03092020-TT-01.qxd 9/2/2020 11:09 PM Page 1 13 chandigarh | gurugram | jalandhar | bathinda | jammu | srinagar | vol.140 no.244 | 12 pages | ~5.00 | regd.no.chd/0006/2018-2020 established in 1881  haryana NAGAL 1ST INDIAN IN 2ND GRAND SLAM ROUND IN 7 YEARS SPORT /thetribunechd GOVT IMPOSES CAP ON KEY EXPORT BENEFIT UNDER MEIS BUSINESS BABUS TO GET SKILL TRAINING UNDER NEW SCHEME BACK PAGE /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com thursday, september 3,2020 70-km front new hotspot along LAC PUBG among 118 Chinese India occupies several peaks south of Pangong Tso | 3rd Brigadier-level dialogue also fails apps banned China striving for bases in Pak, Lanka Ajay Banerjee Washington, September 2 China is seeking to set up more robust logistics facilities in about a dozen countries, including three in India’s neighbourhood, to allow the PLA to project and sustain military power at greater distances, according to a Pentagon report. In addition to the three neighbours of India — Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Myanmar — the other countries where China is considering to base its military logistics and infrastructure facilities are Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, United Arab Emirates, Kenya, Seychelles, Tanzania, Angola and Tajikistan, the report said on Tuesday. In its annual report “Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China (PRC) 2020” that was submit- New Delhi, September 2 A front of approximately 70 km along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) is the new hotspot amid rising tensions between India and China. The front starts from Thakung on the southern bank of Pangong Tso, 135km glacial lake, and ends south of Renchin La. As of now, a section of the troops of both sides is within rifle-shot range of each other. The back-end includes at least 9,000 to 10,000 troops on either side besides tanks, artillery guns, rocket launchers and surveillance drones. Indian troops have occupied several dominating mountain tops along the 70km stretch and surprised the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China. Most of these mountain JCO killed in Pak shelling Jammu, September 2 Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) Subedar Rajesh Kumar of 43 RR was killed as Pakistan violated ceasefire along the LoC in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir late Tuesday night. Jammu-based Defence PRO Lt Col Devender Anand said the incident took place in Keri sector of Rajouri. The mortal remains of Kumar, who belonged to Kalichpur Kalota near Mukerian in Hoshiarpur, will reach his village on Thursday. This is the second such killing in the past four days along the LoC in Poonch and Rajouri sectors. — TNS Tribune News Service TALKS TO CONTINUE IN CLOSE RANGE ■ The Brigadier-level talks are ■ A section of the troops of likely to continue on Thursday, sources said. The Brigadier-level officers have been meeting since August 31. THAKUNG PANGONG TSO LAC BOTH TOUGHEN STANCE CHUSHUL India is pressing for restoration of April status quo ante ■ PLA wants India to withdraw from peaks it has occupied. Both lay claim to these tops peaks along the stretch were unoccupied by either side since the India-China war in October-November 1962. As these locations at an altitude of over 15,000 feet are treeless, troops there can be spotted by drones and other surveillance equipment. The third Brigadier-level talks at Chushul along the LAC in as many days remained inconclusive on REZANG LA WAR MEMORIAL SPANGGUR TSO RENCHIN LA LAC Wednesday. Talks will continue on Thursday, sources said. The Brigadier-level officers have been meeting since August 31, when military movement by both countries led to a tense situation. Since then, top military officials and diplomats have conducted several meetings, albeit unsuccessfully. Both sides have dug in their heels and are adamant about not budging. India has been pressing for restoration of the April status quo ante. As of now, the PLA has asked the Indian Army to withdraw from the mountain tops. Both India and China lay claim to these peaks. The alignment of the LAC has not been demarcated on ground and both sides have overlapping claims across the 826-km least 9,000 to 10,000 troops on either side besides tanks, artillery guns, rocket launchers and surveillance drones ■ Most peaks on 70-km stretch were unoccupied by either side since 1962 war. stretch in Ladakh. Since China started its aggression in