SATURDAY 03 MAY 2025 www.thestatesman.com Pages 12 |` 5.00| LC X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 SINCE 1818 KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR P7 SENSEX 80,501.99 p259.75 WEATHER GENERALLY CLOUDY SKY. VERY LIGHT TO LIGHT RAIN. THUNDERSTORM/ LIGHTNING ACCOMPANIED WITH STRONG SURFACE WINDS SPEED 20-30 KMPH GUSTING TO 40 KMPH. THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 34 AND 21 DEGREE CELSIUS RESPECTIVELY. RAINFALL: 000.8MM RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 100 % TEMPERATURE P10 NIFTY 24,346.70 p12.50 Min: 18.5 °C (+6.2) SUN SETS 18:58 hrs MOON SETS 00:58 hrs THUMBNAILS Devotees gather at Kedarnath Dham following the opening of the portals, in Rudraprayag on Friday. nANI US approves over $131 million military sale to boost India's maritime security: The United States government has approved a potential $131 million foreign military sale to India aimed at enhancing maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region. The Government of India had requested to buy SeaVision software (including requested software enhancements); Technical Assistance Field Team (TAFT) training; remote software and analytic support; access to SeaVision documentation; and other related elements of logistics and programme support. The estimated total cost is $131 million. ` vs $ 84.37 GOLD `96,890 P12 SILVER `98,000 Shares stage with Kerala CM Vijayan, Congress MP Tharoor, says 'many will lose sleep' STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE P rime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday took a jibe at the opposition INDIA bloc during the inauguration of the Vizhinjam International Seaport in Kerala, stating that “many will lose sleep tonight” as he shared the stage with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor. “I want to tell the Chief Minister—you are a strong pillar of the INDIA alliance. Shashi Tharoor is also sitting here, and today’s event will give sleepless nights to several people,” PM Modi remarked, pointing to the unusual optics of opposition leaders sharing the stage with him. However, the person translating his speech into Malayalam omitted this portion. Noticing this, the Prime Minister quipped: “Message chala gaya jahan jana tha” (“The message has reached where it was meant to”). Notably, Mr Tharoor was present at the Thiruvananthapuram airport on Thursday evening to receive PM Modi, a gesture that has sparked political speculation. On Thursday, Mr Tharoor also shared photographs of his meeting with PARMOD KUMAR NEW DELHI, 2 MAY PM Modi. “Despite delays at the dysfunctional Delhi airport, I managed to land in Thiruvananthapuram in time to receive Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his arrival in my constituency,” Mr Tharoor posted, sharing images of a warm handshake between the two. There has been ongoing speculation about Mr Tharoor’s growing proximity to the BJP. Unlike many other opposition leaders, Mr Tharoor has openly praised PM Modi on multiple occasions. Earlier this year, when former US President Donald Trump described Mr Modi as a “tough and better negotiator,” Mr Tharoor welcomed the comment, saying, “That sounds very good.” On Friday, the Prime Minister formally dedicated the Vizhinjam International Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport, built at an estimated cost of 8,867 crore, to the nation. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Governor Rajendra Arlekar, Union Ministers Suresh Gopi and George Kurien, State Ports Minister VN Vasavan, MP Shashi Tharoor, Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani, and others attended the event. Developed by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ), Vizhinjam is India’s first deep-water container transshipment port. Designed to enhance India's standing in global maritime trade, the port is being developed under a PublicPrivate Partnership (PPP) model on a Design, Build, Finance, Operate, and Trans- we dispose of the same without expressing anything on merits, with a direction to the authorities to verify these documents and any other fact that may be brought to their notice. Let a decision be taken at the earliest. We are not setting a timeline,” the bench said in its order. The court clarified that till such a decision is taken, no coercive action, including deportation, shall be taken against the petitioners. It further observed that if the authorities ultimately decide against the petitioners, they would be at liberty to approach the Jammu and Kashmir High Court for redressal. “If the petitioner is dissatisfied with the final decision, a plea may be made before the Jammu and Kashmir High Court,” the bench said, while also emphasising that the present order should not be treated as a precedent, as it has been passed in the peculiar facts and circumstances of the case. Appearing for the petitioner family faced with the prospects of deportation, advocate Nanda Kishore told the bench that the family comprised a married couple and their four children, all Indian nationals with valid identity documents issued by the Indian government. Advocate Nanda Kishore further stated that while one family member had roots in Pakistan, he had long ago surrendered his Pakistani passport and had since acquired Indian identification documents, including a valid Indian passport. Focusing on the human dimension of the matter, advocate Kishore informed the bench that one of the petitioners was working in Bangalore while the rest resided in Srinagar. In the course of the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the central government, told the bench that it would be more appropriate for the petitioner to approach the government authorities concerned for redressal of their grievance. fer (DBFOT) basis. With a handling capacity of up to 5 million TEUs annually, the port has already seen around 250 container ships dock since it began trial operations in July 2024. PM Modi seized the moment to spotlight the Kerala government’s cooperation with the private sector. Referring to the Ports Minister’s speech acknowledging Adani as a partner, Mr Modi said: “This shows a change.” He humorously added, “Adani completed Vizhinjam Port quickly. Adani's port has been operating in Gujarat for 30 years. People from Gujarat will be upset if they learn Adani built a bigger port in Vizhinjam,” eliciting laughter. Highlighting India’s aspirations in maritime development, Mr Modi said Vizhinjam would bring new economic stability to Kerala and the nation. “This port has emerged as a symbol of new-age development,” he said, noting that 75 per cent of India’s transshipment used to take place at foreign ports, causing massive revenue loss. “This is now set to change. India’s money will now serve India, and the funds that once flowed abroad will generate opportunities for Kerala and the people of Vizhinjam,” he said. