YK MYK 2 YEARS OF PANDEMIC HAVE SHOWN THE INHUMANITY OF CAPITALIST PATH OPINION Rs. 5 RANCHI SATURDAY, 14 MAY, 2022 PG-12, YEAR—12, ISSUE—5 (RNI NO: JHAENG / 2012 / 44137) AT A GLANCE 4 DEAD, 22 HURT AFTER BUS CARRYING PILGRIMS CATCHES FIRE IN J&K JAMMU: Four persons were feared dead and 22 others were injured after a bus carrying Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrims caught fire in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday, sources said. "The bus was engulfed with flames after it caught fire at Nomain when it was ferrying pilgrims from Katra to Jammu," sources added. The injured have been shifted to a nearby hospital. Mukesh Singh, Additional Director General of Police (Jammu), said a team of forensic experts has been sent to ascertain the cause of fire. SBI Q4 NET PROFIT JUMPS 41 PER CENT TO RS 9,113 CRORE NEW DELHI: The country's largest lender State Bank of India (SBI) on Friday reported Rs 9,113.53 crore net profit for the fourth quarter of 2021-22, 41.27 per cent higher than Rs 6,450.75 crore recorded in the corresponding period of the previous year. For the full year 2021-22, the bank's net profit jumped by 55.19 per cent. CORONA METER INDIA TOTAL CASES: 43,116,600 TOTAL DEATHS: 524,190 WORLD TOTAL CASES: 519,883,737 TOTAL DEATHS: 6,284,904 IPL 2022: SRH FACE KNIGHT RIDERS IN BATTLE OF SURVIVAL SPORTS Morning India ED continues interrogation Voting for first phase of panchayat polls today of Pooja Singhal in PMLA case SANJAY SAHAY Hemant Sutradhar MI NEWS SERVICE RANCHI: The administration is geared up for the first phase of the panchayat elections in the state on Saturday. A total of 52,22,815 voters including 26,76,109 males, 25,46,688 females and 18 third gender would elect their representatives in the exercise. According to officials the elections would be carried out in 14,079 polling booths in 1,127 panchyats in 72 blocks of 21 districts in the state. As many as 7,303 posts of gram panchayat members, 1,117 of mukhiyas 1,256 of panchyat samiti members and 143 of zila parishad members are to be filled through the ballots. Meanwhile, 6,085 candidates have been elected unopposed as gram panchayat members, four as mukhiyas, 140 as panchayat samiti members and two as zila parishad members. At present 17,822 candidates are contesting the elections for gram panchayat Preparation in full swing on the eve of first phase voting, in Ranchi on Friday. members, 6,890 for mukhiyas, 4,694 for panchayat samiti members and 815 for post of zila parishad members. It may be stated here that security has been enhanced in the district undergoing the elections in the first phase in view of the Maoists call for poll boycott. The Maoists zonal committee spokesman Ashok had issued a statement saying that real beneficiaries of the elections would be the mukhiyas, pramukhs and zila parishad members who would get monthly salary and fund for development. Police said that a large number of force including 245 additional companies of Districts Armed Police and the Jharkhand Armed Police have been provided to the district after assessing their needs. The CRPF, Jharkhand Cong promises big changes after Chintan Shivir meet ‘No ticket to kin of leaders without any work experience’ UDAIPUR: As the Congress kickstarted its three-day brainstorming session Chintan Shivir- senior party leader Ajay Maken on Friday said there is complete unanimity on the one family, one ticket rule, and stated that the party is set to usher in big organisational changes after the conclave. Addressing a press conference here ahead of the conclave, the Congress General Secretary said that the aim of the Shivir is to transform the way Congress functions as an organisation. "We are going to make some big changes in the organisation," he said. He said that at least 5 years of work experience will be required for anyone who wants to contest on Congress' party ticket. "There's almost complete unanimity among panel members on the proposal that to ensure that party leaders don't give tickets to their kin or relatives without any work in the party, at least 5 years of prior work in the party will HC TO HEAR PIL RELATED TO ALLOTMENT OF MINES TO CM RANCHI: Jharkhand High Court (HC) on Friday took strong exception of the affidavit filed by the Ranchi deputy commissioner in the PIL concerning allotment of mining lease to Chief Minister Hemant Soren. A division bench observed that how can a DC have the detailed information about the mining department an asked why did the latter evade submitting the affidavit. Meanwhile court directed the ED's advocate Tushar Mehta to file evidences it has gathered during its recent action in Jharkhand in a sealed cover. Kapil Sibal who appeared for the state government questioned the maintainability of the PIL and citing orders of the Supreme Court while seeking