30102024-TTB-01.qxd 10/29/2024 11:49 PM Page 1 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 144 NO. 301 | 18 PAGES | ~5.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881  DELHI HEZBOLLAH ELECTS NAIM TO SUCCEED SLAIN CHIEF NASRALLAH WORLD /thetribunechd 30 INJURED AS BUS FALLS INTO DITCH IN UDHAMPUR J&K MARUTI SUZUKI NET PROFIT SLIDES 17% TO ~3,069 CR BUSINESS MODI SLAMS DELHI, WB GOVTS OVER AYUSHMAN SCHEME BACK PAGE wednesday | 30 october 2024 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com Two more terrorists killed in Akhnoor JAMMU: A day after a terrorist was killed in an encounter following an attack on an Army ambulance in Akhnoor sector of Jammu district, two more heavily armed militants were neutralised in an early morning operation by the Army on Tuesday. The slain terrorists are believed to be Pakistanis. INSIDE 154 hurt in Kerala cracker store blaze KASARAGOD:A fire accident dur- ing a Theyyam performance at a temple near Neeleswaram late Monday night left 154 persons injured, eight of them seriously, when firecrackers stored in the vicinity exploded, the police said on Tuesday. The firecrackers were stored without legal permission. BACK PAGE Salman, Zeeshan get fresh threats HAL invokes penalty clause against GE for engine delay Sunita’s Diwali greetings from space IAF to get just 2 Tejas Mark-1A jets against 18 scheduled this fiscal Ajay Banerjee Tribune News Service New Delhi, October 29 Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has invoked a penalty clause against US aerospace giant General Electric (GE) over the 18month delay in the supply of aero-engines for the Tejas Mark-1A jets. The delay comes as a setback for the Indian Air Force as the HAL will be able to supply only two of the Tejas Mark-1A jets against the 18 jets scheduled for this fiscal, ending March 31, 2025. The penalty clause had to be “invoked” as there was no other option in the face of the delay, a source said, while another source added that “the contract and its clauses had to be enforced lest the CBI and Central Vigilance Commission hound officials”. The GE, meanwhile, has attributed the delay to the crisis being faced by one of its South Korean suppliers of engine parts, sources said. For now, the US company has only two F404 engines available. “India will be getting these two engines to US FIRM HAD TO SUPPLY 16 ENGINES THIS YEAR ■ In 2021, US aerospace giant General Electric had signed a $716-million contract with Ministry of Defence-owned HAL to supply 99 “F404GE-IN20” engines for the Tejas Mark-1A jets ■ The US company had to sup- ply 16 engines each year, starting April 2023 ■ For now, the US company has only two F404 engines available. India will be getting these two engines to power two Tejas Mark-1A jets, sources said DELAY BLAMED ON SOUTH KOREAN SUPPLIER ■ The GE has attributed the delay in engines to the crisis being faced by one of its South Korean suppliers of engine parts power two Tejas Mark-1A jets,” the sources said. In 2021, GE had signed a $716-million contract with Ministry of Defence-owned HAL to supply 99 “F404-GEIN20” engines for the Tejas Mark -1A jets. The company had to supply 16 engines each year, starting April 2023. The MoD and the HAL have set a target for the production of 24 Tejas Mark -1A jets each year from the next fiscal, the sources said, adding that the GE had assured that it would get its supply chain in order by then. The assurance had been given at the level of US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, the sources added. Amid the delay in the supply of jet engines from GE, India and US had signed in August the Security of Supply Arrangement (SOSA). The pact has clauses allowing access to each other’s resources in case the supply chain disruptions occur – like the one in the case of jet engines. This arrangement enables both countries to acquire the industrial resources needed from one another to resolve the unanticipated supply chain disruptions. After the GE’s F404 engine was chosen for the Tejas Mark-1A, the MoD ordered the first tranche of 83 jets in February 2021 under a Rs 48,000 crore order placed with the HAL. The HAL – a Bengaluruheadquartered company — is yet to deliver even one jet. The deliveries were to commence three years after the signing of the contract, or by March this year. The IAF at present has 31 squadrons (with 16-18 planes each) of fighter jets against the requirement of 42 squadrons. The IAF already has 40 Tejas Mark1 jets. The Tejas Mark 1A is an improved version of the aircraft. Indian-origin American astronaut Sunita Williams extends greetings from the International Space Station during a Diwali reception hosted by US President Joe Biden at the White House. PTI Brazil won’t join China’s BRI, 2nd BRICSnation after India to do so Beijing, October 29 In a major setback to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Brazil has decided against joining Beijing’s multi-billion-dollar initiative, becoming the second country after India in the BRICS bloc not to endorse the mega project. Brazil, headed by President Lula da Silva, will not join the BRI and instead seek alternative ways to collaborate with Chinese investors, Celso Amorim, special presiden- Setback to Beijing ahead of Prez Xi’s visit to Brasilia on Nov 20 tial adviser for international affairs, said on Monday. Brazil wanted to “take the relationship with China to a new level, without having to sign an accession contract”, he told a Brazilian newspaper. “We are not entering into a treaty,” Amorim said, explaining that Brazil did not want to take Chinese infrastructure and trade projects as “an insurance policy”. According to Amorim, the aim was to use some of the Belt and Road framework to find “synergy” between Brazilian infrastructure projects and the investment funds associated with the initiative, without necessarily formally joining the group, the Hong Kong-based ‘South continued on page 8 MUMBAI: The Mumbai police have arrested a 20-year-old youth from Noida in Uttar Pradesh for allegedly issuing a death threat through a voice call to Bollywood actor Salman Khan and NCP leader Zeeshan Siddique, son of slain politician Baba Siddique, an official said. — PTI EithertransferJind SP or send him on leave: Paneltogovt Deepender Deswal Tribune News Service Hisar, October 29 The Haryana State Commission for Women (HSCW) chairperson has recommended to the state government to either send Jind Superintendent of Police (SP) Sumit Kumar, who is an IPS officer, on leave or transfer him over allegations of sexual harassment. IPS OFFICER DENIES WOMEN HARASSMENT ALLEGATIONS Notably, a four-page letter had gone viral on the social media three days ago. It contained allegations of sexual exploitation by the Jind SP and also mentioned that a racket, including senior police officers, was involved in extorting money from rich people by implicating them in false rape cases. Later, the police assigned a probe to continued on page 8 Oct unusually warm, ‘Criminal-police nexus’: HC orders fresh lack of rain to blame investigation in Bishnoi interview case Aksheev Thakur Tribune News Service New Delhi, October 29 People’s hopes of enjoying cool weather in October after braving a hot summer have been dashed with the mercury remaining above normal in the Capital for the past 10 days. The absence of western disturbances, which bring rain and snowfall in the hilly regions of north India, is the primary cause behind the October heat, said experts at the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The data from the department said the minimum temperature had been hovering around 20°C in the past week. This is three degrees above normal. The normal maximum temperature should be around 31°C, but it has remained around 35°C. No wonder, air conditioners are still being run in offices and houses. “The temperature is above normal by four to five degrees. This is due to the absence of a western disturbance,” said RK Jenamani, a scientist with the IMD. The only source of rainfall and snowfall in north India is extra-tropical storms known Absence of western disturbances key cause as western disturbances. Another IMD scientist said, “There are no clouds, hence there are no northwesterly winds in the region, leading to the temperature remaining high in northwest India. The easterly winds are prevalent over the IndoGangetic plains. These are not allowing the temperature to dip. Moreover, since there is no western disturbance, there is no snowfall and rainfall. These weather patterns are stopping the dip in the temperature.” A marginal dip in the temperature is expected by October 31. The lowest minimum temperature last recorded in Delhi was 12.5°C on October 29, 2020. On October 26, the lowest minimum temperature recorded in the Capital was 13.5°C. While the southwest monsoon withdrew on October 2, Delhi which usually sees rain in the month failed to receive a single shower. IMD experts said that there was no possibility of rain even till the month-end. Saurabh Malik Tribune News Service Chandigarh, October 29 Just about a fortnight after the Punjab and Haryana High Court took exception to the cancellation report filed by the special investigation team in the Lawrence Bishnoi interview case, a Division Bench has directed that a “new” special investigation team should carry out further investigation. It has been asked to probe “criminal conspiracy, abetment, forgery and offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act, the Information Technology Act ❝ Lawrence Bishnoi and also any other offence”. The direction came as the Bench of Justice Anupinder Singh Grewal and Justice Lapita Banerji asserted that the report under Section 173 of the CrPC gave rise to “suspicion of nexus and conspiracy between police officers and the criminal”. The Bench observed that COPS PROVIDED STUDIO-LIKE FACILITY Police officers allowed the criminal to use an electronic device and provided a studio-like facility to conduct the interview. Their involvement may suggest receipt of illegal gratification. — High Court Bench the police officers allowed the criminal to use an electronic device and provided a studiolike facility to conduct the interview, tending to glorify crime with the potential to facilitate other offences, including extortion, by the criminal and his accomplices. “The involvement of police officers may suggest receipt of illegal gratification from the criminal or his accomplices and constitute offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Therefore, the case requires further investigation,” the Bench observed. The court also demanded an affidavit from the state DGP explaining why Bishnoi continued on page 8 US repatriated 1,100 Indians in 