Coimbatore l Monday l august 26, 2024 l `9.00 l PAGES 20 l late city EDITION Telegram chief executive Durov arrested by French authorities The founder and CEO of the messaging service was detained at Paris-Le Bourget Airport late on Saturday upon his arrival from Azerbaijan Accused of failing to curb misuse of app Lawyer calls it attack on free speech Pavel Durov was arrested over allegations that Telegram has been used for money laundering, drug trafficking and sharing child sexual content, media reports said. He is accused of failing to take steps to curb criminal uses of his messaging service. The warrant was issued at the request of a special unit of the country’s interior ministry in charge of probing crimes against minors | P9 ■ ■ Durov’s lawyer has called his arrest an attack on freedom of speech. Russia, too, has condemned the arrest of the Franco-Russian billionaire Telegram, known for user privacy and strong encryption protocols, was founded by Durov and his brother in 2013. The messaging service has been criticised by the Western governments for its lack of content moderation 900 million monthly active users in Telegram, which has 1 billion overall downloads CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOgGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI Kerala govt forms SIT to probe film industry E x p r e s s n e w s s e r v i c e @T’Puram Israeli Air Force intercepts a Hezbollah UAV over north Israel on Sunday; close-up of the projectile being blown into pieces | AFP Israel hits Lebanon with 100 jets in ‘self defence’ Hezbollah sends over 300 rockets, says first phase of attack is over Agencies ISRAEL on Sunday launched its biggest air offensive in recent times as it sent over 100 fighter jets into Lebanon to destroy “rocket launchers aimed at Israel”, claiming Hezbollah was about to unleash a largescale attack against it. The Israeli military said its fighter jets had destroyed “thousands” of Hezbollah rocket launchers “aimed toward northern Israel and some were aimed toward central Israel”, far from the border. Meanwhile, Iran-backed Hezbollah rejected Israel’s claims of having thwarted its attack, saying it had fired 320 Katyusha rockets targeting “enemy positions” across the border. This, it said, was the first phase of its retaliation for Israel’s assassination of its commander Fuad Shukr last month. With this issue 8 PAGES Special Supplement Express read Two men die in cracker unit blast in Dindigul Dindigul: Two men, G Kannan (42) and M Muneeswaran (30) from Sivakasi, were killed in an explosion at an unlicensed cracker unit in Avichipatti, Natham taluk, on Saturday evening. CM Stalin condoled the deaths and announced a solatium of `3 lakh each to the victims’ kin. A police team has been formed to nab the cracker unit’s owner K Selvam (54), who is on the run In a televised speech on Sunday, Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah said his group targeted a military intelligence base near Tel Aviv. However, Israeli sources said there were no hits on the base. Hezbollah’s claims The militant group said it targeted 11 bases, barracks and military positions in northern Israel and the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, and dismissed Israel’s claim to have thwarted its attack. It, however, did not provide evidence for its claims Following the Sunday airstrikes, three deaths were reported in Lebanon. While Hezbollah clarified that it was not planning any further strikes as of now, Israel’s foreign minister said his country did not seek a full-scale war. Both sides claimed they had struck only military targets. The US helped track the barrage of rockets and drones launched by Hezbollah against Israel, but was not involved in strikes in Lebanon or in shooting down incoming projectiles, AFP reported quoting a US defence official. The Hezbollah has traded near-daily cross-border fire with Israeli forces throughout the Gaza war, in a campaign it says in support of Hamas. According to experts, any major escalation in the fighting, which began in parallel with the war in Gaza, risks morphing into a regional conflagration drawing in Hezbollah’s backer Iran and Israel’s main ally the US. The situation remains tense though both sides hinted they have no immediate plans to continue strikes. P9 350 of 536 posts vacant in Madras varsity; faculty strength lowest in 10 yrs BINITA JAISWAL @ Chennai The number of permanent faculty members in the University of Madras, one of the oldest and among the most prominent universities in India, has dipped to its lowest in the last 10 years with 350 of the total 536 posts lying vacant. The vicechancellor post of the university, which is reeling under a financial crisis, has been vacant for the past one year. With two of the university’s departments devoid of even one faculty member, staffs of allied departments are being roped in to handle classes, raising concerns on the quality of education, sources said. According to official sources, at least five to six senior faculty members and professors retire every year but there has been no recruitment in the institution for the past 11 years. “The University of Madras was known for its research work and innovations, but due to the shortage of teaching staff, over the last decade, research work in the institution has taken a back seat,” said a professor. “We