09072024-TTB-01.qxd 7/8/2024 11:54 PM Page 1 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 144 NO. 189 | 16 PAGES | ~5.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881 DELHI 36 KILLED ACROSS UKRAINE, CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL HIT WORLD /thetribunechd SLAIN ULTRAS USED LOCALS’ HOUSES AS HIDEOUTS J&K INDIA INC HOPES FOR TAX RELIEF IN UNION BUDGET BUSINESS HEMANT SOREN GOVT WINS TRUST VOTE AMID WALKOUT BY OPPOSITION NATION tuesday | 9 july 2024 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com Army vehicle ambushedin Kathua,five soldiers killed MODI-PUTIN TALKS TODAY ■ PM Narendra Modi on Monday met Russian President Vladimir Putin at his residence at Novo-Ogaryovo near Moscow. Modi’s visit is likely to focus on cooperation in energy, trade and manufacturing sectors. ■ Before departing from India, PM Modi said he was looking forward to reviewing all aspects of bilateral cooperation and sharing of perspectives on various regional and global issues, including Ukraine war. BACK PAGE 5 hurt |JCOamong dead | 5th attack in Jammu region in a month Arjun Sharma Jammu, July 8 In yet another terror attack on the Army in Jammu and Kashmir, five soldiers were killed and another five injured when a group of terrorists ambushed their vehicle in Billawar tehsil of Kathua district on Monday. The terrorists hurled a grenade and opened fire at the Army vehicle near Badnota village in the mountainous Machedi area. When the security forces retaliated, the terrorists fled into a nearby forest. A search operation was underway. It is believed that the attack, fifth such incident in Jammu region in a month, was carried out by a group of two-three terrorists. The deceased included one junior commissioned officer (JCO), one havildar, one naik and two riflemen. They belonged to a unit of the 22 Garhwal Rifles. Their identity was not revealed till late evening. Billawar SHO Jatinder Singh, who was on the spot, Sharing Google location can’t be rider for bail: SC Tribune News Service New Delhi, July 8 Courts can’t order an accused to share his Google pin location as a condition for grant of bail to enable the police to constantly track his movements and virtually peep into his privacy, the Supreme Court ruled on Monday. CONDITION VIOLATES RIGHT TO PRIVACY, SAYS TOP COURT “Imposing any bail condition that enables the police or investigation agency to track every movement of the accused released on bail by using any technology or otherwise would undoubtedly violate the right to privacy guaranteed under Article 21 (right to life and liberty)… This cannot be a condition of bail,” a Bench led by Justice AS Oka said. Noting that the object of the bail condition could not be to keep a constant vigil on the continued on page 8 The Army vehicle that came under attack in Billawar, Kathua. TARGETING SECURITY FORCES MAY 4, 2024 One Air Force man dies in ambush at Surankote, Poonch DEC 21, 2023 Militants gun down four soldiers in Dera ki Gali in Poonch APRIL 20, 2023 5 jawans die in ambush near Bhatta Dhurian, Poonch confirmed the death of five soldiers. Reinforcements, which included columns of the Army and Special Operations Group (SOG) of the J&K Police, were rushed to the area to neutralise the terrorists, who are believed to have recently infiltrated from across the border. Sources said the Army truck was on a regular patrol on the Machedi-Malhar road. They said the area had been a traditional route for terrorists who infiltrated through the border in Kathua. The ultras usually take a route from Billawar to Basantgarh in Udhampur and then to Kishtwar or Doda district. The attack comes a day after a soldier was injured in a firing by terrorists in Rajouri’s Manjakote. Last month, Doda, Kathua and Reasi districts too witnessed major terror-related incidents. While the Army didn’t confirm the incident till the evening, Anand Jain, ADGP , Jammu, said there was an exchange of fire between terrorists and forces in Machedi. In his initial statement, he said, “Two Army men were hurt after which a search was launched.” The area is under the radar of security forces after the June 11 encounter in Kathua’s Hiranagar. Visit Manipur, listen to those hit by violence: Rahul to PM << Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomes PM Narendra Modi in Moscow. REUTERS NEET sanctity breached, retest if tainted can’t be segregated: SC Directs CBI to submit status report on probe | Next hearing on July 11 Satya Prakash DON’T BE IN SELF-DENIAL Let us not be in selfdenial…. One thing which is very clear is that the leak has taken place…. the question is how widespread is the leak. SC Bench Tribune News Service New Delhi, July 8 Asking the Centre not to be in self-denial, the Supreme Court on Monday highlighted several ‘red flags’ in the NEET-UG 2024 examination held on May 5 and made it clear it will order a retest if it’s found that the paper leak is widespread. “One thing which is very clear is that the leak has taken place… That the sanctity of the exam has been breached is beyond doubt. The question is how widespread is the leak,” three-judge Bench led by CJI DY Chandrachud said, while hearing petitions seeking scrapping of NEET-UG ❝ << Students at the Supreme Court on Monday. MUKESH AGGARWAL 2024 over alleged paper leak and other malpractices. “Is it the case of NTA today that there is no (paper) leak? We take it that there is an admitted position that there is a leak. The nature of the leak is the fact we are determining,” the CJI said. ation where breach affects the entirety of the process and it’s not possible to segregate the beneficiaries from others, it may be necessary to order a retest.” Around 24 lakh students appeared for NEET-UG 2024 continued on page 8 After ‘shirshasan’ row, SGPC bans filming videos at Golden Temple Says will back initiative to restore peace in state The top court, however, said: “Before we decide to order a retest, we must understand what is the nature of (paper) leak... is it widespread or isolated… Asking 23 lakh plus students to appear for a retest is tough.” However, it said: “In a situ- Four killed in clash between 2 groups in Punjab Shubhadeep Choudhury Tribune News Service New Delhi, July 8 Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Monday appealed to PM Narendra Modi to visit Manipur, saying it would help restore peace in the state, which had been reeling under ethnic violence for