‘HYDRAA’ DEMOLISHES ACTOR NAGARJUNA’S CONVENTION HALL 25 AUGUST 2024 THE SUNITA FACTOR IN AAP POLITICS SHIKHAR ‘THE-ONE’: KING OF ICC TOURNAMENTS CALLS IT A DAY www.thestatesman.com X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 PAGE 12 PAGE 7 PAGE 4 INDIA’S NATIONAL NEWSPAPER SINCE 1818 PAGES 12 |` 5.00|LC KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR WEATHER Generally cloudy sky. One or two spells of light to moderate rain likely to occur. Maximum and minimum temperatures likely to be around 29 °C and 26 °C respectively. RAINFALL: 38.0 mm RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 97 % CBI conducts polygraph test on RG Kar ex-head CBI registers FIR against Sandip Ghosh TEMPERATURE Max: 29.6˚C (-3.1) SUN RISES 05:15 hrs MOON SETS 10:51 hrs Min: 25.5˚C (-1.1) SUN SETS 17:58 hrs MOON RISES 22:02 hrs New Moon on 3 September THUMBNAILS Aspirants try to climb on to a crowded bus at Charbagh bus stop after appearing for the UP Police constable recruitment exam, in Lucknow on Saturday. n ANI Terrorist killed in ongoing Baramulla encounter: A terrorist was killed on Saturday in an encounter with the security forces in J&K's Baramulla district. Earlier, an exchange of firing took place between the security forces and the terrorists in the Watergam area of Baramulla district. â�œIn the exchange of firing, one terrorist was killed and his weapon was recovered from the encounter site. The exact identity of the slain terrorist is being ascertained, an official said. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE RAIPUR, 24 AUGUST Five others also examined; polygraph test on Sanjay Roy to take place today STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE KOLKATA, 24 AUGUST Min. 84 % Amit Shah chairs high-level meet on left-wing extremism T he Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), probing the gruesome rape and murder of a 31-year-old postgraduate trainee (PGT) doctor in the state-run R G Medical College and Hospital, on Saturday conducted polygraph tests on Prof (Dr) Sandip Ghosh, controversial former principal of R G Kar and four junior doctors, including two first year PGT doctors, a house staff and an intern of the teaching hospital. The investigating agency will conduct the polygraph test on the prime accused in the case, Sanjay Roy, a civic volunteer of Kolkata Police, on Sunday in the correctional home where he has been lodged. The procedure on the others, including Prof Ghosh, an orthopaedic surgeon, was held separately at the CBI offices at the CGO Complex at Salt Lake. The four junior doctors had dinner with the victim inside the chest medicine department housed in the third floor of the ninestoried emergency building KOLKATA, 24 AUGUST Students of the R Ahmed Dental College stage a protest over the RG Kar Hospital rape-murder incident at Moulali More in Kolkata on Saturday. n SNS of the hospital on 8 August. A special team of the CBI along with experts of the Central Forensic State Laboratory (CFSL) reached the CBI office in Kolkata on Saturday from Delhi. Prof Ghosh came to the CGO Complex in Salt Lake on Saturday morning for the ninth consecutive day, and was then taken for the test, sources said. The two first-year PGT doctors are undergoing the lie detection test because their fingerprints were allegedly found inside the seminar hall at the R G Kar Medical College Hospital where the medic's body was discovered, according Centre approves Unified Pension Scheme providing assured pension, family pension to sources. The agency hopes to corroborate their previous statements with the polygraph tests. Earlier, the central agency had applied to the Sealdah court seeking permission for Roy’s polygraph test. The permission was granted on Friday and Roy also consented to the test. The CBI told the Supreme Court on Thursday that there was an attempt to cover up the rape and killing of the post-graduate doctor by the local police, as the crime scene had altered by the time the federal agency took over the investigation. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered an FIR against Dr Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, relating to financial irregularities, following orders from Calcutta High Court. This morning, a Special Investigation Team of Kolkata Police handed over documents related to the case to the CBI. The CBI filed the FIR after receiving these documents. AGENCIES (See Page 3) The trainee doctor’s body with severe injury marks was found inside the seminar hall of the hospital's chest department on the morning of 9 August. Sanjay Roy was arrested the following day. On 13 August, Calcutta High Court ordered the transfer of the investigation from the Kolkata Police to the CBI, which began its probe on 14 August. Advocating a decisive and relentless approach to combating Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), Union Home Minister Amit Shah has pledged to eradicate the Maoist insurgency from India by March 2026. The home minister emphasised that the Maoist movement represents a significant challenge to India's democratic framework and expressed confidence that the battle is nearing its final phase. During a high-level meeting in Raipur, Mr Shah reviewed the progress of government schemes in LWE-affected districts and discussed strategies to overcome obstacles in infrastructure projects. He reaffirmed the Central government’s commitment to developing regions from Bastar and Bijapur to Dantewada and Dhamtari. Mr Shah highlighted significant achievements in the fight against the Left insurgency, including a historic drop in fatalities to below 100 for the first time in four decades. From 2014 to 2024, there has been a notable reduction in LWE incidents, with 14 top Maoist leaders neutralised. Key initiatives anno- unced include a joint campaign by the Chhattisgarh government and the Ministry of