WEDNESDAY 29 MAY 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 TRUCE TERMS P6 SENSEX 75,170.45220.05 WEATHER MAINLY CLEAR SKY. HEAT WAVE CONDITIONS AT MOST PLACES WITH SEVERE HEAT WAVE CONDITIONS AT MANY PLACES.STRONG SURFACE WINDS (SPEED 2535 KMPH) OCCASIONALLY IN GUSTY DURING THE DAY. THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 46 AND 28 DEGREES CELSIUS RESPECTIVELY. RAINFALL: NIL RELATIVE HUMIDITY P10 GOLD 72,930.00220 ` vs $ 83.13 Min. 17 % Max: 45.8 °C (+5) SUN RISES 05:24 hrs MOON RISES 00:28 hrs Min: 27.4 °C (+1) SUN SETS 19:13 hrs MOON SETS 10:37 hrs THUMBNAILS Volunteers serve cold water to the passengers onboard a train on a hot summer day, at a railway station, in Jalandhar on Tuesday.  ANI India announces $ one million relief assistance for landslide-hit Papua New Guinea: h India on Tuesday announced an immediate relief assistance of $ one million to support relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in Papua New Guinea which was devastated by a massive landslide on 24 (PAGE 5) May. SILVER 96,5003,500 BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 83.361.24 He claims there has been no corruption at the Centre in the past 10 yrs under his administration P rime Minister Narendra Modi once again voiced concerns about corruption in Bengal during his election campaign at Ashokenagar in North 24-Parganas today. He claimed that there has been no corruption at the Centre in the past 10 years under his administration. Modi said, “In the last 10 years, I have not allowed a single instance of corruption at the central level. I will take such action against the corrupt in Bengal that their future generations will think many times before engaging in corruption." He was holding a roadshow in north Kolkata. Before that, he had two meetings scheduled, in the Barasat and Jadavpur constituencies. He will stay in the city and tomorrow he will hold a meeting at Kakdwip. He blamed the TMC and the Left and Con- Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mega roadshow in Kolkata on Tuesday.  BISWAJIT GHOSHAL gress governments for the violence in Sandeshkhali and Keshpur. He also spoke about a sting video on Sandeshkhali at his rally. Mr Modi criticized the lack of factories and jobs in Bengal, attributing the state's plight to the Congress, Left, and now the TMC governments, accusing all three of looting Bengal. He warned that no one, including Trinamul, could deter him from his resolve. He pledged that every penny would be accounted for and legal action would be taken against all corrupt individuals. Modi claimed that the BJP government had returned Rs 17,000 crore of looted money to the people and promised to recover the looted money in Bengal if they came to power. He highlighted the ongoing violence and attacks in Bengal, stating that BJP workers were being jailed before elections, but despite the oppression, a large number of people were coming out to vote. Mr Modi also brought up the issue of OBC certificate cancellations, noting that the Calcutta High Court had ordered the cancellation of illegal OBC reservations, and accused the Trinamul of attacking the judiciary and speaking ill of the judicial system. Mr Modi said, "We must empower women. Modi is providing permanent houses in the names of women. Mothers and sisters will not have to worry about rice. Modi will nullify your electricity bills. A project has been started for this. Those who apply will receive Rs 75,000 to instal solar panels at their homes. The government will buy the extra electricity.” Praising BJP Basirhat MP candidate Rekha Patra, Mr Modi said, "Rekha appears like a devotee of goddess Durga, a brave daughter. The women of Sandeshkhali were targeted by the Trinamul when they sought justice. How beautifully did Rekha Patra from Basirhat speak! Trinamul has no such leader. The country has seen how BJP took a significant step to send a poor man's daughter to parliament. I believe she is fighting for women's empowerment. I salute her courage. Rekha appears as a devotee of goddess Durga.Rekha's victory is essential to prevent leaders like Shahjahan Sheikh from gaining courage. Trinamul has threatened mothers and insulted the land. We must ensure the victory of brave daughter Rekha." SC refuses urgent listing of Kejriwal’s 63.37 pc voter turnout recorded plea seeking extension of interim bail in 6th phase of Lok Sabha polls PARMOD KUMAR STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 28 MAY NEW DELHI, 28 MAY The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused an urgent hearing of the Delhi Chief Minister and AAP’s national convener Arvind Kejriwal's plea for the extension of his interim bail by seven days on medical grounds. As senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi mentioned Kejriwal’s plea for extension of interim bail by 7-days, a vacation bench of Justice JK Maheshwari and Justice KV Viswanathan asked the senior advocate why the application was not mentioned last week before a vacation bench headed by Justice Dipankar Datta. Justice Datta was on the bench headed by Justice Sanjiv Khanna that had passed the May 10, 2024, order releasing Kejriwal on interim bail for 21 days to campaign in the ongoing general elections. The bench had also on 17 May, reserved order on Delhi Chief Minister’s plea against The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday said more than 63 per cent voter turnout was recorded in the sixth phase of voting in the Lok Sabha elections. Voting in 58 constituencies spread across eight States and Union Territories was held on 25th May in the sixth phase of the general elections. “In continuation of ECI’s two press