FRIDAY 19 JULY 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 MUZAFFARNAGAR EATERIES ROW: OPPN QUESTIONS INTENTION ‘MODI GOVT JEOPARDISED RAIL SAFETY’ P5 SENSEX 81,343.46626.91 WEATHER Generally cloudy sky. Light rain or thunderstorms likely to occur. Maximum and minimum temperatures likely to be around 33 °C and 28°C respectively. RAINFALL: NIL RELATIVE HUMIDITY P6 ` vs $ 83.64 GOLD 76,280.00 Min. 78% Max: 33.3°C SUN RISES 05:02 hrs MOON RISES 16:46 hrs Min: 28.5°C SUN SETS 18:22 hrs MOON SETS 02:27 hrs PM chairs key security meet on Jammu terrorist attacks STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 18 JULY rime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday chaired a key meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) in the wake of the recent spurt in terrorist attacks in the Jammu region, leading to the deaths of several military personnel. The Centre is believed to be working on a coordinated strategy to counter the menace of terrorism and to ensure that it does not hamper the pace of development activities initiated to bolster the region’s economy. Thursday’s meeting was attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah. The members of the CCS include Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. The recent incidents of terrorist attacks have led to at least 27 deaths. In Doda region in the past four days, there have been three encounters in which P Full Moon on 21 July THUMBNAILS Youngsters cover themselves with a cloth after heavy rain lashes different parts of the national capital, at Kartavya Path in New Delhi on Thursday.  ANI Indians in Bangladesh advised to stay indoors amid protests: The Indian High Commission in Dhaka on Thursday issued an advisory asking members of the Indian community in Bangladesh to avoid travel and minimize movement outside their residences in view of widespread protests in the country following the government's decision to close all public and private universities. The advisory said in case of any emergency or need for assistance, the Indians in Bangladesh should reach out to the High Commission or the Assistant High Commissioners. four Army personnel were killed. The Army has been conducting combing operations in the forests where the terrorists have retreated after indulging in sudden violence. The Central government has taken note that the renewed terrorist attacks have come after the relative peace of recent months. The Centre has been following a policy of zero tolerance of terrorist violence. The Defence and Home Ministries are likely to strengthen the mecha- nism to minimize scope for infiltration from across the border. The government will not restrain itself from taking innovative steps to eliminate the terrorist activity. The current terrorist violence is being seen as an attempt of anti-national forces to divert attention from development work and creation of employment opportunities. A month back, the Home Minister had reviewed the security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir at a high-level meeting attended by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Lieutenant Governor of J&K Manoj Sinha and senior representatives of the Army and State Police. The security agencies were directed to replicate the successes achieved against terrorism in the Kashmir Valley through Area Domination Plan and Zero Terror Plan in the Jammu division. The government steps had led to significant reduction in terror related incidents in the Kashmir Valley. The improved law-and-order situation was reflected in record flow of tourists to the Valley and the Lok Sabha elections saw record turnout in Jammu and Kashmir. The Prime Minister paid a two-day visit to Srinagar on the occasion of the 10th International Day of Yoga (IYD) (21 June) and took part in the ‘Empowering Youth, Transforming J&K’ event to support the local youth towards new livelihood opportunities. Mr Modi laid foundation stones of a number of development projects also. P12 SILVER 94,700 Centre is believed to be working on a coordinated strategy to counter menace of terrorism Max. 87% TEMPERATURE P10 NIFTY 24,800.85187.85 INDIA START FAVOURITES AGAINST PAK NATO DILEMMA Soldiers injured in attack, two terrorists killed along LoC STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE JAMMU, 18 JULY At least two Army soldiers were injured, one of them critically, on Thursday when terrorists attacked a temporary security camp that has been established in the Katisgarh area of Doda district following the recent killing of four soldiers in an ambush. In a separate incident, two heavily armed Pakistani terrorists were killed along the Line of Control (LOC) in the Keran Sector of North Kashmir’s Kupwara district as the Indian Army foiled an infiltration bid. Officials said the attack at the security forces’ camp in Doda came during the wee hours at about 2 am. This was followed by a brief exchange of fire but the terrorists managed to escape. BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 82.160.20 Apex court asks NTA to publish NEET-UG result of all students AGENCIES NEW DELHI, 18 JULY The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the National Testing Agency (NTA) to publish on its website the marks obtained by all the students who appeared in Eligibilitycum-Entrance Test undergraduate exam (NEET-UG) 2024 and said the identity of students should be masked. A bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra ordered that result should be published separately, city and centre-wise by 12 noon Saturday. The apex court passed the direction after the petitionerstudents urged it to direct the testing agency to publish the result of all students to bring in some transparency. The top court in its order stated: “The petitioners have submitted that it would be appropriate if the results of the NEET-UG 24 exam is published on the website so as to bring about some transparency on the centre-wise marks obtained by candidates. We direct the NTA to publish the marks obtained by students in the NEET-UG 2024 exam while at the same time ensuring that the identity of the students is masked. The results should be declared in relation to each centre and city