04082022-TTB-01.qxd 8/3/2022 11:38 PM Page 1 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 142 NO. 214 | 14 PAGES | ~5.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2021-2023 ESTABLISHED IN 1881  HARYANA WILL CRACK DOWN ON ISLAMIST EXTREMISM, SAYS SUNAK WORLD /thetribunechd SEVEN-YEAR SERVICE MUST IN BACKWARD, BORDER AREAS J&K AIRTEL TO ROLL OUT 5G SERVICES THIS MONTH BUSINESS DIDI EXPANDS CABINET, SUPRIYO AMONG 8 NEW FACES BACK PAGE thursday | 4 august 2022 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com WB CID ‘stopped’ by Delhi cops from conducting raids New Delhi, August 3 In another case of confrontation between the police forces of two states, the West Bengal CID today alleged that the Delhi Police prevented them from executing a search warrant in connection with its probe into the recent seizure of piles of cash from three Jharkhand Congress MLAs in Kolkata. WERE PROBING SEIZURE OF CASH FROM J’KHAND MLAs A senior Delhi Police officer, however, denied the charge. “We haven’t stopped anyone. The case investigating officer isn’t present. We are verifying the warrant,” he said. In a tweet, the Bengal CID alleged its team had been stopped from doing lawful duty on the directions of the Delhi Police’s DCP continued on page 10 17 Oppn parties seek review of SC verdict on ED’s powers Concerned over long-term implications of ‘draconian’ PMLA Amendments Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 3 The Opposition on Wednesday expressed deep concern and apprehension about the longterm implications of the recent Supreme Court judgment upholding the Amendments to the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, and called for its review. Seventeen Opposition parties, including the Congress, Aam Aadmi Party and Trinamool Congress, as well as Independent Member of Rajya Sabha Kapil Sibal said they were “very disappointed that the highest judicial authority, invited to give an YOUNG INDIAN OFFICE SEALED; CONGRESS CALLS IT A SIEGE WEIGHTLIFTING LOVEPREET CLAIMS BRONZE ■ India’s Lovepreet Singh wins a bronze in men’s 109 kg category on Wednesday ■ The 24-year-old, who is from Amritsar, lifts a personal best of 355 kg and creates a new national record of 192 kg in clean and jerk ■ The ED on Wednesday tem- porarily sealed the premises of Young Indian (YI), housed in National Herald office ■ Move is part of money laundering probe, triggering a massive political backlash from Cong ■ Congress alleges act meant to “insult its leaders and deflect from key issues like price rise” << The locked Young Indian office in New Delhi. MUKESH AGGARWAL independent verdict on the lack of checks and balances in the Act, had virtually repro- duced the arguments given by the executive in support of the draconian Amendments”. Needconstructive suggestionstostop poll freebies: SC HOCKEY INDIAN WOMEN REGISTER 3-2 WIN OVER CANADA, ENTER SEMIFINALS ■ The Indian women’s hockey team beats lower-ranked Canada 3-2 in its must-win Pool A match to qualify for the semifinals BADMINTON INDIANS CLINCH SILVER MEDAL IN MIXED TEAM EVENT The parties said they hoped the “dangerous verdict will be continued on page 10 Irked by Pelosi’s visit, China slaps trade curbs on Taiwan, begins drills New Delhi, August 3 China has suspended some trade with Taiwan and has vowed to take “strong and resolute” countermeasures against US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s high-profile visit to Taipei, disregarding Beijing’s harsh statements and US OFFICIAL VISITS RIGHTS MUSEUM In another provocation to China, Pelosi pays tribute to those who fought for Taiwan’s democracy at National Human Rights Museum in Taipei live-fire military drills. The curbs include the suspension of some fruit and fish imports from Taiwan, and exports of natural sand to the island but there is more in the offing. Pelosi left Taiwan on Wednesday but not before a final provocation to China by visiting the National Human Rights Museum where she paid tribute to those who “suffered and fought for Taiwan’s democracy”. Tensions are set to escalate as China will begin further live-fire military drills on Thursday in zones encircling Taiwan — at some points within just 20 km of the island’s shore. The drills will include “long-range live ammunition shooting” in the Taiwan Strait, which separates the island from mainland China and straddles continued on page 10 edit: perilous provocation MEN’S TEAM DRUBS CANADA 8-0 JUDO: Tulika Maan reaches final in heavyweight division; medal assured BOXING: HUSSAMUDDIN, NITU ASSURE INDIA OF TWO MEDALS MORE INSIDE BSFto HC: Mining near Khair mafia tries to run over forest guards, cops SMUGGLED WOOD