14012023-TT-01.qxd 1/13/2023 11:11 PM Page 1 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 143 NO. 14 | 20 PAGES | ~7.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2021-2023 ESTABLISHED IN 1881  HIMACHAL PRADESH WHITE HOUSE BACKS BIDEN ON CLASSIFIED PAPERS IN HIS OFFICE WORLD /thetribunechd NCLT CLEARS JET AIRWAYS’ OWNERSHIP TRANSFER BUSINESS MUDSLIDES HIT TRAFFIC ON JAMMU-SRINAGAR HIGHWAY J&K INDIA TO LAUNCH 5 INITIATIVES FOR GLOBAL SOUTH, SAYS PM BACK PAGE saturday | 14 january 2023 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com Shah: NIA, police to probe Rajouri attack Joshimath sank 5.4 cm in 12 days: ISRO Arjun Sharma Tribune News Service Jammu, January 13 Twelve days after a terror attack at Dhangri village in Rajouri district, the Union Home Ministry handed over the investigation to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). A team of the Jammu and Kashmir Police will also work with the NIA. Stating this in Jammu, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, “The NIA and the J&K Police will investigate the terror incident at Rajouri jointly. All other terror incidents that have taken place during the past year and a half will also be investigated by the team.” Seven civilians, including two children, were killed in twin terror attacks on January 1 and 2 at Dhangri village. Shah, who was supposed to visit kin of the victims at Dhangri, was not able to proceed from Jammu where he arrived on Friday afternoon Speaks to kin of victims, assures them of action Union Home Minister in Jammu. PTI due to bad weather. He, however, spoke to the kin of the victims on the phone from the Raj Bhavan where Lt Governor Manoj Sinha was also present and assured them of action against the culprits. “I spoke to kin of all seven victims. They clearly said they would not leave their village. Many families are refugees continued on page 9 Uttarakhand Govt clears ~45 cr relief fund I Demolition of unsafe structures underway SAT IMAGES RELEASED New Delhi, January 13 In the first satellite evidence of subsidence in Joshimath, the Indian Space Research Organisation on Friday released images revealing that the town sank by 5.4 cm in a matter of just 12 days following a subsidence event on January 2. Releasing images captured by the Cartosat 25 satellite, the ISRO said that between December 27, 2022, and January 8, 2023, the intensity of land subsidence in Joshimath increased over the previous months and the town sank by 5.4 cm through these 12 days. The preliminary data was shared today by the ISRO’s National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) which added that land subsidence in Joshimath was much slower between April and November 2022 when the town sank by 8.9 cm. The affected zone subsided 5 cm within days and remained confined to the Will amend law to tackle hate speech menace, govt tells SC Satya Prakash Tribune News Service New Delhi, January 13 Amid rising concern over hate speech, the Centre on Friday told the Supreme Court that it intended to amend the law to deal with the menace. “We are contemplating a separate amendment to the CrPC. The views of the stakeholders have been sought regarding amendments to the criminal laws,” Additional Solicitor General of India KM Nataraj told a Bench led by Justice KM Joseph while hearing petitions against hate speech. However, terming it a legislative process, the Bench, which also included Justice BV Nagarathna, said ulti- WHAT ABOUT ANCHORS? driven ❝ Everything istimes by TRP... How many have you taken off anchors? Justice KM Joseph mately it was for Parliament to decide. With regard to the media, Nataraj said TV channels were following self-regulation and unless something serious affecting national interest or security happened, the Centre would not step in. Recording the Centre’s stand on the issue, the Bench issued a notice on an application seeking to make all states as parties to the case. continued on page 9 ■ ISRO has released images cap- tured by the Cartosat 25 satellite of the subsidence zone ■ Between Dec 27, 2022, and Jan 8, 2023, Joshimath town sank by 5.4 cm ARMY HELIPAD IN SUBSIDENCE ZONE ■ Affected zone confined to central part of Joshimath ■ Crown of subsidence figures Deep cracks outside a house in Joshimath town. REUTERS CABINET NOD TO COMPENSATION FOR THE AFFECTED ■ U’khand Cabinet okays ~1.5 ■ Deferment of coop bank lakh interim relief for each affected