19102024-TTC-01.qxd 10/19/2024 12:39 AM Page 1 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 144 NO. 290 | 20 PAGES | ~7.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881 CABINET RESOLUTION SEEKS RESTORATION OF STATEHOOD J&K /thetribunechd INTEREST RATE CUT AT THIS STAGE COULD BE RISKY: RBI BUSINESS REETA SANYAL: NOT A MUMBAI COPS GET THREAT MYSTERY WHY SERIES MESSAGE SEEKING ~5 CR FALLS FLAT REVIEW FROM SALMAN BACK PAGE saturday | 19 october 2024 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com FBI issues lookout notice DGP blames jailed MP Amritpal, against former Indian cop 2 Canadians for Faridkot murder for bid to murder Pannun ❝ Tribune News Service Was also aware of plot to kill Nijjar: US in its indictment AjayBanerjee Tribune News Service NewDelhi, October 18 The US Department of Justice has filed charges against a former Indian police official, accusing him of trying to kill pro-Khalistan terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in June last year. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has also issued a lookout notice with photos of the former official, Vikash Yadav, alias Vikas. The lookout notice, though procedural, has come as a surprise for officials in the security circles here. A senior official not wanting to be quoted said, “The India-US ties being so good, a lookout notice against a former Indian police official could have been avoided by the US.” The US Department of Justice, in a statement on Thursday night, said the charges were against an Indian Government employee, Vikash Yadav (39), alias Vikas, alias Amanat, in connection with “his role in directing a foiled plot” to assassinate a US citizen. The reference was to Pannun, who heads the HIRE-TO-KILL CHARGE AGAINST YADAV, GUPTA ■ Vikash Yadav and his alleged co-conspirator Nikhil Gupta charged with murder-for-hire ■ The crime carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison ■ Also face conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire charge, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison ■ Duo also charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum 20-year jail term Sikhs for Justice, an organisation banned in India. US media, citing documents of the Department of Justice, had earlier identified the official as “Vikram Yadav”. The Ministry of External Affairs continued on page 6 edit: yadav’s removal New Delhi, October 18 The US Department of Justice has, in its indictment against former Indian police official Vikash Yadav and another person, Nikhil Gupta, alleged that Yadav was aware of the killing of proKhalistan activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada in June last year. Gupta (53) had earlier been charged and extradited to the US for being a “co-conspirator” with Yadav in an alleged plot to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a leader of the banned Sikhs for Justice who has been designated as a terrorist by India. According to the indictment, Gupta contacted an individual who he believed was a criminal associate but, in fact, was a confidential source (named ‘CS’ in indictment) working with a US law enforcement agency. Gupta had sought to hire a hitman to kill Pannun. ‘CS’ introduced Gupta to a continued on page 6 Chandigarh, October 18 The Punjab Police today named jailed pro-Khalistan leader and Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh, along with two persons based in Canada, for the October 9 killing of Sikh activist Gurpreet Singh at Hari Nau village in Faridkot. Amid the worsening of ties between India and Canada, Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav said Canada-based Karamveer Singh, alias Gora, and gangster-terrorist Arshdeep Dala were the handlers of the four CRUCIAL EVIDENCE It’s not a mere allegation or suspicion by the victim’s family. We have crucial evidence. It’s a multi-layered conspiracy. VICTIM WAS TREASURER OF WARIS PUNJAB DE ■ Gurpreet was the treasurer of Waris Punjab De shooters who killed Gurpreet. The DGP said Gora and Dala were in regular contact with the shooters. He said three individuals involved in the murder had been arrested SRINAGAR: A migrant worker from Bihar was shot dead in south Kashmir’s Shopian district on Friday. Ashok Chauhan, a roadside vendor, was in Shopian’s Wandana Malhora to collect maize when he was killed by unidentified men. INSIDE ■ Developed ideological dif- ferences with Amritpal ■ Even put up several social media posts against him ■ The DGP said he received Gaurav Yadav, PUNJAB DGP Worker from Bihar shot dead in Valley Amritpal Singh is in Dibrugarh jail. death threats several times while the police were on the lookout for the four shooters. “The group was planning more killings. The murder was carried out at the behest of Amritpal, currently lodged in Dibrugarh jail, while the Canadian handlers planned and executed the killing,” said Yadav. Victim Gurpreet was once a close friend of Amritpal continued on page 6 Jain gets bail after 2 yrs, courtpullsupED NEW DELHI: A court on Friday granted bail to AAP leader Satyendar Jain, arrested in May 2022 in a laundering case, citing “delay” in trial and “long incarceration”. It said the ED could “no longer be permitted to wish away” precious years of an accused’s life. — TNS PM to visit Russia next SC paves the way for trial in sacrilege week for BRICS meet cases against dera chief Ram Rahim Tribune News Service Tribune News Service New Delhi, October 18 Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping are set to come face to face at the BRICS summit in the Russian city of Kazan next week as both leaders are attending the conclave. Modi will pay a two-day visit (October 22-23) to Kazan to attend the BRICS summit fol- New Delhi, October 18 The Supreme Court on Friday paved the way for the trial in the 2015 sacrilege cases involving Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh as it lifted the stay ordered by the Punjab and Haryana High Court on his trial. A Bench led by Justice BR Gavai and Justice KV Vish- lowing an invitation by Russian President Vladimir Putin, the MEA said on Friday. In Beijing, a Chinese foreign continued on page 6 c m y b LIFTS HC STAY The order came after Punjab Advocate General Gurminder Singh urged the SC to vacate the HC order staying the trial in three cases registered at the Bajakhana police station in Faridkot. The SC lifted the stay. wanathan asked the dera chief to respond to the Punjab Government’s petition against the high court’s order and posted the matter for further hearing after four weeks, saying it required scrutiny. The order came after Punjab Advocate General Gurminder Singh urged the top court to vacate the high court order staying the trial in three cases registered at the Bajakhana police station in Faridkot. On February 28, 2023, the Supreme Court ordered shifting of the continued on page 6