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 2 MAY Backing India’s stance over the Pahalgam terrorist attack, US Vice President J D Vance has expressed the hope that Pakistan will cooperate with India to ensure that terrorists operating in the neighbouring country are hunted down. “We hope that India responds to this terrorist attack in a way that doesn’t lead to a broader regional conflict. And we hope frankly that Pakistan, to the extent that they are responsible, cooperates with India to make sure that the terrorists, sometimes operating in their territory, are hunted down and dealt with,” he said. Mr Vance said the USA is in touch with both Pakistan and India, and expressed the hope that New Delhi’s response to the 22 April terrorist attack does not lead to a broader regional conflict. Asked by Fox News if the Trump administration is worried about the breakout of tensions between India and Pakistan, he said: “Sure, I am worried about anytime you see a hotspot breaking out, especially between two nuclear powers. We’ve been in close contact with our friends in India and Pakistan.'' His statement came after US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth spoke with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday and reiterated full support of the Trump administration in India’s fight against terrorism. “The US stands in solidarity with India and supports India’s right to defend itself,” a Defence Ministry statement quoted him as saying. During the conversation, Mr Singh told Mr Pete Hegseth that Pakistan has a history of supporting, training, and funding terrorist organisations. “Pakistan has been exposed as a rogue state, fuelling global terrorism and destabilising the region. The world can no longer turn a blind eye to terrorism,” he said. Nepalese student found dead in Odisha’s KIIT STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE BHUBANESWAR, 2 MAY A first-year undergraduate student from Nepal, Prisa Sah, was found dead in her hostel room at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Bhubaneswar on Thursday in what appears to be a case of suicide. This marks the second such incident involving a Nepali female student at KIIT in less than three months. A similar tragedy in February had sparked campus-wide protests, leading to students vacating hostels and prompting a government-ordered investigation. However, no such unrest was reported following Thursday's incident. According to the state government, local police were informed of the incident around 8 p.m. Prisa, a first year computer science student, was found hanging from a ceiling fan in her room after she was absent during the 7 p.m. attendance check. Commissioner of Police S. Devdutt Singh confirmed that she was alone in the room at the time. No suicide note has been recovered so far, and an investigation is currently underway. Authorities have notified the Nepal Embassy. The postmortem examination will be conducted at AIIMS Bhubaneswar after the arrival of her parents, said the Commissioner of Police. In a statement, KIIT authorities said they were deeply saddened and distressed by the incident of suicide. Hostel authorities got to know about it on Thursday and immedi- ately informed the police, in whose presence the body was removed from her room. It Was taken to KIMS Hospital where she was declared brought dead. Subsequently the body was taken to AIIMS Bhubaneswar. The University authorities have informed the student's family and are extending full cooperation to the police in their investigation, stated a release issued by KIIT on Friday. Expressing her sorrow, Nepal’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Arzu Rana Deuba, wrote on social media platform X: “We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of Prisa Sah, a Nepali student at KIIT University in Odisha. I offer my heartfelt condolences to her family during this difficult time and pray for the eternal peace of her soul.” Gang rape: Rape by one can implicate all involved, rules SC PARMOD KUMAR NEW DELHI, 2 MAY Upholding the conviction of an accused in a 2004 case of gangrape, abduction, and wrongful confinement in Madhya Pradesh, the Supreme Court held that an act of rape even by one person can implicate all in the gang if they acted with a common intention of committing the crime. Referring to the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 1983 (Explanation 1 to 376(2)(g)), a bench of Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice K V Viswanathan, in a judgment delivered on Thursday, 1 May, said it was not necessary that the prosecution should adduce clinching proof of complete act of rape by each one of the accused on the victim or on each one of the victims, where there are more than one. BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 63.11 PM opens Vizhinjam port, Vance hopes Pakistan will cooperate with India in takes jibe at INDIA bloc hunting down terrorists Pahalgam aftermath: SC protects Srinagar family facing deportation to Pakistan The Supreme Court on Friday by an interim order protected a Srinagar-based family facing the prospects of deportation to Pakistan, directing the authorities not to take any coercive action against them until verification of their claim of being Indian citizens is completed. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh directed that the authorities concerned verify the documents furnished by the family, including Aadhaar cards, voter ID, PAN cards, and other government-issued documents, and take an appropriate decision at the earliest. “Besides the human element, there are issues which need to be verified... Since factual pleas need verification, RCB EYE SEASON DOUBLE OVER CSK P9 THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, 2 MAY Min. 49 % Max: 29.1 °C (-10.2) SUN RISES 05:38 hrs MOON RISES 10:34 hrs AFTER MIKE WALTZ’S DEPARTURE, MARCO RUBIO TAKES ON TWO KEY ROLES POONAM GUPTA TAKES CHARGE AS RBI DEPUTY GOVERNOR ‘TERRORISTS HAVE A SHELF LIFE’ Speaking for the bench, Justice Viswanathan said: “It is very clear that in a case of gangrape under Section 376(2)(g), an act by one is enough to render all in the gang for punishment as long as they have acted in furtherance of the common intention. Further, common intention is implicit in the charge of Section 376(2)(g) itself and all that is needed is evidence to show the existence of common intention.” Rejecting the argument that the prosecutrix was in a relationship with the coaccused, Jalandhar Kol, and the implication that there was consent by her, the judgment referring to earlier decisions of the top court said, “… in view of Section 114A of the Evidence Act, there is a presumption as to absence of consent in case of gang Referring to the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 1983 (Explanation 1 to 376(2)(g)), a bench of Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice K V Viswanathan, in a judgment delivered on Thursday, 1 May, said it was not necessary that the prosecution should adduce clinching proof of complete act of rape by each one of the accused on the victim or on each one of the victims, where there are more than one. rape and it will be presumed that the prosecutrix did not give consent as long as the prosecutrix states in evidence before the Court that she did not consent.” The judgment further said that the presumption (of absence of consent) is based on the reasoning that nobody can be consenting to several persons simultaneously and in this case, there is nothing concrete adduced to rebut the presumption of the absence of consent. Referring to Section 114A of the Evidence Act, the court said once a woman states in evidence that she did not consent, the law mandates a presumption against consent. Upholding the conviction of the accused Raju alias Umakant and the co-accused Jalandhar Kol for the crime of gangrape under the provisions of Indian Penal Code (IPC), the court found that the concurrent finding both of the trial court and the high court on the Scheduled Caste dimension of the crime was not sustainable. The judgment said: “There is no evidence whatsoever to establish the fact that the victim’s caste identity was one of the grounds for the occurrence of the offence. In the absence of any evidence attracting the offence of Section 3(2)(v) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, we are constrained to record an acquittal for the appellant from the charge of Section 3(2)(v) of the 1989 Act.” Upholding the conviction of the appellant – Raju alias Umakant – the top court partially allowed the appeal by him. While maintaining the conviction of Umakant under Sections 366, 342 and 376(2)(g) of the IPC, the court set aside his conviction under Section 3(2)(v) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. However, to bring the sentence of Umakant on par with that imposed on Jalandhar Kol, the top court modified the sentence of life imprisonment imposed on the Raju Umakant to that of rigorous imprisonment for 10 years and fine of Rs.2,000 with default sentence of rigorous imprisonment of one year in case of non-payment of fine. US State Dept reiterates support, says stands firmly with India STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 2 MAY The USA has reiterated its support for India against terrorism, saying it firmly stands with India against terrorism. The US government, however, urged India and Pakistan to work together to "de-escalate tensions" that have been on a surge in the aftermath of the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 26 innocent civilians. "As the President (Donald Trump) articulated to Prime Minister Modi last week, the United States stands strong with India against terrorism and Prime Minister Modi has our full support," US Department of State spokesperson Tammy Bruce said at a press briefing on Friday. “The Secretary (of State, Marco Rubio) encouraged (both India and Pakistan) to work toward a responsible solution that maintains long-term – I should say – let me correct that – a responsible resolution that maintains long-term peace and regional stability in South Asia,” Ms Bruce said. Indian nationals sentenced to death in Indonesia: Delhi HC directs Consulate, MEA to intervene AGENCIES NEW DELHI, 2 MAY While addressing a plea concerning the death penalty handed down by an Indonesian court to three Indian nationals, the Delhi High Court on Friday directed the Indian Consulate in Indonesia to take necessary measures to ensure that the convicted individuals receive proper legal representation and appropriate assistance in pursuing appellate remedies. Additionally, the Consulate has been instructed to facilitate communication between the convicted individuals and their families in India. Advocate Ashish Dixit, Standing Counsel for the Central Government and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), accepted the notice on behalf of the respondents and requested time to obtain instructions in the matter. Justice Sachin Datta, presiding over the case, scheduled the next hearing for May 6, 2025, and directed the MEA to engage with the Indonesian government diplomatically to protect the rights of the Indian nationals under applicable international conventions or bilateral agreements, if any. The case involves a petition filed by the spouses of three Indian nationals--Raju Muthukumaran, Selvadurai Dinakaran, and Govindasamy Vimalkandhan--who were sentenced to death by an Indonesian court for narcotics-related offences. According to the plea, the three men were employed at a shipyard when they were detained by the Indonesian Narcotics Department for possession of narcotics.