notes dated 25th May (on voting percentage), the voter turnout of 63.37 per cent was recorded in the sixth phase for 58 parliamentary constituencies in the ongoing general elections,” the ECI said in a communiqué. According to the data of voting in the sixth phase, the female voters turnout outnumbered the male. The female turnout was recorded at 64.95 per cent and male at 61.95 per cent, while third gender at 18.67 per cent. West Bengal recorded the arrest by ED and the subsequent remand. Noting that the Kejriwal’s application for the extension of interim bail by 7-days has been filed in a matter in which the judgment has already been reserved, Justice Maheshwari said that it would be appropriate if the Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud takes a call on the listing of the application. “This is heard and reserved matter. We cannot do anything. Place before CJI for appropriate orders”, the bench said as Singhvi said that Kejriwal has sought “only 7 days extension.” “This is just a medical extension and not an abuse IndiGo flight receives bomb threat, passengers evacuated STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 28 MAY An IndiGo flight on Tuesday early morning received a bomb threat at the Delhi airport. Following the bomb threat on the flight bound for Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi, all the passengers were evacuated safely through the emergency exits. No suspicious items were found after a thorough inspection of the flight was conducted by the security perso- nnels. “IndiGo flight 6E2211 operating from Delhi to Varanasi had received a specific bomb threat at Delhi airport. All necessary protocols were followed and the aircraft was taken to a remote bay as per guidelines by airport security agencies. All passengers were safely evacuated via the emergency exits,” the airline said in a statement.Post completion of all security checks, the aircraft will be positioned back P12 Corrupt in Bengal will not be spared, thunders Modi STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE KOLKATA, 28 MAY Max. 70 % TEMPERATURE P4 NIFTY 22,888.1544.30 MARSH’S RETURN TO BOLSTER AUS AHEAD OF T20 WC SHAH DECLARES PoK WILL BE PART OF INDIA ‘PM REMEMBERS PAKISTAN & MUSLIMS BEFORE POLLS’ in the terminal area, it said. Later in another statement, the airline said an alternate aircraft was arranged to operate flight 6E2211 from Delhi to Varanasi, which was delayed due to a specific bomb threat at Delhi airport.“The passengers were provided with refreshments and were boarded. The flight departed for Varanasi at 11:10 am. We regret the inconvenience caused to the passengers,” it said. The police in a statement said, “On 28 May, at around 5:00 am an information was received regarding a paper found in the lavatory of An IndiGo flight scheduled to depart for Varanasi, with the word bomb@5.30 written on it.” of liberty.” On 17 May, the top court had reserved its verdict on Kejriwal's plea against his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the subsequent remand. Arvind Kejriwal was arrested on 21 March, 2024, by the Directorate of Enforcement in connection with his alleged involvement in the Delhi Excise Policy case and was released by the top court on 10 May on interim bail for 21 days to campaign in the ongoing general election to Lok Sabha. As per 10 May order, Kejriwal has to surrender before jail authorities on 2 June, 2024. According to the data of voting in the sixth phase, the female voters turnout outnumbered the male. The female turnout was recorded at 64.95 per cent and male at 61.95 pc, while third gender at 18.67 pc highest turnout at 82.71 per cent, followed by Odisha at 74.45 per cent and Jharkhand at 65.39 per cent. Delhi recorded 58.69 per cent and Uttar Pradesh 54.04, as per the data. The ECI said the final turnout will only be available post counting of postal ballots and its addition to total vote count. Of the 58 Lok Sabha seats in the sixth phase, 14 were from Uttar Pradesh, 10 from Haryana, eight each from Bihar and West Bengal, seven from Delhi, six from Odisha, four from Jharkhand and one from Jammu and Kashmir. The Lok Sabha elections are being held in seven phases between 19th April and 1st June. The first phase of polling was held on 19th April, second phase on 26th April, third phase on 7th May, fourth phase on 13th May and fifth phase on 20th May. The first phase recorded 66.14 per cent voter turnout, second 66.71 per cent, third 65.68 per cent, fourth 69.16 per cent and fifth phase 62.2 per cent. The seventh and last phase of voting is scheduled to take place on 1st June. The results will be declared on 4th June. Remalclaims 20 lives in Mizoram, two in Assam People wade through a severely waterlogged road following heavy rainfall triggered by the Cyclone Remal, at Silchar in Cachar on Tuesday.  ANI STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE GUWAHATI, 28 MAY At least 20 people lost their lives in Mizoram when a stone quarry caved in due to landslides triggered by cyclonic storm Remal, and two people were killed in Assam. The Meteorological Department has predicted heavy weather activity for the next two days. Cyclonic storm Remal weakened within six hours of making landfall on Sunday night, subsequently shifting northeastward towards Bangladesh.Despite its weakening, the storm's spread and intensity are expected to be greater in Meghalaya and Assam. On Monday, highspeed winds measuring about 50 kilometers per hour, accompanied by heavy rains, wreaked havoc across the region. The severe weather conditions snapped communication links and triggered landslides in multiple areas.In Mizoram, the tragic incident occurred on the outskirts of Aizawl town where a stone quarry caved in, resulting in the loss of 20 lives, Chief Minister of Mizoram Lalduohma said. The Chief Minister visited the site at Melthum village where the tragedy struck in the early morning hours of Monday.He announced an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh for the family of the deceased. He also sanctioned Rs 15 crore from the disaster mitigation fund for the mitigation initiatives. The calamity highlights the severe impact of the storm in the region. Assam also faced significant casualties. Two individuals lost their lives, one in Kamrup and the other in Morigaon, when high-speed winds uprooted trees that fell on their vehicles. Additionally, twelve school students sustained injuries when a tree fell on their school bus. Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma addressed the situation on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. He stated, “Cyclone Remal has affected Assam, causing storms in many areas. Tragically, a 17-year old student died in Morigaon and 12 students were injured in Dekhiajuli due to falling trees. In Guwahati, uprooted trees in places like Cotton University and Jyoti Chitraban caused no damage to people. Power supply is disrupted in lower Assam, including Guwahati. We are monitoring the situation and request everyone to stay indoors until the situation stabilizes.” In response to the storm, ferry services over the Brahmaputra River have been suspended until further notice to ensure the safety of commuters. Porsche crash: Docs got `3 l akh for replacing teen driver’s blood sample STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE No one will be spared: CM Shinde PUNE, 28 MAY The two accused doctors in the Pune Porsche incident were reportedly offered Rs 3 lakh for replacing the teen driver's blood samples with another person's samples that showed no traces of alcohol, police said on Tuesday. Ajay Taware, head of Sassoon General Hospital's forensic medicine department, and Shrihari Halnor, the chief medical officer, were arrested by the Pune Police on Monday for allegedly manipulating the blood samples of the teen. The hospital peon, Atul Ghatkamble, who works under Taware, was later arrested. They were remanded in police custody until May 30. Two young IT professionals were killed after their motorcycle was hit by a speeding Porsche allegedly driven by the 17-year-old boy in the early hours of May 19 in Kalyani Nagar area of Pune city. AGENCIES Breaking his silence on the Pune Porsche accident, which has sparked outrage across the country as well as a political row, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has said he has been in touch with the Pune police commissioner since day one and that the law is equal for all. Mr Shinde's comments on Tuesday came soon after Congress' Maharashtra President, Nana Patole, demanded the resignation of the chief minister and his deputies, claiming that there is a nexus between the police, politicians and the rich and influential people in the state. according to the rules or not... We will submit the report to the government..." Sapale told ANI. Meanwhile, some reports also claimed links of the grandfather of the juvenile to underworld don Chhota Rajan. “The police are investigating all claims related to the incident, including the possible links to the underworld,” Mumbai Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told reporters. The police has arrested the teen driver’s father and builder Vishal Agarwal (50), Cosie Pub owner Naman Prahlad Bhutada (25), manager Sachin Ashok Katkar (35), Blak Pub owner Sandeep Ramesh Sangle (35), employee Nitesh Dhanesh Shewani (34) and manager Jayesh Satish Gawkar (23), in the case. The Pune police also suspended two officers due to delays in performing their duties during the initial stages of the accident. Police inspector Rahul Jagdale and assis- MUMBAI, 28 MAY The Maharashtra government has established a three-member committee The police claim the teen was drunk at the time of the accident. The Maharashtra government has established a three-member committee to probe the incident. In an order issued on 27 May by Medical Education Commissioner Rajiv Nivatkar, Pallavi Sapale, dean of Grant Medical College and JJ Group of Hospitals, has been appointed chairperson of the committee. The committee also includes Gajanan Chavan, professor of the forensic medicine department at Grant Medical College, and Sudhir Chowdhary, special duty officer at Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar Government Medical College and Super Speciality Hospital. "A committee has been formed including me... We have to investigate the incident that happened in Sassoon Hospital regarding the Kalyani Nagar incident. We have to find out whether it was carried out tant police inspector Vishwanath Todkari have been suspended pending investigation. They failed to report the incident to wireless in a timely manner. Initially, the Yerwada police investigated the matter, but it was later transferred to the crime branch. D L Dhanwade, a member of the Pune Juvenile Justice Board, had granted bail to the minor accused on a Sunday, a non-working day for the board. This move bypassed the standard protocol requiring two members to be present for a hearing. Due to his age of 17 years and 8 months, he was granted bail on the condition that he write a 300-word essay on traffic rules, assist the police in traffic regulation, and abstain from alcohol. The swift granting of bail within 12-15 hours had sparked widespread outrage across the state. The decisions of both the board and the police were widely criticized.