TUESDAY 08 OCTOBER 2024 www.thestatesman.com X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 INDIA’S NATIONAL NEWSPAPER SINCE 1818 Pages 16 |` 5.00 LC KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR ‘INDIA'S HEALTH SYSTEM TO ACHIEVE UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE’ AIRSHOW VICTIMS: STALIN ANNOUNCES `5 LAKH SOLATIUM P6 SENSEX 81,050.00 P5 NIFTY 24,795.75 WEATHER Generally cloudy becoming partly cloudy sky towards night. Possibility of light rain / thundershower in some areas.Maximum and Minimum Temperature most likely to be around 32˚C and 26˚C respectively. ` vs $ 83.99 P10 GOLD 78,275.00 Max. 95% Max: 32.1˚C (-0.7) SUN RISES 05:30 hrs MOON RISES 09:13 hrs Min: 26.4˚C (+0.6) SUN SETS 17:19 hrs MOON SETS 20:09 hrs Full Moon on 17 October THUMBNAILS A woman feeds langurs, in Pushkar on Monday. n ANI Row over Bihar Dy CM's house: BJP on Monday alleged that the former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav and his men stole the furniture, including bed and sofas, wash basins and water taps, from the government bungalow before vacating it. The development comes in the backdrop of incumbent Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary shifting to the residence, previously held by RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav. Samrat Chaudhary was allotted the bungalow at 5 Deshratna Road in Patna recently and is set to move in, on the auspicious occasion of Vijayadashami. A major controversy broke out before he shifted into the government residence. Tejashwi Yadav has been accused of robbing the government bungalow of essentials, including water taps, and lights. Shatrughan Prasad, Personal Secretary of Samrat Chaudhary, told a news agency, "We are bringing to light how the Deputy CM's house has been robbed of its belongings. When Sushil Modi had shifted to this house, there were two hydraulic beds, there were sofa sets for guests and this was for everywhere to see, including the press. All those things are missing." STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE BIRBHUM, 7 OCTOBER S even coal miners were killed and three others critically injured after a series of explosions in the coal mine and the explosives vehicle in the captive coal mine of West Bengal Power Develop- ment Corporation Limited (WBPDCL) in Bhadulia village, under Lokpur police station of Khoyrasole Block in Birbhum district today morning. State chief secretary Manoj Pant has announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh from the state government. Rs 30 lakh would be given by WBPDCL, a job to the next of kin of the seven deceased coal miners in Birbhum district today. Locals claimed that around 10.30 am they heard a huge sound of explosions and the entire area felt tremors. The seven coal miners, all local tribal people, were killed on the spot. The death toll may increase, feel the people in the know. The reason behind the blast is not clear, but it is a rare incident in a commercial coal mine. While some claim the blast was due to accidental detonation in the vehicle carrying the detonators and gelatin sticks, others said that blast happened while digging and placing the explosives. The deceased have been identified as Joydeb Murmu, Mongol Marandi, Somlal Hembram, Judu Marandi, Palash Hembram, Rubilal Murmu and Amit Singh. Police have recovered the seven bodies and search operations are on to find if more persons are trapped India, Maldives agree on Economic and Maritime Security Partnership STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 7 OCTOBER making drinking water available during natural disasters, or providing vaccines during Covid, India has always fulfilled its responsibility as a neighbour,” he said. President of Maldives thanked India for its timely emergency financial assistance, including by way of rolling over T-bills subscribed by SBI amounting to USD 100 million in May and September 2024, for a further period of one year, giving much needed financial cushion to Maldives in addressing its urgent financ- ing needs. Dr Muizzu expressed his appreciation for the Indian Government’s decision to extend support in the form of USD 400 million and INR 30 billion as a bilateral currency swap agreement, which had proved instrumental in tackling the financial challenges faced by the Maldives. The leaders agreed to implement further measures to support Maldives in addressing its financial challenges. The leaders acknowledged that it was an opportune time for both sides to chart a new framework for cooperation with an aim to comprehensively transform the bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership, which is people-centric, futureoriented and will act as an anchor of stability in the Indian Ocean Region. The two countries also decided to constitute a new High-Level Core Group to oversee the progress in the implementation of the vision for the Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership. In this context, they decided to expand exchanges at leadership and Ministerial levels and to include exchanges of Parliamentarians and local government representatives. The two countries also decided to initiate discussions on a Bilateral Free Trade Agreement focusing on trade in goods and services and to operationalize the settlement of trade transactions between India and Maldives in local currencies, with an aim to deepen trade linkages and to reduce dependency on foreign currencies. Counting of votes for J&K, Haryana today STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 7 OCTOBER Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana are likely to give a significant political message to the nation when counting of votes begins for the recently held Assembly elections in the state and the UT, early Tuesday morning. Amid tight security arrangements, the counting will start at 8 am. The two elections were keenly contested by major political parties. Jammu and Kashmir saw an Assembly election after a gap of 10 years. It was also the first after the historic abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution which gave the region a special status. Both elections saw heavy turnout of voters. Amit Shah chairs high-level meet on Naxal issue, praises states’ efforts in fight against LWE AGENCIES NEW DELHI, 7 