10052023-TTB-01.qxd 5/10/2023 12:03 AM Page 1 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 143 NO. 128 | 12 PAGES | ~5.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2021-2023 ESTABLISHED IN 1881  HARYANA WEST WAGING ‘REAL WAR’: PUTIN AT VICTORY DAY PARADE WORLD /thetribunechd FITCH AFFIRMS INDIA’S RATING ON GROWTH OUTLOOK BUSINESS NSG TEAM REACHES AMRITSAR TO PROBE TWIN BLASTS PUNJAB ISRAEL KEEN ON FINALISING FTA WITH INDIA, INKS MOBILITY PACT BACK PAGE wednesday | 10 may 2023 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com decides Arson, riotingin Pakistan as Rangers KarnatakaBJP govt today; will whisk away ex-PM Imran from court break 38-year jinx? Arrest legal: HC; linked to land fraud, says govt Supporters storm army HQ, vandalise war memorials India keeps close watch, tightens vigil along borders TREASON, TERROR: Tribune news service New Delhi, May 9 Pakistan’s former PM Imran Khan was arrested and bundled into a prison van by paramilitary Rangers on Tuesday from the Islamabad High Court, leading to turmoil on the streets which witnessed unprecedented scenes of mobs storming the army headquarters in Rawalpindi and the Corps Supporters of Pakistan’s ex-PM Imran Khan pelt the police with stones in Lahore on Tuesday. AP/PTI Commander’s residence in Lahore, besides vandalising war memorials. Even the announcement of Section 144 in several cities for the next three days failed to deter the mobs. The arrest came a day after the army accused Khan of levelling baseless allegations against a senior ISI officer. Visuals showed Imran, who had come for a hearing at the court, was dragged out of the record room in the judicial premises by the Rangers who smashed windows to get at him. They then reportedly pinned him down and a massive posse hustled him into the van. The HC later upheld the arrest, saying all legal formalities were fulfilled by the No party re-elected since 1985 KHAN FACES 121 CASES Aditi Tandon Imran is facing 121 cases in Pakistan, including that of treason and blasphemy and inciting violence and terrorism. At least, 12 cases of terrorism have been registered against him in Lahore and 14 in Faisalabad. Another 22 terrorrelated cases registered against Khan across the country. A court may indict him on May 10 in a case of 'hiding' proceeds from sale of state gifts. National Accountability Bureau (NAB). His party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) claimed he was abducted, but the NAB said he was arrested in a case of land transfer to property tycoon continued on page 9 Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 9 Karnataka will vote on Wednesday to determine the fate of 2,615 candidates in the fray in a high-stakes election where the ruling BJP will fight to break a 38-year-old anti-incumbency trend, opposition Congress attempt to script an electoral revival and JD(S) will try to stay relevant. The outcome of Karnataka elections could determine the future course of Indian politics, with elections due in five more states this year — Telangana, Mizoram, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. On poll eve, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a repeat of his Himachal Pradesh strategy, penned a personal letter to voters appealing for support continued on page 9 Same uniform for Brig Fate of 19 candidates to be sealed today and above from Aug 1 1,972 polling stations set up, 8,000 security personnel to keep close watch Tribune News Service Tribune News Service GOING GREEN ■ The colour of the common uniform and headgear will be standardised to green ■ Shoulder epaulettes in noncombat dress will be of brass ■ In combat dress, the colour will be fused to match the uniform and Aviation grey. The Brigadier and above rank officers are those who have already commanded units or battalions and are mostly posted at headquarters or continued on page 9 Liquor to get 5% costlier in Haryana, beer cheaper Geetanjali Gayatri Tribune News Service Chandigarh, May 9 Effecting a marginal increase of 5 per cent in liquor prices, the new Haryana excise policy gives the state an advantage over Delhi in terms of country liquor and Indianmade foreign liquor (IMFL). While the rates in Punjab and Haryana remain “competitive” and the difference in prices balances out in various categories, the IMFL will be available at cheaper rates in Chandigarh compared to Haryana. After an almost two-fold rise in excise revenue over the past five years, the state government is aiming to cross the Rs 11,000 croremark in the 2023-24 financial year under the new policy, applicable from June 12. Mindful of the public sentiment, the new policy, approved by