the first week of May, all peace-related agreements signed between the two sides since 1993 have been violated. Chinese attempts to unilaterally alter the LAC have been thwarted by India. At some spots along the LAC, China has been trying to enforce its 1960 claimline. edit: Befitting reply New Delhi, September 2 India today banned 118 more Chinese apps, including popular mobile game PUBG. Other apps banned by the Information Technology Ministry include CamCard, Baidu, Cut Cut, VooV, Tencent Weiyun, Rise of Kingdoms, Zakzak and Beauty Camera Plus. With this move, India has so far banned 224 apps having Chinese stake. The ministry issued an identical statement as the one issued after the Galwan Valley clash in June, invoking Section 69A of the IT Act that permits blocking in case the apps are a security threat. Most of these apps were also flagged by the Home Ministry's Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre and parliamentarians. Hindi, Dogri among 5 official languages in J&K No Question Hour Tribune News Service CABINET OKAYS DRAFT BILL; OVER TO PARLIAMENT ■ The draft Bill proposes to include Kashmiri, Urdu, Dogri, Hindi New Delhi, September 2 In a major move after the Centre’s decision to do away with special provisions under Article 370 of the Constitution and reorganising the erstwhile state of Jammu & Kashmir into two UTs, the government today approved a draft legislation to make Urdu, Kashmiri, Dogri, Hindi and English official languages of J&K. The decision, once passed by Parliament and got Presidential assent, will change the recognition of Urdu as the sole official language of the erstwhile and English as official languages of J&K ■ It is expected to be tabled in Parliament during the monsoon session slated to begin from September 14 WHY NOT PUNJABI, IT’S ANTI-MINORITY: APSCC Srinagar: The All-Party Sikh Coordination Committee (APSCC) on Wednesday flayed the Centre over the exclusion of Punjabi from the J&K Official Languages Bill, describing the move as “anti-minority”. Its president Jagmohan Singh Raina said before the abrogation of Article 370, “Punjabi was a recognised language duly certified by the Constitution of J&K.” PTI state. As of now, the official language of J&K is Urdu and Kashmiri is recognised as a regional language. Briefing the media after a meeting of the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Information & Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar said, ‘Gagged’ at judge’s farewell, Bar chief fumes Tribune News Service TECHNICAL GLITCH? New Delhi, September 2 A controversy erupted on Wednesday on the last working day of Justice Arun Mishra, as Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president Dushyant Dave alleged that he was "muted" during an online function and prevented from giving a farewell speech. A slighted Dave immediately shot off a letter to Chief Justice of India SA Bobde both sides is within rifle-shot range of each other ■ The back-end includes at MOLDO PLA BASE ■ Both sides have dug in heels. MAP NOT TO SCALE Tribune News Service ■ Due to some ‘snag’, SC Bar DUSHYANT DAVE Association chief Dushyant Dave could not speak at Justice Mishra’s farewell held online ■ In his letter to the CJI, he said he would never participate in any event organised by the SC till the end of his term in Dec expressing his anguish and disappointment over what he described as an "affront" to the Bar and to him personally. “I must say, I am deeply saddened by this event and will never again participate in any function organised by the Supreme Court till my term is over in December,” Dave wrote. The Supreme Court didn't issue any clarification. But sources said it was due to some technical glitch. Many faced similar problems during the function, they said. In his farewell speech, Justice Mishra said he dealt cases with "conscience" and took every decision with "conviction". The CJI said: "Justice Mishra is leaving behind a legacy of hard work, erudition, great courage and fortitude." “The government has approved the introduction in Parliament the Jammu & Kashmir Official Languages Bill, 2020, in which five languages — Urdu, Kashmiri, Dogri, Hindi and English — will be its official languages.” Noting that the decision has been taken on public demand, Javadekar said the Bill was expected to be tabled in Parliament during the monsoon session, which is slated to begin from September 14. The erstwhile state of J&K, comprising the Ladakh region, was