SHIVAMOGGA  SUNDAY  NOVEMBER 29, 2020  `8.00  PAGES 24  CITY EDITION NAVY DEPLOYS MARINE COMMANDOS IN LADAKH The Marine Commandos (MARCOS) have been deployed at Pangong lake area in eastern Ladakh amid tensions with China TO ENHANCE INTEGRATION OF SPECIAL FORCES Air Force’s Garud operatives and Army’s Para Special Forces have been in eastern Ladakh since the June clash in the Galwan Valley. With the deployment of MARCOS, the government hopes to enhance the integration of the three services, according to reports. Besides, the Marine Commandos will also get exposure to extreme cold weather conditions WILL CONDUCT OPS IN PANGONG LAKE India has boosted its special force presence along the Line of Actual Control since the June 15 clash ■ In August, India used special forces to take control of a key piece of strategic land near Pangong lake’s southern bank ■ The MARCOS is expected to conduct operations in Pangong lake ■ MARCOS HAS CONDUCTED OPERATIONS IN KASHMIR’S JHELUM LAKE IN THE PAST CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOGGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ WARANGAL ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI SHAH STEPS IN TO QUELL FARMERS’ IRE Says Centre ready to hold early talks as soon as they vacate roads H A R P R E E T B A J W A , G AYAT H R I M A N I & N A M I TA B A J PA I @ Chandigarh/New Delhi/Lucknow UNION Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said the government was ready to hold talks with the agitating farmers even before December 3 if they vacated the roads and national highways and moved to the Nirankari Ground in Burari, north Delhi. “The government is ready to deliberate on every problem and demand of the farmers,” Shah said in a video message released in the evening. “If farmers’ unions want to hold discussions before December 3, then I want to assure you all that as soon as you shift your protest to the structured place, the government will hold talks to address your concerns the very next day.” Shah said the government had made all the arrangements for the farmers at the designated ground. But, the farmers turned down Shah’s offer to go to Burari, with BKU (Ekta-Ugrahan) president Joginder Singh Ugrahan saying the protest will continue “till our demands are met”. P7 Modi takes 3-city tour to review vaccine progress EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ New Delhi/Hyderabad/Mumbai PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday undertook a whirlwind trip to Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and Pune for reviewing the Covid vaccine development and manufacturing process by Zydus Cadila, Bharat Biotech and Serum Institute of India. DDC ELECTIONS Farmers from Punjab and Haryana shouting slogans against the Centre during their 'Delhi Chalo' march at Singhu Border in New Delhi on Saturday | SHEKHAR YADAV Police book youth who turned off water cannon for attempt to murder H A R P R E E T B A J W A @ Chandigarh NAVDEEP Singh, a young farmer from Ambala who flung himself from his moving tractor trolley towards a police vehicle to turn off water cannon, has been booked by the Haryana Police on charges of attempt to murder, rioting and violation of Coivd-19 norms. The incident happened near the grain market at Ambala Cantt on NH-44 on November 25 during the farmers’ march towards Delhi. The Haryana Police have booked Singh as well as Bharatiya Kisan Union Haryana president Gurnam Singh Chaduni for allegedly breaking police barricades and trying to run the police personnel over. The police on Friday registered two cases against unidentified protesters for rioting, obstructing public servants from performing duty and assault. Art 370 weighs heavy in 1st J&K poll since split F AYA Z W A N I @ Srinagar BRAVING winter chill and the Covid-19 threat, 51.7% voters in Jammu and Kashmir cast their vote in the first phase of the eight-phase District Development Council elections, the first electoral exercise in J&K after the dilution of Article 370 of the Constitution last year. The turnout was an improvement from the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, when 45% voters exercised their franchise. The i m p rove m e n t w a s m o re marked in the Kashmir Valley , where the turnout was 40.65%. P8 In 2019, it was 18.8 pc. At each of the three facilities, the PM spent over an hour each, took a tour of the facilities, met top executives and interacted with scientists to understand the trial status, issues and challenges being faced in development of the vaccines. He also asked scientists for their opinion on how the country could further improve its Prime Minister Narendra Modi tours Zydus Biotech Park in Ahmedabad | PIB regulatory process and sought their suggestions to improve the process of vaccine distribution. While the indigenously developed vaccine Covaxin by Bharat Biotech, in collaboration with Ithe CMR, is undergoing phase 3 testing, another developed by Zydus Cadila is now in the second stage of huP7 man trials. Political twist to Tiger, leopard nails, animal suicide bid by skins seized in major haul CM’s secretary EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Bengaluru A major wildlife haul was unearthed by the Bengaluru south division police on Saturday with the seizure of 400 leopard nails, six tiger nails, one female Black Buck skin, one jackal skin with head and seven pangolin nails. The police also seized two jungle cat paws and three sloth bear claws, and have arrested four WITH THIS ISSUE poachers. They now plan to go after the buyers also. The seized items have been verified as genuine by the Forest Department. Officials of the forest and police departments are now tracking records on wild animal deaths in Karnataka and neighbouring states. According to police, searches were conducted in South Bengaluru as many jewellery stores were eager P3 to buy animal parts. THE HOME HUB PLUS 12 PAGES EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Bengaluru THE suicide bid by Chief Minister’s political secretary N R Santhosh has taken a political turn with the Congress alleging that he was under some kind of pressure, and demanded a detailed probe. However, the BJP termed it as an attempt to politicise the issue and tarnish the party’s image. Santhosh, meanwhile, is recovering in hospital. “He may be discharged from hospital in a day or two,’’ said Dr Naresh Shetty, president, MS Ramaiah hospital. CM B S Yediyurappa had visited the hospiP3 tal on Friday night.