the Cabinet, will see the number of vends NUMBER OF VENDS CUT ■ Under new excise policy, the number of vends reduced from 2,500 to 2,400 BAN ON PET BOTTLES ■ No liquor sale in PET bottles from March 2024 onwards ~11,000cr revenue target in 2023-24 fiscal being brought down from 2,500 to 2,400. The same number of vends were reduced in the last fiscal. No vends shall be opened in holy areas notified around Shri Mata Mansa Devi Temple in Panchkula and in villages where Gurukuls are functioning. No taverns will be allowed in rural areas continued on page 9 2,615 IN THE FRAY 5,31,33,054 ELIGIBLE VOTERS 2018 ASSEMBLY POLL BJP CONG JD(S) OTH 104 80 37 3 224 TOTAL SEATS New Delhi, May 9 The SC on Tuesday disapproved of Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement on scrapping the 4 per cent quota for Muslims in poll-bound Karnataka, saying a sub judice issue should not be politicised. It said public functionaries should exercise caution in raising issues pending before courts. “When there is a court order on Muslim quota, there should not be any political statements on the issue,” it noted. — TNS Air surcharge: Leh and beyond Rs 2.00 24 killed, 40 hurt as bus falls off bridge in MP BHOPAL: Twenty-four persons were killed and over 40 injured after a private bus fell from a bridge on a dry river bed in MP’s Khargone district on Tuesday, state Home Minister Narottam Mishra said. BACK PAGE 16,21,800 VOTERS BYELECTION Poll officials collect EVMs in Bengaluru on Tuesday. PTI IN BRIEF POLLING 8 AM TO 6 PM JALANDHAR REPRESENTATIONAL PIC New Delhi, May 9 In a significant move, the Army has decided to go in for a common uniform for officers of Brigadier rank and above irrespective of their regiment or corps from August 1. The decision follows detailed deliberations during the recently concluded Army Commanders Conference and consultations at various levels, sources said. The headgear, shoulder rank badges, gorget patches (worn on collar), belt and shoes of the flag-rank officers (Brigadier and above) will now be standardised and common. No officer in these ranks will now wear any lanyard encircling the shoulder and underarm. At present, the headgear, including beret cap, is multicoloured — Infantry officers have two shades of green, Engineers and Signals wear navy blue, Para forces maroon, Armoured Corps black colour SC disapproves of Shah’s remark on Muslim quota Cheetah dies at Kuno park, third death in 40 days NEW DELHI: In another blow to Project Cheetah, a female cheetah died at Kuno National Park in MP on Tuesday. This is the third death within 40 days among the 20 translocated cheetahs. BACK PAGE Male: 8,44,904 Female: 7,76,855 Third gender voters: 41 NRI voters: 73 Patrolling teams: 112 Jalandhar, May 9 The fate of 19 candidates in the fray for the Jalandhar Lok Sabha bypoll will be sealed tomorrow when voting will take place. As many as 16.21 lakh voters will be able to cast their vote from 8 am to 6 pm. Of the 19 candidates in the fray, 15 are men and four, including that of the Congress, women. Among the contestants are two former MLAs, Inder Iqbal Singh Atwal of the BJP and Sushil Kumar Rinku of AAP , besides a sitting MLA, Dr Sukhwinder Sukhi, of the SAD. The Congress has fielded Karamjit Chaudhary, widow of the late MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary, as its candidate. The SAD (A) has Assam mulls ban on polygamy, to set up committee Ahead of G20 meet in Valley, KP employees seek refuge in Jammu No fresh violence, curfew New Delhi, May 9 The Assam Government has decided to set up an expert committee to examine whether the state legislature can prohibit polygamy. Making this announcement on the occasion of the completion of two years of the BJP rule in Assam, state Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the committee would examine the provisions of The Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Act, 1937, read with Article 25 of the Constitution, along with the Directive Principles of State Policy. “The committee will engage in extensive continued on page 9 Arjun Sharma Tight security in place ahead of the bypoll in Jalandhar. MALKIAT SINGH fielded Gurjant S Kattu, who hails from Barnala. Chief Electoral Officer Sibin C said of the 19 candidates, three were from national parties, one from a state party, seven from unrecognised parties, while eight were Independent candidates. He Nitish meets Patnaik, says no talks on alliance NEW DELHI: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar on Tuesday called on his Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik. Both CMs said no talks took place on any political alliance between the