FOLLOW US: @TheStatesmanLtd @thestatesmanltd thestatesman1875 www.thestatesman.com People’s Parliament, Always in Session India’s National Newspaper since 1818 | Pages 12 | ` 5.00 | KOLKATA LC | NEW DELHI NORTH-EAST EDITORIAL Silencing Civics Testing times for Manipur’s new Chief Minister Page 11 Page 6 Khamenei killed in US strikes: Iran vows revenge, hits back UNITED NEWS OF INDIA PM Modi chairs CCS meeting Tehran/New Delhi, 1 March I ran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a coordinated US-Israeli military strike on Tehran early Sunday, Iranian state media confirmed. Iranian state media said Ali Khamenei was killed in strikes that targeted areas in northern Tehran, including locations near his compound and offices. Multiple missiles hit areas close to the presidential palace in Shemiran and near the Supreme Leader’s residence. Earlier, US President Donald Trump, while announcing Khamenei’s death on his social media platform, said: “Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead. This is not only Justice for the people of Iran, but for all Great Americans…” Mr Trump also said ‘’other leaders’’ had been killed along with him. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian vowed retaliation for the killing, as Iran launched a new wave of missile and drone strikes on Sunday targeting US military bases in the region and Israel. Twenty-seven US bases in the region, as well as Israel's military headquarters and a Defence industries complex in Tel Aviv, were among the targets, Iranian state TV said. Israeli authorities said eight people were killed and 28 wounded in an Iranian missile strike in the central town of Beit Shemesh. The US military has confirmed that three service members have been killed and five seriously wounded in the Iran operations. On Sunday, blasts in Tehran sent a huge plume of smoke into the sky in an area of government buildings, as Israel launched a new wave of strikes. Iranian authorities say more than 200 people have been killed since the start of the US and Israeli strikes. The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps said that it had targeted US aircraft carrier New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) upon his return to the national capital on Sunday night, in what is seen as a response to the latest developments in West Asia, including US-Israel strikes on Iranian targets and subsequent retaliatory actions. The meeting is believed to have reviewed the implications for India's strategic interests, including the safety of Indian nationals in the region, energy security, maritime routes, and diplomatic positioning. USS Abraham Lincoln with four ballistic missiles on Sunday, but the US Central Command said the vessel wasn’t hit. • More reports on Page 9 CM Mamata Banerjee demands Amit Shah’s resignation over ‘manipulated’ voter list STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Kolkata, 1 March Trinamul Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee on Sunday demanded the resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, alleging manipulation in the publication of the voter list following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. She announced that all party workers, except those engaged in SIR-related duties, would organise protest rallies across every block in the state. Criticising the Election Commission of India (ECI), Miss Banerjee said: “You have taken so much time to conduct the SIR, and now the list has been published in just two days. The ECI has used Artificial Intelligence to delete names. This is wrong and will not be tolerated.” The first list, published yesterday, reportedly showed names of voters deleted without explanation. Miss Banerjee said the TMC would launch a statewide movement from tomorrow. Miss Banerjee had earlier personally appeared before the Supreme Court, where she alleged that the ECI was manipulating the voter list. She reiterated her claim that the Commission was working “hand in glove” with the BJP to defeat Trinamul Congress in the forthcoming election. Party national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee clarified that Trinamul was not opposed to the SIR itself, but to the haste with which it was conducted, alleging deliberate bias to benefit the BJP. The party has resolved to approach the Supreme Court again against what it terms the arbitrary publication of the list. Miss Banerjee states that her movement seeks to uphold the rights of the people and pledged to pursue it to the highest extent possible. • Mamata dharna on Friday: Page 3 Samson’s Eden masterclass carries India through to T20 World Cup semifinals TRIDIB BAPARNASH Kolkata, 1 March With a semifinal spot on the line, and tasked with chasing a mammoth 196 during India’s T20 World Cup virtual knock-out clash against the West Indies at Eden Gardens, wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson on Sunday answered his critics with a match-winning unbeaten 50-ball 97, guiding India to a five-wicket win and booking a semifinal berth against England in Mumbai on 5 March. In the months leading up to the T20 World Cup, Samson had seemed firmly established as India’s designated opener, striking a couple of commanding centuries. But tournament dynamics reshuffled his path. Shubman Gill returned to the top before Ishan Kishan reclaimed his place, and Samson was pushed into a floating role, losing both rhythm and his spot in the side. When form deserted Kishan and regular opener Abhishek Sharma, Samson was handed another opportunity to break India’s leftheavy top order. It took him 12 innings to re-establish himself at the top. On Sunday, he delivered the innings his journey had been building towards. India were jolted early, slipping to 41/2 inside the powerplay after Abhishek (10) fell to left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein and Kishan (10) managed only a brief cameo. Samson, alongside captain Suryakumar Yadav (18), stitched a stabilising 58run stand that carried India to 98/2 midway through the chase. When wickets continued to fall ~ Suryakumar unable to capitalise on a reprieve, Tilak Varma (27) departing after a brisk cameo and Hardik Pandya (17) dismissed with 17 needed off 10 balls, Samson remained unmoved. He paced the innings astutely, never allowing the required rate to spiral, before sealing the chase with a six and a four. West Indies had earlier posted a formidable 195/5 after being put in to bat. Aided by a few fielding lapses, including three dropped catches, they built a solid platform through Shai Hope and Roston Chase, who added 66 runs. Hope made 32 off 33 balls before Varun Chakaravarthy broke through, but Chase maintained the tempo with a fluent 40 off 25 balls. Shimron Hetmyer’s brisk 27 off 12 balls threatened to tilt the game decisively before Jasprit Bumrah struck twice in the 12th over to remove Hetmyer and Chase. Hardik then dismissed Sherfane Rutherford as West Indies slipped to 103/3. However, Rovman Powell and Jason Holder turned the tide with a fierce late assault, adding an unbeaten 76-run stand for the fifth wicket. | MUMBAI | BHUBANESWAR | LUCKNOW | SILIGURI | Monday, 02 March 2026
The Statesman is one of India's oldest English newspapers. It was founded in Kolkata in 1875 and is directly descended from The Friend of India (founded 1818). The Englishman (founded 1821) was merged with The Statesman in 1934. The Delhi edition of The Statesman began publication in 1931. The Statesman Weekly is a compendium of news and views from the Kolkata and Delhi editions. Printed on airmail paper, it is popular with readers outside India. The Statesman (average weekday circulation approximately 180,000) is a leading English newspaper in West Bengal. The Sunday Statesman has a circulation of 230,000.
