20102026-TTB-01.qxd 10/20/2026 12:00 AM Page 1 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 146 NO. 290 | 20 PAGES | ~5.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881  DELHI WILL GIVE ONE SPACEX SHARE TO EVERY US KID: MUSK >> BUSINESS /thetribunechd ‘VERY CLOSE’ TO INDIA TRADE DEAL, SAYS RUBIO >> NATION SECOND ATTACK ON KASHMIR-BOUND BUS IN 2 DAYS >> J&K IMRAN’S PARTY FILES HC PLEA AGAINST KPK GUV RULE >> WORLD tuesday | 20 october 2026 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com Ranka, Das’ custody extended by 2 days over peace concerns Strength not in hiding behind police, court: Dipke hits out at PM Modi Neha Bora approaches HC against peace bond Manikant Mishra Tribune News Service Cops take away the bodies of two victims placed outside the CM’s residence by protesters in Imphal on Monday. PTI Militants kill three in Manipur; locals keep bodies at CM gate Meiteis allege Kuki involvement, rival group denies claims Animesh Singh Tribune News Service New Delhi, October 19 In fresh violence in strifetorn Manipur, three persons reportedly belonging to the Meitei community were killed by suspected militants while collecting firewood in a Naga-dominated area in the Tangkhul region of Kangpokpi district early on Monday. After tthe incident, angry relatives and residents placed the bodies of two of the victims outside the bungalow of Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh. A police team later took custody of the bodies and shifted them to the mortuary at the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS). Security was tightened in and around the Chief Minister’s residence following the incident. Movement on roads leading to the bungalow was restricted, with people barred from passing through the area. Later, the CM visited the hospital to meet three injured persons. Soon after the attack, allegations and counter-allegations surfaced, with Meitei groups claiming the assailants were linked to a Kuki militant outfit, a charge denied by Kuki community leaders. According to one of the victims injured in the attack, whose unverified video has been accessed by The Tribune, a group of villagers was loading firewood when the assailants allegedly opened fire. Sources said the possibility of involvement of NSCN (I-M) militants could not be ruled out. New Delhi, October 19 Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das will remain in jail for two more days after their judicial custody was extended on Monday in the case linked to their entry into Jantar Mantar. The two were detained on October 13 after allegedly scaling the locked gates of Jantar Mantar, which was recently denotified as a designated protest site. They were arrested and sent to five-day judicial custody on October 14. On Monday, Ranka and Das were produced before a Special Executive Magistrate at the Mandir Marg police station for the proceedings before being taken back to Tihar Jail. They will now be produced before the magistrate on Wednesday. The case has been transferred to Delhi Police crime branch. In its order, the court recorded the police’s contention that the two had breached the bonds furnished on October 11 and that there were concerns over a possible day. It directed her to appear before the magistrate on OctoNew Delhi, October 19 ber 19 and execute the bond to All India Students Associa- maintain peace during the tion (AISA) president Neha pendency of the inquiry. Bora has moved the Delhi The proceedings were initiHigh Court challenging a ated under Sections 126 and police notice requiring her to 130, read with Section 135(3), furnish a personal bond of Rs of the Bharatiya Nagarik 10,000 with a surety to main- Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). tain peace following her In her petition, Bora quesdetention during a tioned the basis of protest in the the notice, contendnational capital ing that it did not last week. identify any specific Bora alleged that incident in which the proceedings she breached public were initiated to peace or establish curb peaceful an imminent threat protests and supwarranting prevenpress dissent, argu- AISA chief Neha Bora tive action. ing that the authorThe notice reportities had failed to establish edly refers to sloganeering at any grounds suggesting that Mandi House, participation in her activities could lead to a protests near Jantar Mantar breach of public peace. despite prohibitory orders and The notice was issued by a allegations that she encourSpecial Executive Magistrate aged people to join a demon(SEM) on October 17 and stration at Connaught Place. continued on page 6 served on Bora the following Tribune News Service Saurav Das & Ashutosh Ranka. PTI GOVT ADVISORY TO META ON SET NARRATIVE The Centre has asked Meta to ensure its recommendation systems do not result in “disproportionate exposure of users to a single or limited set of narratives” and to step up checks on content that could cause public disorder or incite violence. breach of peace and disturbance of public tranquillity. The police also cited alleged calls to the public to assemble at Jantar Mantar. The court said the grounds of apprehension placed before it suggested a concern over their conduct and continued on page 6 Mann’s OSD Rajbir questioned for second time by CBI CHANDIGARH: Rajbir Singh Ghuman, OSD to Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, appeared before the CBI here for a second round of questioning. He said he answered around 50 questions and alleged the cashfor-transfer allegations were Opposition propaganda. INSIDE Simarjit