1. Maoists kill 2 policemen in Chhattisgarh’s Rajnandgaon, and all the latest news
2. Chhattisgarh: ED raids premises of Congress leaders days before party’s Raipur meet
3. Heavy investment in infra for creation of jobs in Uttarakhand: PM at Rozgar Mela
4. ‘I salute you all’: PM Modi interacts with Indian rescue professionals involved in ‘Operation Dost’ in Turkey
5. NIA conducts searches in 8 states in gangster network

What Else

6. Govt considers phased withdrawal of Army from Kashmir hinterland
7. India sets up panel to assess impact of higher temperatures on wheat crop
8. EU trusts India’s G20 Presidency to ‘find a way’ in Russia-Ukraine war: Envoy
9. India’s forex reserves mark the biggest weekly drop in 11 months
10. Corroded wires, welded suspenders reason behind Morbi tragedy: SIT in preliminary report
11. China to reveal a peace plan for Ukraine as one-year anniversary of Russian invasion nears
12. Pakistan: LHC grants Imran protective bail till March 3 in ‘rioting, terror’ case
13. Pakistan: National Assembly passes finance bill to meet IMF conditions
14. Clash erupts on Durand Line after closing Torkham Gate
15. Missing persons increasing day by day, and now even ladies are forcefully missing, Says Dawar
16. Pakistan: Thousands protest against arrest of female suicide bomber Mahal Baloch
17. Lt. Gen. (R) Hameed wanted to bring the outlawed TTP back to Pakistan, Says Rights Minister

Maoists kill 2 policemen in Chhattisgarh’s Rajnandgaon, and all the latest news

• Two policemen were killed after Naxalites fired at them in Chhattisgarh’s Rajnandgaon district on Mon, police said.
• The incident took place between 7 am and 8 am under Bortalav police station limits in the district adjoining Maharashtra when the 2 personnel were going on a motorcycle.
• A group of armed Naxalites fired at them.
• One of the personnel died on the spot and the other one succumbed to injuries while being taken to a hospital, the official said.
• The Naxalites also set ablaze their motorcycle before escaping from the spot, located 180 km from the state capital Raipur, he said.
• As reported y’day, the Naxals set fire to the road making heavy vehicles. (here)

Chhattisgarh: ED raids premises of Congress leaders days before party’s Raipur meet

• The Enforcement Directorate on Mon raided premises linked to at least 8 ruling Congress leaders in a money laundering case linked to the alleged illegal levies on coal.
• The raids came days before the 85^th plenary of the Congress’s central decision-making body is due to be held in Raipur from Feb 24 to 26.
• Over 15,000 delegates will join the plenary to discuss the political situation, economy, foreign policy, agriculture, employment, social justice, etc, and set the tone for 2024.
• The ED conducted searches in the state capital of Raipur and Durg.
• “Premises of some senior leaders, spokespersons, and a legislator have been raided and more details are awaited,” said a police official, who did not want to be named.
• (source)- CM Bhupesh Baghel called an emergency meeting to discuss the raids.
• The ED has alleged a cartel of bureaucrats, businessmen, politicians, and middlemen imposed illegal levies of ₹25 per tonne on coal transported in the state. (here)

Heavy investment in infra for creation of jobs in Uttarakhand: PM at Rozgar Mela

• PM Modi on Mon said the central govt was making efforts to ensure that the youth of Uttarakhand will be back as heavy investments in infrastructure for job creation.
• He was virtually addressing a Rozgar Mela to distribute appointment letters to assistant teachers in Dehradun.
• He stated that the far-flung areas of Uttarakhand are being connected by road, rail, and internet, which is helping in the expansion of the tourism sector.
• The PM highlighted that the Mudra Yojana is playing a crucial role in boosting employment and self-employment opportunities in the tourism sector.
• “38 crore Mudra loans have been given across the country so far. About 8 crore youths have become entrepreneurs for the first time”, he said.
• He added that both central and the state BJP govts are trying to ensure all youngsters get new opportunities according to their interests and ability. (here)

‘I salute you all’: PM Modi interacts with Indian rescue professionals involved in ‘Operation Dost’ in Turkey

• PM Modi on Mon interacted with Indian rescue members of the National Disaster Response Force and other organizations involved in “Operation Dost” in Turkey.
• PM lauded the Indian rescues and said that India strengthened its identity both as self-reliant and selfless.
• The PM said wherever the Indian team arrives with Tiranga for rescue operations, there is an assurance that the situation will get better.
• He also cited examples of rescue operations conducted by India in Afghanistan and Ukraine. (here)
• A new 6.4 magnitude earthquake on Mon killed 3 people and injured more than 200 in Turkey that was laid waste 2 weeks ago by a massive quake that killed tens of thousands.
• Officials said more buildings collapsed, trapping occupants, and several people were injured in both Turkey and Syria. (here)

NIA conducts searches in 8 states in gangster network

• In a major crackdown against gangster syndicates, the National Investigation Agency launched searches at over 70 locations across several states on Tue.
• The searches were conducted in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi, Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh.
• The raids were being conducted at over 30 locations in Punjab.
• The ongoing raids are in connection with a probe into a case registered by NIA against gangster and their criminal syndicate.
• This is the fourth round of NIA raids on the gangster network. Further details are awaited. (here)

