04122024-TTC-01.qxd 04-12-2024 00:34 Page 1 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 144 NO. 335 | 16 PAGES | ~5.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881 FREE ISRAELI HOSTAGES BEFORE JAN 20, TRUMP WARNS HAMAS WORLD /thetribunechd GOVT PROMISES 95% QUOTA IN JOBS TO LOCALS IN LADAKH J&K RUPEE GAINS 3 PAISE EAM: PEACE AT LAC VITAL, AFTER HITTING ALL-TIME NEXT PRIORITY WILL BE LOW OF 84.72 BUSINESS DE-ESCALATION BACK PAGE wednesday | 4 december 2024 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com ‘Days of tarikh pe tarikh over’: Modi dedicates new UT took lead in shifting to new legal framework criminal laws to nation At Chandigarh event, PM says Amit Sharma Tribune News Service Chandigarh, December 3 Prime Minister Narendra Modi here today said Chandigarh was the first among states and UTs to “fully implement” the three new criminal laws, emphasising the days of ‘tarikh pe tarikh’ or prolonged trial for criminals were no longer possible under the modernised legal framework. Speaking during an event at Punjab Engineering College, the PM, who was accompanied by Home Minister Amit Shah, dedicated to the nation the successful implementation of the three new criminal laws. Citing an example of speedy justice, PM Modi said an accused got punishment in just two months in a vehicle theft case in Chandigarh. “Likewise, in Delhi, an accused got a 20-year sentence in 60 days after the registration of an FIR. In Bihar, an accused got life imprisonment in 14 days in a murder case,” the PM said, stressing the significance of reforms to replace the outdated Colonialera legislation with contempo- Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with Home Minister Amit Shah and Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria visits an exhibition on the implementation of new criminal laws in Chandigarh on Tuesday. PTI rary and citizen-centric laws. Amid chants of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Vande Mataram” from the audience, Modi said he always felt “among his own” whenever he visited Chandigarh. He said the city drew its name and identity from Goddess Chandi, the divine power that signified truth and justice. He said the same philosophy underpinned the BNS and the BNSS. Modi said the implementation of the new laws marked a pivotal step towards a more transparent, efficient and responsive justice system. During his 35-minute speech, the PM emphasised the legal reforms were designed to bolster public trust by ensuring timely jus- tice, minimising legal delays and enhancing the effectiveness of law enforcement. Labelling the criminal laws introduced by the Britishers before Independence as “a means of oppression and exploitation”, he said the Nyaya Sanhita, on the other hand, was woven with the ideals of equality, harmony and social justice. “The IPC was introduced in 1860, consequent to the country’s first major freedom struggle in 1857. A few years later, the Evidence Act came in. And then the CRPC. The purpose of these laws was to punish and enslave Indians… Despite changes in the laws from time to time, their character remained the same,” he said. Under the new laws, he said, charges in heinous crimes like rape would be framed within 60 days from the first date of hearing and it was mandatory to pronounce the verdict within 45 days of the completion of the hearing. During the event, a live demonstration of the process of collecting evidence and recording statements was given by the Chandigarh Police to the PM. continued on page 10 SAD leader and Punjab ex-Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal complies with the Akal Takht order by serving as a “sewadar” at the entrance to the Golden Temple in Amritsar on Tuesday. ANI Sukhbir, Dhindsa Sr stand guard, spared toilet cleaning GS Paul Tribune News Service Amritsar, December 3 A day after the Akal Takht pronounced the “tankhah” (punishment for religious misconduct), SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal along with Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa performed the duty of a “sewadar” at the entrance to the Golden Temple complex today. The senior Akali leaders wore a South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol S Korean President declaresmartiallaw, parliament rejects it SEOUL: South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law on Tuesday night in a move that stunned the country and triggered a shortlived attempt by troops to enter parliament. Hours later, parliament voted to lift the declaration, with the National Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik declaring that lawmakers “will protect democracy with the people”. Woo called for police and military personnel to withdraw from the Assembly’s