SATURDAY 10 MAY 2025 www.thestatesman.com X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 INDIA’S NATIONAL NEWSPAPER SINCE 1818 Pages 16 |` 5.00| LC KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR POWER AND POSTURE ‘HINDUTVA HAS BECOME A RELIGIOUS IDEA’ P9 SENSEX 79,454.47q880.34 WEATHER Hot and humid condition very likely. Maximum and Minimum Temperature most likely to be around 38˚C and 29˚C respectively. RAINFALL: 0.0 mm RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 91% P6 ` vs $ 85.41 P16 SILVER 96,010 GOLD 102,564.60 BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 63.41p0.57 PM Modi takes stock of Op Sindoor, Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah review situation ‘300-400 drones used in Pak intrusion bid’ MEA briefing: India accuses Pakistan of using civilian airliners as shields STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Min. 47% PARWINDER SANDHU TEMPERATURE Max: 37.4˚C (+1.7) SUN RISES 04:58 hrs MOON RISES 16:14 hrs P8 NIFTY 24,008.00q265.80 NEERAJ, OTHER STARS PRAISE INDIAN FORCES KARNATAKA GOVT TAKES ON WATER MAFIA Min: 28.9˚C (+2.1) SUN SETS 18:07 hrs MOON SETS 03:47 hrs Full Moon on 12 May THUMBNAILS West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday paid tributes to Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore on his 164th birth (Page 3) anniversary n BISWAJIT GHOSHAL Air defences engage drones at multiple locations NEW DELHI, 9 MAY R attled by the strikes carried out by the Indian armed forces under Operation Sindoor, the Pakistan military launched 300-400 drones and missiles on Thursday night in a bid to test India’s air defence systems and gather intelligence, the government said on Friday. India also accused Pakistan of using civilian flights as a shield against retaliation by not closing its civil airspace after launching an unsuccessful drone and missile attack on Thursday evening. IAF Wing Commander Vyomika Singh told the media at a briefing organised by the Ministry of External Affairs that the Pakistan military carried out multiple violations of Indian air space along the entire western border on the intervening night of 9-10 May with an intent to target military infrastructure. “Along the International Border and Line of Control, drone intrusions, with NEW DELHI, 9 MAY NEW DELHI, 9 MAY People move to safer places after shelling by Pakistan near the Line of Control (LOC), in Uri on Friday. n ANI approximately 300-400 drones, were attempted from Leh to Sir Creek at 36 locations,” she said. Adding that the Indian armed forces brought down a number of these drones with kinetic and non-kinetic means (jamming), the officer stated that the possible purpose of this large-scale aerial intrusion was to test the AD systems and gather intelligence. She said that an examination of the debris suggests that they are Turkish Asisguard Songar drones, a low-altitude, quadrotor, unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UAV). Attempts were also made by the Pakistan army to target the Bathinda Military station in Punjab, she said. “In the night an armed UAV of Pakistan attempted to target Bathinda military station which was detected and neutralised,” Wing Commander Singh said. In response, India launched a series of armed drones targeting four air defence sites in Pakistan, resulting in the destruction of one air defence radar, the officer said. (Turn to Page 5) Amid escalating tensions with Pakistan, drones were spotted at 26 locations ranging from Baramulla in the north to Bhuj in the south, along both the International Border and the Line of Control (LoC), defence sources said on Friday. The drones are suspected to be armed and pose potential threats to both civilian and military targets. Drones were spotted at Baramulla, Srinagar, Avantipora, Nagrota, Jammu, Ferozpur, Pathankot, Fazilka, Lalgarh Jatta, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Bhuj, Kuarbet, and Lakhi Nala. Several of these places are observing blackouts as a precaution. An armed drone targeted a civilian area in Punjab's Ferozpur, injuring members of a family. All aerial threats are being tracked and engaged using counter-drone systems, sources said. SNS Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, NSA Ajit Doval, CDS General Anil Chauhan and the three service chiefs against the backdrop of the ongoing ‘Operation Sindoor’. Apart from discussing the future course, PM Modi is believed to have discussed the continuous violation of the ceasefire by Pakistan in the sectors along the Line of Control and the border. The PM’s engagement with military commanders and strategists also involved an extensive interaction with veterans. Those who took part in the discussions included former Air Force Chiefs, Army Chiefs, and Navy Chiefs, sources said. Earlier, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a meeting with the defence top brass to review the situation in wake of the escalations from Pakistan. The meeting was attended by CDS General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Army Staff General Dwivedi, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, and Defence Secretary RK Singh, at South Block here today. Union Home Minister Amit Shah aksi took stock of the security situation along the borders with Pakistan at a meeting with India measured in actions against Pak: Jaishankar STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 9 MAY heads of key internal security and counterintelligence agencies, including Director Generals of Police of border states and the Border Security Force and the Director of the Intelligence Bureau. It is learnt that Mr Shah has instructed the officers to remain alert with operational preparedness to ensure all sorts of safety measures for inhabitants of border areas and also