Nijjar was killed in Surrey in British Columbia on June 18

PTI

Washington, September 24

The US provided Canada with intelligence after the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, but communications intercepted by Ottawa were more definitive and led it to accuse India of orchestrating the plot, The New York Times (NYT) has reported citing sources.

The report came on Saturday as the top US diplomat in Canada confirmed that there was “shared intelligence among Five Eyes partners” that had prompted Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s offensive allegation against India in the killing of a Khalistani extremist on Canadian soil.

The allegations have infuriated India, which rejected the allegations as “absurd” and “motivated” and expelled a senior Canadian diplomat in a tit-for-tat move to Ottawa’s expulsion of an Indian official over the case. India also accused Canada of being a safe haven for terrorists.

Nijjar, the chief of the banned Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), was killed in Surrey in British Columbia on June 18. India had designated Nijjar as a terrorist in 2020.

The United States has urged India to cooperate with Canada in its investigations.

“In the aftermath of the killing, US intelligence agencies offered their Canadian counterparts context that helped Canada conclude that India had been involved,” the NYT reported, quoting unnamed allied officials as saying.

Yet what appears to be the “smoking gun,” intercepted communications of Indian diplomats in Canada indicating involvement in the plot, was gathered by Canadian officials, allied officials said.

David Cohen, US Ambassador to Canada, in an interview with CTV News said that “shared intelligence among Five Eyes partners” had informed Trudeau of the possible involvement of Indian agents in the murder of a Canadian citizen in June.

“I will say this was a matter of shared intelligence information. There was a lot of communication between Canada and the United States about this, and I think that’s as far as I’m comfortable going,” Cohen told CTV News.

After Nijjar’s death, American officials told their Canadian counterparts that Washington had not had any advance information about the plot, and that if US officials had they would have immediately informed Ottawa under the intelligence agencies’ “duty to warn” doctrine, according to two allied officials, the newspaper reported.

The officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss what has become a diplomatic firestorm, said Canadian officials had offered a general warning to Nijjar but had not told him that he was the target of an Indian government plot, according to the report.

Cohen told CTV that said that the US takes very seriously these allegations. “And, you know, if they prove to be true, it is a potentially very serious breach of the rules-based international order in which we like to function,” he said in response to a question.

While Secretary of State Antony Blinken has called on India to cooperate with the Canadian investigation, American officials have largely tried to avoid triggering any diplomatic blowback from India, the paper said.

But the disclosure of the involvement of US intelligence risks ensnaring Washington in the diplomatic battle between Canada and India at a time when it is keen to develop New Delhi as a closer partner, it said.

Blinken said the US is “deeply concerned” about the allegations raised by Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau against India and Washington was “closely coordinating” with Ottawa on the issue and wants to see “accountability” in the case.

Speaking at a press conference in New York on Friday, Blinken said the US has engaged directly with the Indian Government on the issue and the most productive thing would be the completion of this investigation.

Trudeau on Friday said that Canada shared with India “many weeks ago” evidence on the killing of Nijjar and wants New Delhi to commit constructively with Ottawa to establish the facts in the “very serious matter.”

When asked about Canada sharing any information in the case with India, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi said: “No specific information has been shared by Canada on this case, either then or before or after. We have, you know, as we have said, or I think we have made very clear, we are willing to look at any specific information.”

Say there is sufficient evidence to frame charges against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh

IANS

New Delhi, September 24

In the alleged sexual harassment case lodged against outgoing Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, while the court granted him one-day exemption from appearance, the Delhi Police have said “the accused never missed an opportunity to sexually harass women wrestlers”. 

The police made the submission before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Harjeet Singh Jaspal of Rouse Avenue Court, saying that there is sufficient evidence to frame charges against Singh.

Delhi Police cited alleged incidents from Tajikistan in its case against Singh, claiming that these events show his awareness of his actions.

According to the police, during an event in Tajikistan, Singh forcibly hugged a woman wrestler and later justified his actions by saying he did it like a father.

Another complaint from the Asian Championship in Tajikistan alleges that Singh lifted a woman wrestler’s shirt without permission and inappropriately touched her stomach.

Delhi Police argued that these incidents occurred outside India but were relevant to the case.

The police stressed that it’s not a matter of whether the victims reacted to the incidents but rather that they were wronged. They also mentioned an alleged incident at the WFI’s office in Delhi and asserted that the National Capital was the appropriate jurisdiction for the complaints.

After hearing the matter at length, ACMM listed the matter for hearing next on October 7.

During the last hearing, the Delhi Police had told the court that he was not exonerated by the oversight committee constituted by the government to investigate the allegations levelled against him.