JD(U) & the BJD for the LS poll. TNS said five candidates had criminal antecedents. Sibin C said 1,972 polling stations had been set up and webcast of all polling stations was being done. He said 542 polling stations had been identified as vulnerable, 16 continued on page 9 Students at Patna airport after being rescued from Manipur. PTI Jammu, May 9 Several Kashmiri Pandit employees working in the Valley have shifted to Jammu after they were reportedly advised by the authorities to be cautious ahead of the G20 meeting in Srinagar that will take place from May 22-24. Source said with terrorists making renewed attempts to create unrest in the region, employees belonging to the minority community had been verbally told by their seniors not to venture out for non-essential work. Most of these employees Intel: ISI may try to disrupt event to create strife RENEWED THREAT ■ Kashmiri Pandits told by the authorities to stay cautious in view of the G20 meet in Srinagar from May 22-24 ■ Terrorists making renewed attempts to create unrest in region, say intel reports ■ Not taking any chance, many from the community have come to Jammu till the event are based in Jammu and many have returned. The Tribune talked to five such staffers who, on the condi- tion of anonymity, confirmed that they had come to Jammu after they were advised to exercise caution due to the renewed terror threat. Intelligence agencies have got inputs that the ISI would go to any extent to disrupt the G20 event to portray that the region was violence-ridden. “While there was no written communication, we were advised by seniors to remain cautious till the event. Most of the minority community employees thus left the Valley,” said a Kashmiri Pandit employee. A meeting of the staffers who continued on page 9 eased in 11 Manipur dists Imphal, May 9 The situation across violencehit Manipur has been improving with no fresh reports of any untoward incident and the curfew being relaxed in all the 11 districts where it was clamped, officials said today. “The situation is improving… The curfew was relaxed for four hours in Imphal West and Imphal East. Similar relaxation was provided in the other nine affected districts,” an official said. Violent clashes broke out in the state after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised CHAOS AT AIRPORT ■ Overcrowded with distressed fly- ers, heart-wrenching scenes witnessed at Imphal airport ■ Patients with catheters just out of ICU, some with bullet injuries and premature babies with their mothers, all throng airport ■ Close to 2,000 flyers at airport with a capacity for only 750 in the 10 hill districts on May 3 to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for ST status. Sixty persons were killed and 1,700 houses burnt in the ethnic violence. — PTI Snow in summer, Dharamsala, Keylong see lowest May temperature Subhash Rajta Tribune News Service Shimla, May 9 The cold and wet May has left the hill state surprised. The last time the state witnessed such low temperatures in the month of May was way back in 1987. Sandeep Sharma, a scientist at Shimla Meteorological Centre, said, “We checked our records in Shimla, Manali, Dharamsala, Kalpa, Una and Palampur and found that the average minimum and maximum temperatures deviated so much from normal in 1987.” In a major deviation from the normal this year, Dharamsala and Keylong registered the lowest-ever minimum temperature of May. Dharamsala recorded 8.4 degrees Celsius on May 1 and 8 (the previous lowest was 8.7 degrees Celsius, recorded on May 6, 2009). Keylong in Lahaul and Spiti logged a low of -2.6 degrees Celsius today, breaking the Rain, hailstorm hit farmers hard, cause ~100 cr loss TOUCHING RECORD LOWS Station Dharamsala Una Shimla Manali Kalpa A thick layer of fresh snow in Lahaul-Spiti district on Tuesday. ANI record lowest temperature of -1.6 degrees Celsius in 2019. Not only the average tem- c m y b peratures are markedly below normal (the average deviation is about 4 to 6 degrees Cel- 2023 8.4-14.8 15.4-18.0 8.4-12.2 5.0-10.8 0.5-6.8 1987 10.1-15.0 14.8-19.7 1.3-8.0 5.5-9.6 -2.0-2.0 (MINIMUM TEMPERATURE RANGE IN DEGREES CELSIUS) sius), the rainfall has been 13 per cent above normal. The precipitation recorded in pre- monsoon season till date in the state is 222.8 mm as against the normal precipitation of 197.1 mm. Besides, snowfall too also been recorded over the last three days, mainly in Lahaul and Spiti. The main areas which received snowfall are Gondla, Keylong and Hansa. Some areas in Kinnaur too recorded snow. “It’s not unusual for these two districts to receive snow in May. It happened in 2018 and 2020 as well,” said Sharma.