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 | NEW DELHI | MUMBAI | BHUBANESWAR | LUCKNOW | SILIGURI | Thursday, 23 April 2026 SPORTS WORLD Nepal HM Gurung resigns over links to controversial businessman EDITORIAL Hollow numbers PERSPECTIVE India-Korea partnership charts a new course Page 9 Page 6 BRIEFLY Bombay HC discharges four accused in 2006 Malegaon case: Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Wednesday discharged four accused in the longpending 2006 Malegaon blasts case, citing insufficient evidence against them. The decision was delivered by a Division Bench led by Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar, along with Justice Shyam Chandak, in a crucial turn in a case that has remained under judicial scrutiny for nearly two decades. The four accused ~ Rajendra Chaudhary, Manohar Ram Singh Narwaria, Dhan Singh and Lokesh Sharma ~ were granted relief after the court found that the evidence presented by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) did not meet the required legal threshold. During the proceedings, the NIA argued that several witnesses had testified against the accused. However, the court observed that such testimonies were inadequate and lacked substantive value. (Page 8) VIBHA SHARMA New Delhi, 22 April T he stage is set for voting in all 234 Assembly seats in Tamil Nadu and 152 constituencies in the first phase of West Bengal on Thursday, in elections that will test the fate of top leaders and their parties in both states. The polls will decide the future of two dominant regional forces ~ the DMK and the TMC ~ and their leaders, M.K. Stalin in Tamil Nadu and Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal. They will also test the BJP’s potential as the principal challenger in West Bengal and whether it can finally gain a foothold in southern state Tamil Nadu with the support of ally AIADMK. These elections are also a key test for a new entrant ~ the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), led by actor-turnedpolitician Vijay ~ in a state historically defined by bipolar Dravidian politics. Emerging as a potential disruptor, TVK has fielded candidates in all 234 seats, positioning itself as a “clean” alternative to the established players. While Tamil Nadu will complete polling in a single phase, voting for the remaining 142 constituencies in West Bengal is scheduled for 29 April. Both states have witnessed fiercely intense campaigning. In West Bengal, the political temperature has remained high as the BJP has stepped up its push to unseat the TMC, which has been in power since 2011. One of the most contentious issues this election season has been the Special Intensive Revision of voter lists ~ an exercise the ruling TMC alleges is politically motivated, a charge denied by both the BJP and the Election Commission. The phase going to polls on Thursday covers several key constituencies, including Nandigram ~ the most closely watched seat due to its role in the TMC’s rise to power. The spotlight is again on BJP leader On Pahalgam anniversary, PM remembers victims, reaffirms resolve against terror STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 22 April Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday paid tribute to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack on its anniversary, remembering those who lost their lives and reiterating the nation's unwavering resolve to combat terrorism. In a message posted on X, the Prime Minister said, "Remembering the innocent lives lost in the gruesome Pahalgam terror attack on this day last year. They will never be forgotten. My thoughts are also with the bereaved families as they cope with this loss." He expressed the collective sentiment of the nation in the face of tragedy, adding, "As a nation, we stand united in grief and resolve. India will never bow to any form of terror. The heinous designs of terrorists will never succeed." The Pahalgam terror attack, which shook the country last year, claimed several innocent lives and drew widespread condemnation from across the political spectrum. The incident, which targeted civilians in the popular tourist destination in Jammu and Kashmir, had sparked renewed concerns over security in the region and prompted intensified counter-terror operations by security forces. Since then, the government has maintained a strong stance on national security, emphasising a zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism. ‘Operation Sindoor’ was launched, and without crossing the border, Indian armed forces carried out precision strikes at terror infrastructure in Muridke near Lahore, Bahawalpur and in Muzaffarabad of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). With the Pakistani military retaliating, India struck back by damaging 18 defence facilities deep inside Pakistan. The anniversary of the attack Iran fires on 3 ships, seizes 2 in Strait of Hormuz after USA extends ceasefire AGENCIES Dubai, 22 April Iran fired on three ships in the Strait of Hormuz and seized two of them on Wednesday, intensifying its assault on shipping in the key waterway a day after US President Donald Trump extended a ceasefire while maintaining an American blockade of Iranian ports. Iranian media said the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard was bringing the two ships to Iran after seizing them in the strait, through which 20 per cent of the world’s oil passes in peacetime. The standoff over Iran’s closure of the strait and the US blockade raised doubts about when or if talks would resume to end the crisis. The conflict has already sent gas prices skyrocketing far beyond the region and raised the cost of food and a wide array of other products. Iran’s leaders appear poised to drive a hard bargain with American negotiators after Mr Trump said the USA would indefinitely extend the Page 12 Page 7 Tamil Nadu, West Bengal set for landmark elections People pay tribute at a memorial at Pahalgam on the first anniversary of the Pahalgam terror attack. AGENCIES has been marked by tributes from leaders and citizens alike, with many remembering the victims and expressing solidarity with their families. New Delhi, 22 April Revolutionary Guard gunboat opened fire on a container ship and “caused heavy damage to the bridge.” A second cargo ship came under fire hours later, with no report of damage, though the vessel was then stopped in the water. No injuries to the crew of either vessel were reported. There have been more than 30 attacks on ships in the region since the US and Israel launched the war on 28 February with a surprise attack on Iran. Before then, the strait was open for all traffic. Iran’s ability to restrict traffic through the strait ~ which leads from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean ~ has proved a major strategic advantage. The Delhi Government will strictly implement the decision not to allow petrol, diesel, and CNG to vehicles without a valid “Pollution Under Control” Certificate at the fuel stations. The decision aims at ensuring control over vehicular pollution across the national capital. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said her government was committed to ensuring a clean and healthy environment and improving Delhi’s air quality through sustained and comprehensive measures. “Tackling air pollution requires firm and effective interventions. This decision is a crucial step in that direction,” she added, underlining the need for strict compliance. Under Rule 115 (sub-rule 7) of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, every vehicle must carry a valid PUC certificate after one year of registration and produce it on demand. However, it has been observed that a large number of vehicles continue SC cautions Bengal CM: Interference in ED searches could endanger democracy PARMOD KUMAR New Delhi, 22 April The Supreme Court on Wednesday expressed concern over West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s storming into the premises of Pratik Jain – the co-founder of political consultancy firm I-PAC – when the Enforcement Directorate (ED) was carrying out searches on 8 January this year, observing that such conduct by a constitutional functionary has the potential to undermine democratic processes. Terming it “extraordinary” a Bench of Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and Justice N.V. Anjaria, said: “A Chief Minister of any State cannot walk in (in) the midst of an investigation, put the democracy in peril. This is per se an act committed by an individual who happens to be the Chief Minister keeping the whole democracy in jeopardy.” The strong observation by the bench came in the course of the hearing of a petition by the Enforcement Directorate seeking a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against the Chief Minister Mamata Banarjee and state police officers who had accompanied her at the time of the incident. The Central agency and its officers have approached the Supreme Court invoking top court jurisdiction under Article 32 of the constitution. Ordinarily, Article 32 can be taken recourse to by the citizens to safeguard their rights against the State. The Bengal government has questioned the maintainability of the ED’s petitions. Further voicing its concern over what had happened on 8 January, during the ED raids at Pratik Jain’s residence, the court said: “We cannot shut our eyes to the reality. This is an extraordinary situation where the contours are totally different, court has to take decisions keeping in view socio-political realities.” The bench also referred to the 1 April incident, when seven judicial officers, including three women judges ~ engaged in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bengal ~ were gheraoed and the response of the state police was delayed despite calls from the Calcutta High Court. WB: 139 deleted voters reinstated after tribunal clearance STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Kolkata, 22 April The names of about 139 voters of Bengal, which had previously been deleted by judicial officers while adjudicating cases from the “under adjudication” list as part of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, were restored to the electoral rolls today after being cleared by the appellate tribunal. This revalidation confirms them as “valid voters” with the right to exercise their franchise in the first phase of polls tomorrow. The Election Commission of India on Wednesday released the list of voters who regained their voting rights following tribunal hearings on petitions Delhi govt implementing decision of ‘no-fuel’ to vehicles without valid PUC STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE ceasefire that had been due to expire Wednesday, while Washington awaits a new proposal from Tehran. Iranian media said the MSC Francesca and the Epaminodes were being escorted to Iran. The ships’ owners could not be immediately reached for comment. The US had earlier seized two Iranian vessels as the ceasefire talks were due to take place in Pakistan. The Guard attacked a third ship, identified as the Euphoria, which had become “stranded” on the Iranian coast, Iranian media reported, without elaborating. The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre also reported the attacks, saying a Suvendu Adhikari. Once a close aide of Mamata Banerjee and now one of her fiercest rivals, Adhikari is contesting again from Nandigram, a seat he won in 2021 by defeating Banerjee. Other key constituencies include Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar, and Siliguri In Tamil Nadu, the elections are being seen as a major turning point, with a multicornered contest. The ruling DMK, led by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, is seeking a second consecutive term but faces a resurgent AIADMK, backed by the BJP, along with the growing influence of Vijay’s TVK. Thursday will test the political fortunes of Stalin as well as AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami, who must secure a strong mandate to emerge from the shadow of late J. Jayalalithaa, consolidate his leadership, and reaffirm the party’s position as the principal challenger. Mbappe and Vinicius lift Real Madrid out of a 4-game slump with a 2-1 win over Alaves to operate without valid certification, significantly aggravating pollution levels across the city. CM Gupta pointed out that the Commission for Air Quality Management in Delhi and NCR region (CAQM), in its revised Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), has also mandated strict enforcement of PUC norms. According to her, the framework provides for stringent action against polluting vehicles, including seizure and the imposition of maximum penalties. Going by the new directive, fuel will be supplied strictly and exclusively to vehicles holding a valid PUC certificate. Accountability has been clearly fixed across all concerned agencies to ensure zero tolerance in implementation. Hence, all the petrol pumps and gas outlets have been directed to comply with the order in letter and spirit, while all the departments concerned, including the civic body and the police have been tasked with ensuring rigorous enforcement of the directive. filed by individuals whose names had been struck off the list by judicial officers. The Commission also informed that the tribunals have so far disposed of petitions from approximately 657 electors. The list released today is a supplementary roll issued in compliance with the Supreme Court’s ruling in the SIR case. The Court had stated that names cleared by the tribunal ~ among the 27 lakh voters whose names were deleted ~ would be revalidated, thereby granting them the right to cast their ballots in the first phase. While reinstating the names of about 139 voters, the tribunal also struck off the names of eight voters from among the 32 lakh previously cleared by judicial officers from the adjudication list. The Election Commission of India had on 28 February published the final electoral roll for West Bengal, which saw more than 61 lakh voters being excluded. However, the process had continued with about 60 lakh “doubtful and pending” cases remaining under adjudication based on their objections to their exclusions from the draft rolls published in December. Several supplementary lists were released, in which the names of more voters have been included. The process had concluded on 6 April after judicial officers adjudicated the 60 lakh claims and objections. However, voters who were removed during the adjudication process can appeal in 19 tribunals set up for the purpose.