MONDAY 26 AUGUST 2024 www.thestatesman.com X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 INDIA’S NATIONAL NEWSPAPER SINCE 1818 Pages 12 |` 5.00|LC KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR ‘CRACKDOWN ON ENCROACHMENT ON LAKES WILL CONTINUE’ ‘WILL CONTEST ALL 243 SEATS IN 2025 BIHAR POLLS’ P5 SENSEX 81,086.21p33.02 WEATHER Thunderstorms. Storms could contain frequent lightning. Maximum and minimum temperatures likely to be around 29 °C and 26 °C respectively. RAINFALL: NIL RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 94 % NIFTY P4 24,823.15p11.65 P8 ` vs $ 83.92 Crimes against women unpardonable sin: PM Ensuring women’s safety is one of nation’s top priorities, says Modi TEMPERATURE Max: 29.4˚C SUN RISES 05:17 hrs MOON RISES 22:50 hrs S Min: 26.3˚C SUN SETS 17:58 hrs MOON SETS 11:55 hrs Full Moon on 3 September THUMBNAILS A woman attaches a peacock feather to the idol of Lord Krishna on the eve of Krishna Janmashtami festival, in Nagpur on Sunday. n ANI BJP questions land allotment to KhargeÊs family in Hitech Defence Aerospace Park: Karnataka BJP has questioned the land allotment to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge’s family in the Hightech Defence Aerospace Park near Bengaluru. BJP Rajya Sabha member Lahar Singh Siroya said the BJP has taken the matter of this alleged illegal allocation to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot's office through an RTI activist. tating that the safety of women is a top priority of the nation along with their empowerment, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said atrocities against women are an unpardonable sin, and those guilty of such crimes and those who assist them must not be spared. The Prime Minister, addressing the public at the Lakhpati Didi Sammelan held in Maharashtra's Jalgaon said: “I understand the pain and anger of my sisters and daughters, irrespective of the states." He added: “Governments may change, but our biggest responsibility as a society and as a government should be to protect the life and dignity of women.” He said people should be held “accountable” for any negligence in ensuring women's safety, adding that whether it takes place in public institutions, be it a hospital or a school or an office or the police sys- tem, should be made accountable and any sort of negligence was unacceptable. Mr Modi underlined that the government is constantly making laws stricter to impose the harshest punishment to those who commit atrocities on women. Pointing out that FIRs for complaints were not registered on time earlier and cases became very time-consuming, the PM said that such obstacles have been removed in the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) where an entire chapter has been devoted to atrocities against women and children. He said that victims can register e-FIR if they do not wish to go to the police station and measures are in place to ensure swift action and that there’s no tampering with e-FIR at the police station level. Mr Modi said that it would help in speedy investigation and strict punishment for the culprits. He added that the new laws have provisions for death penalty and life imprisonment for sexual crimes against minors. Mr Modi handed out certificates and felicitated 11 lakh women who recently became ‘Lakhpati Didis’ during the third term of the present government, and also interacted with Lakhpati Didis SIT comprising senior women police officers formed to probe charges of sexual harassment in Malayalam film industry STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, 25 AUGUST Amid accusations that the state government is taking no action against perpetrators despite shocking details of exploitation of women in the Malayalam film industry having come out, the Kerala government on Sunday constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising senior women police officers to conduct a preliminary inquiry into sexual harassment of female actors in the Malayalam film industry. Inspector General (IG) Sparjan Kumar will lead the seven-member team with four women IPS officers. ADGP (Crime branch) H Venketesh will supervise the functioning of the team. The team will have S Ajeetha Begum, a Deputy Inspector General-rank officer, Merlin Joseph (SP Crime Branch HQ), G Poonkuzhi (AIG Coastal Police), Aiswarya Dongre, (Assistant Director, Kerala Police Academy), V Ajith (AIG, law and order) and S Mafhusoodanan (SP, Crime Branch) as its members. The decision to set up the SIT was taken after chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan held a high-level meeting with top police officers on Sunday. “Some women working in the field of cinema have come out with interviews and statements describing the ordeals they had to face in the said field. In this matter, Chief Minister called a meeting of top police officials today (25.08.2024),” a statement from the Chief Minister’s office stated. Malayalam cinema has been thrown into turmoil ever since the Justice K Hema committee report came to light, revealing incidents of harassment, exploitation, ill-treatment and other human rights abuses of women in the industry. The report has emboldened several women professionals to come forward and speak up openly about the alleged harassments they suffered by well-known figures in the industry. The Justice Hema Committee, set up by the Kerala government in 2017 followinng an assault case involving a prominent actress and a top male actor, had submitted its report to the government in December 2019. The 290-page report, which was made public last week, described the Malayalam film industry as being controlled by a “mafia of powerful men” where sexual harassment of women was rampant. Director Ranjith, actor Siddique resign from posts THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, 25 AUGUST The Malayalam film industry, which was rocked by the Hema Committee report and the revelations of sexual assault