07062023-TTB-01.qxd 6/6/2023 11:54 PM 13 DAM ATTACK: MOSCOW, KYIV BLAME EACH OTHER WORLD /thetribunechd Page 1 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 143 NO. 156 | 14 PAGES | ~5.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2021-2023 ESTABLISHED IN 1881  HARYANA wednesday | 7 june 2023 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com India’s democracy ‘vibrant’: US allays concerns ahead of PM visit Says strength of democratic institutions to figure in discussions Tribune News Service NewDelhi, June 6 India is a vibrant democracy and anybody who happens to go to New Delhi can see that for themselves, the White House said on Monday when asked about concerns over the health of democracy in India. PM Narendra Modi will be on a state visit to the US in about a fortnight from now where he is slated to address a joint session of US Congress. “India is a vibrant democracy.... Certainly, I would expect strength and health of democratic institutions will be part of the discussion,” John Kirby, coordinator for Strategic Communications, National Security Council, said at a news conference in Washington. In response to a question, he said, “Look, we never shy away. And you can do that President Joe Biden will host PM Modi for a state dinner on June 22. FILE GO TO DELHI, SEE FOR YOURSELF India is a vibrant democracy. Anybody who happens to go to New Delhi can see that for themselves... strength and health of democratic institutions will be part of the discussion (during PM’s visit). John Kirby, US OFFICIAL ❝ with friends. You are supposed to do that with friends. You never shy away from expressing concerns that we might have with anyone around the world. But this (state) visit is really about advancing what is now and what we hope will be a deeper, stronger partnership and friendship going forward.” Asked about the levels at which India and the US partnered each other, he said Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin had announced some additional defence cooperation. “There is an awful lot of economic trade between our two nations. India is a member of the Pacific Quad and a key friend and partner in IndoPacific security,” he said. Kirby said there were innumerable reasons why India certainly mattered, not only bilaterally but multilaterally. “President (Joe Biden) is looking forward very much to having PM Modi in Washington to talk about all those issues and to deepen that partnership and friendship,” he added. edit: indo-us defence ties IN BRIEF Mismatch in affidavits, FIRs against WFI chief NEW DELHI: IOA sources say affidavits filed by two wrestlers in complaint against the WFI chief have some deviations from their allegations in FIRs. BACK PAGE NCSC issues 3rd notice in Kataruchak case JALANDHAR: The National Com- mission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) has issued a third notice to the Punjab Government over complaint against minister Lal Chand Kataruchak. TNS Police disperse farmers to restore traffic on NH-44 at Shahabad, near Kurukshetra. TRIBUNE PHOTO NH-44 blocked, farmers cane-charged Nitish Sharma Tribune News Service Sachin Pilot likely to float party on June 11 NEW DELHI: Speculation is rife that Rajasthan Congress leader Sachin Pilot is likely to float a new party on June 11. BACK PAGE Kurukshetra, June 6 The Haryana Police on Tuesday cane-charged farm activists who had gathered under the banner of Bhartiya Kisan Union (Charuni) and had blocked the NH-44 at Sha- BKU protests as sunflower not procured on MSP KEEP HIGHWAY OPEN: HC habad in Kurukshetra to press for their demand seeking procurement of sunflower at minimum support price (MSP). Led by union president Gurnam Singh Charuni, hundreds of farmers had gathered in Shahabad to hold a mahapanchayat to protest the government’s decision against procuring sunflower on an MSP announced by it earlier. continued on page 10 CBIbeginsBalasoreprobe, BSF constable killed, two to work on foul play theory hurt in Manipur ambush New Delhi, June 6 The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) today said it had registered an FIR and formally taken over the probe into the triple-train accident that took place on June 2 in Balasore district of Odisha. An agency spokesperson said, “The case has been registered on the request of Ministry of Railways, consent of the Odisha Government and further orders from Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) relating to the train accident involving Coromandel Express, Yashwantpur-Howrah Express and a goods train at Bahanaga Bazar station on June 2.” The CBI took over the FIR registered by the Government Railway Police, Cut- TAMPERING WITH INTERLOCKING SYSTEM? The CBI has stepped in to probe the case after railway officials hinted at criminal tampering with point machine or electronic interlocking system tack, on June 3 under IPC Sections 337, 338, 304A (causing death by negligence) and continued on page 10 New Delhi, June 6 In a fresh spurt of violence in Manipur, a BSF constable was killed and two Assam Rifles personnel injured following an encounter with suspected Kuki insurgents in the Serou area early this morning. Officials in the security establishment said the exchange of fire between the two sides took place in a school in Serou area of Sugnu in Kakching district. Suspected Kuki miscreants resorted to indiscriminate and heavy firing targeted at BSF troops deployed at Serou Practical High School around 4.15 am, an official said. Constable Ranjit Yadav sustained a bullet injury during the gunfight and was Biggest LSD haul, darknet cartel busted NCB unearths pan-India trafficking | 6 held, all in their 20s New Delhi, June 6 The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) today said it had busted a pan-India drugs trafficking network operating on the darknet with the “largestever” single seizure of 15,000 LSD blots in one operation and the arrest of six persons in the age group of 25-28 years. The seizure, as per officials, is estimated to be worth over Rs 10 crore (Rs 5,000-7,000 per blot) in the international market and all six who have been taken into custody, beginning late last month, are students and youngsters who wanted Kuki insurgents target soldiers’ camp in school FRESH VIOLENCE ■ Kuki insurgents fired at troops stationed at a school in Serou ■ Exchange of fire also reported between soldiers, Constable Ranjit Yadav Kuki militants at Phayeng in Imphal West ■ Earlier, villagers set ablaze camp at Sugnu where Kukis stayed after signing pact with govt evacuated to Kakching’s Jivan Hospital where he was declared dead, the official said. continued on page 10 ~1,000 cr shortfall, HP finding it tough to meet expenses Tribune News Service 14,961 LSD BLOTS SEIZED ■ LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) is a synthetic chemical-based drug ■ It’s trafficked by painting it on blots, half the size of a stamp paper CRYPTOCURRENCY, UPI USED ■ LSD sourced from Poland, the Netherlands via crypto, UPI shipped through couriers, postal networks The accused in NCB custody. PTI DARKNET Encrypted Internet with ■ Suppliers, consumers interrestricted access for illegal info sharing acted only on darknet ■ Contraband to make “easy money” by remaining anonymous within the deep layers of secret internet-based apps and messenger service like WICKR. continued on page 10 INDIA, GERMANY SET TO SIGN PACT FOR 6 SUBS BACK PAGE Shimla, June 6 Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan has revealed that the state treasury is in a deficit of Rs 1,000 crore. “The government will get a loan of Rs 800 crore tomorrow. Still, the treasury will be in deficit,” he said after a Cabinet meeting today. Chauhan said the government was finding it tough to meet day-to-day expenses. “The Centre has reduced our loan limit and applied cuts on foreign-aided projects,” he said. INSIDE c m y b