12 months Tribune News Service New Delhi, October 29 About 1,100 Indians who were staying illegally in the US were deported over the past one year, a senior official in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said on Tuesday. Royce Bernstein Murray, Assistant Secretary for Bor- der and Immigration Policy at the DHS, warned that all those illegally crossing Mexico or Canadian borders to enter the US would have to face similar consequences. “In the American fiscal year 2024 that ended on September 30, the US repatriated 1,100 Indians,” said Murray during an online media briefing. The last flight, she said, carried 100 illegal immigrants to India on October 22. The senior official said the October 22 charter flight was “de-planed in Punjab”. However, she did not mention where exactly the flight had originated from or the place of origins of the deportees. “Large chartered flights, like the one on October 22, typically carry a 100 people… All those deported were adult men and women, and didn’t include any children… They did not have an established legal basis to remain in the US,” she said. Murray said individuals overstaying their visa could also be deported. “A person with a lawful entry but committing a serious crime can also face deportation,” she said. Jalandhar teenager’s death at walk-in oven shatters family’s Canada dream Aakanksha Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Gursimran Kaur, who died in Halifax Jalandhar, October 29 The dream of a family hailing from Jalandhar to reunite in Canada after 16 years came crashing down with the dreadful death of Gursimran Kaur (19) in a walk-in oven at her workplace Walmart in Halifax on October 20. Gursimran and her mother, Mandeep Kaur, had moved to Canada from Guru Nanak Nagar in Suranussi here about two years ago and both of them were Walmart employees. Gursimran was just three when her father, Rajinder Singh, moved to the UK. Gursimran, who had since then been putting up with her paternal uncle, Gurvinder Singh, in Jalandhar before moving to Canada, was hopeful that her father would join them in Canada, where they would eventually all settle down. “My brother returned from the UK after hearing about the tragedy and is in Delhi AWAITING DETAILS FROM CANADIAN COPS ❝ We are waiting for the Canadian police to complete their inquiry and share the details with us. We are hopeful of getting justice. Gurvinder Singh, DECEASED’S UNCLE for getting his visa for Canada processed. Sadly, he will not be able to see her even one last time…,” said Gurvinder Singh in a choked voice. Fondly holding a picture of the teen, Gurvinder Singh said, “I had taken care of the girl in my younger brother’s absence. Her mother had also moved to the UK. The girl used to lovingly call me “papa” and my wife “mumma”. She would often talk to her parents on the phone, but did not miss their physical pres- Today’s issue is of 18 pages, including four-page Delhi Tribune. c m y b ence as she had adjusted with us so well. Her mother returned in 2014 and gave birth to a boy.” He said, “A perfectionist and full of intelligence, Gursimran passed her Class XI in 2022 after which she moved to Canada. She and her mother started working together in Walmart, not knowing what fate had in store for them.” “We still do not know how it all happened. We are waiting for the Canadian police to complete their inquiry and share the details with us. We have full faith in their investigation. We are hopeful of getting justice,” said Gurvinder Singh, refusing to comment on whether there could be foul play behind the girl’s death. On reports of a fundraiser of over Rs 1 crore for the family, he said, “We too have learnt about it online. We know nothing more. All we know is that we have lost our cute, little, dreamy girl and that our life shall not be the same without her.” Patiala narcotics cell inspector held for ~1 lakh graft Tribune News Service Patiala, October 29 The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) on Tuesday arrested Inspector Gurinder Singh, incharge, Anti-Narcotics Task Force, Patiala, while he was accepting a bribe of Rs 1 lakh. The Anti-Narcotics Task Force is a specialised unit formed to check drug smuggling. In a bid to extort money from a Nabha family, the accused had allegedly threatened to implicate its member in a false drug smuggling case. HAD THREATENED TO BOOK NABHA MAN IN FAKE CASE A VB spokesperson said Gurinder was arrested based on a complaint lodged by Pooja, a resident of Rohti Pul village, Nabha tehsil in Patiala district. He said the complainant had approached the VB alleging that the accused Inspector was threatening to implicate her father in a false NDPS case if he failed to give him a bribe of Rs 3 lakh. However, the deal was stuck at Rs 1.50 lakh and the accused received Rs 50,000 as the first instalment of the continued on page 8 EC rejects Cong charge on Haryana poll irregularities NEW DELHI: The Election Commission on Tuesday rejected allegations levelled by the Congress over irregularities in the just-held Haryana Assembly polls, saying the party was raising “the smoke of a generic doubt” about the credibility of an entire electoral outcome like it did in the past. “This is least expected of a national political party,” the Election Commission said in a letter to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. INSIDE