02102024-TTC-01.qxd 10/2/2024 12:57 AM Page 1 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 8 NO. 273 | 20 PAGES | ~5.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881 US TIGHTENS ASYLUM CURBS ON SOUTHERN BORDER WORLD /thetribunechd ~5,858 CR RELEASED FOR 14 FLOOD-HIT STATES NATION SEBI ANNOUNCES NEW LAC SITUATION STABLE RULES TO CURB F&O BUT NOT NORMAL, SAYS ADDICTION BUSINESS ARMY CHIEF BACK PAGE wednesday | 2 october 2024 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com SC to lay down guidelines to stop ‘bulldozer justice’ Hears pleas on demolitions in BJP-ruled states Satya Prakash WE’RE SECULAR NATION Tribune News Service Israel’s Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets, as seen from Ashkelon, following an attack by Iran on Tuesday. REUTERS Iran rains missiles on Israel Assault comes after Tel Aviv ‘launched’ ground raids in Lebanon Jerusalem/Beirut, October 1 Iran fired a salvo of ballistic missiles at Israel on Tuesday in retaliation to Tel Aviv’s campaign against Tehran’s Hezbollah allies in Lebanon. Alarms sounded across Israel and explosions could be heard in Jerusalem and the Jordan River valley after people piled into bomb shelters. Israeli media reports said as many as 100 missiles had been launched. In a statement on the state television, Iran claimed it had launched A man holds kids as people take cover after an air raid alert in Israel. dozens of missiles at Israel. “If Israel responds militarily to this operation, it will face a harsher response,” the state- ment said. Iran referred to Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Revolutionary Guard Gen Abbas Nil- forushan, both killed in an Israeli airstrike last week. The statement also mentioned Ismail Haniyeh, a top Hamas leader who was killed in Tehran in an Israeli “attack”. It warned this attack represented only a “first wave”. The firing of missiles came after Israel said its troops had launched ground raids into Lebanon, though describing them as limited. The Israeli campaign in Lebanon is the biggest escalation of regional continued on page 12 New Delhi, October 1 Amid allegations that unauthorised properties belonging to a particular community were being demolished in BJP-ruled states, the Supreme Court on Tuesday said it will lay down panIndia guidelines for all citizens on the issue even as it made it clear that it will not protect any unauthorised construction on roads, government land or forest. “Whatever we are laying down, we are a secular country. We are laying it down for all the citizens, for all the institutions, and not for any particular community,” a Bench led by Justice BR Gavai said, reserving its order on petitions against demolition of properties, including those belonging to persons accused of crime. “We are going to make it clear that merely because somebody is an accused, or even if somebody is a convict, can’t be a ground for demolition,” said the Bench, which also included Justice KV Viswanathan. “Even if it’s not autho- ❝ Whateverawe are laying down, we are secular country... laying it down for all the citizens, for all the institutions, and not for any particular community. SC RULES OUT RELAXATION FOR ENCROACHMENTS The SC said if there was any religious structure in the middle of a road — it could be a ‘dargah’ or a temple — it had to go because public safety and interest were paramount rised... it’s not a happy sight to see women and children on the road. Elders coming out on roads... suppose, they want to make alternative arrangements…,” it noted. The Bench, however, made it clear that it would not protect any unauthorised construction on roads, government land or forest; and unauthorised construction made by any person, irrespective of his or her religion or belief, has to be removed. “We will take care to ensure that our order does not help the encroachers on any of the public places,” the Bench said. “On the first day, we had pointed out if there is any religious structure in the middle of a road, may it be a ‘dargah’ or temple, it has to go because public safety and public interest is paramount,” it clarified. In the meantime, its September 17 order staying demolition of properties, including those belonging to a person accused of crime, shall continue to operate, the top court said. “It’s there till we decide this matter,” it said after a lawyer made a request in this regard. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta requested the top court to avoid passing any order which may result in amending existing laws. Mehta, who represented the governments of Uttar Pradesh, MP and Gujarat, agreed with the Bench that alleged involvement in a criminal case could not be a ground to demolish someone’s house. continued on page 12 GST mop-up rises 6.5% to ~1.73L cr NEW DELHI: Gross GST collection in September grew 6.5 per cent to about Rs 1.73 lakh crore, up from Rs 1.63 lakh crore in the concurrent period in 2023. In August 2024, it stood at Rs 1.75 lakh crore. INSIDE School bus blaze kills 23 in Thailand BANGKOK: At least 23 persons died in Thailand when a school bus carrying more than 40 students and teachers on a field trip caught fire in the outskirts of the capital Bangkok, the police said. INSIDE 7.6% surplus rain as monsoon ends NEW DELHI: The monsoon season has ended with 7.6 per cent more rainfall than normal, the IMD said. Rajasthan, Gujarat, west MP Maharash, tra, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh got excess rain. INSIDE HC to hear Tytler’s petition on Nov 29 NEW DELHI: The Delhi HC on Tuesday said it would hear on November 29 a plea by Congress leader Jagdish Tytler challenging the framing of charges of murder and other offences in a case related to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. — TNS At 68.7%, J&K sees highest polling in third phase Cong selling false dreams, party Arjun Sharma/ Adil Akhzer JAMMU/SRINAGAR, October 1 From the lanes of Raghunath Bazaar to the barbed fence along the International Border in Suchetgarh, Jammu witnessed long queues, while the voter turnout in Sopore and Baramulla — the traditional poll-boycott areas in Kashmir —- was higher as compared to previous Assembly polls as J&K recorded 68.72 per cent polling in the third and final phase of elections on Tuesday. The first phase and the second phase in the UT had against quota, poor: PM in Palwal AT 79.70%, AKHNOOR ALONG BORDER SEES BIG TURNOUT IN DIST-WISE TALLY, UDHAMPUR TOPS AT 75.87%, BARAMULLA AT BOTTOM WITH 59.84% recorded 61.38 per cent and 57.31 per cent polling, respectively. The restoration of statehood and growing unemployment were the key issues on the voters’ mind as they exercised their franchise across 24 Assembly segments in Jammu, Udhampur, Kathua and Samba districts of the Jammu region and 16 continued on page 13 Bijendra Ahlawat Tribune News Service Voters outside a polling booth at Kargam in Kupwara during the last phase of the J&K elections. ANI Wangchuk, activists BJP, Cong neck and neck in 29 to go on hunger strike Haryana seats in GT Road belt Detention challenged in Delhi HC Pradeep Sharma Samad Hoque Kurukshetra/Panipat, Oct 1 The poll battle in the seven districts of Haryana falling in the GT Road belt, considered to be the gateway to power in the state with almost onethird (29) of the 90 Assembly seats, is shaping up as a direct neck-and-neck fight between the BJP and the Congress. The election campaign having entered its last leg, nonBJP non-Congress candi, Tribune News Service New Delhi, October 1 Ladakh-based climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who along with around 150 volunteers was detained near the Delhi border, announced today that he and other activists would begin an indefinite hunger strike at the police stations where they had been kept. High drama was witnessed late on Monday when Wangchuk and 150 volunteers were detained at the Singhu border amid heavy police deployment. Wangchuk was leading a march, ‘Delhi Chalo Padyatra’, which began from Leh a month ago. They were planning to reach the Raj Ghat to peacefully protest over their various demands, including statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. After their detention, Wangchuk and activists were taken to different police stations at Bawana, Narela and Sonam Wangchuk, who has been detained by the Delhi Police. PTI Alipur. On Tuesday morning, Ladakh Lok Sabha MP Haji Haneefa Jan and 120 volunteers, who had followed Wangchuk to Delhi, were also detained by the police at the Singhu border. Delhi CM Atishi was on Tuesday not allowed to meet Wangchuk at the Bawana police station. “They did not let me meet Wangchuk. This is dictatorship of the BJP We fully sup. port him. The L-G rule in Ladakh should end... Ladakh and Delhi should get continued on page 13 edit: Wary of Wangchuk Tribune News Service LOFTY PROMISES The BJP and the Congress are promising the moon to the voters. We will, however, vote as per our conscience keeping in view their past performance. Ditta Ram, A VOTER ❝ dates and party rebels, besides “silent” voters, who are keeping the cards close to their chest, are giving the candidates of the two