23072026-TTC-01.qxd 7/23/2026 12:23 AM 13 STEEP US LEVY ON GENERIC DRUGS FROM ’28 BUSINESS /thetribunechd Page 1 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 146 NO. 202 | 16 PAGES | ~5.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881 BORDER PEACE KEY TO TIES: EAM TO WANG BACK PAGE thursday | 23 july 2026 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com To quell CJP protest, Delhi top cop gets powers under stringent NSA Allows detention without formal charges for up to 12 months MHA brass pulls up officers over poor crowd mgmt Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, July 22 As protests over NEET paper leak gather steam in the national capital, the Centre has granted detention powers under the National Security Act (NSA), 1980, to the Delhi Commissioner of Police. Under the NSA, individuals can be detained without formal charges for a period ranging from 12 days to a maximum of 12 months. The order authorises the Delhi Commissioner of Police, Anurag Kumar, to exercise powers of preventive detention under the NSA for a period of three months, from July 19 to October 18. An official notification in this regard was published in the Delhi Gazette (Extraordinary) on Wednesday night. The Tribune has accessed a copy. Notably, the notification is dated July 15, 2026. It says the Lieutenant Governor of the National Capital Territory of Delhi is satisfied that it is necessary to delegate the detention powers in the interest of public security. “Exercising powers under Section 3(3) read with Section 2(e) of the NSA, the Delhi L-G has directed that during the specified period, the Commissioner of Police, Delhi, may also exercise the powers of a detaining authority under Section 3(2) of the Act,” the order says. The delegation enables the Commissioner of Police to issue preventive detention orders against individuals whose activities are considered prejudicial to national security, public order or the maintenance of essential supplies and services, as provided under the NSA. continued on page 7 Ram Temple Trust defers CEO selection, toappointinterimsecy AYODHYA: The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust on Wednesday deferred the selection of its first chief executive officer (CEO) by a month after receiving 5,200 applications for the post and decided to appoint a secretary in the interim to meet growing administrative requirements. No decision was taken on filling the three vacant posts in the Trust. — PTI DIG Bhullar allowed to appear in person during court hearings CHANDIGARH: A CBI court has allowed applications filed by suspended Punjab Police DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar and alleged middleman Krishanu Sharda seeking their physical presence during the hearings in a bribery case. Disposing of the applications, the court directed the Superintendent of Model Jail, Burail Chandigarh, to produce both accused before it on July 23. INSIDE Lalit Modi plans India return after relief in IPL 2009 FEMA case NEW DELHI: Former IPL chairman Lalit Modi on Wednesday said he plans to visit India later this year or early next year after receiving major legal relief from the Appellate Tribunal in the long-running 2009 IPL South Africa foreign exchange case, describing the ruling as the vindication of a 16-year battle. — PTI Animesh Singh & Rahul Gahlawat Tribune News Service Security personnel rain lathis on Cockroach Janta Party supporters during ‘Chalo Sansad’ march. FILE Don’t waste our time: SC junks plea over ‘brutality’ Satya Prakash Tribune News Service New Delhi, July 22 The Supreme Court on Wednesday turned down a request for urgent listing of a petition against alleged police brutality during the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest here on July 20 demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation over NEET paper leak, with Chief Justice of India Surya Kant asking the petitioner not to waste time. “Please don’t waste our time and don’t waste yours. Your time is more valuable than ours,” a Bench comprising CJI Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana told advocate Narendra Mishra after he mentioned the matter. The students were raising important issues such as proper conduct of the NEET exam and reforms in the National Testing Agency, he said. “Student protest is going on at Jantar Mantar... The police are using brutal force... I have videos regarding the police brutality... If it can be listed tomorrow (Thursday),” said Mishra, who had sent a letter petition to the CJI. “We are not interested in videos; we don’t have time to watch,” the CJI told Mishra, cutting him short. Interestingly, the CJP an online satir, ical group, was born out of an alleged comment attributed to CJI Kant expressing concerns over unemployed youth getting into social media and RTI activism. On May 15, the CJI allegedly made comments referring to “youngsters like cockroaches who gain entry into professions and target institutions”. continued on page 7 HC seeks police reply over use of lathiswith nails Shekhar Singh Tribune News Service New Delhi, July 22 The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought replies from the Centre and the Delhi Police on a batch of PILs alleging use of excessive force against students during the Cockroach Janta Party’s July 20 “Sansad Chalo” march over the alleged NEET paper leak, while directing the authorities to preserve the CCTV footage, videography and all other records related to the incident. A Bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia issued notices to the respondents, granting them four weeks to file their replies. The matter will now be heard on September 11. The direction came after senior advocates continued on page 7 Cop on Amarnath Yatra duty killedin 1st terror strike since Pahalgam attack Adil Akhzer Srinagar, July 22 A policeman was shot dead by a lone terrorist in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Wednesday, marking the first such incident since the Pahalgam terror attack in April last year, in which 26 persons were killed. Officials said a militant opened fire on the policeman, who was deployed in the main town of Anantnag around noon, critically injuring him. He was declared brought dead by doctors at the local Government Medical College and Hospital. Ashiq Hussain The