Trump inches closer to Republican nomination Donald Trump defeated Nikki Haley in South Carolina primary, his fourth consecutive victory, securing 60% of the votes HUBBALLI l Monday l February 26, 2024 l `9.00 l PAGES 14 l CITY EDITION Goods train runs 70 km without driver H a r p r ee t B a j w a @ Chandigarh A diesel engine-powered goods train ran for 70 km without a driver at top speed from Kathua in Jammu, crossing five stations on its way before it came to a halt near Unchi Bassi station in Punjab. An official said no casualty or damage to property was reported. Divisional Traffic Manager, Jammu, Prateek Srivastava said that an inquiry has been initiated to k n ow t h e c a u s e o f t h e incident. Prima facie, it seems that the train started rolling down the slope-gradient track towards Punjab without the driver and his assistant. “The train came to a halt near Unchi Bassi station due to steep-gradient track, after covering a distance of 70 kms,” he added. It was halted with the assistance of sandbags, sources said. The 53-wagon train loaded with chip stones had stopped at Kathua for driver change. Sources said the hand brakes were not applied and the train started moving. The engine cabin was not secured fully— one side was powered off while the other side was running. The train gained speed and crossed a few stations before finally coming to a stop because of steep-gradient track. Meanwhile, when the train was hurtling through the tracks, a message was sent to all gatemen to keep the levelcrossings closed. PM opens 5 AIIMS, accuses previous govts of neglect D i l i p S i n g h K s h at r i ya @ Ahmedabad PRIME Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday inaugurated five new All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and laid the foundation stone of development projects worth `48,100 crore. The projects, unveiled at an event at Rajkot in Gujarat, encompass health, road, rail, energy, petroleum & natural gas, and tourism sectors. These include around 200 healthcare infrastructure projects worth `11,500 crore spread across 23 states and Union Territories, a PMO release said. Addressing a gathering after inaugurating the five AIIMS in Rajkot, Bathinda (Punjab), Raebareli (Uttar Pradesh), Kalyani (West Bengal), and Mangalagiri (Andhra Pradesh), Modi said his government takes the country’s development seriously and executes projects fast. The five AIIMS were built at a cost of `6,315.23 crore. Among the other major projects the PM dedicated to the nation are the new Mundra-Panipat pipeline project worth `9,000 crore and 21 projects of the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation worth `2,280 crore. Targeting the Congress, Modi said the grand old party was in power for several decades but its development track record is poor. “For 50 years after Inde- pendence, there was only one AIIMS, and that too in Delhi. In the seven decades since Independence, only seven AIIMS were approved but even these were never completed.” Modi claimed his government inaugurated seven new AIIMS in just 10 days. “That’s why I am saying we are developing the country many times Haley said she is not quitting the race and taking the fight to Super Tuesday—March 5—when Republican voters in 15 states and one territory will vote Haley, two-term governor in South Carolina, said the 40% support for her indicates that Republican voters want an alternative |P10 Haley ignored in victory speech Trump celebrated his victory in Columbia, South Carolina and told his supporters, “There’s never been a spirit like this, and I just want to say that. I have never seen the Republican Party so unified.” ■ Earlier, Trump won Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and the US Virgin Islands ■ E x p r ess Ne w s S e r v i c e @ Bengaluru Indian-origin writer, poet and activist Prof Nitasha Kaul, who was invited to ‘The Constitution and Unity of India’ conference organised by the Karnataka government, has alleged that she was denied entry to India by immigration officials at the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru on Friday. She took to social media platform X on Sunday to share her ordeal and said that after she was detained at the airport in a holding cell for 24 hours, she was deported to London. Kaul alleged that the immigration officials in Bengaluru informally made references to her criticism of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for refusing her entry into India to take part in the conference that was held at Palace Grounds on Saturday and Sunday . “I was invited to a conference by the Government of Karnataka (Congress-ruled state) but Centre refused me entry All my documents were . valid and current (UK passport and Overseas Citizen of India). I was given no reason by immigration except ‘we cannot do anything, orders from Delhi’. Prof Nitasha Kaul at Kempegowda International Airport after she was detained by immigration officials My travel and logistics had been arranged by Karnataka and I had the official letter with me. I received no notice or info in advance from Delhi that I would not be allowed to en- Offered free pass by police: Shriki told GF in email when in custody Yat h i r a j u @ Bengaluru faster than what happened in the last six to seven decades and are dedicating it at the feet of the citizens,” he said, adding that his government approved 10 AIIMS in the last 10 years. The PM also inaugurated the 2.32-km-long Sudarshan Setu, India’s longest cable-stayed bridge connecting Beyt Dwarka island to mainland Okha in Devbhumi Dwarka district. ■ UK prof to attend Statute meet stopped at KIA bitcoin scam PM Narendra Modi offers prayers at the underwater site in the Arabian Sea, where the ancient city of Dwarka is believed to have existed, on Sunday | PTI CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOgGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI ■ “My time in police custody is one of the most amazing experiences. I have been offered a free pass by the police... Becoming friends with all the top cops, I got a laptop, music, Zazz-tab whatever I needed and being monitored by the commissioner himself...” This was the content of an e-mail sent by notorious hacker Shrikrishna alias Shriki, the main accused in the Bitcoin scam, from his personal email ID to his girlfriend on February 22, 2021, when he was in police custody The mail was recovered . by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed in the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), probing the multi-crore Bitcoin scam. The SIT is using the mail to substantiate the alleged nexus between the accused police officers and Shriki. Objecting to this revelation, the counsel for police inspector Prashanth Babu CM, who was part of t h e i nve s t i g at i o n team constituted to probe the Bitcoin scam earlier, pointed out that on the said date, Shriki was not in police custody as per complaint. The SIT is using the email as the basis to seek dismissal of Babu’s bail petition and to show how Shriki and another accused Robin Khandelwal were used to hack crypto wallets, websites, gaming apps, etc. to make illegal gains by detaining them illegally . The counsel further contended before a city civil and sessions court, where the plea was filed, that several Bitcoins were illegally transferred on January 16, 2021, but on that date Shriki was not in police custody The allegation . of illegal detention of Shriki and Robin has been made three years after their detention. CONTINUED ON: P5 ter,” Kaul said in a series of her posts. She said she is a globally respected academic and public intellectual and added, “I am not anti-Indian, I am anti-authoritarian and prodemocracy .” “The government is welcome to fix this and speak to me so that I can explain what is that they are unable to understand about me, my identity my work , or my views. Generations of my family have served important institutions of the state and government and such petty vindictive behaviour is incredible,” Kaul stated. P4 express read Cong MLA Naik dies at 67, session postponed Bengaluru: Sitting Congress MLA from Shorapura Assembly constituency in Yadgir district, Raja Venakatappa Naik, passed away due to a heart attack at a private hospital here on Sunday. He was 67 years old. The legislative session, which was to conclude on Monday, has been postponed to Wednesday as the houses will pay tribute to Naik | P4 SP chief Akhilesh joins Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra Agra (UP): Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav joined Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Agra on Sunday, days after the two parties reached a seat-sharing arrangement in Uttar Pradesh for the Lok Sabha polls | P10
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