15042024-TTC-01.qxd 4/15/2024 12:41 AM Page 1 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 8 NO. 104 | 16 PAGES | ~5.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881 MOSCOW, UKRAINE ENGAGE IN FRESH DRONE ATTACKS WORLD /thetribunechd AZAD HELPING BJP SPLIT SECULAR VOTE, ALLEGES OMAR J&K EMPOWER FARMERS TO STRIKE THE BEST BARGAIN INFOCUS SECOND BATCH OF INDIAN MILITARY PERSONNEL LEAVES MALDIVES BACK PAGE monday | 15 april 2024 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com Days after attack on consulate, Iran fires 300 drones, missiles at Israel 99% shots thwarted: Israel; Biden backs Tel Aviv, but says Indian missions ask citizens to G7 condemns ‘brazen attack’ won’t take part in offensive stay calm, no evacuation yet Ajay Banerjee EAM JAISHANKAR DIALS ISRAELI COUNTERPART Tribune News Service New Delhi, April 14 TURKEY TEHRAN Israel faced an unprecedent■ S Jaishankar said he spoke to his ed attack by Iran late last TEL-AVIV Iranian counterpart Hossein. “Took IRAQ IRAN night, but it and its allies – ISRAEL up releaseof 17 Indian crew members the US and UK — managed of MSC Aries. Stressed the need S. ARABIA for exercising restraint,” he said to intercept 99 per cent of the more than 300 drones and WILL EXACT PRICE WHEN missiles launched toward its TIME IS RIGHT: ISRAEL territory mid-air. Regional ■ Israeli minister Benny Gantz said tensions, however, remain they “will exact a price from Iran in high amid fears of further response to its missile and drone escalation in the event of a attack when the time is right” possible Israeli counter-strike. Iran launched the attack in THERE’LL BE MUCH response to a strike widely LARGER RESPONSE: IRAN blamed on Israel on an Iran- An anti-missile system operates after Iran launched drones and missiles towards Israel. REUTERS ■ Iran too has warned Israel and the ian consular building in SyrISRAEL’S MULTI-TIER DEFENCE SYSTEM HELPS INTERCEPT MISSILES US of “a much larger response if ia earlier this month, which there is any retaliation for its mass IRON DOME FORMS THE BASE ARROW-2 TRACKS MISSILES killed two Iranian generals. drone and missile attack on Israel” ■ Intercepts medium to long-range Israel said Iran launched 170 ■ Forms lowest layer, intercepts ARROW-3 LONG-RANGE short-range surface-to-surface missiles; ‘Green Pine’ radar drones, more than 30 cruise UN FEARS ESCALATION BALLISTIC MISSILE rockets simultaneously tracks missiles 2,400 km away ARROW-2 missiles and over 120 ballis■ UN Secretary-General Antonio tic missiles. DAVID’S SLING IN THE MIDDLE DAVID’S SLING ARROW-3 FOR PRECISION MID TO LONG RANGE Guterres called for immediate cesBy Sunday morning, Iran ■ Forms middle layer; tackles ■ Top layer enables longer range, sation of hostilities, fearing real said the attack was over and mid-range surface-to-surface high-altitude interception with danger of a devastating regionIRON DOME SHORT-RANGE ROCKETS Israel reopened its air space. missiles, large calibre rockets precise missile engagements wide escalation “We will build a regional coalition and collect the price Israel’s feat of thwarting the that includes systems capable During these four decades, the Israel’s Arrow Weapon from Iran in the way and at attack was possible with the of intercepting a variety of its allies like the US, helped System exceeded $3.7 billion the time that suits us,” said a technology it developed in the threats, including long-range Israel with funding and tech- (almost Rs 30,000 crore). continued on page 8 key member of Israel’s War past four decades. It has a mul- missiles, cruise missiles, drones nology. By 2020, the total US edit: Iran vs Israel Cabinet, Benny Gantz. tilayered air-defence network and short-range rockets. financial contribution toward FiringatSalman’s house, Bishnoi gang claims role New Delhi, April 14 Amir Sarfaraz Tamba, an accused in the murder of Indian death row prisoner in Pakistan Sarabjit Singh and close associate of LeT terror outfit founder Hafiz Saeed, was killed by unidentified gunmen in Lahore on Sunday, official sources said. Tamba was attacked by motorcycle-borne assailants in the Islampura area of Lahore in Pakistan and was rushed in a critical condition to a hospital where he succumbed to his injuries, the sources said. Sarabjit Singh (49) had died of cardiac arrest in Jinnah Hospital, Lahore, in the wee hours of May 2, 2013, after Mumbai, April 14 The Mumbai police have registered an FIR after two motorbike-borne unidentified persons opened fire outside Bollywood superstar Salman Khan’s house in the city’s Bandra area early this morning, an official said. The police have recovered a two-wheeler, a little over a kilometre from the actor’s home, suspected to have been used by the duo, he said. Jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi’s