separately.” The bench said it will continue the hearing of pleas alleging paper leak and malpractice in NEET-UG 2024 exams, on 22 July. The top court held a daylong hearing in the matter. The apex court was hearing a batch of pleas seeking direction to recall NEET-UG 2024 results and to conduct the examination afresh, alleging paper leakage and malpractices in the test held. Aspirants had approached the top court and raised the issue of leakage of question paper, awarding of compensatory marks and anomaly in the question papers of the NEET-UG exam.The NEET-UG examination, conducted by NTA, is the pathway for admissions into MBBS, BDS and AYUSH and other related courses in government and private institutions across the country. Data protection sought for chemicals sector Two killed as Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Express derails in UP STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 18 JULY Predatory practices by foreign companies, notably from China, have caused a huge loss to the Indian chemicals sector especially agrochemicals. A trade surplus that prevailed in 2020-21 has degenerated into a $17 billion trade deficit in FY 2023. In its representation, the agrochemical sector has voiced a need for data protection for new formulations and chemicals introduced and registered for the first time in India for a defined period. As a signatory of TRIPS and WTO, India is expected to align with glob- al standards where data protection is provided for six to 15 years. Even neighbouring countries like China offer six years of data protection for firsttime registrations. The sector believes that data protection is essential to encourage the introduction of new crop protection solutions. Dr. R. G. Agarwal, Chairman of Dhanuka Group and a member of CropLife India and the Agro Chem Federation of India, emphasized that with the advent of climate change, new diseases and pests are emerging. Farmers urgently need innovative pesticides to manage these challenges, as many prevailing pests have developed resistance against existing pesticides. Dr. Agarwal stated that data protection is crucial to attract countries with advanced technologies, such as Japan, Europe, and the USA, to invest in India. This would bring new agricultural technologies that can drive growth in Indian agriculture, benefiting farmers and promoting rural development. (Turn to page 8) GONDA/GUWAHATI, 18 JULY Several coaches of the Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Express derailed in Gonda district of Uttar Pradesh on Thursday in which at least two passengers were killed and 20 people were injured. The 15904 Chandigarh Dibrugarh Express derailed in the Gonda-Mankapur railway section of the North Eastern Railway. The accident spot is 25 kilometres away from Gonda and around 150 kms from Lucknow. Earlier there were reports of four casualties but later the railways confirmed there were only two deaths. The injured were admitted to the Gonda district hospital. The accident happened near Pikaura village within Manorama Khedkar, mother of trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar, detained from Mahad STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 18 JULY Pune Police on Thursday detained Manorama Khedkar, mother of controversial probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar, days after she was seen wielding a gun and threatening local farmers in a viral video. The Pune court remanded Manorama Khedkar to police custody till 20 July. Police have sought a 7-day custody of Manorama Khedkar. Section 307 of IPC was added to the existing FIR against Manorama Khedkar and six others, police informed the court. Earlier, Pankaj Deshmukh, SP, Pune Rural Police, informed that Manorama Khedkar was detained from a hotel in Mahad in Raigad district of Maharashtra. "We have detained her from Mahad. She is on her way here. We will question her and take further legal action. She was found in a hotel in Mahad," Mr Deshmukh told a news agency. Manorama was subsequently brought to Paud Police Station and taken to Paud Rural Hospital for a medical examination. The gun-toting mother of the trainee IAS officer, facing allegations of misrepresenting her OBC status and making false disability claims to seek undue favour in UPSC exam, was on the run after an FIR was registered against her. Earlier this week, Mr Deshmukh had stated that the parents of Puja Khedkar were on the run and their phones were switched off. "The accused are on the run. We are trying to contact them, but they are not reachable as their phones are switched off. We have also tried to reach their residence but they are not available…,” he had said. Last week, Pune Police booked the trainee IAS officer’s mother after an old video of her threatening a local farmer with a gun went viral on social media. The video showed Manorama brandishing a pistol during a heated exchange with the farmer. CMYK Motiganj police station area. According to a senior official, 21 coaches out of the total 23 derailed, of which five were AC coaches. Reports said that water logging on the tracks could be the reason behind the incident, though the train was running with a caution. NDRF and SDRF teams helped rescue passengers trapped inside the overturned coaches. The Railway ministry has ordered a high level probe by the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) to determine the cause of the accident. The NER too has ordered a separate enquiry. The Railways has also announced an ex gratia compensation of Rs 10 lakhs to the families of the deceased, Rs 2.5 lakhs to those who sufferd grievous injury and Rs 50,000 to those with minor injury. General Manager, NER, Soumya Mathur, and other senior railway officials were on the spot. Relief and rescue work is being done on war footing. The Railways has also set up helplines to assist affected passengers and their families. CPRO Pankaj Singh of the NER said that several trains have been diverted through Ayodhya route in the wake of the incident. UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has instructed the officials to immediately reach the spot and speed up the relief work and provide proper treatment to the injured.