FOLLOW US: @TheStatesmanLtd @thestatesmanltd thestatesman1875 www.thestatesman.com People’s Parliament, Always in Session India’s National Newspaper since 1818 Thieves hit Louvre in brazen heist, steal Napolean-era jewels AGENCIES Pages 12 | ` 5.00 | KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE I and closed nearby streets along the Seine. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez called it a “major robbery,” saying the intruders entered from the outside using a basket lift. He said on France Inter radio that the heist took seven minutes and the thieves used a disc cutter to slice through the panes. French daily Le Parisien reported the thieves entered via the Seine-facing facade and used a freight elevator to reach the gallery. After breaking windows, they reportedly took nine pieces from the jewellery collection of Napoleon and the Empress. | Monday, 20 October 2025 MHA calls Ladakh leaders for fresh talks on 22 October Jammu, 19 October Paris, 19 October In a brazen, seven-minute strike, thieves used a basket lift to reach the Louvre on Sunday morning, forced a window, smashed display cases, and fled with Napolean-era jewels of “inestimable value”. The museum, home to some of the world's most iconic artefacts, including the Mona Lisa, closed for the day as police sealed gates and ushered visitors out. Around 9:30 a.m. several intruders forced open a window, stole jewels from vitrines and escaped on two-wheelers, according to the Interior Ministry. It said forensic work is underway and an inventory of the stolen objects is being compiled, adding that the items have “inestimable” historical value. Video from the scene showed confused tourists being ushered out of the glass pyramid and surrounding courtyards as officers shut the iron gates | n a significant development amid the continuing tension in Ladakh following the 24 September protests, in which four people were killed in police firing, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has extended a fresh invitation to representatives of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) for another round of talks in New Delhi on 22 October. The meeting, to be held in North Block, will be attended by members of a sub-committee representing the Ladakh leadership. The LAB hopes the upcoming talks will bring meaningful progress, unlike previous discussions that failed to produce a concrete outcome. The Ladakh leadership is expected to reiterate its key demands, including the immediate release of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who is detained in Rajasthan under the National Security Act (NSA), as well as statehood and Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh. They are also demanding that a Ladakhi representative be included in the inquiry commission appointed by the MHA to probe the 24 September incident. The preliminary discussions with the sub-committee will be followed by a meeting chaired by Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai, which will also be attended by senior officials of the Home Ministry, including Home Secretary Govind Mohan and Joint Secretary (Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh). LAB Co-chairman Chhering Dorjey confirmed that they had received communication regarding the meeting with the MHA, likely to be held on 22 October. He said the delegation would attend and expressed hope that the talks would be “result-oriented rather than time-consuming.” Earlier, the MHA had called the Ladakh leadership for talks on 6 October. However, both the LAB and KDA boycotted the meeting in protest against the 24 September incident, which left four civilians dead and over 90 injured. The groups are also demanding the release of all those arrested after the violence. According to LAB leaders, an MHA representative from Delhi visited Ladakh yesterday, and after discussions, the date for the talks was finalised. The LAB has also appealed for its legal team to be included in the meeting. “If the upcoming talks yield positive results, the next round of discussions with the High-Powered Committee (HPC) led by Nityanand Rai will follow,” LAB and KDA members said. “There will be a brief gap between the two meetings to allow us to consult with the people of Ladakh.” PM Modi to launch Bihar campaign from icon’s birthplace IMRAN MOJIB Patna, 19 October Prime Minister Narendra Modi will begin his campaign for the Bihar Assembly elections on 24 October from Karpoorigram, where he will pay tribute to Bharat Ratna Jananayak Karpoori Thakur and address his first election rally in Samastipur. The decision to launch PM Modi’s Bihar poll campaign from the birthplace of the socialist icon and two-time chief minister Karpoori Thakur is not only political but also symbolic of an emotional connection. It is seen as Modi’s attempt to give a new direction to the politics of social justice and development in Bihar. Bihar BJP President Dr. Dilip Jaiswal told the media in Patna on Sunday that PM Modi will also address another rally in Begusarai later the same day. The Prime Minister is scheduled to visit Bihar again on 30 October, during which he will address election rallies in Muzaffarpur and Chhapra. A series of further visits to the state are planned. Dr Jaiswal expressed confidence that PM Modi’s rallies will help create a favourable atmosphere for the NDA in Bihar and connect the public with the central government’s schemes, developmental initiatives, and message of good governance. “All eyes in Bihar’s political circles are now on Modi’s visit and his first speech, which is expected to shape the course of the electoral battle in the state,” said Dr Jaiswal. He added that the NDA is focussed on development, the welfare of the poor, and women’s empowerment.