border big security threat WORTH ~5L SEIZED Shiv Kumar Sharma Tribune News Service Pak using crypto to fund terror in J&K; 7 sites raided Arjun Sharma Jammu, August 3 With the NIA adopting several measures to snap the terror-financing chain, the J&K State Investigation Agency (SIA) is learnt to have found in a probe that Pakistan was channelising cryptocurrency to fund terrorism in the UT. The SIA today raided seven residential premises in Kashmir and Jammu divisions of those suspected to be involved in cryptocurrency trade for funding terrorism. Sources said the agency had found credible information about the involvement of the ISI and other outfits to fuel secessionist movement. The seven persons whose houses were raided include Zahida Bano of Hajinaka Manigah Hyhama (Kupwara), Ghulam Mujataba Deedad of Lone Hari (Kupwara), continued on page 10 Saurabh Malik Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 3 In a scathing report on illegal mining in the border areas of Punjab, the Border Security Force (BSF) has told the Punjab and Haryana High Court that the presence of “hundreds of labourers”, whose antecedents had not been verified by the local police, so close to the international border was perceived to be a “big security hazard”. The BSF also stated that mining began before sunrise and went on till late night. At times, it went on throughout the night. “In recent days, there have been several drone incursions from Pakistan where the possibility of dropping of contraband and arms and ammunition cannot be ruled out. It is a huge threat to security at the international border,” the report added. As the case came up for resumed hearing, the report dated August 1 sent by the BSF authorities was placed before the Bench of Chief Justice Ravi Shanker Jha DEEP NEXUS PUNJAB GOVT CITES REMEDIAL STEPS 603 690 777 FIRs lodged against 958 persons from January 1 till July 26 arrests made, 663 of them released on bail by lower courts vehicles impounded, 536 of these released by lower courts Yamunanagar, August 3 A team comprising cops and officials of the Forest Department had a narrow escape when members of a khair wood mafia allegedly tried to crush them with a truck and a utility vehicle near Baniyawala village here. When the team members chased the truck, its driver managed to flee after leaving the vehicle. The team recovered 298 logs of illegal khair wood from it. On the com- ■ When intercepted, drivers of utility vehicle and truck try to run over guards, cops ■ The truck driver abandons the vehicle, flees ■ Illegal khair wood worth ~5 lakh seized from vehicle The impounded truck laden with ■ Khair used for medicinal khair wood in Yamunanagar. purposes & to prepare ‘katha’ plaint of forester Devvrat, a case was registered on August 1 against 19 persons under Sections 32, 33 and 52 of the Indian Forest Act; Sections 27, 29 and 51 of the Wildlife Protection Act; and Sections 379 (theft) and 307 CAN’T ESCAPE BLAME EC and govt can’t say they can’t do anything. Bench ❝ On behalf of the Centre, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the Bench that populist promises made by political parties adversely impacted the economy. “Every political party benefits from freebies. I don’t want to name one,” said the Bench, which has already issued notice to the Centre continued on page 10 Air surcharge: Leh and beyond Rs 2.00 IN BRIEF HC suspends Chautala’s sentence in assets case NEW DELHI: The Delhi HC has suspended the four-year sentence given to Haryana ex-CM OP Chautala during the pendency of his appeal challenging a trial court's verdict in an assets case. INSIDE (DATA IN PUNJAB GOVT AFFIDAVIT) and Justice Arun Palli by senior panel counsel for the Union of India Arun Gosain. The Bench added the state of Punjab had also filed an affidavit on action taken against illegal mining, but it did not have specific mention or details regarding continued on page 10 (attempt to murder) of the IPC at the Pratap Nagar police station. The complainant said they got information at 1.50 am on August 1 that a truck loaded with illegal khair wood would come from Kansali village side. He said a team comprising forest guards Anuj and Yogesh, Head Constable Kuldeep, Special Police Officer Jasbir Singh put up a barricade near Baniyawala village at 2.40 am. “After some time, a continued on page 10 New Delhi, August 3 The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Centre, Niti Aayog, Finance Commission, Law Commission, RBI and members of ruling and opposition parties to give constructive suggestions to address irrational poll-eve freebies to influence the electorate. A Bench led by Chief Justice of India