FOLLOW US: @TheStatesmanLtd @thestatesmanltd thestatesman1875 www.thestatesman.com People’s Parliament, Always in Session India’s National Newspaper since 1818 | Pages 12 | ` 5.00 | KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | NORTH-EAST EDITORIAL PAGE Silencing Civics Page 6 Testing, time-bound times for Manipur’s new Chief Minister Page 11 Iran confirms Khamenei killed in US strikes, vows revenge UNITED NEWS OF INDIA Tehran/New Delhi, 1 March I ran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a coordinated US-Israeli military strike on Tehran early Sunday, Iranian State media confirmed. Iranian State media said Ali Khamenei was killed in strikes that targeted areas in northern Tehran, including locations near his compound and offices. Multiple missiles hit areas close to the presidential palace in Shemiran and near the Supreme Leader’s residence. While an Iranian Presidential spokesman had said on Saturday after the attacks that Khameini was safe and had already been moved out of Tehran, Iranian State media confirmed the death on Sunday. Earlier, US President Donald Trump, while announcing Khamenei’s death on his social media platform, said: “Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead. This is not only Justice for the people of Iran, but for all Great Americans…” Mr Trump also said ‘’other leaders’’ had been killed along with him (Khamenei). He, however, did not name those leaders. Mr Trump said the US has been hearing that many of their IRGC, Military, and other Security and Police Forces no longer wanted to fight, and were looking for Immunity from the US. He offered immunity to the Iranian soldiers, saying, “Now they can have Immunity, later they only get Death!” In retaliation, Iran launched a new wave of missile and drone strikes on Sunday targeting US military bases in the region and Israel, state media said. Twenty-seven US bases in the region, as well as Israel's military headquarters and a Defence industries complex in Tel Aviv, were among the targets, Iranian state TV said. Israeli authorities said eight people were killed and 28 wounded in a strike that hit a synagogue in the central town of Beit Shemesh, bringing the overall death toll in the country to 10. The IRGC announced that in the fifth wave of Operation True Promise4 in the Indian Ocean, a ship which was carrying ammunition for American vessels, was hit by four drones at the Jebel Ali anchorage and was completely disabled. It said four ballistic missiles and 12 drones hit the US naval base in the Abdullah Mubarak area of Kuwait. All the infrastructure was destroyed, and a large number of US forces were killed and injured, it said. Also, the MST-class combat support ship, which was carrying fuel for US vessels in the Indian Ocean, was hit by Iranian Qadr 380 missiles. The IRGC said the American FP-132 radar, with a range of 5,000 kilometres and stationed in Qatar, has been destroyed. • More reports on Page 9 CM Mamata Banerjee demands Amit Shah’s resignation over ‘manipulated’ voter list STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Kolkata, 1 March Trinamul C ongress chairperson Mamata Banerjee on Sunday demanded the resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, alleging manipulation in the publication of the voter list following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. She announced that all party workers, except those engaged in SIR-related duties, would organise protest rallies across every block in the state. Criticising the Election Commission of India (ECI), Miss Banerjee said: “You have taken so much time to conduct the SIR, and now the list has been published in just two days. The ECI has used Artificial Intelligence to delete names. This is wrong and will not be tolerated.” The first list, published yesterday, reportedly showed names of voters deleted without explanation. Miss Banerjee declared that Trinamul Congress would launch a statewide movement from tomorrow. Miss Banerjee, who is also a lawyer, had personally appeared before the Supreme Court, where she alleged that the ECI was manipulating the voter list. She reiterated her claim that the Commission was working “hand in glove” with the BJP to defeat Trinamul Congress in the forthcoming election. Party national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee clarified that Trinamul was not opposed to the SIR itself, but to the haste with which it was conducted, alleging deliberate bias to benefit the BJP. The party has resolved to approach the Supreme Court again against what it terms the arbitrary publication of the list. Miss Banerjee states that her movement seeks to uphold the rights of the people and pledged to pursue it to the highest extent possible. T20 WC: Holder-Powell blitz propels West Indies to 195/4 against India AGENCIES Kolkata, 1 March A masterful 76-run partnership between Jason Holder (photo) and Rovman Powell for the fifth wicket propelled West Indies to 195/4 against India in their last Super 8 fixture at Eden Gardens on Sunday. Powell slammed 34 off just 19 balls, including three fours and two sixes, while Holder smashed 37 off 22 balls, laced with two fours and three sixes. A target of 196 stands between India and the semi-final spot. In a virtual knock-out match in Kolkata on Sunday, with the winner set to seal the last remaining semi-final spot, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and elected to field first. West Indies' new opening duo, Shai Hope and Roston Chase, got off to a solid start. Chase, making his T20I debut as an opener, showed promise with some elegant shots, including two boundaries off Arshdeep Singh and a scooped four against Jasprit Bumrah. The pressure of the occasion seemed to get to Abhishek Sharma, who dropped a simple catch at cover with Chase on 15. It wasn't the briskest of starts for West Indies, who finished the powerplay at 45/0. Varun Chakaravarthy broke the opening partnership, dismissing Shai Hope for 32 in the ninth over. Jasprit Bumrah turned the game with a double strike, getting set batters Shimron Hetmyer (27) and Roston Chase (40) out, shifting momentum India's way. Hetmyer was starting to flex his muscles, and had hit two sixes and a four, but ended up nicking a ball angling away from him to the wicketkeeper. Two balls later, Bumrah had Chase lob the ball to cover. Hardik Pandya chipped in with ace seamer Bumrah, scalping Sherfane Rutherford's wicket for 14. After the West Indies slipped from 102/2 to 119/4, Jason Holder and Rovman Powell took the attack to India. Powell also became the first West Indian to hit 150 sixes in T20Is with another big hit to the fence. However, India's ace seamers Bumrah and Arshdeep pulled things off well in the final two overs by conceding only 20 runs. Brief score: West Indies 195/4 in 20 overs (Roston Chase 40, Jason Holder 37*; Jasprit Bumrah 2/36). MUMBAI | BHUBANESWAR | LUCKNOW | SILIGURI | Monday, 02 March 2026