are producing research scholars but hardly any of their work is worthy of national recognition,” the professor added. Several departments are unable to even apply for research funding due to the situation. Although the university has over 140 guest lecturers to help manage the situation, students and academicians have alleged that when it comes to quality of education, they are simply not on a par with the permanent staff. Senior professors blame the state gover nment for the situation. “Other state universities are being allowed to recruit faculty members despite facing corruption allegations and financial problems, but they are turning a blind eye towards Madras University,” another professor said. P5 Under fire for its inaction on the Justice Hema Committee’s findings, the state government has finally woken up and formed a special police investigation team to probe the allegations of sexual harassment and exploitation in the Malayalam film industry . The seven-member team headed by South Zone IG G Sparjan Kumar has four women IPS officers on board. The other members of the team are Thiruvananthapuram Range DIG S Ajeetha Begum, Crime Branch S P Merin Joseph, Coastal Police AIG G Poonkuzhali, Kerala Police Academy Assistant Di- rector Aishwarya Dongre, AIG Law and Order Ajith V and Crime Branch SP S Madhusoodanan. Crime Branch head ADGP H Venkatesh will monitor the proceedings. The decision to form the special team was taken during a meeting Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijay- an held with senior police officers on Sunday The state govern. ment had so far maintained that it is open to probing the allegations if the survivors are ready to file complaints. Sources said the special team will not register FIRs suo motu, but would rather register cases Director Ranjith, actor Siddique resign Noted Malayalam filmmaker Ranjith, who was accused of misconduct by Bengali actor Sreelekha Mitra, resigned as chairman of the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy, while veteran Ranjith Siddique actor Siddique quit his post as general secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists after actor Revathy Sampath accused him of assaulting her in 2019 CBI conducts raids over Crime against women irregularities in RG Kar unpardonable sin: Modi S u l a g n a Se n g u p tA @ Kolkata THE CBI’s anti-corruption unit on Sunday conducted searches on the premises of ex-principal of R G Kar Medical College and Hospital Sandip Ghosh, former medical superintendent cum vice-principal Sanjay Vashisth, and 13 others in and around Kolkata in connection with the probe into financial irregularit i e s at t h e s t at e - r u n institute. Officials said the CBI team reached Ghosh’s residence at 6 am but was made to wait for one-and-half hours before they were let in. The sleuths started questioning Ghosh at 8 am and it continued till late night. The CBI’s anticorruption unit also searched the residences and offices of those engaged in supplying materials for the management and care of patients. Sources said the CBI team visited the premises of Dr Debasish Som, Sandip Ghosh’s close aide. He is the head of the department of forensic science at RG Kar. CBI sleuths called the head clerk of the forensic medicine department to know the whereabouts of the alleged organ racket. According to CBI sources, the racket sells body parts sourced from various state-run medical colleges; officials said Dr Sandip Ghosh and his allies have been giving cover to the racket. A senior officer said: “We have got lots of infor mation regarding the illegal racket in the state. We are in search of other doctors who are involved in the scam. Several doctors working in private hospitals are also involved in the scam.” Meanwhile, the lie detection test on Sanjay Roy the main ac, cused in the rape-murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar hospital, was conducted at Kolkata’s Presidency Jail where he is lodged. Four persons including former principal Sandip Ghosh underwent the polygraph test on Saturday the officials said. , S u d h i r s u r ya w a n s h i @ Mumbai Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said crimes against women are unpardonable sins and the guilty should not be spared. Modi was speaking at the ‘Lakhpati Didi Sammelan’ in north Maharashtra’s Jalgaon, days after the rape-murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital and the sexual assault of two minor girls in Maharashtra’s Badhlapur, triggered a nationwide uproar. “‘The message should go from top to bottom. This sin is unpardonable. Governments will come and go, but protecting life and women’s dignity is a big responsibility of all of us, both as a society and as a government,” Modi said. Modi said the guilty should not be spared and those helping them should also be dealt with firmly “Those helping . the perpetrators of crimes against women should not be spared. Be it a hospital, school, government or police station, at whatever level negligence occurs, everyone should be held accountable,” he said. Modi said Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which replaced the Indian Penal Code, will provide greater support to women in achieving justice. “Earlier, there were delays, and we have removed all this in the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita. If a woman does not