SATURDAY 13 APRIL 2024 www.thestatesman.com Pages 12 |` 5.00|LC Twitter.com/thestatesman Facebook.com/thestatesman INDIA’S NATIONAL NEWSPAPER SINCE 1818 KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR THE OJ SIMPSON SAGA ‘INDIA BLOC WILL SURPRISE’ P7 SENSEX 74,244.90793.25 WEATHER Partly cloudy sky. Maximum and minimum temperatures likely to be around 35 °C and 26 °C respectively. RAINFALL: NIL RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 86 % TEMPERATURE K. KAVITHA SENT TO 3-DAY CBI CUSTODY IN EXCISE POLICY CASE P9 NIFTY 22,519.40234.40 P4 ` vs $ 83.387 PAISE GOLD 73,3101,090 THUMBNAILS Devotees praying at Nakuleshwar temple beside Kali Ghat temple in Kolkata on the occasion of Nil Sasthi on Friday. SNS Retail inflation for March eases to 9-month m low of 4.85pc: India’s retail inflation has eased to a nine-month low of 4.85per cent in March 2024 on an annual basis, said the data released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation on Friday. The inflation also eased in March from February’s 5.09per cent. Previously, CPI-based inflation was the lowest at 4.87 per cent (Pg 8) in October 2023. BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 92.112.37 Blast suspects’ arrest: ‘Key accused in B’luru cafe blast were caught within CM credits state police two hours of getting info’ STATESMAN NEWS SERVIE Max: 35.2°C (-1) Min: 24.7°C (-1) SUN RISES SUN SETS 05:19 hrs 17:56 hrs MOON RISES MOON SETS 07:50 hrs 21:57 hrs Full Moon on 24 April P12 SILVER 86,5001,500 Slams BJP leaders who said arrests proved that Bengal had become a safe haven for terrorists Min. 41 % IT’S NOT IN MY HANDS: ISHAN ON T20 WORLD CUP SELECTION SILIGURI, 12 APRIL hief Minister Mamata Banerjee gave credit to the West Bengal police for the arrests of the two key suspects in the Bengaluru cafe blast case, even as she lashed out at BJP leaders who said the arrests proved that Bengal had become a safe haven for terrorists. Coming down heavily on the BJP leaders’ comments, Miss Banerjee said: “Is Bengal unsafe... is it a safe haven for militants? Is your Delhi safe? Our police have arrested two prime suspects behind the Bengaluru blast case within two hours from their hideout.” “Bengal is a peaceful state,” Miss Banerjee added while speaking at an election rally in Dinhata in Cooch Behar today. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) in association with West Bengal police arrested the two main suspects in the Rameshwaram Cafe bombing in Bengaluru from a hotel near Digha in East Midnapore in the early hours on Friday. C Protesting against indecorous words used by both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Miss Banerjee said: “Their language should be graceful. Are we thieves? You should nab thieves in your BJP “What .” happened in Pulwama in 2019? The then Governor disclosed this exactly. As a result the Central agency raided the Governor’s residence,” Miss Banerjee said. Attacking the Prime Minister, Miss Banerjee said: “He lies a lot. He loves to promote himself. He showcased his photo during Covid pandemic and stopped distribution of rice after six months. He should act in movies. He can act well. What is the need to act in the political arena?” Miss Banerjee said: “If the people love you why are you depending on NIA, ED, CBI, ECI and even Judiciary? What are your partymen doing? Why are you lying? How can you give money from the property attached by the ED among the people? If you arrest a singleTMC worker, hundreds of my partymen will do his job. It is tough to beat me.” Miss Banerjee urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to conduct the Lok Sabha polls impartially. She warned a few top district officials in Cooch Behar over the role they are currently playing and asked: “Why are you afraid?” “If you fail to act impartially, go to Delhi or you may go to the house of Nitish Pramanik,” she said, branding the sitting MP as a mafia leader. “If any motorcycle rallies are organised by BJPbacked goons with the help of the Border Security Force in 48 hours from 17 April in Cooch Behar, stern action will taken against officials after Model Code of Conduct is over,” she said. Miss Banerjee also criticised the ECI since it has not yet granted permission for disbursement of funds for the construction of homes for those who were recently rendered homeless by a storm in Maynaguri and its adjoining areas. She asked the storm victims to start construction of their houses under Banglar Bari Prakolpo. “Administration has already given Rs 20,000 to each family. Administration will also provide you Rs 40,000, which is second instalment. The state government will provide you Rs 1.2 lakh for the construction of your homes. You will be getting the third instalment of Rs 60,000 later,” she said. (See Pg 3) STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE KOLKATA, 12 APRIL The two key accused in the Rameshwaram Cafe blast case, Mussavir Hussain Shazib, the man who carried out the bombing, and Abdul Matheen Taha, said to be the mastermind behind the incident, were arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) from Contai in East Midnapore early on Friday. The NIA said its teams were successful in tracing the absconding accused to their hideout near Digha, where they were staying under false identities. Shazib alias Shazeb (30), is a resident of Thirthahalli in Karnataka's Shivamogga district. The other arrested conspirator, Taha alias Vignesh alias Sumit was also wanted in other cases.“Shazib is the accused who placed the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) at the cafe and Taha is the mastermind behind the planning, execution of blast, and subsequent evasion from the clutches of law,” NIA sources said. Confirming the arrests, West Bengal Police said: The two key absconders, Abdul Matheen Taha and Mussavir Hussain Shazeb, who were arrested by the NIA team in the Rameshwaram Cafe blast case, on Friday.  