mafia outfit has claimed responsibility for the firing. Based in the US, Bishnoi’s brother Anmol Bishnoi, in a Facebook post, has also described the incident as the continued on page 8 IN BRIEF SAD’s Tinu in AAP, may contest Jalandhar seat JALANDHAR: In a setback to the Akali Dal, its Dalit leader and former CPS Pawan Tinu on Sunday joined AAP in Chandigarh. He is likely to be fielded as LS nominee from Jalandhar seat. INSIDE 6-year-old boy, who fell into borewell in MP, dies REWA: A six-year-old boy, who fell into an open borewell in Madhya Pradesh’s Rewa district two days ago, has died despite efforts by agencies to save him, an official said on Sunday. PTI FOUR ROUNDS FIRED BY ASSAILANTS ■ Amir Sarfaraz Tamba, a close associate of LeT founder Hafiz Saeed, was attacked by bike-borne assailants in Lahore ■ He was rushed in a critical condition to a hospital where he succumbed to his injuries, sources said. being comatose for nearly a week following a brutal assault by inmates, including Tamba, inside the high-security Kot Lakhpat jail. Tamba, son of Sarfaraz Javed, was born in Lahore in 1979 and was a close associate of the LeT founder. — PTI New Delhi, April 14 Former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi is among the six candidates announced today by the Congress for the Lok Sabha elections in Punjab. The party named Gurjeet Singh Aujla for the Amritsar seat. Channi (61) has been fielded from the Jalandhar (SC) constituency. He has already taken on rent a house in Jalandhar for campaign work. GS Aujla Amritsar Incumbent MP Amar Singh has been given the go ahead again for the Fatehgarh Sahib (SC) constituency. Will bring back Tatas to Singur, says BJP MP Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, April 14 The ruling BJP on Sunday unveiled its 2024 Lok Sabha election manifesto, promising expansion of the existing network of pro-poor schemes over the next five years, building of support systems for the middle classes, continuation of action against corruption and implementation of “one nation, one election”, Uniform Civil Code and Citizenship Amendment Act. Introducing BJP Sankalp Patra — “Modi ki Guarantee 2024” — coinciding with the ringing in of New Year in NEW PLEDGES DOUBLES DOWN ON ■ Free hospitalisation for 70-plus ■ Free ration to 80 cr people ■ House ownership for families ■ PM Kisan Samman Nidhi belonging to the middle class ■ New trains, end of waiting list ■ PNG in all major towns ■ ‘One nation, one student’ ID ■ Global Ramayana fest ■ Thiruvalluvar centres worldwide ■ Ayushman Bharat ■ Jan Aushadhi Kendras ■ Rural housing (3 cr more) ■ More LPG connections ■ Zero power bills under PM Surya Ghar plan No accountability ❝ Manifesto empowers ❝guarantees, just a for 4 pillars of Viksit Bharat old — poor, women, youth & farmers. Narendra Modi, PM many parts of India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said it would strengthen the poor, jugglery of empty words! Mallikarjun Kharge, CONG CHIEF youth, farmers and women, “four pillars of Viksit Bharat” continued on page 8 FAMILY SEEKS GOVT HELP We appeal to the PM and the External Affairs Minister to help us bring Chirag’s body back home and ensure justice. Tribune News Service Sonepat, April 14 Chirag Antil (24), who hailed from Sector 12 in Sonepat, was shot dead in his car by some unidentified assailants in Vancouver, Canada, on the night of April 12. The family came to know about the incident through Chirag’s friends and an email from the Vancouver police. Mahavir Antil, who retired from a sugar mill, said Chirag was his youngest son. He went to Canada in 2022 to pursue MBA. Thereafter, he started working with a security company. The Vancouver Police Department said in a press note that officers were called to the scene around 11 pm on Chirag Antil Romit Antil, CHIRAG’S BROTHER AUTOPSY NEXT WEEK: VANCOUVER POLICE ■ In an email to Chirag’s brother Romit Antil, the Vancouver police said an autopsy would be carried out next week ■ The body would then be released and the family could make arrangements to transport it to back home to India April 12 after residents heard gunshots. Chirag was found dead inside a vehicle in the area. No arrests had been made do far, it said. The police authorities also did not say if the killing was connected with some gang activity. An email from the Vancou- Amar Singh Fatehgarh Sahib (SC) Jeet Mohinder Bathinda Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu will be the party candidate from Bathinda, Sukhpal Singh Khaira from Sangrur Sukhpal Khaira Sangrur Dharamvira Gandhi Patiala and Dharamvira Gandhi from Patiala. Gandhi, a physician, had defeated Preneet Kaur, continued on page 8 ver police received by Chirag’s brother Romit Antil on Saturday evening said: “We are early in our investigation and