DAILY FROM: AHMEDABAD, CHANDIGARH, DELHI, JAIPUR, KOLKATA, LUCKNOW, MUMBAI, NAGPUR, PUNE, VADODARA ● REG.NO. MCS/067/2018 - 20 RNI REGN. NO. 1543/57 JOURNALISM OF COURAGE FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2024, MUMBAI, LATE CITY, 14 PAGES `5.00 WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM SINCE 1932 NEW STRESS POINT IN TIES BEFORE U.S. PRESIDENTIAL POLLS USputs19Indianfirmsonsanctionslist, sayshelpedRussiawithmaterials,tech Sanctioning nearly 400 entities and individuals across countries for enabling Russia’s illegal war: US State Dept NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 31 ADDINGAnewstresspointtobilateral ties, the United States Wednesday put 19 private firms from India and two Indian nationalsonalistof “nearly400entities and individuals” from several countries that will face sanctionsfortheirallegedrolein aiding Russia’s war efforts in Ukraine. This is not the first time that Indian firms have been targeted by US sanctions, but the latest move was the “most concerted pushsofaragainstthird-country evasion”, a US State Department E EXPLAINED SHUBHAJIT ROY Limited ● effect THE US sanctions have had a limited impact on the Russian war machine. In this context, the latest move is being seen as an attempt to target Moscow with an eye on domestic constituents in the US with presidential elections on November 5. official told Reuters. The US action comes at a time when bilateral ties with India are already under stress over allegations of an Indian national's role in a plot to assassinate Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil. Raising the stakes last week, the US said it would not be fully satisfied until there is “meaningful accountability” resulting from India’s investigations into the alleged plot that failed. On Wednesday, while announcingthesanctionslinkedto Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the State Department said: “The United States is today sanctioning nearly 400 entities and individuals for enabling Russia’s CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Electronic, aircraft parts: Most Indian firms on list supplied dual-use goods SUKALP SHARMA & RAVI DUTTA MISHRA NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 31 OFTHEIndianentities—19companies and two Indian nationals — sanctioned by the United States on Wednesday for allegedly aiding Russia’s war in Ukraine by supplying Moscow with materials and technology thatcouldbeusedinmilitaryapplications, most are suppliers of electronic components, while a fewaresuppliersof aircraftparts and machine tools and components, among other items. While a few India-based companiesweresanctionedearlierbytheUSaspartof itsRussiarelated sanctions regime, the number of firms targeted in the latest move is unusually high. As a result of the sanctions, USassetsandcompaniesowned by the sanctioned entities and individuals are blocked, and Americanentitiesareprohibited from transacting with them. Even outside the US, people and firms that transact with CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Days after India-China thaw, Doval and Sullivan discuss regional security In separate remarks, US State Dept says Canada’s allegations ‘concerning’ SHUBHAJIT ROY NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 31 EVEN AS the Indian Army confirmed that disengagement has been completed at two friction points along the India-China border, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and NSA Ajit Doval spoke over telephone and “discussed regional security developments,underscoringthe needforfurthereffortstoensure stability in the Indo-Pacific region and globally”. The discussion comes in the backdrop of US sanctions on 19 Indian companies for aiding Russia's war efforts in Ukraine. It is also the first publicised interaction over phone between the two NSAs after the latest indictmentintheUSregardingafailed assassination plot against a Sikh separatist and Canada’s allegations about involvement of the Indian government, including Home Minister Amit Shah, in National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, (right) US NSA Jake Sullivan. File PM Narendra Modi celebrates Diwali with BSF personnel in Gujarat’s Kutch, Thursday. PTI PM pitches for ‘one nation, one secular civil code’ Warns against ‘Urban Naxals’ trying to ‘destabilise’ country ADITI RAJA BUSINESS AS USUAL BY UNNY CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 VADODARA, OCTOBER 31 PRIME MINISTER Narendra Modi on Thursday said that the government is working towards the implementation of a “one nation, one secular civil code”, saying this will “eliminate discrimination” and strengthen unity. Warning against forces trying to “destabilise” the country,healsounderscoredtheneed to “identify urban Naxals and unmask them”. The PM was speaking at the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas celebra- 103 131 ANAND MOHAN J BHOPAL, OCTOBER 31 162 78 A RESORT and a conference hall built within tiger reserve corridorsatMadhyaPradesh’sSanjay Dubri and Bandhavgarh have emergedasapointof contention between the state’s Wildlife and Tourismdepartments,TheIndian Express has learnt. The Standing Committee of the National Wildlife Board, in a meetingheldonJuly31thisyear, flagged that illegal construction in the core zone of Sidhi district, within the corridor connecting Sanjay Tiger Reserve and SPCA suggests action against four cops after couple’s 5-year ordeal MUMBAI, OCTOBER 31 A 56-YEAR-OLD man and his wife, who were robbed of their ancestral jewellery in a moving state transport bus in 2019, have been running around three police stations in Aurangabad and Buldhana districts, and a case wasregistered60dayslater,only after he staged an indefinite hunger strike at the tehsil office on Independence Day. On October 25, the State Police Complaints Authority (SPCA)foundfourpolicemen,including a retired officer, guilty of dereliction of duty and recommended disciplinary action againstthemtothestategovernment. The order was passed in the presence of retired Justice Shrihari Davare (Chairperson), CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 CAN’T COMPROMISE ON EVEN AN INCH OF OUR BORDERS: PM PAGE 8 tions near the Statue of Unity in Gujarat's Ekta Nagar, after paying floral tributes to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his birth anniversary. Lauding government initiatives to establish “one nation” models like Aadhaar, GST and Ayushman Bharat, Modi said: Construction within tiger reserve corridors puts MP’s Wildlife, Tourism depts at odds 01/11/2024 SAGAR RAJPUT INSIDE Indian and Chinese Army personnel exchange Diwali greetings at Hot Springs in eastern Ladakh on Thursday. PTI Bandhavgarh, had been carried outbytheMadhyaPradeshState Tourism Development Corporation (MPSTDC). The first project included the use of 0.1604 hectares of land for constructionof16rooms,areceptionandotherdevelopmentwork inSonGharialWildlifeSanctuary. Theprojectworks“werenearing completion”,andtheBoardnoted that this “violated provisions of theWildlife(Protection)Act,1972 and Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980 and State Forest Act”. The second proposal was for the use of 0.0435 hectares for CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 “Our attempts at unity are now goingtoresultinonenation,one election which will strengthen democracyinIndiaandbringoptimaloutcomeof theresources... Wearemovingtowardsaonenation, one civil code — a secular civil code... It will help eliminate thecomplaintsof discrimination at the caste level.” Modi alleged that a “political force” of “urban Naxals” was trying to “break the unity” of the country through a “well planned conspiracy”. “Due to India's increasingstrengthsandcapabilities, someforceswithinandoutsideare CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 THE WORLD TRUMP BOARDS GARBAGE TRUCK, HARRIS DISTANCES FROM BIDEN REMARK LEBANON, ISRAEL COULD AGREE TO TRUCE WITHIN DAYS: LEBANESE PM PAGE 12 MAHARASHTRA J DEY MURDER ACCUSED SEEKS RS 10 CR EXTORTION, 5 RAJAN MEN HELD P3 36 SEATS IN COTTON-RICH VIDARBHA REGION India, China troops making progress on Cong-BJP direct fight in 76 seats likely to hold key to next govt disengagement, says Chinese military K J M VARMA BEIJING, OCTOBER 31 THE CHINESE military on Thursdaysaidtroopsof Indiaand China are “making progress” in implementing the recent agreement to disengage from the frictionpointsintheeasternLadakh borderbutdeclinedtocomment on reports that the disengagement has been completed. Commenting for the first time after the October 21 agreement to disengage the troops, Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defence, told a media briefing that “China and India have reachedresolutionsontheissues concerning the border areas through diplomatic and military channels”. “The frontline troops of the two militaries are making progress in implementing resolutionsinanorderlymanner,”he said, reiterating the foreign ministry's comments on Wednesday. He, however, declined to INSIDE INDIAN, CHINESE TROOPS EXCHANGE SWEETS AT SEVERAL BORDER POINTS PAGE 7 commentonthereportsthatthe Indian and Chinese troops have completed disengagement at two friction points at Demchok and Depsang Plains in eastern Ladakh and patrolling