family of Joshimath ■ Power, water bill waiver for 6 months starting Nov 2022 loan repayments for a year ■ ~5,000 payment per month for those living on rent ■ Jobs under the MGNREGA scheme to two members of each affected family ■ Relief package proposal for house owners to be ready within a week central part of the town. The ISRO report said the crown of subsidence was located near the Joshimath- Auli road at a height of 2,180 metres and “a subsidence zone resembling a generic landslide shape was identi- fied with a tapered top and fanning out at the base”. The images also show the Army helipad and Narsingh India defeat Spain 2-0 IN BRIEF India-China trade touches $136 bn for first time BEIJING: The trade between India and China touched an all-time high of $135.98 billion in 2022, while New Delhi’s trade deficit with Beijing crossed the $100 billion mark for first time. BACK PAGE No palpable progress: Bench New Delhi, January 13 Noting that no palpable progress had been made by the Delhi Police in the probe into the hate speeches made at the December 2021 ‘Dharm Sansad’ here, the Supreme Court on Friday sought a report from the Delhi Police in two weeks. “Why do you need five months for lodging an FIR? How many arrests have been made,” a Bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud asked, pointIng out that the incident took place continued on page 9 Woman urinated: U-turn by Air India case accused NEW DELHI: Shankar Mishra, accused of urinating on a co-passenger on an Air India flight, told a Delhi court that he did not commit the act and the woman seems to have urinated on herself. TNS SC grants bail to Vyapam scam ‘whistleblower’ NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday granted bail to a doctor, who also claimed to be a ‘whistleblower’ in the sensational Vyapam scam, in a case of alleged violence during a protest in MP. INSIDE Sri Lanka to downsize its military by half by 2030 COLOMBO: Cash-strapped Sri Lanka on Friday said it planned to reduce its military strength to half by 2030 to build a technically and tactically sound and well-balanced defence force. INSIDE Amit Rohidas celebrates goal against Spain with teammates. PTI HOSTS START ON WINNING NOTE ■ Amit Rohidas scored the first goal in the 12th minute from a penalty corner ■ Hardik Singh scored a brilliant field goal REPORT INSIDE in the 26th minute after a fine solo run PPSC ex-member’s son among four held for poaching To check drugs, NCBto set up unit in Amritsar Tribune News Service Chandigarh, January 13 To increase the presence of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in Punjab, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has approved the opening of a full-fledged regional office of the bureau in Amritsar. It will be headed by a Deputy Director-General of the rank of an IG or above. Punjab will be the first state where drug-related cas- Anandpur Sahib, January 13 After two leopards fell to the bullets of hunters in the district recently, officials of the Ropar Wildlife Department managed to nab four alleged poachers, including the son of a prominent Congress leader. The suspects have been identified as Angad Singh, a resident of Sector 9 in Chandigarh, Balraj Ghumman of Patiala, Baljit Singh of Dakala village in Patiala district and Balbir Singh from Himachal Pradesh. Angad Singh’s mother is a former Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) member. She also unsuccessfully contested the Assembly elections in 2007 on the Congress ticket. Balraj is a known hunter in the area, who is hired by farmers to kill wild boar and blue bull after obtaining a permit to protect their crops. The district had witnessed the death of two leopards on December 27 and January 2 due to poaching. While a leopard cub was found shot in a forest area of Nikku Nangal village near Nangal on December 27, a five-year-old adult male leopard was found continued on page 9 Jupinderjit Singh Tribune News Service TO OVERSEE MAJHA, DOABA OPs ■ Punjab to be first state where drug-related cases to be pursued by two NCB offices ■ Amritsar office to oversee ops in Majha, Doaba; Chandigarh division to man Malwa es will be pursued by two separate offices of the NCB – the existing Zonal Division in Chandigarh and the upcoming regional office. While the Amritsar office will oversee operations in the Majha and Doaba regions, the Chandigarh division will have jurisdiction over the Malwa region. The development came close on the heels of the NCB busting an international drug syndicate operating from Ludhiana in one of its OPS restored in Himachal,1.36L to benefit, will cost ~800 cr/annum Tribune News Service Shimla, January 13 The Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu government has restored the old pension scheme (OPS) for government employees in Himachal Pradesh with immediate effect. As promised by the Congress in its election manifesto, the government approved the long-standing demand of the employees in its first Cabinet meeting here today. The government gave the in-principle approval to its two other major poll promise s — a monthly allowance of SUKHVINDER SINGH SUKHU ~70K CR DEBT ON STATE ■ OPS to cost ~800 cr to ~900 cr/year initially, but cost will rise gradually ■ HP under ~70K cr debt ` Rs 1,500 to women aged 18 to 60 years and generating one lakh job opportunities in a near Joshimath-Auli road at 2,180 metres ■ Army helipad & Narsingh Temple prominent landmarks in subsidence zone Temple as prominent landmarks in the subsidence zone across central Joshimath. The findings came on a day when the Uttarakhand Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Puskhar Singh Dhami cleared the release of Rs 45 crore from the state emergency fund for interim relief to the affected people. The approved compensation includes Rs 1.50 lakh interim relief to every affected family; waiver of power and water bills for six months starting November 2022; and Rs 5,000 monthly rent to affected families living on rent. The Cabinet also granted in-principle approval to prefabricated settlements for affected families of Koti farm, Peepalkoti, Gocher, Gaukh Sailang and Dhak till long-term rehabilitation plans are ready. “A decision has been taken to provide Rs 5,000 per month as rent to the affected continued on page 9 year. The government formed two Cabinet sub-committees to work out the modalities for the implementation of these promises. The committees will submit their report to the Cabinet within a month. “We had promised to restore the OPS in our first Cabinet meeting, and we have kept our promise. The OPS has been implemented with immediate effect. The notification will be issued today or tomorrow,” said Sukhu while addressing the media here. The decision will benefit around 1.36 lakh continued on page 9 major operations in the country. Sources said the MHA’s focus was on Punjab due to high incidence of cross-border drug smuggling. Besides Amritsar, regional offices will come up in Guwahati, Chennai and Ahmedabad. Earlier, the Union Government had opened a sub-zone (under the Chandigarh division) in Amritsar about three years ago, when the NCB found illegally manufactured continued on page 9 Rinda proclaimed offender in Bastara toll plaza case Tribune News Service Chandigarh, January 13 Special Judge Sudhir Parmar of the NIA Court in Panchkula has declared Babbar Khalsa International terrorist Harvinder Singh Sandhu, alias Rinda, as a proclaimed offender in the May 2022 Bastara toll plaza (Karnal) case where three IEDs and arms and ammunition were seized. Recently, the Punjab Police had stated in a press conference that the report on Rinda’s death in Pakistan due to drug overdose wasn’t confirmed. The court on January 11 continued on page 9 Delhi horror: 11 cops suspended on MHA directive Tribune News Service New Delhi, January 13 Acting against “erring cops” following a direction from the MHA, the Delhi Police today suspended 11 personnel, who were on PCR vans and picket duty on the route on which 20-year-old Anjali Singh was killed after being dragged under a car from Sultanpuri to Kanjhawala, officials said. The MHA had yesterday directed the police to suspend all its personnel deployed on the route following a report submitted by an inquiry committee headed by Special Commissioner Shalini Singh. A senior police official said five personnel on two pickets and six on three PCR vans had been suspended. “Two of them are sub-inspectors, four assistant sub-inspectors, four head constables and a constable,” the official said. The MHA, in its direction to Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora, has also asked him to serve show-cause notices on the supervisory officers of the PCR vans and police pickets for “dereliction of duty”. Meanwhile, the forensic science laboratory today handed over the blood continued on page 9