09052023-TTC-01.qxd 5/9/2023 12:19 AM Page 1 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 143 NO. 127 | 14 PAGES | ~5.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2021-2023 ESTABLISHED IN 1881 SHIKHAR’S FIFTY GOES IN VAIN AS PUNJAB KINGS LOSE TO KKR SPORT /thetribunechd STOP SALE OF TICKETS, DOVAL IN SAUDI, DISCUSSES DGCA TELLS CRISIS-HIT PROJECT LINKING GULF GO FIRST BUSINESS WITH INDIA BACK PAGE INTEL: OVERGROUND WORKERS HELPING POONCH ULTRAS J&K tuesday | 9 may 2023 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com Step up relief, rehab in Manipur: SC Seeks status report from state, Centre by May 17 |Expresses concern over loss of lives, property Satya Prakash TWO PLEAS TAKEN UP Tribune News Service A rescue operation underway at crash site in Hanumangarh. PTI MiG-21 crashes in Rajasthan, 3 civilians killed New Delhi, May 8 A MiG-21 fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) crashed near Hanumangarh in Rajasthan around 9.45 am today. The pilot ejected and sustained injuries, but the wreckage of the plane killed three civilians on the ground. The aircraft had taken off from the IAF base at Suratgarh in Rajasthan. “The aircraft wreckage fell on a house in Bahlol Nagar in Hanumangarh district, leading to the loss of three lives,” the IAF said, adding that it regretted the loss of lives and continued on page 11 edit: another mig crash New Delhi, May 8 Expressing serious concern over the loss of life and property during the recent violence in Manipur, the Supreme Court on Monday asked the Centre and the state government to step up efforts for relief, rehabilitation and evacuation of those affected. A three-judge Bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud also directed them to protect all places of worship and provide basic amenities in relief camps. Noting that the court was concerned about the loss of 1 2 First plea by the Manipur Tribal Forum-Delhi seeking an SIT probe into the violence and relief for victims Second by the Hill Areas Committee of the Manipur Assembly against HC order on ST status for Meiteis Manipur has appointed 1992batch IAS officer Vineet Joshi, who was on central deputation, as new Chief Secretary life, the CJI said, “Proceedings before this court should not become grounds for Indian engineer among 9 dead in US shooting HOUSTON: An Indian engineer, Aishwarya Thatikonda, was among nine persons killed when a gunman opened fire at a crowded mall in Dallas in the US state of Texas, the authorities said on Monday. INSIDE Apex court rejects jailed Bihar YouTuber’s petition NEW DELHI: The SC on Monday rejected jailed Bihar YouTuber Man- ish Kashyap’s plea challenging slapping of the NSA against him for circulating fake videos of migrants being attacked in Tamil Nadu. TNS Another blast in Amritsar, explosive in drink can AMRITSAR: Within 30 hours, another low-intensity blast rocked Her- itage Street near the Golden Temple on Monday, leaving one injured. The explosive was reportedly kept in a health drink can. INSIDE Last pitch: Kharge raises local link, BJP Sonia’s ‘sovereignty’remark Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 8 The campaigning for the high-stakes May 10 Karnataka election ended on Monday with the ruling BJP banking on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s personal appeal to retain power in the southern state and opposition Congress hoping for the 38-yearold anti-incumbency trend to CRUCIAL CONTEST BJP: Must-win ahead of LS poll. Of 128 LS seats in 5 South states, BJP holds just 29 (25 are in Karnataka) Cong: Needs to win to reclaim pole position in the Opposition camp JD(S): Hopes to be kingmaker. Kumaraswamy has thrice been CM, with BJP or Cong help hold. In a last-minute push to sway voter choices, the BJP petitioned the Election Commission to “derecognise the Congress” for former party president Sonia Gandhi’s remarks on “protection of Karnataka’s sovereignty” and sought action against her for alleged violation of the Model Code of Conduct. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge played the emotional card while speaking on his home turf Kalburgi today. Citing alleged threats to his life — an allegation earlier made by the Congress — Kharge, 81, sought votes continued on page 11 35,655 10,000 1,041 ARMS SNATCHED A doctor examines a refugee at a relief camp in Cachar on Monday. ANI 1,041 arms and 7,460 pieces of ammunition snatched from security forces by miscreants destabilising the state.” The Bench, which also included Justice PS en for rehabilitation of displaced persons and medical continued on page 11 Narasimha and Justice JB Pardiwala, ordered that all necessary precautions must be tak- SIT REPORT Ajay Banerjee Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 8 Tension build up in South China Sea today as Chinese maritime “militia” ships sailed in close proximity to a flotilla of warships of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and India conducting a joint exercise. “Militia” vessels are registered as mercantile ships, but are marshalled at sea at the behest of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) of China. Defence sources confirmed that Chinese activity was being watched and said the five “militia” vessels could be there to keep an eye on the exercise. “Their course at sea is being JALANDHAR BYELECTION High-stakesfight Ruling AAP launched a fierce