“Singh was not exonerated by the oversight committee. The committee had given recommendations, and not a decision. Nowhere has it been stated that these allegations are not substantiated or are false,” special public prosecutor Atul Srivastava had told the court.

He had also urged the court to frame the charges against Singh, stating that even a mere gesture can constitute a crime under Section 354 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

During the last hearing also, the complainant women wrestlers had said that the allegations they have levelled against him warrant framing of charges.

On September 1, the counsel for the wrestlers had argued that Singh and Tomar were never exonerated by the oversight committee, adding that the panel — headed by ace boxer M.C. Mary Kom — was an “eyewash to assuage sentiments”.

Senior advocate Rebecca John, appearing for the wrestlers, had said: “The allegations in the FIR culminating in the chargesheet of which your honour has taken cognisance are of a nature that necessitates the framing of charges against the accused persons.”

She had also claimed that the oversight committee was not constituted as per the rules of the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Act.

“The committee’s report needs to be junked. It was an eyewash to assuage the sentiments,” she had contended.

As the complainants concluded their arguments and placed on record the Supreme Court judgments, it was claimed that the committee has made only generic recommendations without any findings in the matter.

On August 11, Delhi Police had told the court that they possessed sufficient evidence to proceed with the trial against Singh. ACMM Jaspal was informed by the police that there is a clear case against Singh and co-accused Tomar. 

Two pistols, three hand grenades, one UBGL and some ammunition were seized from them

PTI

Srinagar, September 24 

Security forces on Sunday busted two terror modules in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district and arrested five “hybrid” terrorists, police said.  

Two pistols, three hand grenades, one UBGL and some ammunition were seized from them, a police official said.  

The arrested persons have been identified as Aadil Hussain Wani, Suhail Ahmad Dar, Aitmad Ahmad Laway, Mehraj Ahmad Lone and Sabzar Ahmad Khaar, the official said.   

He said an FIR has been registered at the Qaimoh police station and investigation is underway in the case.  

Says the BRO incorporating new technology, including 3D printing, in its projects; exploring new domains of construction

Lt Gen Rajeev Chaudhary, Director-General, BRO, speaks at an event in Chandigarh, Sunday September 24, 2023. Tribune Photo: Nitin Mittal

Tribune News Service

Vijay Mohan

Chandigarh, September 24 

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) is laying greater emphasis on construction of tunnels in mountainous areas to provide year-round connectivity to border regions in Ladakh as well as the north-east.

“In the first 60 years of its existence since 1960, BRO had constructed just two tunnels. However, in the last three years alone, four tunnels have been completed and another 10 are expected to be complete within 1-2 years,” said Lt Gen Rajeev Chaudhary, Director-General Border Roads Organisation, here on Sunday.

“Construction of another eight tunnels has also been planned,” he added.

He was here to review the progress of the world’s largest 3D printed complex that is being constructed by the BRO in Chandigarh to provide transit support facilities to personnel and equipment enroute to Ladakh.

Tunnels, he said, are the most effective means to provide fast and all-weather connectivity to remote border areas as most mountain passes remain closed during winters due to heavy snowfall.

The BRO is also working to reduce the time period that the passes remain closed.

A large number of projects including construction of roads, bridges and tunnels as well as upgradation of airfields in border areas are underway.

Lt Gen Chaudhary said that about 60 projects are expected to be complete shortly. Earlier this month, 90 new projects were launched by the defence minister.

For snow clearing operations along high-altitude roads, the BRO has introduced a GIS enabled navigation system mounted on dozers that provide operators the exact alignment of the road axis underneath the snow cover and guides their movement accordingly, thereby preventing the equipment from veering off-track. This system was used for the first time this year.

Lt Gen Chaudhary said that great impetus is now being laid on the development of border infrastructure and towards this end; the budgetary support for BRO has increased by 100 percent over the past two years.

“The BRO is also incorporating new technology, including 3D printing, in its projects, exploring new domains of construction and is also harnessing the use of waste material and industrial by-products,” he said.

“Development of border infrastructure is not for military purpose alone, but also vital for socio-economic development of far-flung areas and merging them with the mainstream,” he said.

BRO is in the process of constructing the world’s highest tunnel at Shinku La, which at a height of 16,855 feet will surpass mi La tunnel at 15,580 feet in Tibet.

Shinku La will link the Lahaul Spiti valley in Himachal Pradesh with Zanskar Valley in Ladakh, enabling connectivity with dozens of villages on either side.