Govt considers phased withdrawal of Army from Kashmir hinterland

• Center is discussing a proposal to withdraw the Indian Army completely from the Valley hinterland.
• If approved, the Army will have a presence only on the Line of Control.
• It is 3.5 years since the Union govt revoked the special status granted to J&K amid the deployment of large additional troops,
• (Officials)- the proposal to withdraw the Army from the Kashmir hinterland has been under discussion for about 2 years and is at an “advanced stage”.
• It is proposed that the CRPF would fill in for the army personnel to meet the challenges of both law and order and counter-terror operations.
• According to officials, the Army strength is around 1.3 lakh personnel in the entire J&K of which around 80,000 are deployed on the border.
• About 40-45K personnel from the Rashtriya Rifles have the mantle of conducting counter-terror operations in Kashmir’s hinterland. While 85 K J&K police. (here)

India sets up panel to assess impact of higher temperatures on wheat crop

• Reuters – India has set up a panel of officials to assess the impact of rising temp on the wheat crop, govt officials said on Mon
• Added to this the weather office warned that above-normal temperatures would prevail in key producing states.
• The world’s 2^nd biggest wheat producer earlier this month said it’s production was likely to rise 4.1% to a record 112.2 million tonnes.
• However, a lack of winter rains has raised temperatures in some parts of India’s northern states where farmers grow wheat.
• Last week, the daily average temperature hit early to mid-March levels.
• India, also the world’s 2^nd-biggest consumer of wheat, banned exports in May 2022 after a sharp, sudden rise in temperatures clipped output, even as export demand picked up to meet the global shortfall triggered by the Russia-Ukraine conflict. (here)

EU trusts India’s G20 Presidency to ‘find a way’ in Russia-Ukraine war: Envoy

• EU trusts India’s G20 presidency that it will “find a way” in the Russia-Ukraine war, envoy Ugo Astuto said on Mon.
• Astuto said they have great expectations from the Indian presidency of G20, adding to it he said India presents a very ambitious program that the EU support.
• “We’re not living in a business-as-usual situation. The Russian invasion of Ukraine is totally unjustified, a clear violation of the UN Charter,” he said.
• In recent months, the Russian war machinery has been using drones excessively to target military establishments and other major infrastructure across Ukraine. (here)
• Meanwhile, the US president made a short visit to Keiv, and after the visit, Ukrainian President Zelnsky said the consequence of the visit will appear war.

India’s forex reserves mark the biggest weekly drop in 11 months

• India’s foreign exchange reserves fell significantly to a one-month low of $566.94 billion in the week ending Feb 10, marking its biggest weekly decline in 11 months.
• The country’s import cover in the week prior had dropped by $1.49 billion to $575.27 bn, stalling a 3-week rising streak, as per the Reserve Bank of India’s weekly data.
• The latest dip in FX reserves was due to the RBI selling dollars to shore up the rupee in international markets and stabilize the domestic currency from extreme volatility.
• They entail all the foreign assets owned by a country’s central bank. Foreign assets generate income in foreign currency.
• According to the RBI data, India’s Foreign Currency Assets (FCS) have also fallen by $7.11 billion to $500.59 billion in the latest week.
• Apart from that, India’s Gold Reserves have fallen by $919 million, taking the bullion reserves to $42.86 billion. (here)

Corroded wires, welded suspenders reason behind Morbi tragedy: SIT in preliminary report

• Gujarat govt-appointed SIT, as part of its initial probe into the Morbi bridge collapse, has found that nearly half of the wires on 1 cable were corroded
• Also, old suspenders were welded with new ones, which was the major cause that led to the tragedy that killed 135 people.
• These findings are part of the ‘Preliminary Report on Morbi Bridge Incident’ submitted by the 5-member SIT in Dec 2022.
• The report was recently shared with the Morbi Municipality by the state urban development department.
• The Oreva Group was responsible for the operation and maintenance of the British-era suspension bridge on the Machchu river that collapsed on Oct 30 last year. (here)

[NEIGHBORHOOD]

China to reveal a peace plan for Ukraine as one-year anniversary of Russian invasion nears

• China announced plans to unveil a peace proposal for the war in Ukraine on Sat, but many world leaders approached the plan with caution as the country still refuses to directly condemn Russia.
• At the Munich Security Conference, China’s FM Wang Yi told the conference that while China was “not directly concerned in the conflict, but was not standing idly by.”
• Wang said that China would reveal a solution for peace in the region — which highlights the importance of “the sovereignty of all countries” — on the 1^st anniversary.
• Some politicians and diplomats had reservations about China’s motives — given the country’s recent alliances with Putin’s regime and the recent spy balloon controversy.
• China has not been able to condemn the invasion and is absent in the UN on the issue.
• Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s FM, said that Beijing could be a helpful ally in ending the invasion.
• Annalena Baerbock, the German FM, also welcomed China’s plan.
• On Sat, the US announced it determined that Russia has committed crimes against humanity in a war that has been marked by thousands of civilian casualties. (here)