want to visit a police station, she can file an e-FIR from her residence, and the police will have to act. There is provision for death penalty and life imprisonment for atrocities against women,” Modi said. Lorry driver slams brakes; one killed, 9 injured in 10-vehicle pileup in TN express news service @ Krishnagiri One person died and nine others suffered injuries in a 10-vehicle pileup near Berandapalli along the Hosur-Krishnagiri road on Sunday evening. One of the injured is in a critical condition. According to sources, a granite lorry from Hyderabad was on its way to Krishnagiri near Sanamavu reserve forest area around 3.30 pm on Sunday when lorry driver K Karthik (31) of Salem suddenly applied the brake, leading to multiple vehicles trailing the lorry crashing against one another. Six cars, three lorries, and one Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation bus were damaged in the accident. Dindigul: The DMK rule is the golden period of the HR&CE department, said Sports Development Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Sunday. Addressing the Anaithulaga Muthamizh Murugan Maanadu through video conference, Udhayanidhi said that the DMK government would never stand in the path of anyone’s belief systems | P4 At the age of five, most children would not have heard of Mount Kilimanjaro. But for five-yearold Teghbir Singh from Ropar in Punjab, it was a year-old dream that came true when he reached Africa’s tallest peak on August 23. In doing so, he became the youngest person from Asia to scale the mountain located in Tanzania. After a year of preparation, Teghbir started the trek on August 18 and reached the Uhuru peak on August 23, battling fierce snowstorms on the way . He was accompanied by his father Sukhinderdeep Singh, two guides and supporting staff. “I was told to chant Waheguru when I felt tired and I did that. It helped me scale the summit,” Teghbir, a first-standard student of Shiwalik Public School at Ropar, told this newspaper over the phone. With this Teghbir Singh during his trek to Mount Kilimanjaro | special arrangement Kovai man falls to death in pit dug up for road @ Coimbatore According to sources, the lorry driver slammed the brakes to avoid ramming the car in front after it suddenly slowed down | Express According to sources, the lorry driver slammed the brakes to avoid dashing against a car going in the front after the car suddenly slowed down. D Ravi (55) of Krishnagiri, driver of a car who was initial- ly referred to the Shoolagiri Upgraded Primary Health Centre, was later rushed to the Government Krishnagiri Medical College Hospital where he died without responding to treatment. P5 5-yr-old Punjab boy youngest Asian to scale Mt Kilimanjaro H a r p r ee t b a j w a @ Chandigarh 4th death in tn express news service peak of valour DMK govt rule HR&CE’s ‘golden period’: Udhaya based on complaints they receive from the aggrieved persons. The formation of the SIT, sources added, was to encourage the victims to come forward and file their complaints. “You need a defacto complainant to take the case forward. So, one of the purposes behind the constitution of the probe team is to motivate the victims to officially lodge complaints,” said a source. The source said the SIT will probe instances of sexual harassment mentioned in the Hema Committee report if the survivors file complaints. It will also probe the complaints by members of the film fraternity regarding sexual harassment, said the source. feat, he equaled the world record of summiting Mt Kilimanjaro at age five by a Serbia boy Ognjen Živkovi on August 6 last year. “Teghbir started preparing almost a year ago. He was trained by Bikramjit Singh Ghuman who helped him with the exercises to increase cardiovascular health and lung capacity to deal with altitude sickness,” Singh said. Commenting on his son’s journey to the peak, Singh said, “Every day he trekked around 8-10 kilometers and temperatures dropped with every ascent he made. He walked and stayed in a low-oxygen altitude in a minus-grade temperature for almost a week”. The push to the summit was undertaken during fierce snowstorms. “It was a very challenging moment for the entire crew,” Singh said. Teghbir had treked to the Everest Base Camp in April. In the fourth such death in Tamil Nadu in the last 10 days, a 36-year-old man died after he fell into a construction pit dug up on Siruvani Main Road in the district early Sunday morning. The pit was dug by the state highways department as part of works for the Coimbatore Ring Road Project. The deceased has been identified as V Karthikeyan of Kannimaar Kovil Street of Devarayapuram near Thondamuthur in Coimbatore district. According to p o l i c e , Kar thikeyan was employed as the zonal manager of a t wo - w h e e l e r spare parts company Early on . Sunday he was returning home , on his bike from the Coimbatore Junction railway station via the Siruvani Main Road after attending a meeting in Bengaluru the day before. At 4 am, as he neared Chellappa Goundan Pudur near Madampatti, where ring road construction work was under way he fell into the 16-foot-deep , pit with his bike. He sustained severe injuries to his head and died on the spot, police said. Workers who arrived later in the morning spotted the body and informed Perur police. P5
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