to give a befitting response to any attack on India and its people. Seven Pakistani infiltrators killed by BSF in Samba sector STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE India opposes IMF lifeline for Pak, highlights terror financing risks Amid tensions with Pak, govt activates 14 TA battalions STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE AGENCIES NEW DELHI, 9 MAY NEW DELHI, 9 MAY As India’s Operation Sindoor entered its third day today, the government of India authorised the Chief of Army Staff to call out every officer and every enrolled person of the Territorial Army for active duty. The orders were passed under a notification dated 6 May 2025, issued in accordance with Rule 33 of the Territorial Army Rules, 1948. The directive issued by the Ministry of Defence approves the embodiment of 14 out of the existing 32 Infantry Battalions of the TA for deployment in the areas of Southern Command, Eastern Command, Western Command, Central Command, Northern Command, South Western Command, Andaman and Nicobar Command and Army Training Command (ARTRAC). The directive said the order shall remain in force for three years with effect from 10 Feb 2025 to 9 Feb 2028. “The embodiment shall be ordered provided the funds are available in the budget or have been made available by re-appropriation of the internal savings in the budget. For units embodied at the behest of Ministries other than Ministry of Defence, the cost will be debited to the respective Ministries and will not be included in the budget allocation of the Ministry of Defence,” read the circular. India strongly opposed further financial assistance from the IMF to Pakistan at the executive board meeting held on Friday, expressing serious concerns over Islamabad’s track record and the fact that the bailouts were enabling the cashstrapped country to sponsor cross-border terrorism. India abstained from voting on extending a fresh $1.3 billion IMF loan to Pakistan under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) lending programme at the meeting. “While the concern that fungible inflows from international financial institutions, like IMF, could be misused for military and state sponsored cross border terrorist purposes ‘Let’s not bring down their morale in prevailing situation’: SC to Centre on women Army officers resonated with several member countries, the IMF response is circumscribed by procedural and technical formalities. This is a serious gap highlighting the urgent need to ensure that moral values are given appropriate consideration in the procedures followed by global financial institutions,” India’s representative Parameswaran Iyer said at the meeting. He highlighted that Pakistan has been a prolonged borrower from the IMF, with a very poor track record of implementation and adherence to the IMF's programme conditions. Last September, the Executive Board of the IMF approved a 37-month Extended Arrangement under the EFF for Pakistan in the amount of SDR 5,320 million (or around $7 billion). While there was an immediate disbursement of $1 billion, the meeting on Friday was called to review the funding programme for Pakistan. The IMF on Friday approved the immediate disbursement of about $1 billion to Pakistan under the ongoing Extended Fund Faci li ty, according to the Pakistan PMO, despite India’s conveying its strong dissent. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday had telephonic conversations with his counterparts from some nations during which he said India has been measured in its actions against Pakistan but made it clear that any escalation will get a firm response. He spoke to United Kingdom Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Foreign Minister of Italy Antonio Tajani and EU Vice President Kaja Kallas, among others. In a social media post on 'X' after talks with his UK counterpart, Mr Jaishankar said: “Had a phone call with UK Foreign Secretary @DavidLammy this afternoon. Our discussions centered around countering terrorism, for which there must be zero tolerance.” After talking to the Italian minister, he wrote: ''Had a telecon with DPM & FM @Antonio_Tajani of Italy. Discussed India’s JAMMU, 9 MAY targeted and measured response to firmly counter terrorism. Any escalation will see a strong response.” In another tweet, he wrote: “Discussed ongoing developments with EU HRVP @kajakallas.India has been measured in its actions. However, any escalation will get a firm response.'' Late last night, Mr Jaishankar had a conversation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio during which the ongoing India-Pakistan confrontation figured prominently. “Deeply appreciate US commitment to work with India in the fight against terrorism. Underlined India’s targeted and measured response to cross-border terrorism,” he wrote on 'X' later. Indian Oil, BPCL assure sufficient fuel supply IPL 2025 suspended for a week due to ongoing cross-border tensions NEW DELHI/MUMBAI, 9 MAY TRIDIB BAPARNASH NEW DELHI, 9 MAY PARMOD KUMAR NEW DELHI, 9 MAY The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Central government not to release from service 69 women officers of the Indian Army’s Short Service Commission (SSC), who have approached the top court challenging the denial of permanent commission to them. Posting the matter for hearing in August and asking the government not to release the women Army officers till then, a bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh told the government not to lower the morale of women officers “in the prevailing situation”. “In the prevailing situation, let’s not bring their morale down. They are brilliant officers; you can use their services somewhere else. This is not the time they be asked to roam around in the Supreme Court. They have a better place to