www.thestatesman.com | FOLLOW US: India’s National Newspaper since 1818 BRIEFLY Government takes control of Jaipur Polo ground building: New Delhi: The Central government has taken possession of the Jaipur Polo Ground, located in Delhi’s Race Course area near the Prime Minister’s Office, after the Patiala House Courts refused to grant interim relief to the Indian Polo Association. The government formally asserted its control over the property by displaying a notice declaring the land to be government property and warning against any unauthorised occupation or encroachment. Delhi’s Patiala House Court declined to grant immediate relief to the Indian Polo Association in its challenge to an eviction order concerning the Jaipur Polo Ground property in the national capital, following which the government took control of the concerned building. Vacation Judge Dhirendra Rana was hearing the arguments in the matter. New Delhi, 13 June Five Indian Air Force personnel were killed after an AN-32 transport aircraft crashed during a routine sortie while attempting to land at the Air Force Station in Jorhat, Assam, on Saturday, the IAF said. An IAF spokesperson said: “An IAF AN-32 aircraft met | Pages 16 | @thestatesmanltd ` 5.00 | KOLKATA LC | NEW DELHI STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE | MUMBAI | BHUBANESWAR P rime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday embarked on a six-day visit to France and Slovakia, a tour aimed at strengthening strategic partnerships, expanding technology and innovation cooperation, enhancing economic engagement, and reinforcing India’s role as a leading voice of the Global South. The visit, from 13 to 18 June, will see Mr Modi hold bilateral talks with French President Emmanuel Macron, participate in the G7 Summit, inaugurate major innovation-focused events, engage with business leaders, and undertake the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to independent Slovakia. Before departing, Mr Modi said the tour would focus on with an accident during a routine sortie today at approximately 1000 hours at Jorhat, Assam. Crash site management and initial enquiries are on at this time.” The spokesperson urged restraint in drawing conclusions before the completion of preliminary investigations, stating that the Air Force would share further details as information becomes available. The IAF also expressed grief over the loss of personnel and extended support to their families. In a post on X, the Air Force identified the deceased as Squadron Leader Prashant Singh, Flight Lieutenant Shubham Kumar, Sergeant Jitendra Sharma, Agniveervayu Khemaram Kumawat and Agniveervayu Danish Alam. advancing economic, technological and cultural partnerships with key European nations. “Over the next few days, I will be in France and Slovakia to attend various programmes, including bilateral talks, multilateral engagements and interaction with the Indian diaspora. The focus will be on boosting economic as well as cultural linkages,” he said in a post on X. The first leg of the visit will take Mr Modi to the French city of Nice, where he and Mr Macron will jointly inaugurate “Bharat Innovates,” a flagship event being held as part of the India-France Year of Innovation. Mr Modi will thereafter travel to Bratislava for a State Visit to Slovakia, marking the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the country since its independence in 1993, before returning to France to attend the G7 Summit in Evian on 16 and 17 June. Lt General Dhiraj Seth named next Army Chief STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 13 June Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth, currently serving as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff, has been appointed as the next Chief of the Army Staff (COAS). He will assume office on the afternoon of 30 June, succeeding General Upendra Dwivedi, who is set to retire from service the same day. SNEHAL SENGUPTA Kolkata, 13 June which the liquor policy in West Bengal was altered in 2017 to introduce West Bengal State Beverages Corporation Ltd (WBSBCL), or Bevco, to enable the state to monopolise liquor distribution. The policy was tweaked in 2021 to introduce a new sustem of distributors, allegedly at the behest of Trinamul Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee. The new policy change was structured in a manner that allegedly compelled | LUCKNOW | SILIGURI The appointment marks the culmination of a distinguished military career spanning nearly four decades for the Armoured Corps officer. An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Lt Gen Seth was commissioned into the Armoured Corps in December 1986. In his career, he commanded formations at every level, ranging from an Armoured Regiment in the desert sector to an Armoured Brigade along the Western Front and a CounterInsurgency Force in Jammu and Kashmir. Lt Gen Seth also commanded the Sudarshan Chakra Corps, one of the Army’s principal strike formations. He later served as General Officer Commanding (GOC), Delhi Area and subsequently as Army Commander for Southern Command and South-Western Command. erstwhile private wholesalers to pay levies, resulting