Home Affairs to improve literacy among individuals affected by Naxal insurgency, regardless of age. Mr Shah also revealed plans to amend the tendu leaf procurement policy and establish a State Investigation Agency (SIA) modeled on the NIA. Additionally, the Chhattisgarh government is updating its surrender policy, with an announcement expected in the coming months. The meetings involved senior officials from seven states, including directors general of police (DGPs), paramilitary chiefs, and state secretaries. The first session focussed on interstate coordination, with detailed reports from Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Maharashtra. Union Min- Rajnath holds talks with US defence secy, NSA; US clears sale of anti-submarine warfare sonobuoys to India STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 24 AUGUST NEW DELHI, 24 AUGUST The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Saturday approved a comprehensive Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) for its employees that will have assured pension with inflation relief and greater contribution by the government. Proposed to be effective from 1 April, 2025, the scheme has assured pension, which will be 50 per cent of the average basic pay drawn over the last 12 months prior to superannuation, for a minimum qualifying service of 25 years. This pay is to be proportionate for lesser service period up to a minimum of 10 years of service. The UPS will have an assured family pension which will be 60 per cent of the pension of the employee immediately before her/his demise. It will also have assured minimum pension which will be @10,000 per month on superannuation after minimum 10 years of service. The scheme will have inflation indexation, on assured pension, on assured family pension and on assured minimum pension, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw (photo) told newspersons after the Cabinet meeting. The scheme will be fully-funded. Cabinet Secretary-designate T V Somanathan who chaired a committee to prepare the scheme explained some of the features of the scheme. The committee was formed last year. Employees’ representatives on the government-employees Joint Consultative Machinery (JCM) met the Prime Minister on Saturday and thanked him for the scheme finalized by the government. The Dearness Relief will be based on All India Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (AICPI-IW) as in case of service employees. In a move that will help bolster India's defence capabilities, the USA has approved a possible sale of anti-submarine warfare sonobuoys and related equipment to the country at an estimated cost of $ 52.8 million for the multi-mission MH-60R Seahawk helicopters. The Defence Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification, notifying the US Congress of this possible sale on Friday. The approval coincided with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's ongoing four-day visit to the USA. A Biden administration’s notification stated that this deal will support Washington’s foreign policy and national security objectives by helping to strengthen the bilateral Prime accused in Assam gang rape case drowns; tried to escape, say police 2144-pg chargesheet filed against Prajwal Revanna STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE AGENCIES GUWAHATI, 24 AUGUST Tafazul Islam, the prime accused in a gang rape case involving a 14-year-old girl in Assam’s Nagaon district, died in the early hours on Saturday, after allegedly attempting to escape police custody. The incident occurred when Islam, who had been arrested on 23 August, was taken by police to the crime scene in Dhing for further investigation. According to the police, at around 4 a.m., he tried to flee by jumping into a nearby pond. A search operation was immediately launched, and after two hours, his body was recovered. Islam was one of three men accused of abducting and raping the minor girl on 21 August, as she was returning home from tuition. The girl was found unconscious by locals near the The case has sparked widespread outrage in Assam, with protests demanding the arrest of the remaining suspects and justice for the victim. The search for the other two accused is ongoing. crime scene and is currently receiving medical care. The case has sparked widespread outrage in Assam, with protests demanding the arrest of the remaining suspects and justice for the victim. The search for the other two accused is ongoing. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had earlier assured that the perpetrators of the crime would face severe punishment, emphasising the government's commitment to swift and strict action against such heinous acts. strategic relationship and improving the security of a major defence partner, India. It said India continues to be an important force for political stability, peace, and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia regions”. This proposed sale will strengthen the India-US strategic and defence relationship. It will improve India’s capability to meet current and future threats by enhancing its capacity to conduct anti-submarine warfare operations from its MH60R helicopters. Meanwhile, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held substantive talks with US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan during which the two sides deliberated on the evolving geopolitical sit- uation and the ongoing defence industrial collaboration between the two countries. Mr Singh also interacted with senior leaders of the US defence industry at a round table organised by the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum. The round-table was attended by a large number of US defence and technology companies. According to official sources, the Indian minister discussed potential areas in which the industries of the two countries