Delhi man arrested for robbing, abducting truck driver; four absconding
New Delhi (PTI): The Delhi Police has arrested a 36-year-old man for allegedly robbing and abducting a truck driver in the Samaypur Badli area, officials said on Sunday.
The accused has been identified as Lekhraj, they said.
Police also recovered 55 plastic bags of maize, an e-rickshaw, and a delivery bill linked to the looted consignment. Four of his associates are still absconding, a police officer said.
According to police, complainant Pramod Kumar, a truck driver, was transporting maize from Sonipat to Delhi on October 15 when he stopped his vehicle near the Nangli Poona underpass.
"There, an argument broke out between an e-rickshaw driver and passengers. When Kumar tried to intervene, the e-rickshaw driver and his accomplices thought he was involved and attacked him with a stone, snatched his mobile phone, and later demanded money," the officer said.
Police said the attackers then forcibly took the complainant and his truck towards Kadipur, where several others joined them.
The gang held him “hostage” in an e-rickshaw and looted around 80 maize bags, tools, and a spare tyre from the truck before abandoning him near a forested stretch on the Pusta Road, according to the officer.
Kumar managed to escape and reported the incident to the police.
"Based on CCTV footage and technical inputs, a team arrested Lekhraj and recovered the stolen maize bags and the e-rickshaw used in the crime," he added.
Police said efforts are underway to trace the remaining accused.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
India proposes preferential trade agreement with Mexico to deal with high tariffs
New Delhi (PTI): India has proposed a preferential trade agreement (PTA) with Mexico to help domestic exporters deal with the steep tariffs announced by the South American country, a top government official said on Monday.
Mexico has decided to impose steep import tariffs - ranging from about 5 per cent to as high as 50 per cent on a wide range of goods (about 1,463 tariff lines) from countries that do not have free trade agreements with Mexico, including India, China, South Korea, Thailand and Indonesia.
Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said that India has engaged with the country on the issue.
"Technical level talks are on...The only fast way forward is to try to get a preferential trade agreement (PTA) because an FTA (free trade agreement) will take a lot of time. So we are trying to see what can be a good way forward," he told reporters here.
While in an FTA two trading partners either significantly reduce or eliminate import duties on maximum number of goods traded between them, in a PTA, duties are cut or removed on a limited number of products.
Trading partners of Mexico cannot file a compliant against the decision on imposing high tariffs as they are WTO (World Trade Organisation) compatible.
The duties are within their bound rates, he said, adding that their primary target was not India.
"We have proposed a PTA because its a WTO-compatible way forward... we can do a PTA and try to get concessions that are required for Indian supply chains and similarly offer them concessions where they have export interests in India," Agrawal said.
ALSO READ: Mexico's Congress approves higher tariffs on goods from India, China and non-FTA nations
Citing support for local production and correction of trade imbalances, Mexico has approved an increase in MFN (most favoured nation) import tariffs (5-50 per cent) with effect from January 1, 2026 on 1,455 tariff lines (or product categories) within the WTO framework, targeting non-FTA partners.
Preliminary estimates suggest that this affects India's around USD 2 billion exports to Mexico particularly -- automobile, two-wheelers, auto parts, textiles, iron and steel, plastics, leather and footwear.
The measure is also aimed at curbing Chinese imports.
India-Mexico merchandise trade totalled USD 8.74 billion in 2024, with exports USD 5.73 billion, imports USD 3.01 billion, and a trade surplus of USD 2.72 billion.
The government has been continuously and comprehensively assessing Mexico's tariff revisions since the issue emerged, engaging stakeholders, safeguarding the interests of Indian exporters, and pursuing constructive dialogue to ensure a stable trade environment benefiting businesses and consumers in both countries.
ALSO READ: Search operation ends in Anjaw truck accident, 20 bodies recovered
Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) Director General Ajay Sahai has said that Mexico's decision is a matter of concern, particularly for sectors like automobiles and auto components, machinery, electrical and electronics, organic chemicals, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and plastics.
"Such steep duties will erode our competitiveness and risk, disrupting supply chains that have taken years to develop," Sahai said, adding that this development also underlines the little urgency for India and Mexico to fast-track a comprehensive trade agreement.
Domestic auto component manufacturers will face enhanced cost pressures with Mexico hiking duties on Indian imports, according to industry body ACMA.