ANI "Two suspects in the Rameshwaram Cafe blast case have been arrested from East Midnapore in a joint operation by the West Bengal Police and the central intelligence agencies. “The proactive role of the West Bengal Police in the matter has been officially acknowledged by the Central Agencies. West Bengal has never been a safe haven for terrorists and the state police will continue to remain ever-vigilant in keeping its people safe...," the statement read. East Midnapore SP Soumyadip Bhattacharya said the duo were arrest- ed within two hours of getting information in a joint operation with Central investigative agencies. Shazib has been using a forged driving license in the name of Mohammed Juned Sayed and similar forged documents. Taha was using a forged Aadhaar card in the name ofVignesh, and other forged documents. According to the NIA, the low intensity IED was manufactured in Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu. Mussavir had brought the bomb to Bengaluru and met Taha in K.R. Puram locality. The pair later fled together after planting the bomb. J&K to get statehood, Assembly elections not far: Modi Govt tells Indians to avoid Govt to buy 97 more travelling to Iran, Israel LCA Mk1As from HAL AGENCIES NEW DELHI , 12 APRIL The Defence Ministry has issued a tender to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for the purchase of made-in-India 97 LCA Mark 1A fighter jets expected to be worth over Rs 65,000 crore. This is set to be the largest order for indigenous military hardware to be placed by the government ever. The tender was issued by the Defence Ministry to HAL recently and they have been given three months to respond to it. The programme will help the IAF to replace its fleet of MiG-21s, MiG-23s and MiG27s which have been either phased out or are set to be phased out in near future, government officials told ANI. The indigenous fighter aircraft programme is set to be a big boost for promoting indigenisation as well as give major business to the small and medium enterprises engaged in defence business across the country, they said. The last order for LCA Mark1A was for 83 aircraft and the first plane is poised to be delivered in a few weeks from now. The LCA Mark 1A is the advanced version of the Tejas aircraft. Prime Minister Narendra Modi being felicitated during a public meeting ahead of Lok Sabha polls, in Udhampur on Friday. ANI SP SHARMA UDHAMPUR (J&K), 12 APRIL Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir will get statehood, and time is not far when Assembly elections will be held here. Mr Modi was addressing a largely attended election rally in Udhampur in favour of two BJP candidates ~ Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh and Jammu MP Jugal Kishore. The PM said: “This election is not just to elect MPs but this is the election to form a strong government in the country. When the government is strong, it governs by challenging the challenges.” Referring to the confidence that has been built among the people of J&K in the past ten years, the PM said: “Modi thinks far ahead. What has happened so far is just a trailer. I have to get busy, creating a wonderful picture of a new Jammu and Kashmir. “This is the first time when terrorism, separatism, stonepelting and cross border shelling and firing are not the election issues. It used to make headlines in newspapers if a day passed peacefully in J&K.” “The situation has changed and confidence for the gov- ECI issues notification for third phase of Lok Sabha elections Paramilitary personnel conduct a flag march ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, in Villupuram, Tamil Nadu on Friday.ANI STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 12 APRIL The Election Commission of India on Friday issued the notification for the third phase of voting in the 18th Lok Sabha election. The filing of nominations began following the notification issued by the poll panel. In the third phase, polling will be held in 94 parliamentary constituencies spread across 12 states and Union territories (UTs) on 7 May. The states/UTs included in the third phase are Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Goa, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. According to the notification, 19 April is the last date of filing of nominations; scrutiny of nominations will take place on 20 April and candidates can withdraw until 22 April. The 94 Lok Sabha seats include 26 seats in Gujarat, 14 in Karnataka, 11 in Maharashtra, 10 in UP 8 in , Madhya Pradesh, seven in Chhattisgarh, five in Bihar, four each in Assam andWest Bengal, two in Goa, two in Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, and one in Jammu and Kashmir. The ECI has also issued a notification for the adjourned poll in Betul constituency of Madhya Pradesh. Election for Betul seat which was to be held in the second phase was adjourned due to the death of a contesting candidate. Polling in Betul will now take place on 7 May. CMYK ernment has been built,” Mr Modi said. "I had told you to trust me and I will solve the problems you have been facing for the past 60 years. I had guaranteed dignity for the mothers and sisters here. I gave a guarantee that the poor would not have to worry about two meals a day. Today, lakhs of families of Jammu and Kashmir have the guarantee of free ration for the next five years." Mr Modi said that the weak Congress governments kept the Shahpur-Kandi Dam project stalled for decades and the waters of the Ravi kept flowing to Pakistan while the fields of the farmers in the arid Kathua and Samba districts remained barren. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 12 APRIL The government on Friday advised all Indians not to travel to Iran or Israel till further notice in view of the prevailing situation in the region. “All those who are currently residing in Iran or Israel are requested to get in touch with the respective Indian embassies there and register themselves,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. They are also requested to observe utmost precautions about their safety and restrict their movements to the minimum, the MEA said in a statement. Earlier in the day, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India had "noted with concern the attack on Iranian diplomatic premises in Syria". "India is distressed at the escalating tensions in West Asia, and their potential to fuel further violence and instability. We urge all parties to avoid actions that go against commonly accepted principles and norms of International Law,'' he said. Switzerland talks: Mr Jaiswal also indicated that India would participate in a highlevel global conference in Switzerland in June to chart a path towards peace in Ukraine after more than two years of war.