by female actors, has plunged into deeper crisis with two prominent film personalities stepping down from their posts. Director Ranjith (photo) quit as chairman of the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy on Sunday, following public outcry for his resignation after allegations of sexual misbehaviour by Sreelekha Mitra while Siddique resigned as General Secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists after actress Revathy Sampath accused him of sexually assaulting (See Page 4) her. SNS from across the country. He also released a Revolving Fund of Rs 2,500 crore, benefitting about 48 lakh members of 4.3 lakh Self-Help Groups (SHG), and disbursed bank loans of Rs 5,000 crore which will benefit 25.8 lakh members of 2.35 lakh SHGs. Since the inception of the Lakhpati Didi Yojana, one crore women have already been made Lakhpati Didis and the government has set a target of three crore Lakhpati Didis, an official statement said. Mr Modi added that this corpus of funds will bolster many women to transform into ‘Lakhpati Didis’. The PM also extended his best wishes. He mentioned witnessing the culture of Maharashtra during his recent visit to Poland and said that the people of Maharashtra are highly respected by Polish citizens. He spoke about the Kolhapur Memorial set up by the people of Poland that is dedicated to the spirit of service and hospitality of the people of Kolhapur. Israel launched a wave of airstrikes across southern Lebanon early Sunday in what it said was a preemptive strike to avert a large Hezbollah attack. The militant group responded that it had fired hundreds of rockets and drones to avenge the killing of one of its top commanders last month. Both sides then appeared to pull back, signaling there would be no immediate further escalation, but the situation remained tense. The exchange came as Egypt hosted highlevel talks aimed at a ceasefire in the 10-month-old IsraelHamas war in Gaza, which diplomats hope will tamp down regional tensions. The Israeli military said it struck because Hezbollah was planning to launch a heavy barrage of rockets and missiles. Soon after, Hezbollah said it had launched an attack on Israeli military positions as an initial response to the killing of Fouad Shukur in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut last month. By mid-morning, the heavy exchange of fire had ended, with both sides saying they had only aimed at military targets. At least three fighters were killed in the strikes on Lebanon, while there were no reports of casualties in Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the military had eliminated thousands of rockets that were aimed at northern Israel and shot down drones heading for the centre of the country. He said it marked another step toward changing the situation along the border. “I repeat ~ this is not the end of the story,” he added. Air raid sirens were reported throughout northern Israel, and Israel’s international airport closed and diverted flights for about an hour due to the threat of attack. Israel’s Home Front Command raised the alert level across northern Israel before later lifting restrictions in most areas. Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani, an Israeli military spokesman, said Hezbollah had intended to hit targets in northern and central Israel. He said initial assessments found “very little damage” in Israel, but that the military remained on high P12 BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 77.58p1.56 CBI completes polygraph test on RG Kar Medical College main accused STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE KOLKATA, 25 AUGUST The polygraph test on the main accused in the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Sanjay Roy, was conducted on Sunday at the Presidency Correction Home, where he is being held. Earlier on Saturday, the CBI, which is investigating the brutal crime on the directive of Calcutta High Court, conducted polygraph tests of six other people - former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital Sandip Ghosh, four doctors who allegedly had dinner with the victim the night of the crime, and one civic volunteer, at the CBI office at the CGO Complex in Salt Lake. As part of the investigation, the central investigative agency has interrogated several individuals. The CBI claimed that there are inconsistencies in many of their statements, and they are repeatedly changing their accounts. Therefore, a polygraph test is necessary to uncover the truth. On Friday, the CBI requested permission from the Sealdah court to conduct polygraph tests on a total of seven people, including the main accused in the Kolkata Police and paramilitary personnel, along with onlookers outside the residence of former RG Kar Medical College principal Sandip Ghosh during a raid by the CBI officers regarding the alleged sexual assault and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor and financial irregularities at the RG Kar Medical College, in Kolkata on Sunday. n BISWAJIT GHOSHAL case, Sanjay Roy, a civic volunteer. Under the court's orders, the arrested civic volunteer is being held in the VIP ward of the Presidency Jail's 'Pahela Baish'. On Saturday, the CBI examined the arrangements for conducting the polygraph test in the jail. They discussed with the jail authorities the location of the test, the necessary equipment, and other related matters. On Sunday morning, the CBI returned to the Presidency Jail, and sources report that the polygraph test process began early in the morning. On 13 August, the CBI took over the investigation of the incident following an order from Calcutta High Court. After launching their investigation, they took Roy into their custody. According to sources within the central investigative agency, Roy has repeatedly tried to mislead the CBI by providing different information at different times while in custody. Reports suggest that he has been giving