stripped of its statehood and reorganised into two Union Territories in August 2019. No SC relief for Khanna ex-SHO New Delhi, September 2 The Supreme Court has dismissed an anticipatory bail plea of Khanna police station former Station House Officer (SHO) Baljinder Singh, accused of making three persons stand naked in his cabin and passing casteist remarks. The Inspector had challenged the Punjab and Haryana High Court August 11 order rejecting his anticipatory bail plea. — TNS in monsoon session Tribune News Service Faridkot, September 2 The special investigation team (SIT) probing the Behbal Kalan and Bargari firing incidents approached the court of District and Sessions Judge, Faridkot, today with a request to pardon prime accused Pardeep Singh as he wanted to turn approver in the case. Pardeep was reportedly present at the site of police firing in which two Sikh protesters were killed at Behbal Kalan on October 14, 2015. He then worked as Reader to then Moga SSP Charanjit Singh Sharma, one of the prime accused in the case. Besides former Moga SSP , IGP Paramraj Singh Umranangal, SP Bikramjit Singh, Inspector Pardeep Singh, advocate Amarjit Sumedha Sharma Pardeep was Reader to then Moga SSP Singh Kular, a car agency owner and many other persons are accused in the case. The SIT is bound to face problem in proving its case in the court in the absence of prime witnesses, so it wants to take the help of an approver. The complainant in this case is Iqbal Singh Sahota, Director, Bureau of Investigation-cum-chairman of the SIT constituted on the directions of the DGP Punjab. , The case was registered a week after the Behbal Kalan incident. At that time, no accused was named in the FIR. Later on, a new SIT was formed that named these police officers as accused. Tribune News Service Gurugram, September 2 In what has set the alarm bells ringing for the Haryana Police, a quaint village in Hodal block of Mewat seems to be emerging as the next Jamtara — a Jharkhand town notorious for cyber crime. Having adopted an organised syndicate model, over 200 youth of Ghaghot village in Palwal are committing ATM frauds across the region. The issue has been brought to the notice of the state DGP by the police of various states, including Delhi, Rajasthan, Punjab and even Haryana. Inhabited by around 600 people, the Meo Muslim village has at least one man from each family involved in the illegal activity. The syndicate deputes members to various cities having people with low-tech ■ Accused either swap or clone New Delhi, September 2 Ahead of the monsoon session of Parliament starting September 14, the Opposition parties are up in arms against the directives to curtail Zero Hour and drop Question Hour and private members' Bills from the business of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha in the name of Covid-19 pandemic. The Congress, Trinamool Congress and CPI lodged protests against the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha secretariats' decision to do away with Question Hour, a parliamentary tool the Opposition has to fix government accountability. This is murder of democracy, said the Congress and TMC, while CPI's Binoy Viswam wrote to Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu saying disregard of established procedures was a "ploy to insulate the government from parliamentary scrutiny". "The proposal to exclude Question Hour is arbitrary, shocking and undemocratic. It is members' privilege and the very life of a session," the ATM cards of gullible customers out to withdraw money ■ Bank on non-registration of FIRs or charges under easily bailable IPC sections ■ At least one member from each family in the village is involved in the illegal activity awareness. They either clone or swap ATM cards while pretending to help gullible customers inside teller machine booths. Within days, they decant the bank accounts. Started by two-three families some 10 years ago when cards made advent in Mewat, this has now become means of mass livelihood. The fraudsters bank on either non-registration of FIRs or continued on back page Tribune News Service Jalandhar, September 2 Smartphone is Kusum’s most prized possession and she ensures it remains within her reach, checking it every few seconds for new messages — “probably teachers sending online work or classmates enquiring about classes”. It’s the same phone for which the 15-year-old put up a spirited fight against two bike-borne assailants who tried to snatch