in collections running into thousands of crores of rupees. In a letter submitted to the Commissioner of Excise, the Society for the Welfare of West Bengal Foreign Liquor Licencees has alleged that retailers have been compelled to bear transport-related expenses in contravention of the liquor distribution policy. The association's secretary, Bijon Kumar Patra, claimed that the issue arose after the introduction of the distributorship model under the WBSBCL, or BEVCO. “… during practical application of this module (the new provisions), it transpired that the distributors by using their position and influence with the high ranking officers of Excise Department, coerced the retailers and started levying Rs 10 to 13 per crate for such supplies. The said levy of unauthorised charges was immediately brought to the notices of the Excise Officers, but unfortunately, our pleas were repeatedly ignored. As a result of the same, the retailers were forced to bear such illegal charges, as denial to pay the same would lead to stoppage of supply,” the letter said. • Turn to Page 2 Washington: US President Donald Trump will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other world leaders during next week’s G7 Summit in France, with discussions expected to focus on economic growth, supply chains, Artificial Intelligence (AI), investment partnerships and a range of global security challenges, the White House said Saturday. Mr Trump is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Modi before joining a working lunch attended by G7 leaders, outreach partners and technology executives, a senior administration official said. | 14 June 2026 Jaishankar raises death of three Indian seafarers in US naval strikes with Rubio MEA denies reports of fourth attack: Trump, PM to hold bilateral meet on 17 June: New Delhi, 13 June Bengal liquor scam: Retailers say lost over ` 125 crore since 2021, seek probe Corroborating The Statesman’s reporting on a massive scam in West Bengal in which thousands of crores of rupees were siphoned off after tweaking the state’s excise policy, one of the biggest bodies representing foreign liquor retailers in the state has accused distributors of imposing unauthorised transport and handling charges on licensed liquor shops since 2021. The Society for the Welfare of West Bengal Foreign Liquor Licencees is demanding that the state Excise Department launch a probe into what it describes as a systematic violation of the state’s liquor distribution policy. The Statesman had reported a possible liquor scam in the state under People’s Parliament, Always in Session thestatesman1875 PM Modi embarks on France-Slovakia tour Five Air Force personnel die as AN-32 transport aircraft crashes in Jorhat STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE @TheStatesmanLtd ARTI BALI New Delhi, 13 June External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar spoke with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio from Helsinki to convey India's strongest protest over the killing of three Indian seafarers in US Navy strikes on commercial vessels in the Gulf of Oman.The deaths have triggered outrage in India, and the government has taken up the issue with the United States at the highest diplomatic levels. At least three vessels predominantly crewed by Indian sailors were hit in strikes by US military aircraft for allegedly attempting to evade the USimposed blockade on Iran-linked shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. In the worst incident, three New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs on Saturday dismissed reports of a fresh attack by the US military on an Indian-crewed vessel near the coast of Oman, calling the claims completely false. The clarification came after reports circulated on social media alleging that another Indian-linked commercial vessel had come under attack near the Strait of Hormuz. Several posts claimed that the vessel Liaki Freedom, had been struck by the US military off the Omani coast. The MEA said the ministry had verified the vessel's status directly with its captain. “We have spoken with the Master of the vessel Liaki Freedom, who has confirmed that all crew members are safe and that the reported information is false,” the MEA said. Indian seafarers died after a missile strike on the Palauflagged tanker MT Settebello. “Such lethal actions against commercial shipping are not justified,” Mr Jaishankar told Mr Rubio. In a post on X, the EAM said: “I reiterated India’s strong protest over the attacks by the US Navy in the Gulf that killed three Indian mariners.” The minister’s direct intervention is being viewed as a significant diplomatic step. Such channels are rarely activated for routine concerns, underscoring the seriousness with which New Delhi views the incident. The development is notable as Mr Rubio had visited India only last month as part of efforts to strengthen the strategic partnership between Washington and New Delhi. The call came hours after India summoned US Chargé d'Affaires Jason Meeks for the second time in less than 48 hours over the attacks on civilian vessels carrying Indian mariners. • EDITORIAL: Crossing the line - Page 8