its dismissal. The court would hear the matter related to allocation of mining lease to the CM and that of shell companies on May 17. —Sanjay Sahay Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Anand Sharma, Ghulam Nabi Azad at the party's 'Nav Sankalp Chintan Shivir—2022, in Udaipur on Friday. ANI be required," said Maken. "'One family, one ticket' proposal being discussed; the exception only if another family member working for at least 5 years in the party," he added. The Congress leader said that there is a proposal to give 50 per cent representation to those below the age of 50 at all levels from top to bottom, including in the Congress Working Committee (CWC)," he said. "Any person who is holding a post for 5 years should have to step down, and there should be a cooling period of at least 3 years for that person to come back on the same post. For more than 5 years a person should not be on the same post," said Maken. The Congress general secretary said it is often pointed out that leaders who have worked hard have not been rewarded and accountability has not been fixed for those who have not performed. "So we are thinking about setting up an assessment wing to put in place criteria for assessing performance," he said. MORE ON PG 7 Jaguar and the Cobra are also involved in anti -extremist operations, which is going on in the sensitive pockets and the inter-state borders. The Ranchi SSP Surindra Jha visited the polling booth in Ranchi on bike and reviewed the security arrangement. CRPF would be deployed in the rural areas of the district for ensuring peace and fair polling. TWO TERRORISTS KILLED IN ENCOUNTER AT J&K'S BANDIPORA SRINAGAR: Two terrorists have been killed in an ongoing encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Bandipora on Friday, officials said. "One more terrorist killed (total 2). Search operation in progress," police said. Police said two Pakistani terrorists belonging to proscribed terror outfit LeT who had recently infiltrated into India had been trapped in the ongoing encounter. "Two recent infiltrated #Pakistani terrorists of LeT terror outfit who escaped from recent anti-terrorist operation on 11/5/22 at Salinder forest area were tracked down. They have been trapped today at Brar Bandipora," Jammu and Kashmir Police tweeted, quoting Inspector General of Police, Kashmir zone, Vijay Kumar. The firefight took place after a joint team of security forces cordoned off the Brar area in Bandipora. LIC shares allotted at Rs 949 apiece; Govt mops up Rs 20,557 cr NEW DELHI: Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India shares have been allotted to the eligible bidders of the initial public offering (IPO) at Rs 949 apiece, the upper end of the IPO price band. Through this IPO, the government has raised Rs 20,557 crore by diluting 3.5 per cent of its stake in the country's largest insurer. Policyholders, retail investors and employees have been offered discounts. Policyholders have been given a discount of Rs 60 per share. So the policy- holders have been allocated the shares at Rs 889 apiece. Retail investors and employees have got the shares at Rs 904 apiece. The shares have been issued to the eligible subscribers. Unsuccessful bidders will get the refunds. The shares will be credited to the investors' demat accounts on Monday. LIC is scheduled to make its stock market debut on May 17. The initial public offering of LIC was subscribed 2.95 times. The IPO opened for public subscription on May 4 RANCHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) carried out interrogation of the suspended IAS officer Pooja Singhal and others in connection with the Mnrega scam and money laundering for sixth day on Friday. Among the persons interrogated are Singhal, her husband Abhishek Jha, the latter's chartered accountant Suman Kumar and a builder Alok Sarawgi. The builder has been questioned in connection with purchase of land and construction of the Pulse Hospital. The case is concerned with the raids carried out by the ED across the country on May 6 and seizure of cash and incriminating documents from premises of Singhal, her husband and the Kumar. AMONG THE PERSONS INTERROGATED ARE SINGHAL, HER HUSBAND ABHISHEK JHA, THE LATTER'S CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT SUMAN KUMAR AND A BUILDER ALOK SARAWGI. THE BUILDER HAS BEEN QUESTIONED IN CONNECTION WITH PURCHASE OF LAND AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE PULSE HOSPITAL. Singhal and Kumar have been arrested in the case and are under ED's custody. During interrogation on Friday Singhal developed health issues again she was checked up by a doctor of the district hospital. The doctor advised her to take to yoga including savasan to remain calm during interrogation. He asked Singhal to try to remain happy even under adverse situations.