campaign to make inroads into this Congress citadel AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal & CM Bhagwant Mann held several rallies and roadshows Having lost Sangrur LS bypoll last year, a win this time is must for AAP Finance Minister Cheema has said the outcome will be a referendum on AAP governance BJP’s 6 Union Ministers & leaders campaigned hard to make inroads into Adampur and Nakodar SAD-BSP may get sympathy votes owing to the demise of Akali patriarch Parkash Singh Badal MORE INSIDE Tribune News Service Chandigarh, May 8 Widening the ambit of the probe into the police-drug mafia nexus, the Punjab Government today ordered an inquiry into the entire service record of dismissed and drug-tainted Inspector Inderjit Singh, focusing on all those who gave him a clean chit in 14 departmental inquiries. The police probe till now had focused on just about 14 months of Inderjit’s posting under Raj Jit Singh (now dismissed AIG) in various districts where he was allegedly BENT COPS Solan, May 8 Notwithstanding the availability of funds for setting up plastic waste disposal units at the block level in the hill state, a few districts have shown keenness in having such a facility. In 2020-21, an amount of Rs 16 lakh each was set aside for all 88 blocks in Himachal Pradesh under Phase II of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) to improve solid waste management in rural areas. With no facility for proper disposal of solid waste, plastic waste continues to pose a DETAILS SOUGHT BY PUNJAB GOVT ■ Who approved transfer of dismissed cop Inderjit to Tarn Taran & Hoshiarpur? ■ Who granted double promotions to Inderjit? ■ Role of senior officers in STF probe against Inderjit on drugs given undue favours. Inderjit joined the Punjab Police as a continued on page 11 FUNDS ALLOCATED, BUT PROGRESS TARDY ■ In 2020-21, ~16L each was set aside for all 88 blocks to improve solid waste management ■ Machines procured in just 16 blocks of Una, Hamirpur, Kangra & Mandi; progress tardy threat to the ecology of the hill state. The situation is worse in rural areas where continued on page 11 SDM’s post vacant, yet 361 DLs, RCs issued Bhartesh Singh Thakur Tribune News Service Chandigarh, May 8 As many as 112 driving licences (DLs) and 249 vehicle registration certificates (RCs) were issued “illegally” in Charkhi Dadri subdivision of Haryana during a 17-day period from June 25 to July 11 in LID OFF LICENCE ‘SCAM’ IN CHARKHI DADRI ■ 112 DLs and 249 RCs issued allegedly in an illegal manner ■ This happened during 17-day period when SDM’s post was vacant ■ Additional DC Jainder Singh Chhilar says an investigation is underway 2019 when the post of SubDivisional Magistrate was vacant. Divisional Commissioner Sanjeev Verma detect- ed the alleged illegality during an inspection of the SDM office’s records from April 24, 2019, to February 28 this year. New Delhi, May 8 The Army today said security forces had conducted themselves impartially in restoring law and order in Manipur as of the around 23,000 internally displaced persons in its camps, 9,500 were from the Meitei community and 10,000 belonged to the Kuki group. The clarification from the Army came amid social media propaganda with both communities accusing each other of getting favourable treatment from the security forces. The displaced persons have been accommodated in various relief camps set up by the Rules out bias in rehab by security forces Army and Assam Rifles. “These figures exemplify the aspect of impartiality and fairness of all rescue operations,” the Army said. Inimical elements were spreading false rumours about the leanings of the security forces towards a particular community, it said. “Such rumours need to be dispelled as these not only tarnish the image of the apolitical forces, but also demoralise the security personnel who execute the operations on the ground,” it said. Keep eye on ASEAN-India maritime exercise in South China Sea | Face-off averted Ambika Sharma Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Chinese ‘militia’ vessels sail close to Indian warships DGP told to probe entire Plastic waste piling up, HP service record of Inderjit yet to have disposal units Jupinderjit Singh 1,700 moved to safer still stranded locations across Manipur NEW CHIEF SECRETARY IN BRIEF KARNATAKA Elections 60 killed, 231 hurt houses burnt Equal number of Kukis, Meiteis in camps: Army Satbir Singh Kundu relinquished the charge as the SDM on June 25 (2019) while Sandeep Aggarwal replaced him on July 12. Verma found out that during the 17 days when the post was vacant, 361 DLs and RCs were issued despite there being no issuing continued on page 11 c m y b ‘SAFE’ DISTANCE ■ At one point, gap between Chi- Singapore watched,” a source said. There are multiple measures to avoid a confrontation nese militia ships & ASEANIndia flotilla was less than 50 km ■ It could have been a threat if the Chinese ships had come within 5-8 km, a source said at sea. At one point, the distance between the Chinese militia and ASEAN-India flotilla was less than 50 km. “It could have been a potential threat if the Chinese ships had come within the range of 5-8 km,” the source said, adding a Chinese research vessel was also following these ships. Ships from the navies of India and ASEAN — the Philippines, Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, continued on page 11