Masked men vandalise church in Punjab's Tarn Taran, CM Mann orders probe
Amritsar/Chandigarh(PTI): Four masked men allegedly vandalised a church in a village close to the Indo-Pak border in Punjab's Tarn Taran district, police said on Wednesday.
The incident occurred in Takkarpura village of Patti town on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday, they said.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann strongly condemned the incident and ordered a probe into the matter, asserting that nobody will be allowed to disturb brotherhood and harmony in the state.
Four masked men entered the church, pointed a pistol at the watchman's head and tied up his hands before vandalising the church. They also broke two idols and burnt the pastor's car before leaving, the police said.
CCTV cameras installed inside the church captured the incident.
After the incident, a police team led by Senior Superintendent of Police, Tarn Taran, Ranjit Singh Dhillon reached the spot to take stock of the situation. Heavy police deployment has been made in the area, the police said.
A case has been registered in the matter and efforts are on to arrest those behind the incident, Dhillon said.
Ordering a probe into the incident, Mann said strict action will be taken against those involved in it.
A group of Christians held a protest against the vandalisation of the church and blocked all routes leading to Khemkaran, Bhikhiwind, Patti, Harike and Ferozepur.
The protesters demanded immediate arrest of the accused.
SSP Dhillon, who reached the protest site, assured the agitators that the culprits will be arrested soon.
"It is a conspiracy by some mischievous elements who wanted to disturb peace in the state," the SSP said.
"We have taken stock of the situation and are investigating the matter. We will soon catch those who were behind this incident," he added.
Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring also condemned the incident.
He said such incidents are deliberate attempts by some mischievous elements to break the country and divide people.
The incident comes a day after Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) chief Harjinder Singh Dhami condemned alleged efforts being made in Punjab for religious conversions by "some so-called Christian missionaries".
They also demanded the withdrawal of an FIR against some Nihang Sikhs who were booked for allegedly disrupting an event organised by Christian missionaries at Daduana village in Amritsar on Monday.
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.
Trump says EU has until July 4 to approve last year's trade deal or it will face higher tariffs
Washington (AP): President Donald Trump has said in a social media post that goods from the European Union would face higher tariff rates if the 27-member bloc fails to approve last year's trade framework by July 4.
The announcement on Thursday appeared to be a deadline extension after the president said last Friday that EU autos would face a higher 25 per cent tariff starting this week. Trump made the updated announcement after what he described as a "great call" with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Still, the US president was displeased that the European Parliament had yet to finalize the trade arrangement reached last year, which was further complicated in February by the US Supreme Court ruling that Trump lacked the legal authority to declare an economic emergency to impose the initial tariffs used to pressure the EU into talks.
"A promise was made that the EU would deliver their side of the Deal and, as per Agreement, cut their Tariffs to ZERO!" Trump posted. "I agreed to give her until our Country's 250th Birthday or, unfortunately, their Tariffs would immediately jump to much higher levels."
It was unclear from the post whether Trump was implying that the tariff rates would jump on all EU goods or the increase would only apply to autos.
His latest statement indicates he might be backing away from his earlier threat on EU autos by giving the European Parliament several more weeks to approve the agreement.
Under the original terms of the framework, the US would charge a 15 per cent tax on most goods imported from the EU.
But since the Supreme Court ruling, the administration has levied a 10 per cent tariff while investigating trade imbalances and national security issues, aiming to put in new tariffs to make up for lost revenues.
