‘MEDIATION ACT SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO RURAL AREAS’ 04 MAY 2025 ‘CASTE CENSUS FIRST STEP TOWARDS NEW PARADIGM OF DEVELOPMENT’ MUST WIN GAMES FOR KKR, PUNJAB KINGS www.thestatesman.com X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 PAGE 5 PAGE 8 PAGE 12 SINCE 1818 PAGES 12 |` 5.00 |LC KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR WEATHER Partly cloudy sky. Rain / thundershower very likely to occur towards night. RAINFALL: 0.0 mm RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 94% India bans imports from Pakistan Min: 25.8˚C (-0.3) SUN SETS 18:04 hrs MOON SETS 23:59 hrs Full Moon on 12 May THUMBNAILS Mohiniyattam artists perform during the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025, at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai on Saturday. nANI Flight from Chennai undergoes security search in Colombo, no terror suspects found on board: A Sri Lankan Airlines flight from Chennai to Colombo underwent "comprehensive security inspection" upon its arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport on Saturday afternoon after a reported "tip-off" from Indian intelligence authorities that suspects linked to the Pahalgam terror attack were believed to be on board. No suspect was found. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 3 MAY I n fresh steps against Islamabad in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, India has banned the import and transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan and suspended the exchange of all categories of inbound mail and parcels from its intransigent neighbour through air and surface routes. The government has also closed all ports to Pakistani ships. A notification issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said: “Direct or indirect import or transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan, whether or not freely importable or otherwise permitted, shall be prohibited with immediate effect, until further orders.” The notification cited national security and public policy as reasons behind the decision. “This restriction is imposed in the interest of national security and public policy. Any exception to this prohibition shall require prior approval of the Government of India,” it said. The Central Government has inserted a new Para 2.20A in the Foreign Trade Policy, 2023, to enforce the prohibition of import and transit of all goods from Pakistan. In another notification, the Ministry of Communications said the Government of India has decided to suspend the exchange of all categories of inbound mail and parcels from Pakistan through air and surface routes. India on Saturday also barred Pakistan-flagged At least six killed, several injured in Goa temple stampede ships from entering any of its ports. According to a directive from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Pakistan-flagged ships have been banned from entering Indian ports. The directive also prohibited India-flagged vessels from docking at ports in Pakistan. Citing national security concerns, the directive was implemented to "ensure the safety of Indian assets, cargo, and related infrastructure, in public interest and for the interest of Indian shipping". The directive is effective NEW DELHI, 3 MAY PANAJI, 3 MAY At least six people were killed and over two dozen others sustained injuries after a stampede broke out during an annual temple festival in Goa early Saturday morning. According to police, the incident occurred at around 3 a.m. at Shri Lairai Devi temple in Shirgao village, where more than 50,000 people had gathered for the Zatra (Larai). Speaking to media persons, North Goa SP Akshat Kaushal said that while the police are still trying to determine the exact cause of the incident, the stampede might have broken out due to some people spreading rumours. He further informed thataround400policepersonnel were deployed at the temple for the annual festival and that this was the first time such an incident had happened here. The injured are being treated at Goa Medical College and other hospitals in the area, where at least 10 are believed to be in critical condition. Meanwhile, PM Modi has offered his condolences on the loss of lives in the Goa temple stampede. The PM has also spoken to Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to take stock of the situation and offered full support from the Centre. In a social media post on X, CM Sawant said that he visited the hospital to meet the injured and that he is personally monitoring the situation. “Deeply saddenedbythetragicstampede at the Lairai Zatra in Shirgaon this morning. I visited the hospital to meet the injured and have assured all possible support to the affected families. I am personally monitoring the situation to ensure that every necessary measure is being taken,” Mr Sawant said. immediately and will remain in force until further notice. "A ship bearing the flag of Pakistan shall not be allowed to visit any Indian port, and an Indian-flagged ship shall not visit any ports of Pakistan," the order issued by the ministry stated. According to the ministry, the action has been taken in the interest of "safety of Indian assets, cargo, and connected infrastructure", as well as to further the objectives of Indian shipping. Any exemption from the order will be examined and decided on a case-by-case basis. The steps taken today come days after 26 tourists were gunned down by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam. Amid mounting tensions between the two countries, India squarely blamed Pakistan for the deadly terror attack. After the attack, India announced several punitive measures, including the suspension of the Indus water treaty. The Indian government has also vowed to punish the terrorists, their backers, and the planners of the attack. IMD warns of thunderstorms, hailstorms, and lightning across multiple states AGENCIES STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning for severe thunderstorms with cloud-toground lightning activity across multiple states, urging residents to take necessary precautions. The affected states include East Rajasthan, West Madhya Pradesh, East Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Bihar, and Gangetic West Bengal. In a post on X, IMD said: “Severe thunderstorms with dangerous cloud to ground lightning activity happening starting from East Rajasthan to West MP, East MP, Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Bihar, and system approaching towards Gangetic West Bengal. Hailstorms also likely throughout the whole belt. Necessary precausations/ actions are suggested." The IMD has also issued a warning for thunderstorms at isolated places over Assam and Meghalaya, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, South Interior Karnataka and Uttarakhand. “Strong winds (speed reaching 50-60 kmph) accompanied with thunderstorms are likely at isolated places over Assam & Meghalaya, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, South Interior Karnataka and Uttarakhand,” IMD said on X. IMD has also issued a warning for thunderstorms with gusty winds at isolated places over Himachal Pradesh, SubHimalayan West Bengal and Sikkim. “Thunderstorms with gusty winds (speed reaching 40-50 kmph) are likely at isolated places over Himachal Pradesh, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim," IMD said on X. IMD also issued a warning for Hailstorms are likely at isolated places over Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim and Uttarakhand. Pakistan has launched a disinformation campaign: Army AGENCIES JAMMU, 3 MAY The Indian Army said on Saturday that the Pakistani media and their proxy social media handles have launched a disinformation campaign against the country's armed forces officers, rattled by India’s firm resolve to punish the perpetrators of the 22 April Pahalgam terror attack. “In the wake of India’s firm resolve to punish the perpetrators of the 22 April Pahalgam terror attack, several Pakistan-based media outlets and proxy socialmedia handles have launched a coordinated disinformation campaign aimed at discrediting senior Indian Armed Forces officers,” a defence ministry official said. He added that these attempts have been comprehensively debunked by Omar Abdullah meets Modi The Indian government has also closed all ports to Pakistani ships Min. 49% TEMPERATURE Max: 34.2˚C (-1.2) SUN RISES 05:03 hrs MOON RISES 10:03 hrs PM Modi vows decisive action against terrorism amid rising India-Pakistan tensions official records and authoritative fact-checks, once again exposing Islamabad’s habitual resort to fake narratives whenever confronted with the prospect of decisive Indian action. “Pakistani channels and troll networks alleged that Lieutenant General D.S. Rana, Director General of the Defence Intelligence Agency, had been 'sacked' and exiled to the 'Kala Pani penal colony in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands following supposed operational lapses,” he said. The defence official said that far from being dismissed, Lieutenant General Rana has been promoted to the rank of Commander-in-Chief in situ, meaning he is now elevated to a higher rank in the same appointment as DG DIA. He will take over as Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command (CINCAN), a prestigious tri-services command on 1 June 2025. “Pro-Pakistani social media handles insinuated that Lieutenant General M.V. Suchindra Kumar was ‘shunted out’ of Northern Command for security failures linked to the Pahalgam attack. Lieutenant General Suchindra Kumar retired honourably on 30 April 2025 upon superannuation after nearly four decades of distinguished service. The routine change of command had been notified well in advance,” he said. The official added that a network of Pakistan-origi- nated accounts claimed that Vice Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal S.P. Dharkar, was “dismissed” for “refusing to fight a war” against Pakistan. Pakistan missile: Pakistan on Saturday announced that it has conducted a successful training launch of the Abdali Weapon System ~ a surfaceto-surface missile with a range of 450 km, amid heightened tensions with India following the Pahalgam terror attack. “The launch was aimed at ensuring the operational readiness of troops and validating key technical parameters, including the missile’s advanced navigation system and enhanced manoeuvrability features,” the military said in a statement. The army said the missile launch was part of its “Exercise INDUS”. SHAHID K ABBAS NEW DELHI, 3 MAY Amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan following the terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 innocent lives, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday reaffirmed his commitment “to take firm and decisive action against the terrorists and those who support them.” “We are committed to taking firm and decisive action against the terrorists and those who support them,” Mr Modi said in a joint press statement after holding bilateral talks with the visiting Angolan President, João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço. “We are firmly united in our stance against terrorism. I expressed my gratitude to President Lourenço and the people of Angola for their sympathies towards those killed in the Pahalgam terror attack,” the Prime Minister added. “We are unanimous in our belief that terrorism is the biggest threat to humanity...We thank Angola for its support in our fight against cross-border terrorism,” he emphasised. Recalling that India is one of the largest buyers of Angola's oil and gas, the Prime Minister said: “We have decided to expand our energy partnership. I am happy to announce that a defence credit line of $200 million has been approved for the modernization of Angola's forces.” India is the third-largest trading partner of Angola, accounting for about 10 per cent of Angola’s external trade—mainly due to bulk crude oil purchases. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 3 MAY Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday and discussed the situation in the Union Territory in the wake of last week's terror attack in Pahalgam. The meeting at the PM's official residence lasted around 30 minutes, officials said. The meeting assumes significance against the backdrop of the ongoing discussions in New Delhi on India's response to the terror attacks in which at least 26 tourists were gunned down. Mr Abdullah has extended full support to the Centre in the fight against cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan. Australia’s PM Anthony Albanese wins a second three-year term AGENCIES MELBOURNE, 3 MAY Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has become the first Australian prime minister to win a second consecutive three-year term in 21 years. The Australian Electoral Commission’s projections gave Albanese’s ruling center-left Labor Party 70 seats and the conservative opposition coalition 24 seats in the 150-seat House of Rep- resentatives, the lower chamber where parties need a majority to form governments. Unaligned minor parties and independent candidates appeared likely to win 13 seats. (Details on Page 9)