conflicting information to the CBI about the reason for entering the hospital, the time of entry, and the reason for entering the hospital's seminar hall. For this reason, the CBI was determined to conduct a polygraph test on him. Indian astronaut set to join int’l space station: Jitendra Singh STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 25 AUGUST An Indian astronaut from the Gaganyaan Mission is set to join the International Space Station, marking a significant milestone in IndoUS Space collaboration, Union Minister for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh has announced. He emphasised the importance of the Indo-US partnership in securing global supply chains, especially in sectors like semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, and clean energy technologies, which are increasingly vital in today’s interconnected world. The minister was chairing a key meeting on US-India Civil Nuclear Commerce, highlighting the deepening cooperation between the two nations in critical areas of science, technology, and clean energy. Dr. Jitendra Singh underscored the Green Hydrogen Israel and Hezbollah trade heavy fire in sudden escalation AGENCIES JERUSALEM, 25 AUGUST SILVER 88,000 GOLD 73,980.00 STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 25 AUGUST Min. 89 % FATIMA SANA TO LEAD PAKISTAN IN ICC WOMEN'S T20 WC ANIL AMBANI TO TAKE NEXT STEPS BASED ON LEGAL ADVICE alert. He said around 100 Israeli aircraft took part in Sunday’s strikes. Two Hezbollah fighters and a militant from an allied group were killed, the groups said. The Lebanese Health Ministry said two people were wounded. Hezbollah said its attack involved more than 320 Katyusha rockets aimed at multiple sites in Israel and a “large number” of drones. It said the operation targeted “a qualitative Israeli military target that will be announced later” as well as “enemy sites and barracks and Iron Dome (missile defense) platforms.” Hezbollah said the strikes would allow it to launch more attacks deeper into Israel, but a later statement said “military operations for today have been completed.” It dismissed Israel’s claim to have thwarted a stronger attack. Neither Israel nor Hezbollah provided evidence for their claims. (See Page 9) Mission as a cornerstone of India's strategy to decarbonise heavy industry, transportation, and power generation. He highlighted that this mission is crucial for driving innovation in clean technologies and achieving global climate goals. Through robust policy frameworks and international collaborations, India is poised to lead the transition to a sustainable and resilient energy future. He also revealed that the Indian government is exploring international partnerships, investing in research and development, and considering regulatory frameworks to support the deployment of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). He stated that SMRs would play a significant role in India’s clean energy transition, contributing to energy selfreliance and meeting climate commitments. Drawing parallels between India’s "Anusandhan" Nation- al Research Foundation (NRF) and the United States' National Science Foundation (NSF), Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted the critical roles both organisations play in advancing scientific research and innovation. He recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s "Panchamrit" climate action plan, reaffirming India’s commitment to increasing non-fossil energy capacity to 500 GW, reducing carbon emissions by 1 billion tons and finally achieving net-zero emissions by 2070. Dr. A. K. Sood, Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, echoed the significance of the IndoUS partnership, stating that it is not just about exchanging knowledge but about co-creating solutions that will shape the future. He emphasised the collaboration's potential to pave new paths for sustainable development and economic prosperity. Rajnath invites American defence companies to set up manufacturing units in India STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 25 AUGUST Defence Minister Rajnath Singh underlined the various emerging co-development and co-production opportunities in the defence sector in India due to the progressive reforms undertaken by the Modi government. He invited foreign original equipment manufacturers, including from the United States, to set up manufacturing units in India, develop joint ventures and also to make India their alternate export base. The defence minister was interacting with the senior leadership of US defence companies in Washington last night. He said the planned co-production of GE 414 aero-engines in India shall be a significant milestone in India-US bilateral relations. Mr Singh highlighted that 'Partnership' and ‘Joint Efforts’ are the two keywords that differentiate India's defence industry partnership with other nations. The event saw the attendance of senior leadership from prominent US defence and technology companies such as Boeing, GE, General Atomics, General Dynamics Land Systems, L3 Harris, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon Technologies, Rolls Royce, and ThayerMahan. In addition, a few Indian companies such as ideaForge, Tata Sons and Tsecond, along with senior leaders from The Cohen Group attended the interaction with the defence minister. During the interaction, the business leaders briefly outlined their ongoing projects and future plans for India, and provided valuable feedback. The defence minister's meeting with US defence companies came a day after the US approved a possible foreign military sale of antisubmarine warfare sonobuoys and related equipment to India at an estimated cost of USD 52.8 million for the multi-mission MH-60R Seahawk helicopters. During the course of his four-day visit to the US, Mr Singh had significant meetings with US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and other key officials.