main parties anxious moments two days before the campaigning for the high-stakes October 5 poll comes to an end. “The BJP and the Congress are promising the moon to the voters. We will, however, vote as per our ‘atma ki awaaz’ (conscience) keeping in view their past performance. It is going to be a photo finish here,” Ditta Ram, a continued on page 12 Gadpuri (Palwal), October 1 Prime Minister Narendra Modi today hit out at the Congress for trying to sell false dreams to the Haryana people as he asked its “deshbhakt” (nationalist) voters to keep the party that symbolised corruption out of power. The PM, addressing his last rally ahead of the October 5 Assembly poll, said while the BJP provided opportunities to all, the Congress looked after the interests of either “bapu-beta” (pointing to the Hoodas) or “damaads and dalals” (referring to Robert Vadra and middlemen). Terming the Congress “anti-Dalit and anti-poor” for planning to end the quota for SCs and weaker sections, the PM said: “No one can snatch the reservation till Modi is here.” He said the Haryana people would reject the party that had supported the rollback of Article 370 in J&K for which it got praise from Pakistan. Claiming that the Congress had lost a large part of J&K to enemies, Modi said: “They always talk of bringing back Article 370 but never mention reclaiming Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.” PM Modi, who devoted the CM Nayab Saini greets PM Narendra Modi in Palwal on Tuesday. ANI major part of his 55-minute address to attacking the Congress, said its leaders had been making absurd promises just to regain power. “The Congress will face the same fate as it suffered in the recent Rajasthan and MP Assembly polls since the youth and farmers had not been swayed by its politics of lies,” he said. Even the basic amenities such as water, power, roads and toilets were not provided to a large chunk of the population during Congress’ 70 years of rule, he alleged, adding the party kept issues such as Ram temple, Article 370, triple talaq and reservation to women hanging for years. The PM said it was a fight between forces that wanted to unite communities and those looking to creating a divide. He cited the 40-year delay in extending ‘one rank, one pension’ benefits to ex-servicemen to “expose” Congress’ dishonesty. CM Nayab Singh Saini, senior party leaders, including state president Mohan Lal Badoli and local MP Krishan Pal Gurjar, besides the candidates from 22 Assembly segments of Palwal, Faridabad, Nuh, Gurugram, Rewari and Mahendragarh were present. How failed bizman, ex-banker ganged up to dupe Oswal of ~7 cr THE TRIBUNE EXCLUSIVE Nitin Jain Tribune News Service Ludhiana, October 1 They were first-timers, not hardened or experienced criminals, but duped none else than Vardhman Group CMD SP Oswal of Rs 7 crore in one of the country’s biggest cyber frauds reported so far, Commissioner of Police Kuldeep Singh Chahal said. Investigations revealed how the Padma Bhushan awardee and country’s leading textile manufacturer was put under “digital arrest” for 24 hours and Rs 7 crore extorted from him. Chahal disclosed that one of the two arrested suspects, Atanu Choudhury, was a failed businessman who took to crime to make up for his financial losses. His accom- BUSINESS TYCOON FELL INTO CALLERS’ TRAP AUG 27: Vardhman Group CMD SP Oswal receives a voice call on his mobile phone from a caller posing as a TRAI official; also receives a WhatsApp call from another caller posing as plice Anand Choudhury was a worker in a pharmacy store. “One of the masterminds was Rumi Kalita, a former Today’s issue is of 20 pages, including four-page Jalandhar Tribune. c m y b a CBI officer from Mumbai callers in five instalments AUG 28: Falls into their trap after receiving 25 to 30 calls, starts transferring money to the callers’ accounts AUG 30: Realises he has been cheated, approaches police AUG 29: Pays ~7 crore to the bank employee,” he said. Preliminary investigations found no previous criminal background of any of the SEPT 17: Police crack the case with the arrest two accused, recover ~5.25 cr nine accused in the multimillion cyber fraud. The Ludhiana police cracked the case within 18 days with the arrest of the two main accused and recovery of Rs 5.25 crore. DGP Gaurav Yadav has awarded the DG’s commendation disc to the cybercrime team of the Ludhiana police for busting the inter-state cyber fraud gang with a record recovery. “The Ludhiana police arrested the two main accused from Guwahati with the help of the Assam Police continued on page 13