could work together with his US interlocutors. During his meetings, Mr Singh emphasised that India welcomes US investment and technology collaboration. India is ready with a skilled human resource base, robust pro-FDI and pro-business ecosystem, and a large domestic market, he said. NEW DELHI, 24 AUGUST BENGALURU, 24 AUGUST the fourth case has been registered under sections for sexual harassment, stalking, and criminal intimidation of a victim as well as clandestinely recording and sharing images of the victim Prajwal Revanna returned to India from Germany nearly a month after leaving the country, supposedly on the night of April 26, after several obscene videos allegedly involving him surfaced on social media platforms. He was arrested on May 31 upon arrival at Bengaluru airport. Earlier on May 29, the SIT arrested two prime accused in connection with the case. The arrested have been identified as Naveen Gowda and Chetan. Four injured as pvt chopper crashes near Pune hills AGENCIES PUNE, 24 AUGUST Four persons including the pilotwereinjuredwhenaprivate helicopter crashed in a hilly area near a Pune village on Saturday while on a flight from Mumbai to Hyderabad, and attempted to make an emergency landing, an official said. The incident occurred near Paud which has been lashed by heavy rains in the past two-three days, and the chopper belonged to Global Vectra Helicorp Ltd. based in Mumbai at Juhu Airport. The injured persons are identified as Captain Sanjay Anand, Amardeep Singh, S.P. Ram and Dir Bhatia, according to the police. All the injured were taken to a hospital in Pune, where Capt. Anand was admitted for treatment. (Details on Page 5) PM Modi arrives in Delhi after concluding historic trip to Poland and Ukraine AGENCIES A Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Karnataka Police has filed a chargesheet of 2144 pages against former JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna in the sexual assault and rape case. Mr Revanna is facing a probe by the SIT over allegations of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation following a complaint by a woman who worked as a domestic help at his house. In June this year, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Karnataka Police, which is investigating cases of sexual assault and harassment against Prajwal Revanna, registered a fourth case against the former Janata Dal (Secular) MP from Hassan. Unlike the three previous cases registered against Prajwal Revanna which invoked the Indian Penal Code (IPC)'s section for sexual assault, ister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, and State Home Minister Vijay Sharma were also present. In a subsequent session specifically focussed on Chhattisgarh, discussions centredonsecurityanddevelopment initiatives in LWEaffected areas. Chhattisgarh Home Minister Vijay Sharma provided updates on the Niyad Nellanar Scheme, a keyinitiativeaimedataddressing the challenges of leftwing extremism. Chhattisgarh remains a critical area in the fight against the LWE insurgency, with districts such as Bijapur, Dantewada, Dhamtari, Gariaband, Kanker, Kondagaon, Mahasamund, Narayanpur, Rajnandgaon, Mohla Manpur, Ambagarh Chowki, Khairagarh-ChhuikhadanGandai, Sukma, Kabirdham, and Mungeli being significantly affected. Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at Palam airport in Delhi on Saturday after concluding his two-nation visit to Poland and Ukraine. Prime Minister Modi's visit to Poland was the first by an Indian Prime Minister in 45 years. It was also the first Prime Ministerial visit from India to Ukraine. During his visit to Ukraine, PM Modi and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated their readiness for further cooperation in upholding principles of international law, including the UN Charter, such as respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty of states. They agreed on the desirability of closer bilateral dialogue in this regard. The Indian side reiterated its principled position and focus on peaceful resolution through dialogue and diplomacy, as a part of which, India has attended the Sum- mit on Peace in Ukraine, held in Burgenstock, Switzerland, in June 2024. The Ukrainian side welcomed such participation by India and highlighted the importance of high-level Indian participation in the next Peace Summit. India and Ukraine signed four agreements during the visit. During his visit to Poland, PM Modi held bilateral discussions with his counterpart Donald Tusk. The two countries decided to elevate their ties to "Strategic Partnership". The two leaders expressed their deepest concern over the war raging in Ukraine including its terrible and tragic humanitarian consequences. They reiterated the need for a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in line with international law, consistent with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, including respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity. In the context of this war, they shared the view that the use, or threat of use, of nuclear weapons is unacceptable. They underscored the importance of upholding international law, and in line with the UN Charter, reiterated that all states must refrain from the threat of or use of force against the territorial integrity and sovereignty or political independence of any state. India and Poland also reiterated their unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and emphasised that no country should provide a safe haven to those who finance, plan, support or commit terrorist acts. Both sides stressed the need for firm implementation of relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council, the UN General Assembly, as well as the implementation of the UN Global CounterTerrorism Strategy. They also reaffirmed on the early adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT).