07052022-TTB-01.qxd 5/7/2022 12:29 AM Page 1 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 142 NO.125 | 18 PAGES | ~6.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2021-2023 ESTABLISHED IN 1881  HARYANA CONSERVATIVES LOSE KEY SEATS IN LOCAL POLLS WORLD /thetribunechd NO MORE JOSTLING ALONG LAC, SAYS ARMY J&K RIL 1ST INDIAN FIRM TO INDIA, ITALY TO STEP UP ACHIEVE $100-BN REV- INDUSTRIAL, DEFENCE ENUE BUSINESS TIES BACK PAGE saturday | 7 may 2022 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com Faceoff between cops of 3 states over 1 arrest Punjab moves HC on ‘detention’ Haryana, , BJP VS AAP Bagga of BJP held by Punjab Police in Delhi I Brought back from Haryana by Delhi Police Tribune News Service New Delhi/Kurukshetra/ Chandigarh, May 6 In a dramatic turn of events that brought the police of three states face to face, BJP leader Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga was arrested by the Punjab Police from his Delhi residence around 8.30 am today, stopped by the Haryana Police in Kurukshetra while being taken to Punjab and brought to the national capital by the Delhi cops a few hours later. The incident triggered a political slugfest with the BJP accusing the Punjab Police of abducting its leader allegedly at the behest of AAP convener and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, against whom Bagga (36) has been quite vocal in criticism. Rejecting the charge, the AAP claimed the Delhi BJP spokesperson was arrested for allegedly stoking communal tension in Punjab. Based on a complaint by Bagga’s father Preetpal Singh, the Delhi Police registered a case of kidnapping against the Punjab Police personnel. Sources in the Delhi Police claimed that their Mohali (Punjab) counterparts “violated” the mandatory norm of inform- HIGH DRAMA 8.30 AM: Punjab cops arrest Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga from his Janakpuri residence in New Delhi 11.30 am: Haryana Police intercept Punjab cops on NH-44 near Khanpur Kolian village in K’shetra 12.10 pm: BJYM workers reach site, protest to seek his release 12.40 pm: Bagga along with Punjab cops taken to the Thanesar Sadar police station 2.10 pm: Delhi Police officials reach police station, produce search warrant from Delhi court 2.45 pm: Bagga’s custody handed over to Delhi Police 4.20 pm: Punjab ADGP Sharad Satya Chauhan reaches K’shetra 7.30 pm: ADGP Chauhan, other Punjab Police personnel held up in K’shetra return to home state DIVERSIONARY TACTIC It (arrest) was to divert attention from Kejriwal’s announcement that free and subsidised electricity in Delhi would be optional. ❝ Adesh Kumar Gupta, BJP DELHI CHIEF INCITED VIOLENCE ❝ Bagga tried to create communal tensions and incite violence in Punjab through social media posts. Saurabh Bhardwaj, AAP CHIEF SPOKESPERSON BJP leader Tajinder Bagga (in green T-shirt) at Thanesar Sadar police station in Kurukshetra. TRIBUNE PHOTO KHAKI VS KHAKI IN THE PAST BAGGA IGNORED NOTICES: PB COPS May 1993: Faceoff between Punjab and West Bengal Police in Tiljala (near Kolkata) after Punjab cops allegedly gun down a Sikh couple June 2014: Faceoff between Karnataka forest officials and Tamil Nadu cops over arrest of bandit Saravanan Gounder, known as Veerappan 2.0 July 2021: Assam, Mizoram cops lodge counter-FIRs after border row ing local cops before arresting Bagga from his residence in Janakpuri. In a statement, the Mohali police claimed that Bagga was arrested in a case related to making allegedly provocative, false and communal statements in an interview given to the media and through posts on Twitter on March 1. They said five notices were served on the accused on April 9, 11, 15, 22 and 28, but “he deliberately did not join the investigation”. They said a case under Sections 153-A, 505, 505(2) ■ Tajinder was booked on a complaint by Mohali AAP leader Sunny Ahluwalia (in pic) for allegedly stoking communal tension in Punjab through his statements. Cops say despite five notices, he “didn’t join probe”. and 506 of the IPC was registered against him on the complaint of Mohali AAP leader Sunny Ahluwalia. Bagga had demanded an apology from Kejriwal for his speech in the Delhi Assembly regarding film ‘The Kashmir Files’, which a few BJP leaders had demanded be made tax-free. Kejriwal had contended that the filmmakers should upload the film on YouTube for all to watch free of cost. The Punjab Government, on its part, moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court Protesting Delhi BJP chief Adesh Gupta, party workers in Delhi. PTI against the “detention” of its police team in Kurukshetra. The Delhi Police registered the case under IPC Sections 452 (house trespass, assault or wrongful restraint), 392 (robbery), 342 (wrongful confinement), 365 (kidnapping), continued on page 7 Snubbed, Dutch envoy Centre-Delhi Govt row referred to 5-judge Bench Constitution Bench to start hearing on May 11 deletes tweet on India DISPUTE ON CONTROL OVER BUREAUCRACY Tribune News Service Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 6 Dutch Ambassador to the UK Karel van Oosterom was forced to delete his tweet questioning India’s stand on Ukraine following a determined pushback from the Indian diplomatic community, serving and retired. After India’s Permanent Representative to the UN TS