TUESDAY 10 JUNE 2025 www.thestatesman.com Pages 12 |` 5.00|LC X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 SINCE 1818 KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR ASSAM CM CITES 1950 LAW TO DEPORT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS PM RESHAPED INDIAN POLITICAL CULTURE OVER PAST 11 YEARS: NADDA P5 SENSEX 82,445.21 p256.22 WEATHER MAINLY CLEAR SKY. DUST RAISING WINDS (SPEED 20-30KMPH). HEAT WAVE CONDITIONS AT ISOLATED PLACES. THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 44 AND 28 DEGREES CELSIUS RESPECTIVELY. RAINFALL: 000.0 Mm RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 71% Min. 25% TEMPERATURE Max: 43.4°C (+3.4) SUN RISES 05:23 hrs MOON RISES 18:45 hrs Min: 27.6 °C (0.0) SUN SETS 19:19 hrs MOON SETS 04:54 hrs THUMBNAILS People dressed in traditional attire take part in an event to celebrate the 352nd anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's coronation, in Nagpur on Monday. nANI After Mumbai railway mishap, Opposition demands resignation of railway minister: The opposition parties in Maharashtra have lashed out against the BJP-led governments at the centre and Maharashtra after a mishap involving two local trains, whose passengers fell off the trains in Thane district, with Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) leaders demanding the resignation of Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. Opposition parties including the Congress, Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP stated that the incident exposed the lack of safety mechanism of the railway network. P8 NIFTY 25,103.20 p100.15 ` vs $ 85.67 P9 GOLD `98,635 P12 SILVER `1,08,000 BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 66.80 Wife among four accused of chilling Meghalaya murder Police claim to have cracked case in 7 days; Sonam,the victim’s wife, was detained from a dhaba STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE SHILLONG/GHAZIPUR/BHOPAL, 9 JUNE I n a sensational case that has shocked the nation, the Meghalaya Police on Monday claim to have cracked the murder case of Indore resident Raja Raghuvanshi with the arrest of 4 people, including the victim's wife, after seven days of finding his body. Raja, who was on his honeymoon with his wife Sonam in the picturesque hills of Meghalaya, was allegedly murdered in a coldblooded plot allegedly orchestrated by his spouse. The case, initially a missing persons’ mystery, took a sinister turn when Raja’s body was found on June 2 in a gorge near Wei Sawdong Falls, a popular trekking destination near Cherrapunjee. The couple, who had married on May 11, was reported missing on May 24 after their rented scooter was discovered abandoned along the Shillong–Sohra road. Local villagers and guides last saw them a day earlier, on May 23, when they left their homestay in Nongriat accompanied by three unfamiliar men. As part of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe, police scoured the region and recovered Raja’s blood-stained clothes, a raincoat, and a weapon near the site. The mounting evidence indicated foul play and prompted Meghalaya Police to extend their investigation across state lines. What followed was a swift, multi-state operation. Within days, three men allegedly hired to carry out the murder were arrested in Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, Superintendent of Police, East Khasi Hills, Vivek Syiem during a press conference on the Raja & Sonam Raghuvanshi case, in East Khasi Hills on Monday. NANI Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. In a dramatic twist, Sonam Raghuvanshi (photo right) surrendered at a police station in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh. She is believed to have planned the murder and hired the assailants in advance of their honeymoon, making it a meticulously executed conspiracy, according to senior police officials. Director General of Police, Idashisha Nongrang, confirmed the breakthrough, stating that Sonam allegedly lured Raja to a remote trekking path where the hired killers were already waiting. "It was a pre-planned murder disguised as a romantic getaway," Nongrang told reporters. A fourth accused is still absconding, and a manhunt is underway. The crime's chilling nature has stunned Raja’s and Sonam’s families. While Raja’s relatives are demanding justice and full disclosure of the murder motive, Sonam’s father has claimed his daughter was innocent and has been framed. He has called for a CBI inquiry into the case, a demand echoed by members of Raja’s family as well. The case has drawn national attention not just for the brutal betrayal, but also for the Meghalaya Police’s swift and coordinated response. Chief Minister Conrad Sangma praised the force for the timely arrests and professional conduct, calling it “a major breakthrough.” “Within 7 days, a major breakthrough has been achieved by the #meghalayapolice in the Raja murder case … 3 assailants who are from Madhya Pradesh have been arrested, female has surrendered and operation still on to catch 1 more assailant .. well done #meghalayapolice” Sangma tweeted on Monday. In Uttar Pradesh's Ghazipur city, SP Dr Eraz Raja said Sonam is still not in a position to make a statement as she has not slept for a long time. She has been kept PM Modi invites citizens to share views on 11 years of India’s growth journey STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 9 