Construction of the world’s highest motorable road, the Likaru-Mig La-Fukche link in south-eastern Ladakh also began in August this year and will be complete in about three years. Touching 19,400 feet, it will break the record of the 19,024 feet high Umling La, also in eastern Ladakh.

AVM Manmohan Bahadur (retd)

In the cacophony of the G20 extravaganza came the terrible news of India losing its brave sons, including a Commanding Officer (CO), in Kashmir. It is to the credit of the Indian Army’s ethos that the ‘old man’ has always led from the front — as evident from the unfortunate statistic that at least six COs have made the supreme sacrifice in the past decade or so. There is, obviously, something different in a CO’s persona that sets him apart from other leaders. And, as the nation moves into an election year, the political leadership — of all parties — may like to imbibe some qualities of the CO Saab of our armed forces, as he embodies all that a good leader ought to be.

Accept that caste, religious orientation should have no place in drive for betterment of the common Indian

Loyalty, integrity, probity et al are primary leadership attributes. However, morality is an intangible that cannot be taught in any classroom. A CO is the conscience-keeper of his unit and sets the standards, and if ever there was a transparent person in a formation, it is him, as his actions are for all to see. Professional acumen is the first quality put to test; does he lead from the front, a la the brave Col Manpreet Singh whom we lost in Kashmir? How well does he captain his ship or fly his aeroplane? Does he chicken out under enemy fire? In simple terms, does the CO walk his talk, for him to have the moral authority to order his men to charge and take the first bullet? Similarly, a political leader is always under scrutiny, with people weighing his promises with actualities on ground. Deeds speak and the public endures the leader and awaits its chance every five years to speak through the ballot.

Morality has another hue that evolves from India’s multi-cultural and multi-religious polity. A CO may believe in a certain religion or faith in his personal life, but these reside only within the four walls of his room. As he steps out in his paltan, squadron or ship, he is the personification of diverse faiths and leanings of his subordinates. He is a union of their cultural and religious ethos, and for him, the Almighty resides in different places of worship, each with their distinct rituals.

The CO Saab is the de facto pandit, maulvi, granthi and padre, all rolled into one. In our political environment, the expectations from a leader are similar. He or she only has to look at the CO and accept that caste and religious orientation should have no place in their drive for the betterment of the common Indian. So, dear politicians, please attack the existential problems facing the common man, as a CO Saab would — facing the enemy.

And, ask the kin of the brave sons who received their Tricolour-draped coffins, if it matters to them whether they died fighting for India or Bharat.

NIA nails ‘ultra’ for links to Myanmar rebels

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 23

Almost four months after being suspended, the mobile Internet services were restored in Manipur today.

Meanwhile, the NIA has arrested a suspected terrorist for his alleged links with Myanmar-based rebel groups and conspiring to wage a war against India by exploiting the current ethnic unrest in Manipur, an official said.

Moirangthem Anand Singh was arrested from Manipur and brought to New Delhi for questioning, a spokesperson for the NIA said. Singh was one of the five persons arrested by the Manipur Police for possessing weapons looted from police armoury. The arrest had led to an agitation by members of the majority community, who were claiming that they were village defence activists. A local court had granted bail to all five on Friday.

However, Singh was immediately placed under arrest and whisked away to an undisclosed location before being brought to the national Capital.

The official said Singh was arrested in a case related to a “transnational conspiracy” by the Myanmar-based leadership of terror groups to wage a war against the Government of India by exploiting the current ethnic unrest in Manipur.

The CM, meanwhile, said his government had urged the Union Home Ministry to cancel the free movement regime along the India-Myanmar border and complete its fencing. The regime allows people residing close to both sides of the India-Myanmar border to venture 16 km deep into each other’s territory without any document. /PTI

Flags country’s ‘abysmal’ human rights record

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 23

India has asked Pakistan to vacate Indian territories under its forcible occupation and take three-fold action to contain terrorism instead of raking up the Kashmir issue, countering caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar claims in his address at the General Debate during the high-level 78th session of UNGA on Friday.

“Pakistan has been the home and patron to the largest number of internationally proscribed terrorist entities and individuals in the world. Instead of engaging in technical sophistry, we call upon Pakistan to take credible and verifiable action against the perpetrators of the Mumbai terror attacks, whose victims await justice even after 15 years,” said Indian diplomat Petal Gehlot.

India was exercising its Right of Reply in the UNGA after Kakar alleged India had evaded implementation of the UN Security Council’s resolutions which called for the “final disposition” of J&K to be decided by its people through UN-supervised plebiscite.