Pakistan: LHC grants Imran protective bail till March 3 in ‘rioting, terror’ case

• The Lahore High Court on Mon granted PTI chief Imran Khan protective bail until Mar 3 in a case related to PTI protestors’ alleged rioting and clashes in Islamabad in Oct
• This was the aftermath of his disqualification by the Election Commission of Pakistan in the Toshakhana reference.
• The proceedings in both petitions culminated only after the high court had to wait for hours and set multiple deadlines for Imran to arrive.
• Once the PTI chief reached the court premises, a number of his supporters gathered around him.
• When the hearing began, the PTI chief was not present in the courtroom.
• At this, his lawyer Siddique argued that his client was present inside the LHC premises but could not be presented in the courtroom due to the security risk. (here)

Pakistan: National Assembly passes finance bill to meet IMF conditions

• The National Assembly on Mon passed the Finance (Suppl) Bill, 2023, to amend certain laws relating to taxes and duties to raise an additional Rs170 billion in the next 4.5 months to meet the demand of IMF.
• The govt is in a race against time to implement the tax measures and reach an agreement with the IMF as the country’s reserves have depleted to a critically low level of $2.9bn, which experts believe is enough for only 16 or 17 days of imports.
• The agreement with the IMF on the 9^th review of a $7bn loan program would not only lead to a disbursement of $1.2bn but also unlock inflows from friendly countries.
• Fin Min Ishaq Dar introduced the bill on Feb 15, and the formal debate started on it after moving a motion by Commerce Minister Syed Naveed Qamar on Feb 17.
• In his concluding speech in today’s NA session, Dar said that the bill proposed to impose new taxes of Rs 170bn to minimize the fiscal deficit. (here)

Clash erupts on Durand Line after closing Torkham Gate

• After the Taliban closed the main trading and border crossing points, the Torkham gate, the Islamic Emirate forces, and Pakistani border guards engaged in a gun battle.
• The people from both the border side started fighting in the top area.
• “One of them belongs to Pakistan and another belongs to our Ministry of Defense,” said Karimullah Agha, an intelligence officer at the gate.
• The closure of the gate caused problems for many people needing medical care abroad and their accompanying relatives.
• They called on the two sides to reach an agreement over reopening the gate.
• The Taliban closed the door after Pakistan denied access to the Afghan patients to cross the gate.
• Meanwhile, Dawn reported that Afghan Taliban closed down the gate with Pakistan, accusing Islamabad of reneging on its commitments. (here)

Missing persons increasing day by day, and now even ladies are forcefully missing, Says Dawar

• The leader of the National Democratic Movement and member of the NA Mohsin Dawar has said while addressing a meeting in the Quetta Press Club that the number of missing persons is increasing day by day, and now even ladies are forcefully missing.
• It has to be stopped now. He said that undemocratic powers are deliberately being strengthened in the province.
• The foreign powers want another war in Afghanistan.
• Saboteurs from outside are being settled in Pashtun areas under a conspiracy to create havoc in the province.
• Thousands of workers of the Awami National Party have been killed but not a single killer is arrested.
• He said that if another war starts in Afghanistan, then Balochistan will not be safe from its heat. (Intekhab Daily)
• The Balochistan National Party has announced demonstrations on Feb 25 against the forced disappearance of women, innocent children and vulnerable Baloch people. (Urdu Point)

Pakistan: Thousands protest against arrest of female suicide bomber Mahal Baloch

• Thousand of people came out to the streets in Balochistan to protest against the arrest of Mahal Baloch, who has been identified as a female suicide bomber, and the imposition of fabricated charges against her, vernacular media reported.
• Many protesters were seen holding placards calling for the immediate release of Mahal in Turbat and an end to the use of false charges to suppress dissent.
• Earlier, on Fri, Mahal Baloch was arrested in Quetta by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD)
• According to The Express Tribune, she was forced to support the Balochistan Liberation Front.
• According to details, Mahal Baloch was used by and forced to support BLF’s militant wing.
• She had been separated from her children and turned into a suicide bomber in yet another case of Baloch mothers and sisters being used by terror outfits. (here)
• According to media reports, the husband of suicide bomber Mahal Baloch, Bibagar Baloch alias Nadeem, is also related to the military wing of BILF while headmaster Mohammad Hussain is related to the central committee of BLF.
• In 2016, Bibagar and his brother Naukab were killed in a fight over money and weapons. (Jasarat)

Lt. Gen. (R) Hameed wanted to bring the outlawed TTP back to Pakistan, Says Rights Minister

• Federal Rights Minister Riyaz Pirzada has stated that former ISI Chief Faiz Hameed wanted to bring the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan back to Pakistan.
• Pirzada further stated that Article 6 should not be imposed on the former Army Chief because if it is imposed, how will it show the world that the army Chief of Pakistan can also be an enemy of the country?
• On the issue of missing persons, Riyaz Peerzada stated that some people who are used are disappeared by those who use them.
• He stated that some people go to the mountains or go to other countries and they are said to be missing persons.
• The issue of missing persons will not be resolved until the issue of law and order is resolved. (Daily Pakistan, Jang)