is set to commence soon at these points. “On this question, I have no more information to offer,” Col Zhang said. Onthebilateralagreementto disengage the troops, Col Zhang said President Xi Jinping met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the margins of the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia last week. “Both sides have agreed that ChinaandIndiashouldviewand handle the bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 SHUBHANGI KHAPRE MUMBAI, OCTOBER 31 THE BJP and the Congress are headed for a straight fight in 76 of the 288 DECISION Assembly seats 2024 in Maharashtra. MAHARASHTRA Andwiththetwo parties leading the ruling Mahayuti and Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliances, respectively, these76seats—36of theseinthe Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis with BJP Mumbai unit chief Ashish Shelar in Mumbai, Thursday. PTI cotton belt of Vidarbha — will playacrucialroleinthenextgovernment formation in the state. The BJP is contesting 148 seats in the November 20 elections. While ally Shiv Sena, led byChief MinisterEknathShinde, has fielded 80 candidates, the NationalistCongressParty(NCP) ledbyDeputyChief MinisterAjit Pawar has fielded 52. Region-wise, the BJP has fielded the most candidates in Vidarbha(47),followedbywestern Maharashtra (32), north Maharashtra (17), Marathwada (19) and Konkan, including Thane and Mumbai (33). In the MVA, the Congress is CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Drama, fear key ingredients in cyber fraud: ‘Sleep with your camera on’ PAGE 1 ANCHOR SUSHANT KULKARNI PUNE, OCTOBER 31 THE STAGING is elaborate: a backdrop resembling a police station with officers in uniform and ambient crackle of wireless sets, high-profile names droppedonthego—fromIPSofficers to celebrities and politicians — and institutions such as CBI, ED, RBI and even the Supreme Court invoked. And fear is the weapon: vic- tims are threatened with arrest and jail for money laundering, drug trafficking and terrorism — and asked to remain on video or audio call round the clock saying they are under surveillance or face a threat to life. This is a key pattern that has emergedinpoliceinvestigations into cyber fraud cases such as “digital arrest”, which was highlighted by Prime Minister NarendraModilastSundayinhis 'Mann Ki Baat' programme. At the heart of it all, police officers in Pune told The Indian Express,aremultilayered,multinational syndicates siphoning money from unsuspecting vic- tims to the bank accounts of labourers and farmers — and then funnelling it to international masterminds through the cryptocurrency route. Staging the con According to the officers, in many cases, victims initially get calls from persons posing as Telecom officers warning of disconnection,orcourierexecutives saying their parcels were sent to other countries and drugs or contraband were found in them. Sometimes,thesecallsstartwith an Interactive Voice Response messagetomakethemmorebelievable, and the callers ask vic- Suvajit Dey tims to connect with “investigation officers” on video call. Then comes the theatrics. Cyberfraudstersposingaspolice officers or sleuths of investigation agencies tell victims that their role is being probed in a serious crime. In the background are sounds of telephones ringing,walkietalkiesetsbeeping.In many cases, the “police officers” pretend to call their “head offices” on wireless sets and the person at the other end says an arrest warrant has been issued. Probes have revealed that these fraudsters manipulate victims into sharing sensitive information and later use those to blackmail and extort. “It felt all so real and so legitimate. They show identity cards, letters from agencies with logos, and use all legal jargon. As if they have you under psychological arrest from thebeginning,”saidaretiredengineer in Pune who lost over Rs 70 lakh after he was told that his identity was misused for money laundering. Dropping names on the go “You will be arrested in the Raj Kundra money laundering case,”a73-year-oldmaninPune wastoldbyacaller,whoposedas anUPpoliceofficer.Cyberinvestigators have reported that onlinefraudstersmisusednamesof businessman and actress Shilpa Shetty's husband Raj Kundra, Jet Airways founder Naresh Goyal, ICICI Bank’s former MD and CEO Chanda Kochhar and NCP leader Nawab Malik — all those who havefacedinvestigationsbyvarious agencies. “This is yet another tactic to add details to the con. Names of well known senior IPS officers have been misused in almost all these cases. In some cases, they have also used names of women IPS officers who have social CONTINUED ON PAGE 2