JUNE Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday urged citizens to take part in a survey on the NaMo App and enlighten him about their views on 11 years of India’s growth journey. "Your views matter the most! Take part in this survey on the NaMo App and let us know how you view India’s growth journey over the last 11 years," the Prime Minister appealed on platform X. He also shared a link of the portal where anyone can take part in 'Jan Man Survey' about India’s growth journey over the past 11 years. As Prime Minister Singapore cargo ship catches fire off Kerala coast STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, 9 JUNE A Singapore-flagged container vessel, MV Wan Hai 503, caught fire in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Kozhikode on Monday. The incident was reported when the vessel was approximately 78 nautical miles off Beypore. Reports indicate the vessel was carrying highly flammable cargo. The fire, reportedly triggered by multiple explosions, caused about 20 containers to fall into the sea. The vessel had 22 crew members on board, most of them Taiwanese nationals. Of the 22 people on board, 18 jumped into the sea. They have been rescued by the Navy. Four are reported missing who went for the initial firefighting. Five crew members have suffered injuries, and two have RONALDO LIFTS 2ND UEFA NATIONS LEAGUE TITLE LA PROTESTS INTENSIFY AFTER TRUMP DEPLOYS NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS sustained severe burns. The Indian Coast Guard deployed assets for immediate assessment and assistance. Four ICG ships were diverted to the scene, and Indian Navy assets have also been mobilized The State Disaster Management Authority reported that the vessel caught fire 144 km northwest of Kozhikode. This location is 70 nautical miles from Beypore and 40 nautical miles from Azhikkal. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has directed the Kozhikode and Ernakulam district administrations to prepare for medical support if crew members are brought ashore. The 270-metre-long ship was sailing from Colombo to Mumbai and was expected to reach its destination on June 10. The contents of the containers that fell into the sea are unknown. The reasons behind the fire were yet to be ascertained. The ship is currently out of control, the Navy says. Efforts are currently being made to extinguish the fire on the ship. India has passed on the information to the Singapore shipping authorities. This is the second maritime accident off Kerala in recent weeks. On May 24, the Liberian-flagged MSC ELSA-3 sank 14 nautical miles off the Kochi coast, releasing hundreds of containers , including 13 carrying hazardous materials, into the sea. Narendra Modi completed 11 years in office (20142025), his governance has been characterised by bold initiatives, significant structural reforms, assertive foreign policy, electoral dominance, economic rise, and a new national narrative. Sworn in on May 26, 2014, and now in his third term since June 9, 2024, PM Modi’s governance has touched nearly every sphere— economic, military, diplomatic, legal, and social. Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah on Monday hailed the 11-year tenure of the Modi government as a "golden era" of resolve, dedication, and devotion to public service. under the supervision of women police at the One Stop Centre in Ghazipur. The SP said policemen found her in an unconscious state at Kashi Dhaba while patrolling. During interrogation, she confirmed that she is the same Sonam Raghuvanshi, who had gone missing from Meghalaya. The Kashi dhaba owner, Sahil Yadav, said," The girl came to the dhaba at 1 pm. She was crying and asked my mobile to make a call to her parents. She talked to her parents on my phone, and later, I informed the police. Immediately, the police reached the dhaba and took away the girl. Later, I came to know that she was Sonam Raghuvanshi of Indore." In Madhya Pradesh, according to Indore Additional DCP Rajesh Dandotiya, three accused were arrested from Indore and one from Bina in the central state. They include Raj Kushwaha, Vishal Chouhan, and Akash Rajput from Indore, and Anand from Basari village in Bina. Sources said that Sonam and Raj Kushwaha had an affair, and Sonam allegedly hired Raj and his friends to kill 29-year-old Raja Raghuvanshi. Raj Kushwaha works at the plywood shop of Sonam Raghuvanshi’s father, Devi Singh, in Indore. India’s extreme poverty rate declines from 27.1 pc in 2011-12 to 5.3 pc in 2022-23: World Bank STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 9 JUNE Data from the World Bank shows that India's extreme poverty rate declined from 27.1 per cent in 2011-12 to 5.3 per cent in 2022-23. The development comes as the World Bank has revised upwards its threshold poverty line to $3 per day. India has lifted 171 million people from extreme poverty in the decade between 2011-12 and 2022-23, as per the international financial institution. In contrast, nearly 45 per cent of Pakistan's population lives in poverty, with 16.5 per cent classified as living in extreme poverty, as per the report. The World Bank’s latest projections indicate that Life paralysed in Manipur for second day after protests erupt STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE IMPHAL 9 JUNE Mayhem has broken out in again and life continues to be paralysed for a second day after curfew was declared across the Valley in the wake of widespread protests over the