09062025-TT-01.qxd 6/8/2025 WILL CONTEST BIHAR POLL: CHIRAG NATION /thetribunechd 10:51 PM Page 1 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 145 NO. 158 | 12 PAGES | ~6.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881  HIMACHAL PRADESH monday | 9 june 2025 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com ‘Illegal’ bridges come up on Yamuna to aid sand mining; green warriors see red Sumedha Sharma Tribune News Service Charred remains of a bus used for transporting central forces, which was set on fire by a mob, a day after protests erupted over the arrest of a leader of Meitei outfit Arambai Tenggol, in Imphal East district, Manipur. PTI Manipur erupts again after top Meitei leader’s arrest Gurugram, June 8 Temporary bridges have been built on the Yamuna along Palwal in a bid to aid sand mining, leaving local residents and environmentalists fuming. The “illegal” bridges, which have reportedly come up without official approval and environment clearance, have now also caught the attention of the Opposition, which has asked Chief Minister Nayab Saini to clear the air on the issue. Contracts for sand mining in Palwal have been awarded, but none of the contractors has allegedly obtained environmental clearance and they are indulging in illegal mining. “The BJP government’s hypocrisy stands exposed. It talks about saving the Yamuna but is killing it in connivance with sand miners. Who allowed these bridges to be built? How come no official, minister or BJP leader sees this despite many complaints? The Chief Minister visited Palwal but had nothing to say about sand mining, a key issue here,” said former Haryana minister and Congress leader Karan Dalal. A representation has been sent to the Chief Minister seeking an inquiry into the matter. It highlights how these illegal bridges are being used by miners to continued on page 9 Tribune News Service New Delhi, June 8 Fresh unrest has erupted in Manipur following the dramatic arrest of Meitei outfit Arambai Tenggol members and its leader Kanan Singh by the CBI, triggering widespread protests and violent clashes across the Imphal valley. In response, the authorities have imposed curfew-like restrictions and suspended the Internet services across five key districts to prevent further escalation. Kanan Singh, believed to be a prominent leader of the Arambai Tenggol, a Meiti activist group, was picked up from the Imphal airport in the early hours of June 8. CBI officials confirmed that he is a KANAN SINGH PICKED UP FROM AIRPORT ■ Kanan Singh, prominent leader of Arambai Tenggol, a Meiti activist group, picked up from Imphal airport in the early hours of June 8 ■ CBI officials said he was a prime suspect in several cases related to the 2023 ethnic violence in Manipur and was under surveillance A temporary bridge being used to transport illegally mined sand. MLAs MEET GUV, WANT CALM RESTORED ■ A delegation of Manipur MLAs met Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla on Sunday, urging him to intervene and restore calm prime suspect in several cases related to the 2023 ethnic violence in Manipur and had been under surveillance for months. “He was wanted in multiple cases, including the attack on the house of Additional SP Moirangthem Amit and the officer’s brief abduction in February 2024,” said a senior ■ The Governor assured that “all necessary steps” were being taken to maintain order and address people’s grievances. CBI officer. Kanan Singh, who served as a head constable with the Manipur Police commando unit before being suspended, was reportedly leading several armed vigilante actions in recent months. Following his arrest, Kanan Singh was immediately flown continued on page 9 Ujwal Jalali Tribune News Service New Delhi, June 8 Independent Canadian journalist Mocha Bezirgan on Sunday accused pro-Khalistan supporters of heckling, assaulting and intimidating him during a rally in Vancouver. Bezirgan, who has extensively covered Khalistani extremist activities in Canada, claimed he was targeted solely for doing his job. In a social media post, Bezirgan described how a foreign activist, identified as a British national, approached him Names SFJ, warns of extremism in Canada under the guise of seeking an interview but suddenly began threatening and harassing him. “He refused to keep his distance from my face and made violent threats. I kept walking away, but he won’t stop,” Bezirgan wrote on X. He alleged the individual snatched his phone despite police presence and prior warnings. He also instigated others to obstruct his reporting. continued on page 9 c m y b Aditi Tandon New Delhi, June 8 Amid the ongoing war of words with the Congress over match-fixing allegations in the 2024 Maharashtra polls, the Election Commission on Sunday said the principal opposition party was the lone national outfit to have dropped out of a planned meeting with the panel to discuss outstanding concerns around voting and other election processes. EC sources today said presidents of five out of six national parties had attended continued on page 9 Khalistani mob attacks Duped, 3 Punjabis held journalist in Vancouver with fake visas atairport Ujwal Jalali Cong lone national party to skip May meet on voting: EC Tribune News Service Curfew imposed in five districts, Internet service banned Ujwal Jalali CRACKDOWN ON MIGRANT PROTESTS IN US WORLD Tribune News Service New Delhi, June 8 In a stunning case of fraud, three men from Punjab were given fake air tickets and forged Schengen visas and brought all the way to Delhi’s IGI airport even though the mastermind behind their promised journey to Spain had already been arrested by the Punjab Police days earlier. The three passengers — Harjit Singh (44), Bhagwant Singh (25), and Gurcharan Singh (28) — all from villages in Amritsar’s Ajnala area, Agent nabbed too, kingpin already in jail were intercepted by airline staff on May 29 while trying to board a flight to Madrid. The trio paid lakhs to what they believed was a genuine travel network. What they didn’t know was that Sonu Walia, the alleged mastermind and the man who had promised them waiter jobs in Madrid, was already lodged in a Punjab jail. And the agent who accompanied continued on page 9 Bhiwanimankillstwo kids,attemptssuicide HISAR: A 40-year-old man allegedly drugged and strangled his two teenaged children before attempting suicide at Dhanana village of Bhiwani district. The suspect, identified as Subhash, survived and is currently undergoing treatment at PGIMS, Rohtak. INSIDE NCB freezes ~9.2-cr inMexicocartelcase NEW DELHI: The NCB attached assets worth Rs 9.20 crore of a “prime” accused involved in a 2024 transnational drug trafficking case linked to a Mexican cartel. The case pertains to the seizure of over 95 kg of amphetamine in Noida in October last year. INSIDE