30122022-TT-01.qxd 12/29/2022 11:21 PM Page 1 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 142 NO. 360 | 12 PAGES | ~5.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2021-2023 ESTABLISHED IN 1881  HIMACHAL PRADESH ABID’S 8-WICKET HAUL LEADS J&K TO VICTORY IN RANJI TROPHY SPORT /thetribunechd DESPITE HEADWINDS, US OKAYS $11 MN FUNDS INDIAN FISCAL SYSTEM FOR TIBETANS IN INDIA, ROBUST: RBI BUSINESS NEPAL BACK PAGE AMID PROTEST, PANEL TO COLLECT SAMPLES FROM ZIRA PLANT PUNJAB friday | 30 december 2022 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com Uzbek deaths: Centre’s drug regulatory team inspects Noida firm, takes samples Marion Biotech halts production of cough syrup Doc-1 Max | BJP, Cong clash over issue Aditi Tandon WHAT INDIAN LAW SAYS Tribune News Service New Delhi, December 29 India on Thursday began probing Uzbekistan health ministry’s statement linking deaths of 18 children in the country to cough syrup and tablets exported by Noidabased Marion Biotech, with officials of the apex drug regulatory body and Uttar Pradesh Government inspecting the company’s premises. Drug inspectors have taken specimens of control samples (the same batch as exported) of the drug in question, Doc-1 Max, and sent it for testing to the Regional Drugs Testing Laboratory (RDTL) in Chandigarh. The firm, meanwhile, has halted the production of the drug. Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said India’s apex drug regulator, Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), had been in touch with the Uzbek counterpart over the matter since December 27. “Immediately on receipt of the information, a joint inspection of Marion Biotech’s Noida facility was carried out by the UP Drug ■ Under the Drugs and Cosmet- samples for testing ics Act, 1940, the regulation of manufacture and sale of drugs is primarily concern of state drug controllers ■ CDSCO is responsible for approval of new drugs, clinical trials, standards for drugs ■ State drug inspectors are responsible for taking drug NOT SOLD IN INDIA Police is seen at the gate of an office of Marion Biotech in Noida. REUTERS ❝ FURTHER ACTION AFTER PROBE REPORT Immediately on receipt of information, joint inspection of Marion Biotech was carried out by UP drug control and CDSCO team. Further action as appropriate would be initiated based on the inspection report. Mansukh Mandaviya, HEALTH MINISTER Control team and the CDSCO. Further action as appropriate would be initiated based on the inspection report. The samples of the cough syrup have been taken from the manufacturing premises and sent to the RDTL, Chandigarh, for testing,” Mandaviya said. Marion Biotech has a licence granted by UP Drugs Controller to manufacture Doc-1 Max. The product is not meant for sale in India, much as the case was with the Sonepat-based Maiden Pharma which had a manufacturing licence to export four cold and cough syrups. The firm was mentioned in WHO’s October 5 global ■ States also grant manufacturing SAMPLES WITH CHD LAB licences to firms and enforce price control orders ■ Law also provides for joint CDSCO and state inspection based on risk assessment — something India began on Dec 27, the same day Uzbekistan issued the statement on child deaths Like Sonepat-based Maiden Pharma, which was ‘linked’ by WHO to Gambian deaths, Noidabased Marion Biotech too had a manufacturing licence to export Doc-1 Max. It does not sell Dok-1 Max in India and exports the drug to just Uzbekistan. —UP OFFICIAL Uzbekistan Govt has claimed the presence of ethylene glycol in Marion Biotech export consignment, a claim India has begun probing by sampling the product from Noida and sending it Regional Drugs Testing Laboratory (RDTL) in Chandigarh. alert over the death of nearly 70 Gambian children. Gambia had alleged the presence of contaminants diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol (EG) in the Maiden Pharma export consignment. The CDSCO has, however, contested the WHO alert and sought evidence of a causal relationship between the Indian drug and Gambian child deaths, saying lab reports at home revealed no contamination. Uzbekistan has now again claimed the presence of ethylene glycol in Marion Biotech export consignment, a claim India has begun probing by sampling the continued on page 9 Have sought probe details from Uzbekistan, says MEA Tribune News Service NewDelhi, December 29 India is in touch with the Uzbek authorities and has sought details of their investigation into the death of 18 children after allegedly consuming cough syrup made by an Indian firm, the Ministry of External Affairs said here on Thursday. Separately, the Indian Embassy in Tashkent said India valued its partnership with Uzbekistan and cooperation in the field of healthcare and pharmaceuticals and would continue to maintain close touch with the Uzbek authorities in the matter. The embassy extended its sincere condolences to family members of the victims affected by the tragedy and said it had been maintaining close contacts with the Uzbek Agency for Development of Firm representative arrested by the Uzbek authorities Pharmaceutical Industry. Arindam Bagchi, MEA spokesperson, also said consular assistance was being provided to some linked to the company, including an Indian who has been reportedly arrested in Uzbekistan. Bagchi said Uzbek authorities have not formally taken up the matter with India but “nevertheless, our embassy has contacted the Uzbek side and is seeking further details of their investigation.... We understand that legal action has been initiated by the Uzbek authorities against some people, including the local representative of the company there”. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation is ANI already probing the deaths allegedly linked to the cough syrup Dok-1 Max. In October this year, the WHO had issued a global alert over four cough syrups that were linked to the death of nearly 70 children in Gambia. The WHO found the syrups contained high amounts of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol, which may have led to acute kidney injuries. From Jan 1, RT-PCR reports must for flyers from China Tribune News Service HK, Japan, S Korea, Singapore, Thailand also on list New Delhi, December 29 Negative RT-PCR reports will be mandatory for international arrivals from China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Thailand from January 1 with the Centre deciding to revive the Air Suvidha portal in the wake of Covid surge. The travellers would need to upload negative reports taken 72 hours prior to travel. This will be in addition to the ongoing 2 per cent random testing of international arrivals. “RT-PCR test has been made mandatory for flyers coming from China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Thailand ASSESS STOCKS, PHARMA FIRMS TOLD The Centre has asked pharmaceutical firms to keep a close watch on the global supply chain scenario, closely monitor production and availability of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) as well as formulations of essential medicines for Covid management and ensure adequate stocks and availability of all drugs. from January 1, 2023,” tweeted Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya. He also reviewed essential medicine stocks in preparation for EC develops remote EVMs for migrants Invites parties for demo on Jan 16 Tribune News Service New Delhi, December 29 Aiming to enhance voter participation, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has developed a prototype of a remote electronic voting machine (RVM) for domestic migrant voters and has invited political parties for a demonstration on January 16. If implemented after consultations with stakeholders, migrant voters do not need to travel to their home district to exercise their franchise. The Congress, however, opposed the move and said the ECI should first allay apprehensions expressed by many about the misuse of EVMs before extending its application which “would seriously undermine the RESTORE FAITH IN SYSTEM FIRST ❝ We call on the EC to restore trust in the electoral system with transparency and via honest engagement with Opposition’s concerns. Jairam Ramesh, CONG LEADER trust in the electoral system”. An ECI official said RVMs would be developed as “a robust, fail-proof and efficient standalone system” based on existing EVMs and would not be connected to the internet. The ECI floated a concept note on the new move and sought the views of political parties on the legal, administrative and technological challenges in continued on page 9 Protect minorities: INTENSE COLD India to Pak as LIKELY TILL JAN 3 Hindu woman killed Snowfall in parts of HP, Day after Jammu encounter, police comb forest areas to nab truck driver New Delhi, December 29 India on Thursday called on Pakistan to protect its minorities after a Hindu woman, Daya Bheel, was brutally murdered in Sindh province. “We don’t have specific details. Pakistan should protect its minorities — their safety, security and well-being is their responsibility,” MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said. “Daya Bheel, a 40-year-old widow, was brutally murdered... She was beheaded and the flesh peeled off. Visited her village (sic),” tweeted PPP Senator Krishna Kumari. — TNS Slain ultras not identified yet | Security up along border ■ including Kufri, and J&K ■ Light rain in some parts of Punjab and Chandigarh ■ Expect dense fog in Punjab, Haryana on New Year’s Eve ■ Min temperature may drop 3-5°C on December 30, 31 CITY MIN TEMP MANALI 1°C KUFRI 3.2°C RUPNAGAR 4.5°C HISAR 4.8°C BATHINDA 6°C KARNAL 6.2°C AMRITSAR 7.8°C PATIALA 8.1°C Jammu, December 29 A day after four terrorists were killed in an encounter here, the police on Thursday launched a major search operation in the region to trace the truck driver who fled the spot before the gunfight started. The encounter broke out after a truck was intercepted near the Tawi Bridge along the Jammu-Srinagar highway on Wednesday morning. Its driver fled the scene taking advantage of dense fog. Mukesh Singh, ADGP said , A snow-cutter in Handwara, J&K.