deceased was identified as Head Constable Ashiq Hussain Qureshi, a resident of Beerwah in central Kashmir. He was attached to the Special Operations Group (SOG), the elite anti-terror unit of the UT police, and was deployed for the ongoing Amarnath Yatra, which is currently suspended due to bad weather. The Resistance Front (TRF), a shadow outfit of Lashkar-e-Toiba, claimed responsibility for the attack through a social media post. Soon after the incident, security personnel were rushed to the area and the entire locality was cordoned off to trace the attacker. CCTV footage of the attack showed the militant approaching the policeman from behind, opening fire and fleeing the spot. Following the incident — the first since last year’s attack on tourists in Pahalgam, continued on page 7 New Delhi, July 22 Senior security personnel deployed in the New Delhi and Central Delhi districts are likely to face action after incidents of assault and manhandling of student protesters by some personnel came to light, with the Home Ministry taking note of the developments, highly placed sources said. Alleged lack of coordination among forces during the crackdown on students protesting against the NEET paper leak on July 20, was also discussed among the top police brass. Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel reportedly resorted to a lathicharge on protesters without apparently taking directions from Delhi Police officials. Sources pointed out that the agreed plan of action was not continued on page 7 Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, July 22 As the Cockroach Janta Party-led movement against paper leaks snowballed into a major protest with thousands gathering at Jantar Mantar, the government on Wednesday signalled flexibility on all counts except one — the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Top government functionaries signalled that Prad- Chinks in Punjab Cong to fore again at Delhi meeting Chandigarh, July 22 Heated arguments were witnessed at an election committee-related meeting of Punjab Congress leaders convened by AICC general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal in New Delhi on Wednesday. The meeting was attended by Punjab affairs in-charge Bhupesh Baghel, PPCC chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, former CM Charanjit Singh Channi, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Rana Gurjeet Singh, besides other leaders. The meeting remained inconclusive. None of the leaders was ready to speak about the meeting. INSIDE Had replaced famous artwork depicting Pakistan’s surrender at Dhaka in 1971 Ajay Banerjee Tribune News Service The new look at Army Chief Gen Dhiraj Seth’s office; and (right) the controversial painting in the background. message of the Army Chief, Gen Dhiraj Seth, wishing success for the Durand Cup football tournament, to be hosted from July 25. The Eastern Command is hosting the 135th edition of the tournament this year. General Seth had taken over as Army Chief on June 30. In the video message shot in the lounge of his office, the c m y b Students thrashed for seeking fair edu: Rahul wants Modi’s apology Claims 152 papers leaked in a decade, but no conviction Shekhar Singh Tribune News Service USED TO IT: LOP ON ASSAULT New Delhi, July 22 Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday condemned police action against students protesting alleged exam paper leaks and demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, accountability for the crackdown and an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to students. On police ‘assault’ during a protest outside PM’s residence, Rahul said, “A couple of punches is not a problem at all. I am used to getting punched and happy to take more for people.” Addressing a press conference here, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said students protesting peacefully were “beaten, humiliated and threatened” instead of being heard, even though they were only demanding a fair and reliable education system. Rahul said the protests reflected deep anger over repeated exam paper leaks, rising uncertainty and the absence of accountability. He alleged that students and their families were paying the price for what he called continued on page 7 Govt says ready to debate NEET paper leak in Parliament, but signals Pradhan will continue Painting that stoked row goes from Army Chief’s office New Delhi, July 22 The wall decor of the lounge at the Army Chief’s office at South Block here has undergone a change. A painting that had “sharply divided opinion” has been removed from the venue where the Army Chief receives and meets visiting dignitaries. The much-debated painting had been put up in December 2024 replacing another famous painting depicting the Pakistan Army’s surrender at Dhaka in 1971. Yesterday, the Eastern Command posted a video Opposition MPs, including Rahul Gandhi, KC Venugopal and Akhilesh Yadav, stage a protest wearing black clothes to express solidarity with protesting students during the monsoon session of Parliament. PTI General is seen sitting against a wood-panelled background which has the Army’s insignia at the same spot where the now-removed continued on page 7 PROTECT STUDENTS, WILL END FAST: WANGCHUK Activist Sonam Wangchuk on Wednesday wrote to Health Minister JP Nadda, saying he would end his fast if the government assured him that the protesters won’t face punitive legal action for participating in the movement over paper leaks. han was likely to stay as the NEET (UG)-2026 paper leak was not his fault and the government had responded actively by successfully conducting a retest and declaring the results on time. Health Minister JP Nadda, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s principal interlocutor amid the students’ agitation, articulated the official position on the developments today, saying the government was ready to debate the paper leak issue in Parliament. Earlier, Nadda sent out a message to CJP leaders for another meeting, besides engaging Sonam Wangchuk on his demands to end the fast that entered the 24th day. Asked if Pradhan’s resignation was discussed in the government, Nadda stayed noncommittal. “We have said we will respond to everything during the debate in Parliament,” he said, even as Pradhan went about business as continued on page 7