The New Indian Express wishes its reader a (From left) Col Manpreet Singh, Maj Malla Rama Gopal Naidu, Rifleman Ravi Kumar and J&K DySP Himayun Muzzammil Bhat THIRUVANANTHAPURAM l thursday l august 15, 2024 l `9.00 l PAGES 18 l late city EDITION 4 conferred second-highest gallantry award on I-Day eve Colonel Manpreet Singh, Rifleman Ravi Kumar, Major Malla Rama Naidu and J&K DySP Himayun Bhat were conferred the Kirti Chakra Three kirti chakra awardees killed in action 18 conferred shaurya chakra Col Singh was killed in action during an anti-terror operation in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag last September. Col Singh was awarded Sena Medal during his tenure as second-in-command of the 19 Rashtriya Rifles. Bhat, who was deputy superintendant of J&K Police, also took part in the operation and was killed. Rifleman Ravi Kumar died fighting terrorists in Rajouri district last year ■ ■ Besides four Kirti Chakras, the list of gallantry awards includes 18 Shaurya Chakras (four posthumous), one Bar to Sena Medal, 63 Sena Medals, 11 Nao Sena Medals and six Vayu Sena Medals Army’s Shaurya Chakra awardees include Col Pawan Singh, Major C V S Nikhil, Major Aashish Dhonchak and Major Tripatpreet Singh Our offices will remain closed today on account of Independence Day. There will be no issue of the paper tomorrow. 103 Gallantry awards to armed forces and Central Armed Police Forces 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 Tax bonanza for mineral states Army Captain killed in J&K encounter F aya z w a n i @ Srinagar They can claim dues retrospectively from 2005: SC SUCHITRA K ALYAN M OHANTY @ New Delhi Soren: It’s big victory Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren said the ruling is a ‘big victory’, adding that the state expects to receive `1.36 lakh crore dues from the Centre MP, Raj to forego Responding to the govt’s submission that MP and Rajasthan don’t wish to collect dues, SC said it is up to the states to forego dues IN a boost to mineral-rich states but a major setback to mining companies and the Centre, the Supreme Court on Wednesday said that its July 25 judgment granting states the power to tax mineral rights and mineral-bearing land would apply retros p e c t iv e l y. T h e o r d e r empowers mining states such as Odisha, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh to recover royalty and tax dues on mineral rights and mineral-bearing lands worth thousands of crores of rupees with effect from April 1, 2005 from mining companies as well as the Central government. The apex court said the tax arrears can be paid to states over a staggered period of 12 years starting April 1, 2026. It also clarified that the states cannot impose any penalties for the dues. During the hearing on July 31, the Centre had opposed the demand of states for a refund of royalty levied on mines and minerals since 1989, saying the PSUs would lose more than `70,000 crore. Meanwhile, industry estimates put the total arrears at `1.5-2 lakh crore with the Federation of Indian Mineral Industries saying the verdict will further push the industry, which is already saddled with high taxation, into penury . In its judgment on July 25, a nine-judge bench of the Supreme Court had held that states have competence and power to levy tax on mineral bearing lands. The majority 8:1 judgment authored by the Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud-led bench ruled that the power to tax mineral rights lies with the state legislature and not Parliament. PM’s economic advisory council member Shamika Ravi said the “spectre of retrospective taxation” is back, adding laws must protect against expropriation of property by individuals as well as by the state. Meanwhile, experts warned of a litany of litigation as states have been given unbridled powers to impose levies. Deepak Singh Army personnel near the site of an encounter between security forces and terrorists in Doda on Wednesday | PTI An Army captain was killed in an encounter with terrorists in the dense Akar forests area of the Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir on the eve of Independence Day . An official said Captain Deepak Singh sustained serious injuries during the encounter on Wednesday. He died at a hospital. After the encounter, the terrorist fled and the Army along with the local police launched a search operation. During the search, a US-made M-4 rifle and three blood-stained backpacks were recovered. As the search continued, there were more exchanges of fire between the security forces and the terrorists. A terrorist was killed and a civilian was injured during one of these exchanges. As the operation stretched, specially trained para-commandos were rushed to the area to assist the troops. A security official said on Wednesday evening that the operation was going on. The official said they suspect three to four heavily armed militants are hiding in the forest area. Gunfire and blasts could heard outside the forest area. Cops’ ‘inspection’ at Marine Drive ‘Kafir’ row: Shailaja sparks ‘moral policing’ controversy reprimands Lathika A b d u l N a z e r M A @ Kochi Police officers questioning young couples at Kochi’s Marine Drive and noting down their personal details have triggered a controversy, with the youngsters terming it as an act of “moral policing” by the men in uniform. However, the police refuted the charges, saying Wednesday’s inspection was part of a routine drive to check “illegal and suspicious activities”. “We were sitting casually in an open area, without causing any disturbance. Is it fair for a large squad of police officers to conduct unwarranted inspection on us,” asked Rakesh (name changed), who was sitting at the Queen’s Walkway in Marine Drive along with a female friend. “They forced us to provide personal details like our name, address, age, and contact numbers,” the 26-yearold said. Claiming it to be a form of ‘moral policing’ by the police, he said: “We came to Marine Drive as it’s an open space where people gather to spend their leisure. Such inspections by the police will definitely dampen the joy .” According to him, the police queried four to five couples sitting at the Queen’s Walkway around noon. “When police act like this, how can a boy and girl sit together peacefully in a public place in this metropolitan city,” he asked. Meanwhile, the police have denied allegations of moral policing. “There is nothing unusual. It is a routine drive conducted to apprehend individuals involved in illegal activities and pick up minors, especially school students, who skip classes and wander around the premises,” said Ernakulam Central sub-inspector P A Ajay Kumar, who was part of the inspec● More on P6 tion team.  Express News Service @Kozhikode In a move that is sure to stir up ripples within the ruling CPM, senior leader K K Shailaja has publicly condemned her party colleague K K Lathika for sharing the controversial ‘Kafir’ screenshot on social media. “It ill behoves a Left leader to share such a post. The act does not reflect the principles upheld by the CPM,” Shailaja, who was the party candidate from Vadakara in the last LS elections, said on Wednesday. Asked about the devel- opment, Lathika told reporters that she does not want to disclose in the public the reasons for sharing the content. A screenshot, describing Shailaja a ‘Kafir’ (non-believer), was widely circulated in Vadakara on the eve of the polling. Accusing the UDF of creating and circulating the “communal” screenshot, a CPM leader had filed a police complaint. In a report submitted before the High Court on Tuesday, the police said as per its probe, the campaign originated in Left ● More on P6 groups. 18 pages, including 4 pages of THIRUVANANTHAPURAM Express