grounds. INSIDE CJI recuses self from CEC selectioncase NEW DELHI: Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna on Tuesday recused himself from hearing PILs challenging a recently enacted law on appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners. The law replaces the CJI with a Cabinet minister in the three-member selection panel. BACK PAGE secretary Riaz Hamidullah. India on Monday described as “deeply regrettable” the incident of the breach of the premises of the Bangladesh consulate in Agartala in the northeastern state of Tripura, bordering Bangladesh, by a group of people protesting the arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das here. The comments by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) came hours after the protesters reportedly barged into the Assistant High Commission of Bangladesh and allegedly resorted to vandalism. Meanwhile, all consular services at the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala were suspended. “Given the security situation, all visa and consular services at the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission, Agartala, will remain suspended until further notice. This comes into effect immediately,” said Md Al-Ameen, the first secretary to the Bangladesh mission. The police registered a case and arrested seven persons for their alleged involvement in the incident. Action was also taken against four continued on page 10 Adil Akhzer Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar with Agriculture Minister Shivraj Chouhan in Mumbai on Tuesday. PTI Why no dialogue with farmers? V-P to Centre amid Dallewal fast Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, December 3 Amid the ongoing farm agitation, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Tuesday sought to know from the Centre why it was not holding a dialogue with the protesting farmers. The VicePresident sounded a note of caution saying a nation that tested the patience of farmers paid a heavy price. Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on stage at an Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Cautions against taking protests lightly event in Mumbai, Dhankhar said: “Agriculture Minister Sir, every moment is critical for you. I urge you, and as the person holding the secondhighest constitutional position in India, I request you to please tell me, was any promise made to the farmer, and why has it not been fulfilled? What are we doing to fulfil the promise? There was an agitation last year, and there is one this year as well, and time is passing, but we are doing nothing.” Addressing Chouhan, the Vice-President said: “You are the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development. I am reminded of Sardar Patel, and his responsibility to unify the nation. This challenge is before you and it should not be considered any less than the unity of India.” Invoking Punjab farmer Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who is on a fastunto-death over legal backing to the minimum support price continued on page 10 Srinagar, December 3 A Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorist, allegedly involved in an attack near a tunnel construction site in Ganderbal in October, has been killed in an encounter on the outskirts of Srinagar, the police said on Tuesday. On receiving a tip-off, security forces had launched a cordon-and-search operation in the upper reaches of the Dachigam forest on the city outskirts on Monday night. The search operation turned into an encounter after terrorists fired at the security forces, who retaliated. In the exchange of fire on Tuesday morning, a terrorist identified as Junaid Ahmed Bhat was killed, the police said. Bhat, a category “A” terrorist of the Lashkar-e-Toiba, was wanted for his alleged involvement in the October 20 attack near a tunnel construction site in the Gagangir area of Ganderbal in which a local doctor and six employees of Apco Infratech were killed, the police added. Apco Infratech was constructing the Z-Morh tunnel near Sonamarg in Central Kash- CATEGORY ‘A’ MILITANT ■ Junaid Ahmed Bhat, a category “A” terrorist of Lashkar-e-Toiba, was wanted for his involvement in the October 20 attack near a tunnel construction site in the Gagangir area of Ganderbal ■ A local doctor and six employees of Apco Infratech construction firm were killed in the attack mir’s Ganderbal district. “OP Dachigam: In the ongoing operation, one terrorist is killed and has been identified as Junaid Ahmed Bhat (LeT, Category A). The said terrorist was involved in civilian killings at Gagangir, Ganderbal, and several other terror attacks,” the Kashmir Zone Police said in a post on X. Sources said the police had inputs about the presence of a group of