do not know who murdered your brother and will be collecting evidence. An autopsy will be done next continued on page 8 Amarnath Yatra to begin on June 29 JAMMU: The annual pilgrimage to the 3,880-metre-high Amarnath shrine in Kashmir will commence on June 29 and conclude on August 19, Shri Amarnath Shrine Board announced on Sunday. The advance registration for the 52-day-long yatra would open on April 15, it said. The yatra takes place on twin tracks — the traditional 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag and the 14-km shorter but steep Baltal route in Ganderbal. INSIDE Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, April 14 Eyeing a historic third consecutive win in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the ruling BJP has bet big on the middle class, promising to create vast supportive networks to ease the life of this population group. Apart from focusing on the poor and the deprived, the BJP manifesto promises to help the middle class realise their dream of owning a house. The middle class is the fastest growing major segment of the Indian population in both percentage and absolute terms, rising at 6.3 per cent between 1995 and 2021. Government data show the middle class today represents 31 per cent of the Indian people and will represent 38 per cent by 2031 and 60 per cent by 2047, forming a formidable pressure bloc. This explains the BJP’s rationale behind moving the middle class families several notches up in their poll priority segment list in comparison to 2019 when the top focus was “nation first followed by farmers and economy”. In the manifesto, covering 24 sectors for deep focus in the next five years, poor fam- Supporters at PM’s Mysuru rally. INDIA’S FASTEST GROWING SEGMENT The middle class is the fastest growing segment of the Indian population, projected to make up 60 per cent of our people by 2047 ilies top the list followed by middle class families, who will represent a major thrust area of Modi 3.0 should the BJP return to power. The BJP manifesto promises for this segment include easing of laws to enable them to own houses; creation of high value jobs through support in tier 2 and 3 cities; establishment of more medical colleges apart from 315 set up in 10 years; more technical continued on page 8 550 Rewari school buses unfit or sans permit; 345 impounded KOLKATA: BJP MP Locket Chat- terjee, seeking re-election from Hooghly LS seat, said the party would bring back Tatas to Singur if voted to power in state. PTI Ravinder Saini VEHICLES BELONG TO OVER 70 PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS Tribune News Service Indian envoy dresses up as ‘apsara’ in Cambodia PHNOM PENH: Devyani Khobrogade, Indian envoy to Combodia, dressed up as a “Khmer Apsara” to wish Cambodians on Khmer New Year. BACK PAGE Mukesh Tandon Cong’s Punjab list of 6 out, Dharamvira picked for Patiala Charanjit Channi Jalandhar (SC) Simultaneous polls, UCC, CAA promised | NRC, MSP skipped Sonepat youth shot in Canada Saffron party bets big on middle class, ❝ 31% of population It’s official, Channi to fight from Jalandhar Tribune News Service Pro-poor, anti-graft push in BJP’s sop-free manifesto PTI Hafiz Saeed’s aide who killed Sarabjit shot in Pak PM Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders launch the party’s manifesto in New Delhi. MANAS RANJAN BHUI Officials inspect school buses in Rewari. PHOTO: SUMIT THARAN Rewari, April 14 The Regional Transport Authority (RTA), Rewari, has identified around 550 buses of over 70 recognised private schools in the district the fitness certificates or permits of which have not been got renewed. It is believed that a majority of these were being used ■ Fitness certificates or per- ■ Most of these buses were mits of around 550 buses of over 70 recognised private schools have not been got renewed in the district being used for transporting schoolchildren without fulfilling norms under the Surakshit School Vahan Policy for transporting schoolchildren without fulfilling the norms under the Surakshit School Vahan Policy. Rewari SDM Vikas Yadav has ordered the impounding of 345 such buses with immediate effect, while the offi- Today’s issue is of 16 pages, including four-page Jalandhar Tribune. c m y b ■ The school authorities con- cerned have been asked to explain why they did not get the requisite documents renewed in time cials concerned have been directed to put owners of such schools on notice, asking them to explain why they did not get the requisite documents renewed in time. The action came after the Chief Secretary directed all district authorities to check documents of all school buses in their respective areas and to take appropriate action against those found violating norms. The action comes in the wake of a recent continued on page 8