Tirumurti had posted the speech he delivered at the UN Security Council debate on Ukraine on Thursday, the Dutch envoy, in an unsolicited comment, had written: “You should not have abstained in the General Assembly. Respect the UN Charter”. Tirumurti did not let go of the slight and replied: “Kindly don’t patronise us, Ambassador. We know what to do.” Sources found it odd that the Dutch envoy had to make his views known when President Ram Nath Kovind had visited the Netherlands just last month and had presumably discussed the Ukraine issue with the Netherlands’ top leadership. Moreover, the interjection by ‘STOP PATRONISING US OVER UKRAINE’ “Kindly don’t patronise us, Ambassador. We know what to do,” India’s Permanent Representative to the UN TS Tirumurti said in response to a tweet questioning India’s stand on Ukraine by Ambassador of Netherlands to the UK Karel van Oosterom New Delhi, May 6 The Supreme Court on Friday referred to a five-judge Constitution Bench a dispute between the Centre and the Delhi Government on the issue of the control over bureaucracy in the Capital. A three-judge Bench led by Chief Justice of India NV Ramana, however, said the issue related to “services” alone shall be decided by the ■ This is the third round of litigation between the Centre and Delhi Govt over control over bureaucracy Constitution Bench as it was not dealt with by the previous Constitution Bench. ■ Tussle unresolved despite earlier verdicts – one by a Constitution Bench (July 2018) and other by a two-judge SC Bench The Bench — which also included Justice Surya Kant and Justice Hima Kohli — Tribune News Service Chandigarh, May 6 Hours after the Haryana Police “abruptly and illegally restrained” the Punjab Police from taking BJP leader Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga to Mohali after arresting him from the national Capital, the Punjab and Haryana High Court directed the States of Haryana and Delhi to file their reports. “In view of urgency involved in the matter, the Advocate-General, Haryana, as well as Additional Solicitor-General of India have been asked to file their respective reports today itself,” Justice Lalit Batra asserted. The case will now come up for further hearing on Saturday. The direction came on a habeas corpus petition filed by the State of Punjab challenging the “detention” of its police officials in Kurukshetra. As the case came up for preliminary hearing before Justice Batra’s Bench, Punjab AdvocateGeneral Anmol Rattan Singh Sidhu submitted that Delhi Police officials had “illegally taken away Bagga from the ASIAN GAMES PUT OFF AMID CHINA COVID SURGE ■ Asian Games, scheduled for September 10-25 in Hangzhou, put off indefinitely amid Covid surge in China ■ Indian Olympic Association (IOA) says the development is ‘certainly a sort of a setback’ for some athletes ■ They may face dif- ficulty in meeting age limit norms, says IOA secretary general Rajeev Mehta Srinagar, May 6 Three Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists, including the chief operational commander of the outfit, were killed in an encounter with security forces in south Kashmir today. The police said the slain militants were planning to target the annual Amarnath Yatra. Muhammad Ashraf Khan (57), alias Moulvi, was gunned down by a joint team of the Army, police and the A++ TERRORIST ■ Ashraf Khan (57), alias Moul- vi, figured in the list of most wanted militants ■ Moulvi became Hizb operational chief after killing of Riyaz Naikoo in 2020 ■ Trained in planting IEDs; went to PoK for training in 1999 CRPF in a forest area of Pahalgam in Anantnag district. Based on inputs about Lalit Mohan Tribune News Service Chandigarh, May 6 The Haryana Cabinet on Friday approved the new excise policy, slashing import duty on wine from Rs 7 to Rs 2 per bulk litre (BL). The Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) brands, which are priced between Rs 700 and Rs 1,000, and imported wine will get cheaper. Besides, value added tax (VAT) has been slashed from 10 per cent to 3 per cent on imported foreign liquor and ■ Import duty on wine cut from ~7 to ~2 per bulk litre ■ VAT down from 10% to 3% on imported liquor, from 13-14% to 12% on IMFL, country liquor ■ Fee for setting up wine manufactory cut from Rs 15 lakh to Rs 1 lakh from 13-14 per cent to 12 per cent on country liquor, wine, beer and IMFL. The fee for establishing a wine manufactory has been the Advocate-General, Haryana, as well as Additional SolicitorGeneral of India have been asked to file their respective reports. Justice Lalit Batra lawful custody of the Punjab Police”. He added that 12 police officials illegally detained by the Haryana Police at Kurukshetra may be released forthwith (they were released in the evening) and Bagga’s custody be restored to the Punjab Police. Justice Batra’s Bench was also told that DSP Kuljinder Singh had gone to Janakpuri police station in Delhi to intimate about Bagga’s arrest with a view to get the DDR lodged, but to no avail. Instead, he was “illegally detained” by the Delhi Police officials. Also appearing for the State of Punjab, senior advocate Puneet Bali added that the Haryana Police had continued on page 7 IN BRIEF Travesty of justice: SC on delay in bail to Azam NEW DELHI: The apex court on Friday expressed