arrest of a leader of a Meitei radical group by the CBI. Trouble broke out two days back when the Central agency arrested Asem Kanan, a former policeman and the "Army Chief" of the Arambai Tenggol along with two others in connection with a case registered by them sometime back. As news of the arrest spread, impromptu crowds gathered in huge numbers across the capital and began blocking roads, burning tyres and putting up barricades. Police lobbed tear gas shells, exploded mock bombs and even opened fire. But inspite of these efforts a bus ferrying BSF personnel was torched at Lamlong Bazar in Imphal East and a few vehicles vandalized in Kwakeithel in Imphal West, even as the Arambai Tenggol called a 10-day bandh. The office of the SubDeputy Collector at Yairipok Tulihal was set on fire, causing partial damage to the office building. The bandh callers have also changed their strategy and have begun dumping truck loads of earth on the roads, blocking passage dor all vehicles. All the markets have closed down while internet services have been shut down indefinitely again, a throw back to the Biren Singh regime where internet services were cut for at least a year. Manipur is back to the Mayhem days again and the President's Rule administration appears to be clueless as to how to handle the situation. As RBI slashes rates, public sector banks lead in loan rate reductions STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 9 JUNE Public sector banks became the first to act on the RBI’s policy signal by promptly cutting their Repo Linked Lending Rates (RLLR). Bank of Baroda lowered its RLLR from 8.65% to 8.15%, effective June 7. Punjab National Bank and Bank of India both reduced their RLLRs from 8.85% to 8.35%, with PNB's rate cut effective June 9 and Bank of India’s from June 6. Indian Bank cut its RLLR from 8.70% to 8.20%, while UCO Bank reduced its RLLR from 8.80% to 8.30%, both effective June 6 and June 9 respectively. Canara Bank also revised its repolinked lending rate to 7.75%. In addition, UCO Bank announced a 10-basis point reduction across all tenors of its Marginal Cost of Funds-based Lending Rate (MCLR), offering relief to corporate and SME borrowers. In contrast, private sector banks have taken a more measured approach. While they welcomed the rate cut, several of them noted the need to assess the impact on deposits and liquidity before implementing widespread reductions. However, some banks initiated partial rate transmission through adjustments in MCLR. HDFC Bank reduced its MCLR by 10 basis points, with new rates ranging between 8.90 and 9.05% for tenors up to one year, effective June 7. Karur Vysya Bank also revised its MCLR, bringing down the 6-month tenor from 9.20% to 9.10%, and the 1-year tenor from 9.40% to 9.20%, both changes effective June 8. For retail borrowers, particularly home loan customers linked to the repo rate, the 50-bps rate cut is expected to offer meaningful EMI relief. For instance, a 20-year home loan of Rs 50 lakh could see a monthly saving of Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000. Corporate borrowers and MSMEs stand to benefit from reduced working capital costs as banks increasingly shift large-ticket loans to external benchmark-linked rates, ensuring faster transmission of RBI policy changes. Pakistan’s poverty rate remains at 42.4 per cent, with an estimated 1.9 million additional people expected to fall into poverty in 202425, “virtually unchanged from last year.” The country’s 2.6 per cent economic growth is also deemed “insufficient to reduce poverty.” “With population growing at nearly 2 per cent annually, this translates to 1.9 million additional people falling into poverty this year," the report said. World Bank's report also mentioned that the agriculture sector faces significant challenges in Pakistan as in 2025, weather conditions deteriorated with a 40 per cent reduction in rainfall, alongside pest attacks and shifting production choices. Indian astronaut Shubhanshu to lift off to ISS on 11 June MUSKAN BHATIA NEW DELHI, 9 JUNE Marking India’s quiet return to human spaceflight after four decades, Axiom-4 (Ax4) will lift off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on June 11, carrying not just cutting-edge science but also an Indian Air Force officer. The launch, which was planned for Tuesday, was later postponed due to bad weather. "Launch of Axiom-4 mission to International Space Station: Due to weather conditions, the launch of Axiom4 mission for sending Indian Gaganyatri to International Space Station is postponed from 10th June 2025 to 11th June 2025. The targeted time of launch is 5:30 PM IST on 11th June 2025 Dr. V. Narayanan, Chairman ISRO/ Secretary DOS / Chairman Space Commission," ISRO said on its X handle. Group Captain Shubanshu Shukla, a serving pilot with the Indian Air Force, will take the controls as pilot of this mission—the first human spaceflight to the International Space Station (ISS) by Axiom Space, a US-based private space company, selected by NASA for the mission. He will fly alongside a fourmember crew aboard the Dragon spacecraft, developed by SpaceX, the aerospace company founded by Elon Musk. The mission will be commanded by veteran NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, with mission specialists Slawosz Uznanski from Poland, and Tibor Kapu from Hungary, completing the crew. The spacecraft will be launched atop a Falcon 9 rocket, developed by SpaceX.