Bains gets 1-yr imprisonment in defamation case PATIALA: The court of Chief Judi- cial Magistrate Ekta Sahota sentenced former Atam Nagar MLA and Congress leader Simarjit Singh Bains to one year of imprisonment in an eightyear-old defamation case. The court awarded the sentence after convicting Bains under Section 500 of the IPC. INSIDE Consulted Oppn on delimitation, Cong failed to respond, RijijuwritestoKharge Don’t oppose Shah’s Two of three nabbed for firing at Pvt firm gets licence for visit, says Jhota’s father Tiger Shroff belong to Sonepat power supply in G’gram, Archit Watts Mukesh Tandon Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Mansa, October 19 Bhim Singh, the father of slain anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota, on Monday said he would consider any protest against Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Mansa on Tuesday as a personal insult. He expressed the hope that the minister’s intervention would help secure justice for his son. Bhim (72) appealed to people not to oppose Shah’s visit, saying he had faith in the Union Home Minister. “I have served the country at the borders. I am an ex-serviceman and pensioner. If anyone protests against Shah’s visit, I will take it as a protest against me, an insult to me and my family, and to Jhota’s body. Shah saheb, if anyone protests against you, please do not feel bad,” he said. Bhim said he would welcome Defence Minister Rajnath Singh as well if he visited the family. He added that leaders of all political parties, except AAP were welcome to , meet him, while AAP leaders Sonepat, October 19 Two of the three persons arrested at Kota railway station in Rajasthan for their alleged involvement in the firing at actor Tiger Shroff in Mumbai, Rehan and a 17year-old minor, belong to Haryana’s Sonepat, while Anil Pandit, a member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang who claimed responsibility for the firing, hails from Panipat. The trio, probably heading to Nepal from Mumbai, was arrested following a swift 15-minute operation from the general coach of the Pune-Jaipur Superfast Express when it halted in Kota at 10.17 am, Kota Superintendent of Police Tejaswani Gautam said. The Kota police handed over the three to a Mumbai police team, which arrested them and produced them before a magistrate for transit remand to take them to the Maharashtra capital. As the investigation into the incident on Sunday evening in Mumbai’s Juhu New Delhi, October 19 Signalling that the government’s Delimitation Amendment Bill and 33 per cent women’s reservation agenda were very much alive, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju today said the ruling dispensation had held consultations with a broad section of the Opposition on the issue, but the Congress had not given time for discussions. In a letter to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge today, Rijiju said the government had repeatedly reached out to the Congress on the matter. Urges constructive role from parties for passage of women’s quota Bill “The government has reached out to the Congress being the principal Opposition party on several occasions. I wrote to you on March 16, March 26 and April 12. I had also discussed the matter with you personally and sought your support and cooperation. During the monsoon session, I also met Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi personally for discussion and sought his cooperation on this subject. However, after repeated requests the Congress didn’t give dates for discussion after which the government’s outreach had extended to other political parties,” Rijiju said in his letter to Kharge. The minister said consultations had been held on the Delimitation Bill with the representatives of parties, including the DMK, SP YSR, CP NCP Shiv Sena (UBT), , , AIMIM and the BJD, with a view to facilitate dialogue continued on page 6 Slain anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota’s father Bhim Singh. BRING SOLUTION, NOT RHETORIC: AAP TO HM Ahead of Home Minister Amit Shah’s Punjab visit, AAP state unit chief Aman Arora demanded answers on drug smuggling into the state from Pakistan and narcotics flowing through a Gujarat port, calling on him to stop the political rhetoric. could visit after resigning from their posts. Reiterating his demand for a CBI probe into his son’s murder, Bhim said an investigation by the central agency would help ensure speedy justice. He alleged that evidence could continued on page 6 Gangster who claimed responsibility from Panipat Geetanjali Gayatri Tribune News Service Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde with Tiger Shroff in Mumbai. CAR CHASED IN SONEPAT, CLAIMS FILM PRODUCER Film producer Amit Jani has alleged his vehicle was chased by unidentified individuals in Sonepat and they attempted to stop it at gunpoint on Sunday evening. The “Udaipur Files” producer said the incident took place when he was returning from Jammu to Noida. A police official said the matter was being investigated. area gathered pace, the police said that Rehan was in touch with Pandit. At a press conference in Mumbai in the evening, a senior police official, however, said the third accused was not a minor. “One is 18 years old and the other two are 22 years old,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police Raj Tilak Roshan. “Five to six rounds were fired at Tiger Shroff’s car,” he said, adding that a motorcycle used by them was found in Andheri. Rehan (18), a Class IX dropout from Devru village, was earlier arrested