militants in the Dachigam forest close to the Zabarwan range of the Himalayas where a gunfight took place between militants and security forces last month. The militants had managed to escape, taking advantage of the dense forest. Police sources suspect that the two terrorists who attacked continued on page 10 Ludhiana on edge as Buddha Nullah activists march towards dyeing units Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service SP,TMCmissingfrom INDIAbloc’sprotest DELHI: In a bid to strengthen unity within the INDIA bloc, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday reached out to Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders in the Lok Sabha after the party’s conspicuous absence from the Opposition protest on the Adani bribery indictment issue. BACK PAGE plaque bearing “admittance of guilt” around their neck. Donning blue “chola” (attire) and holding a “barsha” (spear), the two seated in wheelchairs performed the guard duty at the Ghanta Ghar entrance. As part of the religious punishment, they also performed “sewa” (service) at the Langar Hall, listened to the Gurbani kirtan and recited Sukhmani Sahib path (prayers) for one hour each. Considering their health condition — Sukhbir has a hairline fracture in the foot and Dhindsa has old agerelated ailments — the Takht had later exempted them verbally continued on page 10 edit: Sewadar sukhbir LeT terrorist involved in Ganderbal tunnel attack gunned down Dhaka summons Indian envoy, suspends services at mission in Agartala Dhaka, December 3 Bangladesh on Tuesday summoned Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma to the foreign affairs ministry office here, a day after Dhaka lodged a strong protest against the alleged vandalism of its mission in Tripura. Bangladesh also suspended all consular services at its Assistant High Commission in Agartala until further notice because of security reasons. Regarding summoning of the Indian diplomat, a Bangladesh foreign ministry official said, “Verma came as he was asked to come when we conveyed him our concerns.” Foreign affairs adviser Mohammad Touhid Hossain earlier said the Indian envoy was asked to come to the foreign office after the Agartala incident. Verma, on the other hand, said Delhi wanted to build a “constant stable, constructive relationship” with Bangladesh saying no single issue should stand a barrier for bilateral ties. “We are willing to engage with the interim government of Bangladesh,” he told reporters emerging from the meeting with acting foreign Perform ‘sewa’ in langar hall; Majithia cleans toilet NEW Cops try to stop activists in Ludhiana on Tuesday. PHOTO: ASHWANI DHIMAN Ludhiana, December 3 Tension gripped Ludhiana today as thousands of activists from the Kale Pani Da Morcha (KPDM) gathered near the Verka Milk Plant on Ferozepur Road around 11 am to march towards Tajpur Road. Their aim was to block the discharge lines of dyeing units that, they alleged, were releasing untreated effluents into the Buddha Nullah. On the opposite side, an almost equal number of workers of dyeing units and other industries assembled on Tajpur Road and Bahadurke Road to protect their common effluent treatment plants (CETPs). The workers spread across all connecting roads leading to the CETPs to thwart KPDM activists from disrupting operations. A tributary of the Sutlej flowing through Ludhiana, the Buddha Nullah has turned into a toxic drain due to unchecked pollution, pos- c m y b ing a risk to public health and the environment. Amid escalating tensions, the district administration deployed a huge posse of police, including anti-riot units, and set up heavy barricades on Ferozepur Road where the activists had gathered and were shouting slogans. Nearly 50 KPDM members, including RTI activist Kuldeep Singh Khaira, were taken into preventive custody. Talking to The Tribune, Khaira said he was detained at Division Num- ber-8 police station and Dr Amandeep Bains, another prominent activist, at Kailash police post. He said several female activists were taken to the Dugri police station. Lakha Sidhana, a social activist who had unsuccessfully contested the recent Lok Sabha election from Bathinda, conveyed on his Facebook page that the police had detained his supporters and even made “several house arrests”. Actor and screenwriter Amitoj Mann too joined the activists around noon. The activists claimed they had been forced to launch the KPDM campaign as the authorities had “failed” to clean the Buddha Nullah and the people had been drinking contaminated water for the past two decades. On the other side, thousands of industrial workers gathered on Tajpur Road to counter the KDPM activists. The dyeing industry had arranged special vehicles to continued on page 10