foreign-based handlers had also come to light and further investigation was in progress to establish the complete sequence of events and ascertain his involvement in other criminal activities. Further, the EC said Booth Level Officers (BLOs) would ensure doorstep collection of documents from voters who had received notices during the ongoing SIR because of unmapped records or logical discrepancies. “BLOs will visit the homes of such persons for collection of documents continued on page 6 Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, September 26 The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) allies on Saturday welcomed the Election Commission’s statement, claiming it had put to rest misconceptions surrounding the electoral process. While the BJP attacked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for blaming the EC for his electoral setbacks and misleading the public, NDA allies N Chandrababu Naidu and Chirag Paswan said the poll panel had clarified all doubts, strengthening public confidence in democratic institutions. “The unanimous clarification issued by the EC, led by CEC Gyanesh Kumar along with Election Commissioners SS Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, reaffirms the integrity and credibility of our constitutional institutions and puts to rest all misconceptions surrounding the electoral process. Decisions relating to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls are taken collectively and in strict adherence to established institutional protocols,” said Naidu. He said attempts to undermine global confidence in India’s democratic framework and electoral processes for short-term political gains were deeply unfortunate. continued on page 6 TWIN KABADDI GOLD Four days after escape, teen accused of killing Amritsar ASI shot dead in encounter Pawan K Jaiswar EC officers shall be meticulously complied with Doubts over poll process cleared: NDA allies hail EC Tribune News Service Nuh, September 26 A police crackdown on unregistered two-wheelers in Nuh has prompted panchayats and community leaders across the district to rewrite an old wedding custom: any motorcycle gifted at a wedding must now be accompanied by registration papers and a helmet, or the giver must arrange them. The move follows an enforcement drive by the Nuh police, who issued 12,940 challans and seized 405 vehicles without number plates between April 1 and September 16. Officers say the campaign has already helped reduce motorcycle theft in the district. Superintendent of Police Arpit Jain said disregard Rinku Behera Tribune News Service New Delhi, September 26 The INDIA bloc is likely to meet in New Delhi on September 30 to discuss its strategy on issues concerning the Election Commission, including a proposed removal motion against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Opposition parties are expected to begin collecting signatures for the move. Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, speaking at a public meeting in Serampore in Hooghly district, said she had reached out to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, stressing the need for Opposition parties to unite amid protests over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and mounting criticism of the CEC. The proposed meeting comes days after media reports claimed that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had recorded objections at least 14 times over a 10month period to decisions and orders they said were taken without their knowledge. Notably, a day before the proposed INDIA bloc meeting, the Congress Working Committee Didi reaches out to Rahul, calls for unity on SIR row (CWC) is scheduled to meet in New Delhi on September 29 to discuss the controversy. Even as the Election Commission issued a clarification, the Congress claimed that the poll body was in a “damage-control mode” and said it had already caused “massive damage” to Indian democracy. In a statement, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the EC’s latest clarification failed to answer several questions raised by recent reports on the SIR of electoral rolls. Referring to Goa, Ramesh questioned the commission’s claim that 81 of the 97 voters whose names did not figure in the final electoral roll had subsequently submitted Form 6 applications for inclusion. He said the EC’s September 26 press note did not directly refute the findings reported by the media. He said the development raised questions about how eligible voters could have been excluded from the rolls in the first place. Ramesh also rejected the continued on page 6 ED quizzes Rawat in recruitment case DEHRADUN: Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Harish Rawat arrived at the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) Dehradun office on Saturday for questioning in a 2016 case involving alleged irregularities in a recruitment exam. Rawat wore a photograph of his mother around his neck as he entered the office. — PTI Moosewala aide’s father held for firing BARNALA: A fortnight after gunfire was reported at Punjabi singer-actor Gulab Sidhu’s residence in Pharwahi village on the outskirts of Barnala, the police have arrested Saudagar Singh, the father of Shaganpreet Singh, former manager of slain Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala, in connection with the case. INSIDE Toor’s hat-trick bid ends in silver Keeping her ‘gold promise’, Sirmaur’s Pushpa captains India to kabaddi glory Nagoya, September 26 Tajinderpal Singh Toor’s bid for a hat-trick of Asian Games gold medals ended in silver as the Indian shot putter battled tricky wet conditions here on Saturday. Toor produced a best throw of 20.64m to finish second and claim his third successive Asian Games medal. Iran’s Mohammadreza Tayebise took the gold with a Games record throw of 20.81m, bettering Toor’s previous mark of 20.75m set in 2018. Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed Tolu won the bronze with an effort of 20.48m. The silver adds to Toor’s gold medals from Jakarta in 2018 and Hangzhou in 2022, but also saw his Games record fall as Tayebise bettered the 20.75m mark he had set eight years ago. Toor said he had entered the competition confident of producing his best effort and Tajinderpal Singh Toor after winning the silver medal in the shot put event. PTI Spurious liquor leaves 19 dead in drystateNagaland Pushpa during a raid in the women’s final kabaddi match against Iran in Tokai City, Japan. PTI Army to shield border sites with anti-drone steel mesh Mokokchung (Nagaland), Sept 26 At least 19 people have died allegedly after drinking spurious liquor in Nagaland, with the police forming a team to trace the supply chain of suspected adulterated liquor in the state where a prohibition law has been in place since 1990. The police said Mokokchung district reported eight deaths and Tuensang district 11 over the past two days following consumption of suspected illicit liquor. A special investigation team (SIT), headed by Additional Superintendent of Police Bunglang Chang, has been constituted to investigate the deaths and trace the source and supply chain of the suspected adulterated liquor, Senior Superintendent of Police Vesupra Kezo said on Saturday. The police conducted multiple raids and arrested 19 people and seized close to 3,000 bottles of liquor. — PTI Tribune News Service HP’S SAWAN BREAKS NAT’L RECORD, BAGS SILVER Celebrations erupted at Rada Bhakhed village in Jogindernagar subdivision after Sawan Barwal won the silver medal in the men’s marathon at the Asian Games in Nagoya on Saturday. The 28-yearold athlete clocked 2:11:37, breaking his own national record. INSIDE reaching the 21m mark, but was left disappointed with his performance. “I was aiming for hat-trick of gold medals. My body was feeling good, I was going strong. I was confident that I can throw my best till the sixth attempt and achieve 21m. So I am a bit disappointed and not satisfied with my performance,” the Punjab athlete said. — PTI Pankaj Sharma Nahan, September 26 When Indian women’s kabaddi team captain Pushpa Rana spoke to her parents over the phone on the night before the final, the native of Shillai constituency in Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh sounded confident. She discussed the team’s strategy with her father and assured her mother that she would return home with a gold medal. A day later, that promise turned into reality, triggering celebrations across Shillai and Sirmaur. continued on page 6 CHAMPIONS: Men’s kabaddi team players celebrate after a thrilling 40-34 victory in the final at the Asian Games in Nagoya on Saturday. ANI In Nuh, police drive prompts registration rider on bikes as wedding gift Sumedha Sharma INDIA bloc to meet on Sept 30, motion to oust Gyanesh tops agenda Over 12K challans, 405 unregistered two-wheeler seizures in 5 months for vehicle registration had long been a problem in the region. “This has been a huge menace in Mewat for a long time. People simply do not bother getting their vehicles registered,” he said, adding that the area had also been a hub for stolen vehicles, with many people buying and selling motorcycles without proper documentation. The crackdown has directly affected a well-entrenched wedding tradition in Nuh’s villages, where motorcycles are commonly gifted not only to the groom but also to his father, brothers and uncles. Affluent families often gift five to 10 motorcycles at a wedding, a practice prevalent among both the Meo and Gujjar communities. Until recently, registration paperwork was seldom a consideration. Panchayats in several villages have now issued directions to regulate the practice. “In our panchayat, it has been decided that if you gift a bike, it must come with registration,” said continued on page 6 Today’s issue is of 22 pages, including six-page Spectrum. c m y b Vijay Mohan Chandigarh, September 26 The Army is constructing multi-tier anti-drone steel mesh screens to protect sensitive buildings in field areas from attacks by drones and unmanned aerial systems (UAS), which are being used increasingly across the modern battlefield. A total of 863 drone intrusions along the India-Pakistan border were reported in 2025-26, including 854 incidents in Punjab and Rajasthan, according to the Ministry of Defence (MoD). During this period, 237 drones were brought down, including five carrying war-like stores, 72 carrying narcotics and 161 without any payload. “These activities signify greater attempts by the adversary to employ drones for various nefarious activities like reconnaissance and smuggling of arms, ammunition and narcotics along the Inter- Move follows rising intrusions, with 863 reported in 2025-26 national Border, especially in Punjab,” the MoD’s annual report for 2025-26 states. The screens, measuring about 37 m in length and 20 m in width, will comprise three adequately spaced layers of different types of steel mesh designed for staged interception, energy dissipation and progressive arrest of incoming aerial objects, according to a request for information issued by the Army on September 25. These defences will initially be installed at several locations in the Western Sector. The outer layer will incorporate camouflage and concealment features to minimise visual and thermal signatures from aerial and ground observation. This will be achieved by blending exposed structures with the continued on page 6