near Butana village in Sonepat on August 19 after a countrymade pistol and three live continued on page 6 Kullu villagers ‘attack’ cops, free two charas peddlers AbhinavVashisht Kullu, October 19 An anti-drug operation in the Lug valley of Kullu district turned violent on October 17, with the police alleging that a group of locals attacked their team and freed two suspects from whom charas had been seized. The incident has triggered a controversy as a former panchayat pradhan disputed the police account. The police have registered a case against Mangarh panchayat pradhan Shanti Devi, her husband Jeet Ram, up-pradhan Rajender Thakur and unidentified persons in connection with the incident at Pankuti-Jakleh Kainchi Mod. Acting on a tip-off, the police intercepted two men, one from Jakrehad village and the other from Summa village, in the Lug valley. A search of their bags allegedly led to the recovery of charas. The police alleged that Shanti Devi, Jeet Ram, Rajender and nearly 40 local residents gathered at the spot and attacked the police team and an independent witness. The crowd then allegedly freed FIR against panchayat members; ex-pradhan disputes police version the two suspects and took away a portion of the seized contraband. The police said 508 gm of charas and the mobile phones of the suspects were left behind and subsequently seized. A policeman and an eyewitness sustained injuries in the incident. Superintendent of Police Abishek Sekar said an FIR had been registered at the Kullu police station under Sections 20 and 29 of the NDPS Act and Sections 132, 191(2), 121(1), 115(2) and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. He said efforts were underway to identify all those involved on the basis of available evidence. However, former panchayat pradhan Reena Devi, who claimed to be present at the spot, challenged the police account. She alleged that a group of unidentified persons in plain clothes arrived around 8 am carrying a bag of cash and asked villagers to procure charas. She alleged Today’s issue is of 20 pages, including four-page Delhi Tribune. c m y b Nuh; govt to file appeal that the group members failed to produce any identification cards when questioned by the villagers. Reena called the registration of the police case a “conspiracy” and denied any charas had been recovered from the spot. She also demanded video evidence of the alleged seizure. She claimed Shanti Devi was not present at the spot, and that a panchayat delegation would meet the SP on Tuesday to seek a “clarification”. Rajender said he was unaware about the incident. Chandigarh, October 19 With the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC) granting a 25-year parallel distribution licence to a private company on Monday, consumers in Gurugram and Nuh will have the option to choose their power distributor. The state government, however, has decided to challenge the order, while employees and engineers of the Energy Department, who oppose the move, have announced a protest. As per the HERC order, the company will have to obtain approval for a consumer migration protocol within 60 days of the grant of the licence. The actual migration of consumers can take place only in accordance with the approved protocol and the Consumer Migration Framework issued by the Commission from time to time. In its petition, Eleven Power Pvt Ltd sought a distribution licence under Sections 14 and 15 of the Electricity Act, 2003, to establish a renewable energy-focused, technology-driven power utility in Gurugram and Nuh districts. The company proposed an investment of Rs 4,716.73 crore over five years to develop a modern distribution network, with Nuh included in the first phase. It also proposed sourcing 80 per cent of its power from renewable energy. Energy Minister Anil Vij said, “We opposed this licence tooth and nail during the hearings. The HERC order is unacceptable and we will challenge it before the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL). Our employees are also opposed to it. We do not want parallel licences.” Employees of the Energy LONG-TERM DEAL The 25-year licence allows Eleven Power to operate in Nuh and Gurugram, with ~4,716-cr capital & 80% green sourcing LEGAL CHALLENGE Haryana Govt will challenge HERC’s order before appellate tribunal, with Anil Vij calling the move unacceptable PRIVATISATION FEARS Employees term the move bid to privatise sector and warned it could burden consumers & weaken state-owned utilities OPPN’S OBJECTION Congress leader Bhupinder Hooda has warned the licence could hurt utilities and raise costs for consumers Department view the move as a step towards privatisation that could burden consumers while weakening state-owned power utilities. The move had faced strong opposition during the monsoon session of the Assembly. Leader of the Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda had raised concerns about its impact on state-owned utilities, arguing that it would increase the financial burden on consumers and isolate heavily subsidised agricultural consumers. Responding to opposition criticism and widespread protests by power employees, Anil Vij had clarified in the Assembly that the state government itself opposed the proposal for a parallel power distribution licence. Former Finance Minister and INLD leader Sampat Singh criticised the decision, describing it as a blow to the power sector and interests of farmers and rural consumers. He said the move undermined the principle that essential public services should prioritise public welfare over profit.