be and serve the country,” Justice Kant observed. The court made the oral observation after Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Ministry of Defence, argued that the decision not to grant permanent commission to 69 women SSC officers was administrative in nature and rooted in the Army’s longstanding policy to maintain a young profile. She told the bench that only 250 officers are granted permanent commission every year across the three services. Senior Advocate Menaka Guruswamy, representing petitioner Colonel Geeta Sharma, invoked the case of Colonel Sofiya Qureshi (photo) ~ who earlier had to approach the Supreme Court for similar relief ~ and who has regularly been addressing the media alongside Wing Commander Vyomika Singh in the presence of Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Operation Sindoor. The bench declined to go into the merits of the policy at this stage and issued no formal stay, but asked the government not to precipitate matters by releasing the women officers before the next date of hearing. “In such times, we need our best minds and disciplined officers to be focused on the job, not litigation,” the bench said. The officers before the top court are among those who were denied permanent commission in the wake of the implementation of the 17 February 2020 judgment, where the court had held that women SSC officers are entitled to permanent commission at par with their male counterparts. At least seven heavily armed terrorists were gunned down on Friday on the border in Jammu region as the BSF foiled an infiltration bid from Pakistan.These terrorists were trying to infiltrate through the International Border in Samba district. Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh, who represents the area in Parliament, said: "Major infiltration bid has been foiled by BSF on 8-9 May 2025, at the International Border (IB) in Samba district.” The BSF said at around 2300 hours (11 p.m.) on 8 May, its forces foiled a major infiltration bid at the International Boundary in Samba district, J&K. “This infiltration bid was supported by fire from Pakistan Rangers post Dhandhar. Alert troops of BSF, neutralised the infiltration bid, killing at least seven terrorists and caused extensive damage to the Pak Post Dhandhar,” a BSF officer said. Amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan, state-run oil marketing companies Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) on Friday issued public statements, assuring citizens that the country has sufficient stocks of petrol, diesel and LPG. They urged people not to indulge in panic buying, emphasising that supply chains remain fully functional across India. Indian Oil, the country’s largest fuel retailer, took to social media to reassure the public that there is no disruption in fuel availability. BPCL also confirmed that its fuel stations and LPG distributorships across the nation are operating without interruption. “There is no cause for concern or panic buying. Our supply chain operations remain robust and efficient, ensuring uninterrupted supplies,” it said. AGENCIES In an unprecedented move, the BCCI has decided to temporarily suspend the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) for one week in the wake of the cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan. “The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to suspend the remainder of the ongoing TATA IPL 2025 with immediate effect for one week,” a BCCI statement said. It is understood that the Indian cricket board opted for a wait-and-watch policy regarding the IPL's continuity, and discussed several options, including a possible change of venues, before arriving at the decision. “Further updates regarding the new schedule and venues of the tournament will be announced in due course after a comprehensive assessment of the situation in consultation with relevant authorities and stakeholders,” the People leave after the IPL match between Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings in Dharamsala was called off on Thursday after Pakistan launched missiles and drones into India. n ANI statement read. Expressing solidarity with India’s armed forces, the BCCI said that the decision was taken after discussions with all stakeholders of the IPL, including the broadcasters and sponsors following representations from most of the franchisees, who conveyed the concern and sentiments of their players. “At this critical juncture, the BCCI stands firmly with the nation. We express our solidarity with the Government of India, the Armed Forces, and the people of our country. The Board salutes the bravery, courage, and selfless service of our armed forces, whose heroic efforts under Operation Sindoor continue to protect and inspire the nation, as they lead a resolute response to the recent terrorist attack and the unwarranted aggression by Pak- istan’s armed forces,” the cricket board said. The development comes close on the heels of the cancellation of Thursday's (8 May’s) match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals in Dharamsala and amid growing anxiety among overseas players. The Punjab side was 122 for 1 in 10.1 overs when the lights went out in the quaint hill town, attributed to floodlight failure at first. The game had started later than scheduled due to rain before the city went dark for some time. The teams and the assembled fans were eventually evacuated from the stadium for their security. The IPL 2025 is currently 58 games old, including the abandonment in Dharamsala. There are 12 games left to play in the group stage, scheduled for Lucknow (2), Hyderabad, Ahmedabad (3), Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru (2), Mumbai, Jaipur, followed by the playoffs, to be played in Hyderabad and Kolkata.