OCTOBER Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a high-level review meeting in Delhi on Monday with the Chief Ministers, Deputy Chief Ministers, and senior officials of LeftWing Extremism (LWE)-affected states. The agenda focused on strategies to eradicate Naxalism by March 31, 2026 completely. The meeting came SILVER 97,000 7 miners killed in explosion at coal mine in Birbhum Min. 66% Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President of Maldives Dr Mohamed Muizzu met on Monday and comprehensively reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations, while agreeing to transform the bilateral relationship in to a Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership. Addressing the press after his talks with Dr Muizzu, the Prime Minister said India is Maldives' closest neighbour and a close friend. “Maldives has an important place in both our "Neighbourhood First" policy and "SAGAR" Vision. India has always played the role of a first responder for Maldives,” Mr Modi said. “Whether it is fulfilling the need of essential commodities for the people of Maldives, P16 BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 78.71 RG Kar case: CBI files first charge sheet, names Sanjay Roy as only prime accused Three miners are critical; State CS Manoj Pant has announced a handsome compensation RAINFALL: 0.0 mm RELATIVE HUMIDITY TEMPERATURE DIPA KARMAKAR ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT MACRON TALKS WITH NETANYAHU on the heels of a successful security operation in Chhattisgarh, where 31 Maoists were killed in Narayanpur. During the meeting, Shah lauded Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and his team for their commendable efforts in combating Maoism, highlighting the recent achievements of the state. “I congratulate the Chief Minister, Home Minister, DGP and the entire team of Chhattisgarh. I appeal to all the youth associated with Naxalism to join the main- stream of society,” he said. He noted that, since January, 194 Maoists have been killed, 801 arrested, and 742 have surrendered in Chhattisgarh. Shah emphasised that this success is a testament to the collaboration between state and Central forces, driven by strategic planning and intelligence. “This is a historic achievement and the efforts of Chief Minister Sai and his team deserve appreciation," he added. Shah urged Maoism-affiliated youth to lay down their arms and reintegrate into society. He expressed confidence in the "double engine" government, where state and Central governments are accelerating development in LWE-affected regions. He stressed that rapid infrastructure development in these areas draws people back to the mainstream. under the debris. The three injured coal miners were taken to first nearby Nakrakonda Primary Health Centre and then shifted to Suri Sadar Hospital in critical conditions. Anup Kumar Saha, MLA of Dubrajpur has reached the coal mine and is supervising the rescue operations. A Kolkata-based private contractor, Gangaramchak Mining Private Limited (GMPL) has bagged the mine developer and operator (MDO) contract of the captive coal mines of thermal plants of West Bengal Power Development Corporation Limited. The coal belonged to the state government, but all the deceased were engaged by the private contractor for coal excavation in Gangaramchak. Birbhum district police, medical team, disaster management force, four fire tenders and ambulances have been sent to the captive coal mine. Locals claimed that the dead miners were residents of nearby Basatabpur Village. It is very difficult to identify the bodies due to the severe impact of the blast. Due to the severe impact of the explosion the explosives van is also badly damaged. Coal miners were thrown in the air and were found in several parts of the open cast coal mine. A coal loaded dumper was stranded beside the explosives vehicle. A huge police force has been sent to the site. Local villagers also rushed in after hearing the sound. Officials of the company allegedly fled away in fear after the blast, the locals alleged. No official version was available from neither the Gangaramchak Mining Private Limited nor the WBPDCIL or the district administration. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE KOLKATA, 7 OCTOBER The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday filed its first charge sheet in the rape and murder case of a doctor of R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital, where the arrested civic volunteer Sanjay Roy has been named as the only prime accused. However, sources said that in the first charge sheet filed at a special court in Kolkata on Monday afternoon, the CBI officials have provided details of tampering with evidence in the case during the initial phase of the investigation that was conducted by Kolkata Police. This probe by the Kolkata Police was conducted before the central agency was handed over the charge of the investigation by the Calcutta High Court. The details of the statement made by different individuals to the investigating officials have also been provided in the charge sheet, sources added. The charge sheet had been filed exactly 58 days after the CBI started the investigation into the matter. To recall, Sanjay Roy, who has been mentioned as the sole prime accused in the rape and murder in the charge sheet, was arrested by the cops of Kolkata Police and later handed over to the CBI. He is currently in judicial custody and the CBI has already conducted a polygraph test on him. Although the investigating officials also wanted to conduct a narco-analysis on Roy that was not possible since the latter did not give consent for it. Besides Roy, the CBI had also arrested the former and controversial principal of R.G. Kar, Sandip Ghosh and the former SHO of Tala Police Station Abhijit Mondal. They were arrested on charges of misleading the investigation and tampering with the evidence during the initial investigation by the city police. Sources said that the investigating sleuths have got specific clues that how evidence in the case was tampered with, is no less heinous than the actual crime of rape and murder. The investigating officials also feel that the proficiency and urgency with which the evidence was tampered with, hints at a deeper mystery behind the ghastly crime, sources added.