>> IN BRIEF Four arrested in Sonepat | Cops seize fake invoices NEW DELHI: The Indian Air Force on Thursday successfully test-fired Tribune News Service PM Modi’s mother stable, ‘gradually recovering’ AHMEDABAD: PM Narendra Modi’s mother Hiraben, who was admitted to UN Mehta Institute of Cardiology and Research Centre on Wednesday, is “gradually recovering”, officials said. PTI Kochhars, Dhoot in judicial custody till Jan 10 MUMBAI: A special CBI court has sent ICICI Bank former CEO Chanda Kochhar, her husband Deepak Kochhar and Videocon founder Venugopal Dhoot to judicial custody till January 10 in a loan fraud case. PTI UGC-NET to be held from Feb 21 to March 10 NEW DELHI: The National Eligibility Test (NET) to determine the suitabili- ty of students to be recruited as assistant professors will be conducted from February 21 to March 10, 2023, the NTA said on Thursday. PTI Security personnel search a forest area in Bajalta, Jammu. PTI searches were being conducted in different parts of Jammu to nab the driver who could be the key to information regarding the slain terrorists. Among other places, Sidhra and Bajalta forest areas were combed. High alert has been sounded in the entire Jammu region as a huge cache of arms and ammunition was seized from the terrorists. Security has been strengthened at the local bus stand and the railway station. Since the bodies of the terrorists were charred, their identities could not be ascertained. — OC Unparalleled courage: PM pays tribute to Tenth Guru on anniv New Delhi, December 29 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday paid tributes to Tenth Sikh Guru Gobind Singh on his birth anniversary. “His unparalleled courage will continue to motivate people for years to come,” Modi tweeted, and posted a previous clip of his speech lauding the Guru. He tweeted, “On the sacred occasion of his Parkash Purb, I bow to Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji and recall his contribution towards serving humanity. His unparalleled courage will continue to motivate people.” President Droupadi Murmu also greeted people on the occasion and said Guru’s unwavering commitment to the service of humanity continued to inspire people. “Greetings to all on the Parkash Purb of Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Founder of Khalsa Panth, ‘Sarbans Daani’ Guru Gobind Singh Ji always fought for equality and justice. His unwavering commitment for service of humanity continues to inspire us,” Murmu tweeted. Meanwhile, devotees in large numbers thronged Gurdwara Bangla Sahib to mark the occasion.— PTI Liquor to Bihar in cement primer buckets Crime up, include cyber safety BrahMos’ extended range version test-fired extended range version of BrahMos air launched missile against a ship target in Bay of Bengal from a SU-30MKI aircraft. BACK PAGE a potential spike. The government has termed “January as the most critical month as it marks the completion of 30 continued on page 9 Sonepat, December 29 The mafia active in the Kharkhoda area of the district has adopted a new way to smuggle liquor to the “dry state” of Bihar. The Sonepat police have seized 30 buckets of cement primer filled with illicit Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL), which was being smuggled to Bihar using two fake tax invoices. The police found more than 300 bottles of the IMFL packed in the cement primer buckets. The Excise Depart- Police: Probe on, too early to name any distillery ment has also been informed about the incident. Those arrested in the case were identified as Dhruv Kumar and Rana Pratap of Badaun district in Uttar Pradesh, Shiv Kumar Mukhiya of Madhepura district in Bihar and Satbir of Kharkhoda. After one-day police remand, the police on Thursday produced the accused in a court that remanded them in judicial custody. Excise Inspector Ashok Malik said the liquor seized by the police was of Imperial Blue brand. Further investigation was going on, he added. Rahul Chaudhary, branch incharge of M/s Om Logistic Limited at Saidpur in Kharkhoda, complained to the police that Satbir and one Ashutosh had booked a truck to transport 30 buckets of cement primer to Darbhanga in Bihar. They produced two manual tax invoices in the name of GR Traders. continued on page 9 in school curriculum: HP cops Ambika Sharma UPSURGE IN COMPLAINTS Tribune News Service Solan, December 29 In a bid to create awareness on cybercrime and ensure that the younger generation is safe in the digital world, the state police has sought the inclusion of cyber safety and digital civics in the school syllabus. Director General of Police Sanjay Kundu in a communication to the Secretary (Education) Abhishek Jain yesterday asked him to include these topics in the YEAR 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 TOTAL CYBER FRAUD SOCIAL MEDIA MISCELLANEOUS FIRs 524 743 1,226 2,417 2,773 7,683 curriculum of schools affiliated with the HP Board of Secondary Education. With the increased use of mobile telephony and digital payments over the past few 269 572 830 2,067 2,063 5,801 130 335 858 1,774 1,371 4,468 49 73 143 193 127 585 years, cybercrime too has registered a corresponding increase. The state is seeing an upsurge in cybercrime like phishing scams, identity continued on page 9