FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms FREE PRESS Vol. 14 No. 324 | BHOPAL | THURSDAY | MAY 8, 2025 | Pages 14 ` 3 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. mpeng/2010/35815 www.freepressjournal.in Sports ROHIT BIDS ADIEU TO TEST P.12 ESTD-1983 iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: BHOPAL UJJAIN MONEY PUNE INDORE NASHIK MUMBAI E-paper Edit Action, reaction & a lesson P.6 Softer vegetable prices lower meal cost in Apr Cinema SRK’s stylish thanks P.14 OPERATION SINDOOR 24 Strikes at 9 terror camps in Pok, Pakistan’s Punjab hit, 70 terrorists killed MURIDKE 25 MINUTES OF FURY Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar NEW DELHI Exactly a fortnight after the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were identified on the basis of religion and killed by terrorist, India launched ‘Operation Sindoor’ early on Thursday morning hitting nine terrorist training camps and launchpads inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) with 24 missile strikes. The strikes, which took place within a span of 25 minutes, left a large number of suspected terrorists dead and injured at the nine locations at Muzaffarabad, Kotli, Bahawalpur, Rawalakot, Chakswari, Bhimber, Neelum Valley, Jhelum and Chakwa in Pakistan and as per unconfirmed reports around 70 terrorists were killed and another 60 injured. Media reports from Pakistan also cited Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar claiming that 10 members of his family and four aides were killed in the attack at Bahawalpur. Besides JeM, the Indian armed forces had also targeted bases of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and the Lashkar-e-Taiba, whose offshoot, The Resistance Front, had claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam attack. The first of the strikes took place around 1 am. The Additional Director General of Public Information of Indian Army posted on “X” about it with “#JusticeServed”. It wrote that “Target 1” was Abbas Terrorist Camp at Kotli at a distance of 13 Km from LoC (POJK). Describing it as the “nerve centre for training suicide bombers of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)”, the Army said this centre that provided “key training infrastructure for over 50 terrorists” was destroyed at 1.04 am. At 1.44 am, the Ministry of Defence announced that the armed forces had launched Operation Sindoor hitting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and PoK. It categorically stated that the actions were “focused, measured and nonescalatory in nature” and that “no Pakistani military facilities have been targeted.” In a clear message that India did not desire escalation, the note had also stated that India “demonstrated considerable restraint in selection of targets and method of execution”. The MoD had also specified that a detailed press conference will be held at 10 am. In the morning, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri briefed the media about Operation Sindoor. He said the Pahalgam attack was “driven by the objective of undermining normalcy returning to Kashmir” and “the family members were deliberately traumatised through the manner of killing, accompanied by the exhortation that they should take back the message.” 4Continued on | P8 Women officers come to the fore T wo highly decorated women officers of the Indian Air Force and the Indian Army were on Tuesday given the all-important role of briefing officers by the Centre for explaining the details of Operation Sindoor to the media. By bringing forth the two officers India also demonstrated that it would not let Pakistan sow any seeds of discord within its communities. Both the officers picked for the briefing have an exemplary record. Colonel Sophia Qureshi is a decorated officer of the Corps of Signals and the first woman Army officer to lead a contingent in a multinational military exercise. o military installations were targeted. The strikes were focused solely on infrastructure linked to cross-border terrorism N Col Sofiya Qureshi 18 airports shut, 200 flights grounded More than 200 flights have been cancelled and at least 18 airports, including Srinagar, have been temporarily shut for operations amid restrictions in the wake of the armed forces launching missile attacks against Pakistan on Wednesday morning. According to the source, more than 200 flights to and from various airports have been cancelled by airlines, with IndiGo alone cancelling around 160 flights. During the presentation, the two officers provided details of the nine targets that were hit and the reasons these were picked. The presentation showed how the missile strikes carried out with aircrafts and drones hit the terror infrastructure inside Pakistan and PoKJ. ndian armed forces are fully prepared to respond to Pakistani misadventures, if any that will escalate this situation I Wing Commander Vyomika Singh PM Modi briefs Prez Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday met President Droupadi Murmu and briefed her on Indian armed forces' precision strikes at terrorist hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). "Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan and briefed her about Operation Sindoor," the president's office said in a post on X and shared pictures of the meeting. 