NV Ramana asked the Centre, the petitioner and other stakeholders to suggest ways and means to deal with the problem. “Why are you hesitating to take a stand? You take a stand and then we will decide whether these freebies are to be continued or not,” the Bench had said on July 26. BSP to back Dhankar; JMM, AAP with Alva NEW DELHI: The BSP has announced support to NDA's vice-presi- dential nominee Jagdeep Dhankar, while the JMM and AAP have decided to back Opposition's joint candidate Margaret Alva. TNS Rahul initiated into Lingayat sect in Karnataka NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday got initi- ANOTHER BATCH: Thirty more Afghan Sikhs arrive at New Delhi airport on Wednesday from Kabul after the recent incidents of terror attacks on minorities in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. PTI ated into the Lingayat sect by the seer of Muruga Mutt in this district headquarters town in the presence of various party leaders. PTI 8-yr-old walks away with bag carrying ~35Lfrom Patiala bank Noneheldaccountable in ropeway case Aman Sood Tribune News Service Patiala, August 3 An eight-year-old boy, probably in connivance with another accused, allegedly walked away with Rs 35 lakh from the SBI’s zonal branch at Shera Wala Gate here. What has baffled the police is the fact that the minor exactly knew where the cashier had kept the money that was to be loaded to an ATM. Sources said the incident took place around 12.30 pm on Wednesday when the cashier had taken out the money from the bank chest to be loaded to the ATM machine. “As he left the bag of cash unattended inside Caught on CCTV | Minor had an accomplice, say police CASH LEFT UNATTENDED BY STAFFER IN CABIN ❝ ■ The cashier takes out cash from the bank chest for filling an ATM on premises ■ Leaves the bag unattended inside a cabin for a few minutes ■ A child walks inside the cabin, carries away the bag ■ CCTV footage shows the minor was ‘accompanied’ by a man the cabin, a child walked inside and carried away the bag, barely able to walk due to its weight,” they said. Later, the CCTV footage showed that the child was COPS QUESTIONING TWO EMPLOYEES Role of some insiders within the bank cannot be ruled out as the cashier had left the bag unattended for three to five minutes. We are grilling two employees. Cops question a bank official in Patiala. TRIBUNE PHOTO allegedly accompanied by a man. Once they were out of the bank, they stopped an erickshaw. “It is clear that the boy had been trained to carry the bag. Police official He executed the crime perfectly,” said a cop, investigating the matter. “The boy went inside the cabin knowing very well where the bag was and walked away without raising any suspicion,” he said. Bank officials said the incident occurred when employees and cashier were refilling the cash in the ATM outside the main branch. “Usually, no one is allowed in those cabins without authorisation,” an official said. Sources said the accused were dropped outside the bus stand. “Role of some insiders cannot be ruled out as the cashier had left the bag unattended only for three to five minutes. We are grilling two employees,” the official said. “We have formed different teams to locate the accused. We have a few clues and will crack the case,” said Deepak Pareek, SSP Patiala. , Probe concluded a month ago | 11 were stranded mid-air Solan, August 3 Even a month after the magisterial inquiry report on the June 20 Timber Trail Resorts (TTR) mishap was submitted to the state government, none has been held accountable in the case. Eleven tourists in a Timber Trail cable car were stranded midair for hours on the ropeway near Parwanoo before they were rescued. Additional Deputy Commissioner, Solan, Zaffar Iqbal had submitted the magisterial inquiry report to the state government on July 2, but no action has yet been announced or taken against HP OFFICIALS MUM ON PROBE FINDINGS ■ Initial probe had said the cable car shaft had broken ■ Officials now tight-lipped about findings of probe report, submitted on July 2 the resort management for the alleged laxity. It appears that the probe report has been buried, as Deputy Commissioner, Solan, Kritika Kulhari confirmed that no communication has been received from the state government about any action in the matter. The initial findings of the probe had confirmed that the shaft of the ill-fated cable car had broken though both its ropes were intact during the June 20 mishap. Though CM Jai Ram Thakur had visited the spot soon after the mishap and had assured appropriate action, little has been done till now. The ropeway operations, however, continue to be suspended. — TNS