over a year now. The PM has so far not visited the state ever since violence between the majority Meitei and minority Kuki tribal communities broke out in May last year. On his third trip to Manipur since June last year, Rahul told reporters in Imphal that a visit by the PM would be extremely beneficial for the state. “He (the PM) should listen to the people (of Manipur) and hear GS Paul Tribune News Service Congress MP Rahul Gandhi meets victims of the Manipur violence during a visit to a relief camp in Moirang on Monday. PTI from them the stories of their pain and suffering. It will boost their confidence,” he said, adding the Congress was ready to support any initiative taken to restore normalcy in the state. “I request the PM to come to Manipur. He is the PM of the country and Manipur is one of its proud states. The PM should have come here long back,” Rahul said. The Congress leader landed in Silchar in Assam this continued on page 8 Amritsar, July 8 The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has imposed a blanket ban on the use of the Golden Temple premises for the promotion of films or videos, usually done by entertainment industry artistes. There, however, will be relaxation for common devotees to click their pictures or ‘selfies’ in the ‘parikrama’ (circumambulatory) around the holy But devotees allowed to click pictures, selfies ‘sarovar’ as a token of remembrance, but they will have to refrain from making “videos of their movement”. The action follows a recent controversy involving social media influencer Archana Makwana, who performed ‘shirshasan’ at the shrine on June 21 to mark the International Yoga Day and posted her pictures online, which went viral. The SGPC lodged an FIR even as Archana apologised for her act after she received threats and abuses on social media. The SGPC also plans to enhance its ‘parikrama task force’ by recruiting around 100 more personnel to ensure compliance with the ban. SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami said the faith of the devotees visiting the Golden Temple was paramount, but restrictions had to be imposed as a few mischievous continued on page 8 Bypoll campaign ends, stakes Key test for CM Mann in Jalandhar West high for Sukhu as wife in fray To set tone for upcoming byelections in 4 Punjab Assembly segments Deepkamal Kaur Pratibha Chauhan Tribune News Service Shimla, July 8 The high-pitched vitriolic campaigning for the three Assembly byelections of Dehra, Nalagarh and Hamirpur concluded today with the ruling Congress and the BJP putting in their might to sway the voters in their favour. A total of 2.59 lakh voters will cast their votes for the three Assembly bypolls on July 10. The byelections are being held following the resignation on March 22 by three Independent MLAs Hoshyar Singh (Dehra), KL Thakur (Nalagarh) and Ashish Sharma (Hamirpur), who joined the BJP and are now contest- INDEPENDENT MLAs NOW ON BJP TICKET ■ The bypolls are being held after the resignation of 3 Independent MLAs Hoshyar Singh (Dehra), KL Thakur (Nalagarh) and Ashish Sharma (Hamirpur), who are now contesting on BJP ticket ■ Troubled by the rebel factor, the BJP has made all-out efforts to woo voters under the joint leadership of former CM Jai Ram Thakur, Hamirpur MP Anurag Thakur and state chief Rajeev Bindal ing on the party ticket. The stakes are high for Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu as his wife Kamlesh Thakur is making her electoral debut from Dehra. The Congress is betting big on the CM’s wife, who is pitted against twotime Independent MLA Hoshyar Singh. The BJP is making all-out efforts to woo voters as it is keen to win all three seats after the Independents resigned from the Assembly to fight on the BJP ticket. Hamirpur and Nalagarh are witnessing a keen contest with senior party leaders, including CM Sukhu and Leaders of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur, campaigning aggressively for their party candidates. However, the rebel factor, especially in Dehra and continued on page 8 Tribune News Service Jalandhar, July 8 Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann pulled out all the stops in the Jalandhar West Assembly bypoll campaign, which ended today, turning it into a prestige battle both for himself and the ruling Aam Aadmi Party. In this crucial battle, other parties too put in their best efforts as its result is likely to have a bearing on the forthcoming byelections slated to be announced soon for the Gidderbaha, Barnala, Dera Baba Nanak and Chabbewal Assembly segments. During his campaign, CM Mann, who even rented a house in the city on June 24, Batala: Four persons were killed and eight injured after two groups clashed in Sri Hargobindpur in Gurdaspur district on Sunday night over distribution of water for agricultural purposes. The injured were taken to Batala Civil Hospital, from where doctors referred them to a private hospital in Amritsar. According to the police, both groups fired around 50 rounds. INSIDE Chargesheet filed against 9 in Salman case Mumbai: The police on Monday filed a chargesheet in a special court against six arrested accused and three wanted persons, including jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, in connection with the firing at Bollywood actor Salman Khan's residence in Bandra in April. The 1,735page chargesheet was filed by the Crime Branch in a special MCOCA court. — PTI WARMEST JUNE ON RECORD: EU Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann and AAP candidate Mohinder Bhagat; and (right) state Congress chief Amrinder Raja Warring with party nominee Surinder Kaur during compaigning in Jalandhar. MALKIAT SINGH went ward-to-ward and addressed almost four public rallies on a daily basis. He took it upon himself to spearhead the campaign as he Today’s issue is of 16 pages, including four-page Delhi Tribune. c m y b wanted to take on former MLA Sheetal Angural and former MP Sushil Rinku, both of whom left the ruling AAP severely denting its , prospects in the recently held Lok Sabha elections, pushing it to a distant third position in Jalandhar. continued on page 8 NEW DELHI: With millions of people across five continents experiencing scorching heat last month, the European Union's (EU) climate agency, Copernicus Climate Change Service, confirmed on Monday that June was the warmest on record. BACK PAGE
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