10 of Masood Azhar’s family killed J-e-M chief Maulana Masood Azhar acknowledged on Wednesday that 10 members of his family and four close associates were killed in India's missile attack on the outfit's headquarters in Bahawalpur. A statement attributed to Azhar said those killed in the attack on Jamia Masjid Subhan Allah in Bahawalpur included hi elder sister and her husband, a nephew and his wife, another niece, and five children from his extended family. Flagging the truth: Pak soldiers mourn terrorists Pak: Ready to ease tensions if India de-escalates On the other hand, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh is a helicopter pilot who led several rescue missions. Since receiving permanent commission in the flying branch of Indian Air Force in 2019, she has operated Chetak and Cheetah helicopters in some of India’s most challenging terrains in Jammu and Kashmir and the North East. Pak firing kills 15, injures 43 POONCH/ TANGDHAR: Fifteen innocent civilians have been killed and 43 injured in artillery firing by the Pakistan Army since yesterday night which has hit civilian areas in Poonch and Tangdhar, defence sources said on Wednesday. Pakistan Army has targeted civilian areas in the border areas. The shelling caused panic among villagers and damaged several houses. Shelling by Pakistan damaged civilian infrastructure, shattered window panes and cracked walls. Flawless mission: PM tells Cabinet IANS NEW DELHI Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday chaired a meeting of the Union Cabinet, where he shared details on Operation Sindoor -- a targeted military strike carried out by the Indian defence forces on nine terror camps across the border in the early hours of the day. During the meeting, PM Modi informed the cabinet that the operation was executed exactly as planned, with “no mistakes whatsoever.” He emphasised that the Army had carried out the mission with utmost precision, adhering strictly to the detailed preparations that had been made in advance. Sources said the Prime Minister praised the armed forces for their “commendable job” and “immaculate execution,” underlining their professional- SIRENS WAIL, LIGHTS OFF 22 Naxals DURING MOCK DRILL OP SANKALP killed in Chh’garh encounter Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL PTI ISLAMABAD Pakistan is ready to "wrap up" tensions with India, if New Delhi de-escalates the situation, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Wednesday. His remarks came hours after India carried out a military strike on terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Asif was reported as saying by Bloomberg Television that Pakistan will only respond if attacked. "We have been saying all along in the last fortnight that we'll never initiate anything hostile towards India. But if we're attacked, we'll respond. If India backs down, we will definitely wrap up this tension," he said. Regarding the possibility of talks, the minister said he was not aware of any such potential engagements. Indian armed forces early Wednesday carried out missile strikes on nine terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack Despite denying links to terrorism, Pakistan’s hypocrisy was exposed on Wednesday as its soldiers attended funeral prayers of terrorists killed in an Indian missile strike in Muridke — with coffins wrapped in Pak national flag WORLDSPEAKS he world cannot afford a military confrontation between the two countries T n UN Secretary-General Guterres t's a shame. I just hope it ends very quickly I n US President Donald Trump ndia is justified in striking terrorist infrastructure. There can be no impunity for terrorists I n Ex-UK PM Rishi Sunak e are concerned about the ongoing situation. India and Pakistan are and will always be each other's neighbours. They're both China's neighbours as well W n Chinese foreign ministry e are deeply concerned about the intensifying military confrontation between India and Pakistan after the terrorist attack near the city of Pahalgam W n Russian foreign ministry No more tests for maestro of timing PTI NEW DELHI A defining chapter in Indian Test cricket closed today as Rohit Sharma, the elegant right-hander and national captain, formally announced his retirement from Test cricket with immediate effect, ending weeks of speculation surrounding his red-ball future. The announcement was made via social media on Wednesday morning, where the 38-year-old expressed heartfelt gratitude to his fans and reflected on a journey