it on a Jalandhar street two days ago. Showing exemplary courage, Kusum caught hold of one of them despite being attacked with a sharp-edged weapon on the arm. As she struggled with the biker for a few minutes, passersby joined in and thrashed the snatcher. ted to the US Congress, the Pentagon said these potential Chinese military logistics facilities are in addition to the Chinese military base in Djibouti, which is aimed at supporting naval, air and ground forces projection. “A global PLA (People’s Liberation Army) military logistics network could both support offensive operations against the US and interfere with its military operations,” the report said. — PTI COVID-19CASES INDIA IT’S PRICELESS ❝ The smartphone didn’t come easy. My father toiled hard to purchase it after schools were shut and classes went online due to the Covid pandemic. It’s priceless. Kusum “The smartphone didn’t come easy. My father toiled hard to purchase it after RECOVERED 29,01,908 FRESH FATALITIES 1,045 TOTAL DEATHS 66,333 COUNT 37,69,523 TOTAL RECOVERED DEATHS Tribune News Service Aakanksha N Bhardwaj LAND OF CONMEN In addition to the three neighbours of India, China is also considering setting up military logistics and infrastructure facilities in Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, United Arab Emirates, Kenya, Seychelles, Tanzania, Angola and Tajikistan. China already has a military base in the African nation Djibouti. Oppn calls it murder of democracy WORLD 2,59,89,783 1,82,60,513 8,62,754 Govt issues SOPs for examinations MOVE ARBITRARY ❝ The proposal to exclude Question Hour is arbitrary, shocking and undemocratic Anand Sharma, CONGRESS RS DEPUTY LEADER Congress' RS deputy leader Anand Sharma said. Party's LS leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said the government should reconsider its decision to curtail Zero Hour (from one hour to half) and drop Question Hour. "We feel our rights have been snatched. All issues concerning the nation and the world are raised during Question Hour. The government should reconsider," he said. TMC's Derek O Brien said the developments amounted to "murder of democracy". He said Question Hour had been dispensed with during special sessions, but the monsoon session was a regular session. Behbal accused wants to Mewat village turns Dad toiled hard for phone, couldn’t be approver, court moved ATM scammers’ hub lose it: Teen who took on snatchers Balwant Garg PENTAGON REPORT schools were shut and classes went online due to the pandemic. It’s priceless,” says Kusum, daughter of a daily-wager, when asked why she risked her life for the phone. “Had my phone gone, how would have I studied? All my notes and chapters sent by teachers are stored in it. Couldn’t have imagined studies without it. Can’t afford another phone either,” she says sitting in her hospital bed. An aspiring police officer, Kusum has learnt Taekwondo for a few months — and the lessons came in handy. Giving a word of advice to girls stuck in a similar situation, she says: “Never let fear conquer your mind and don’t let your enemy know about it. Just fight off everything and you will eventually win.” New Delhi, September 2 Even as the Health Ministry today issued SOPs for the conduct of exams, mandating physical distancing, face covers and masks, frequent hand washing and use of sanitiser, it sounded caution on the use of antiviral Favipi- Sounds caution on use of Favipiravir, plasma ravir, saying there was not enough evidence to support. The ministry warned doctors against the overuse of convalescent plasma, which, it said, could be given to patients at risk of developing severe Covid in early stages, but should be used with caution. — TNS HC refuses to stay ‘Gunjan’ streaming NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday refused to stay the streaming of Netflix movie, ‘Gunjan Saxena — The Kargil Girl’, on the Centre’s plea that it depicts the Indian Air Force (IAF) in poor light and dents its image. — PTI BJP to bargain hard for 120 Bihar seats NEW DELHI: Amid the tussle for a better share among the NDA allies, the BJP is believed to have been preparing a list of 120 seats to contest in the upcoming polls to the 243-member Bihar Assembly, say sources. BACK PAGE NCB arrests ‘drug dealer’ in SSR case MUMBAI: The NCB has arrested an alleged contraband dealer and detained another for drug trafficking, linked to the death case of actor Sushant Singh Rajput (SSR), officials said on Wednesday. BACK PAGE