Gehlot said the UTs of J&K and Ladakh were integral parts of India and Pakistan had no “locus standi” to make statements regarding India’s domestic matters.

To Kakar’s claim that J&K was the key to peace in the region, she said: “In order for there to be peace in South Asia, the actions that Pakistan needs to take are threefold. First, stop cross-border terrorism and shut down its infrastructure of terrorism immediately. Second, vacate Indian territories under its illegal and forcible occupation. And third, stop the grave and persistent human rights violations against the minorities in Pakistan.”

Countering Kakar’s claim that India was denying access to human rights bodies, Gehlot said members of the UN and other multilateral organisations were well aware that Pakistan made such claims to “deflect the international community’s attention away from its own abysmal record on human rights”. Citing a “glaring example” of the systemic violence against Pakistan’s minorities, the First Secretary in India’s Permanent Mission to the UN referred to the large-scale “brutality” perpetrated against the minority Christian community in Faisalabad district in August, where around 20 churches were vandalised and 89 Christian homes burnt down.

BALINDER SINGH PUNJAB EXPRESS BUREAU Samana/Patiala, September 21 Punjab Chief Minis[1]ter Bhagwant Mann on Thursday handed over cheques worth Rs 1 crore each as financial assis[1]tance to the distressed family members of the two brave hearts who had attained martyrdom during search operation against militants at Anant[1]nag (Jammu-Kashmir), a few days back. After visiting the native houses of these martyrs at SAS Nagar and Samana, the Chief Minister said that these valiant heroes have attained martyrdom while discharging their duty to safeguard the uni[1]ty, integrity and sovereign[1]ty of the country. He said that the two valiant he[1]roes from Punjab, Colonel Manpreet Singh from SAS Nagar and Pardeep Singh of Samana Patiala had at[1]tained martyrdom during this operation. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that it is an irreparable loss for the country in general and for the distressed families in particular. During his visit, the Chief Minister offered his condolences to the bereaved family members and prayed to Almighty for granting eternal peace to the departed soul.

CM hands over cheques worth Rs 1 crore each as financial assistance to distressed families of two brave hearts martyred at Anantnag

Asserts that country will ever remain indebted to the unprecedented sacrifice of these heroes

Patiala, September 21, 2023:

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday handed over cheques worth Rs. 1 crore each as financial assistance to the distressed family members of the two brave hearts who had attained martyrdom during search operation against militants at Anantnag (Jammu-Kashmir), a few days back. 
After visiting the native houses of these martyrs at SAS Nagar and Samana, the Chief Minister said that these valiant heroes have attained martyrdom while discharging their duty to safeguard the unity, integrity and sovereignty of the country. He said that the two valiant heroes from Punjab, Colonel Manpreet Singh from SAS Nagar and Pardeep Singh of Samana Patiala had attained martyrdom during this operation. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that it is an irreparable loss for the country in general and for the distressed families in particular.

During his visit, the Chief Minister offered his condolences to the bereaved family members and prayed to Almighty for granting eternal peace to the departed soul. Handing over cheques worth Rs 1 crore to the distressed families as a mark of respect for the unprecedented sacrifice made by these heroes for the country, he said that the entire country is indebted to these martyrs who had sacrificed their lives for the sake of the country and its people. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this humble initiative of the state government is in recognition of the immense contribution of these sons of soil towards preserving the unity, integrity and sovereignty of the country.

Reiterating the firm commitment of the state government to help the families of the soldiers who sacrifice their life at the altar of the motherland, the Chief Minister said that it is the bounden duty of the Punjab government. Bhagwant Mann said that financial assistance to these families of martyrs is in consonance with the commitment of the state government to ensure the well being of the soldiers and their families who attained martyrdom during the duty. He said that the supreme sacrifice of these martyrs will ever inspire their fellow soldiers and youngsters to perform their duties with far more devotion and commitment.

1. Please refer to the Central Org ECHS letter No B/49711-NSC/AG/ECHS/Gen Corr dated 06 Jul 22. Copies of the letters are enclosed for information please.
2. Vide Para – 6 (b) of the above letter, Proof of Income Eligibility i.e. Form 26 AS or Income Certificate from State Revenue Department for the last 2 Financial Years in respect of the Dependents above 18 Years of Age are required to be submitted/ uploaded in the Portal to get the Extension Approved for 1 Year. Failing which, the ECHS Cards are Blocked.
3. Alert for Extension of Eligibility has started coming in the ECHS Portal under Status. Please login to ECHS Portal to check the same and Apply for the Extension if due.

https://echs.sourceinfosys.com/

Warm regards.

Lt Col RK Bhardwaj (Retd)