displeasure over delay in deciding the bail plea of SP leader Azam Khan in a land grab case, saying “this is a travesty of justice”. INSIDE Indian climber dies while scaling Kanchenjunga NEW DELHI: Indian climber Narayanan Iyer (52) died in Nepal near the summit of the world’s third-highest peak Kanchenjunga due to exhaustion. He collapsed at an altitude of 8,200 m. TNS HC breather for Xiaomi India, stays ED order BENGALURU: The Karnataka HC has given a breather to Xiaomi Technology India Pvt Ltd by staying the ED order under which ~5,551.27-crore assets of the firm were seized recently. PTI the presence of terrorists in the Srichand Top forest area in Pahalgam, the security forces launched a cordon and search operation, a police official said. The search operation turned into an encounter after the terrorists fired at the security forces. In retaliation, three terrorists were killed, the official said. Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar said Moulvi, an A++ terrorist, was the oldest surviving militants of the Hizbul continued on page 14 Liquor set to be cheaper in Haryana, Paper leaked, HP scraps police recruitment exam 4 CANDIDATES HELD; SIT TO PROBE CASE Cabinet okays cut in import duty, VAT NEW EXCISE POLICY of ❝ In viewtheurgency involved in matter, Planned to target Amarnath Yatra, claim J&K Police Samaan Lateef Tribune News Service MATTER URGENT Hizb chief among 3 militants shot dead 7,000 KG AID FOR KYIV a European envoy also seems strange when PM Narendra Modi has interacted with half a dozen PMs from the region and discussed Ukraine threadbare. At the UNSC, Tirumurti said: “India remains on the side of peace and therefore believes that there will be no winning side in this conflict and while those impacted by this conflict will continue to continued on page 7 directed that the matter be placed before the CJI for constituting the Constitution Bench, which will commence hearing on May 11. The Centre had demanded that the issue should be referred to a Constitution Bench for a holistic interpretation of Article 239AA. The top court had on April 28 reserved its verdict on the Centre’s plea to refer the issue of control over bureaucracy in Delhi to a continued on page 14 Delhi toldto respond slashed from Rs 15 lakh to Rs 1 lakh. There is no major change in retail prices of most brands of country liquor and IMFL. Morni, a tourist destination in Panchkula district, has been added to the list of places where bar licences can be granted to promote tourism and adventure sports. Clubs located anywhere in the state can now seek a bar licence. The policy has been tweaked after a change in the Delhi’s excise policy. INSIDE Dharamsala, May 6 Amid reports of a question paper leak, Himachal Pradesh CM Jai Ram Thakur today announced the cancellation of recruitment of constables, the test for which was held on March 27 this year. Over 70,000 candidates had appeared for the exam for 1,700 posts. The matter came to light after the result was declared. Kangra SP Khushal Sharma said marks scored by three candidates surprised them. They emerged among the toppers, scoring 70 out of 90 ■ Kangra cops got suspicious after three aspirants scored high marks ■ Probe finds they got paper in advance for Rs 6-8 lakh; 4 arrested marks, even as they had got just 50 per cent marks in Class X exams, he said. It was found that these candidates had got the question paper in advance for Rs 6-8 lakh from some people in Punjab. Sharma said a case had been registered and four candidates were arrested. They were identified as ■ SIT formed to probe case and nab those behind leaking paper ■ Second time in three years that state nullified exam to recruit constables Manish Kumar of Bharari village (Nurpur), Gaurav of Badiyara village (Kangra), Mani Chaudhary of Khatiyar village (Fatehpur) and Ashok Kumar of Passu village (Dharamsala). Efforts were being made to arrest those responsible for leaking the paper, the SP said. Sources said the police were suspecting that the paper was leaked from the press where it was printed. State DGP Sanjay Kundu has constituted an SIT, comprising DIG Madhu Sudan, Commanding officer Bangarh Vimukt Ranjan, SP Khushal Sharma, SP Cyber Crime Rohit Malpani and SP CID Varender Kalia, to investigate the case. This is for the second time in three years that the state has nullified an exam to select constables. In August 2019, the test was held invalid after six men were caught impersonating as candidates. Prof Vivek Lal is PGI Director Tribune News Service Chandigarh, May 6 Dr Vivek Lal, Head of the Department of Neurology at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) here, has been appointed its Director for a period of five years from the date of assuming charge, or until he attains the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier. The appointment comes around six months after the retirement of Prof Jagat Ram on October 31, 2021. Born on September 25, 1963, Prof Lal did his MBBS from Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, in 1985; MD and DM (Neurology) from the PGIMER, Chandigarh, in 1990 and 1993, respectively. In 1994, Dr Vivek Lal joined the institute as Assistant Professor. He became Professor in 2009 and the Head of Department in 2014. Air surcharge: Leh and beyond Rs 2.00