04092024-TTC-01.qxd 9/4/2024 12:27 AM Page 1 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 144 NO. 245 | 14 PAGES | ~5.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881 RUSSIAN STRIKES ON UKRAINE MILITARY FACILITY KILL 50 WORLD /thetribunechd RAHUL TO SOUND BUGLE FOR ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS TODAY J&K WORLD BANK PEGS PM OPENS NEW CHANCERY INDIAN GROWTH RATE OF HIGH COMMISSION AT 7% BUSINESS IN BRUNEI BACK PAGE wednesday | 4 september 2024 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com Bengal passes Bill for death to rape convicts Tribune News Service New Delhi, September 3 The West Bengal Assembly on Tuesday unanimously passed the state’s new antirape Bill prescribing capital punishment for convicts if their actions result in the victim’s death or leave her in a vegetative state. It also stipulates life sentence without parole for other perpetrators. The Assembly saw noisy scenes when the government tabled the Aparajita Woman and Child (West Bengal Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill, 2024, which proposed to amend certain portions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the POCSO Act “in their application to the state”. The Bill was moved in the wake of widespread protests following the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9. The proposed law, which requires assent from the Bengal Governor and then the President, when enacted, would mark a significant development in the state’s Ultras planning targeted killings to disrupt J&K poll, warns Intel DIVINE GLOW Animesh Singh Tribune News Service HOW IT’S DIFFERENT FROM CENTRAL LAW ■ Bengal Bill seeks death penalty for convict compared to life term or jail for remainder of life under BNS ■ BNS seeks death only in cases where victim is under 12, goes into vegetative state or woman below 18 is gang-raped ■ Bengal Bill seeks to make death mandatory punishment even if victim is above 18 ‘WB NOT HELPING CISF’, CENTRE MOVES SC Alleging non-cooperation by West Bengal in providing logistical help to the CISF, asked to provide security at the RG Kar hospital in Kolkata, the Centre on Tuesday moved the SC seeking a direction to the state to extend full cooperation. BACK PAGE legal framework against sexual crimes. The Bill was cleared after Opposition BJP MLAs supported it despite Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari’s allegation that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had moved continued on page 9 The Golden Temple all decked up ahead of the installation anniversary of Guru Granth Sahib. SUNIL KUMAR AAP, Cong eye pact for Haryana poll NEW DELHI: INDIA bloc partners Congress and AAP on Tuesday opened talks to explore the possibility of a prepoll alliance for the October 5 Haryana elections. AAP sources told The Tribune that two rounds of talks on seat sharing had already been held between AAP’s Raghav Chadha and Congress general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal and a third was expected soon. “The Congress is ready to give us seven seats but we are demanding 10,” a senior AAP leader said. INSIDE New Delhi, September 3 Nearly two weeks before the first phase of the J&K Assembly elections is conducted on September 18, the Centre is planning to review and upgrade security in the UT, with focus on the contestants. The move follows intelligence reports on terror groups planning to carry out targeted killings. Attacks could also take place on poll officials and security forces. Highly placed sources told The Tribune that inputs had been received about THE TRIBUNE EXCLUSIVE Govt to beef up security of candidates, staff terror outfits such as Lashkare-Toiba, Hizbul Mujahideen and Al-Badr looking to activate their over-ground workers for the killings. The sources said the attacks were being planned from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The terror outfits are learnt to be making efforts to send across arms to their overground workers in J&K. Explosives were also being arranged through these operatives. The border districts of Shopian and Budgam in Kashmir, and Kathua and Samba in Jammu are said to be highly vulnerable. In view of the recent spurt in attacks on the security forces, especially in the Jammu sector, the security of election officials and the candidates is likely to be beefed up. The 198-km-long boundary from the Punjab border to the south bank of the Chenab, which is manned by continued on page 9 Plot owners in 14K illegal colonies of Silt threatens Bhakra Dam, Punjab can build houses sans NOC holding capacity dips 25% Ruchika M Khanna Tribune News Service Chandigarh, September 3 The Punjab Vidhan Sabha today unanimously passed amendments to the Punjab Apartment and Property Regulation Act, 1995, which will allow those having plots up to 500 square yards in size in unauthorised colonies to construct houses without having to obtain a no objection certificate (NOC). This will benefit thousands Assembly passes Property Regulation (Amendment) Bill who own residential plots in the 14,000-odd unauthorised colonies that have mushroomed across Punjab in the past couple of years. However, only those who have either bought the plots or entered into an agreement to sell on stamp paper, or c m y b through power of attorney, before July 31 will be entitled to get the plot registered before a Registrar or Sub Registrar without obtaining any NOC from the development authority concerned. The sale proceedings will have to be completed by November 2, said Renewable Energy Minister Aman Arora. The amendments have been made to Section 20 and Section 36 of the Punjab Apartment continued on page 9 Vijay Mohan Tribune News Service Chandigarh, September 3 With the storage capacity at the Bhakra Dam down by about 25 per cent over the years due to inflow of silt and debris, the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) has initiated a massive project to get portions of the reservoir desilted. “The proposal to desilt the reservoir has been approved by the board. We will be issuing a tender shortly to invite BBMB moves to desilt reservoir bids for the purpose,” a senior BBMB official said. He added that as the area fell in Himachal Pradesh, discussions were also being held with the state government on royalty, availability of land for infrastructure, transportation of silt, and its possible use for landfill or industrial purposes. continued on page 9