that transformed him from a middle-order hopeful into one of India's most dependable Test openers and leaders. “It’s been an absolute honour to represent my country in whites,” wrote Rohit on Instagram, adding that he would At 7:30 PM on Wednesday, Bhopal came to a standstill as pitch darkness engulfed the city during a 12-minute blackout drill simulating wartime conditions. Sirens wailed across neighbourhoods, reminiscent of the 1971 India-Pakistan war, especially for elderly citizens who lived through that era. The blackout was part of a state-wide civil defence exercise to prepare citizens and authorities for emergency situations, amid rising geopolitical tension. The drill, intensified by overcast skies, created a realistic war-like atmosphere. Lights were voluntarily switched off in homes, shops, hospitals, malls, hotels and even vehicles. Major intersections like Board Office, Roshanpura, Raja Bhoj Bridge, Kolar Road and MP Nagar saw traffic halt as police instructed commuters to turn off headlights. VIP Road, too, plunged PTI BIJAPUR videos recorded through hidden cameras installed in the institute's library. The videos allegedly show Khan engaging in obscene acts with female students, whom he later blackmailed by threatening to leak the footage. Twenty-two Naxalites were killed in an encounter with security forces on Wednesday in the forests of Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district bordering Telangana during Operation Sankalp, a massive counter-insurgency initiative, a senior police official said. Since this operation launched on April 21, at least 35 encounters have taken place between security forces and Naxalites in the Karregutta and adjoining hills surrounded by dense forest, wherein 26 bodies of ultras and around 40 firearms have been recovered, he said. Over 400 improvised explosive devices (IEDs), approximately 2 tonnes of explosive materials and more than six tonnes of ration items, medicines, daily use materials and other Maoist belongings have been seized during the operation. Operation Sankalp, one of the biggest counter-insurgency actions launched in the Bastar region, involves around 28,000 security personnel. These troopers belong to different units, including District Reserve Guard (DRG), Bastar Fighters, Special Task Force (STF), all parts of the state police, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and its elite unit CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action). 4Continued on | P8 4Continued on | P8 A view of Bhopal during black out on Wednesday evening CM MONITORS DRILL, URGES AWARENESS hief Minister Mohan Yadav reviewed the drill operations across all five cities and held discussions with district collectors. He said that every district must remain alert and complete all necessary civil defence preparations. He also directed that civilians be educated about emergency protocols to protect themselves in crises. “Public participation and awareness are key to a safe and effective response,” CM said, calling on officials to intensify civil defence outreach efforts. C into complete darkness, with long queues of stationary vehicles lining the street. In the Old City, areas like Jehangirabad, Shahjehanabad, Aishbagh, and Chowk followed suit. Even the Tajul-Masajid’s minaret lights were switched off, adding to the chilling realism of the scene. Police made announcements across the city urging people to cooperate and follow protocol. 4Continued on | P8 Coaching centre owner held in Love Jihad case continue playing ODIs. Sources within the BCCI had long hinted that Rohit was contemplating a Test exit, especially after India’s turbulent outings in recent red-ball series. The decision now opens the door for a new Test captain to take charge for the upcoming five-match Test series in England. (Detail on Sports Page) ism and commitment to national security. The cabinet ministers unanimously expressed confidence in PM Modi’s leadership and lauded the armed forces for their successful operation. They conveyed that the entire nation stood firmly behind the Prime Minister and the military establishment in the fight against terrorism. The strike, targeting terror launchpads and camps used for infiltration across the border, is being viewed as a strong message against crossborder terrorism. The Indian Army, Navy and the Air Force, in a historic tri-services operation, carried out precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, in response to the Pahalgam attack in which 26 civilians were killed on April 22. PM Modi constantly monitored the overnight operation. 24 obscene videos found FP News Service MORENA In a shocking revelation, police nabbed Aslam Khan alias Abhi, owner of a computer coaching centre named Abhi Insaniyat in Jiwajiganj, on charges of blackmail, sexual exploitation, and Love Jihad. The arrest followed com- plaints from a victim’s family and members of the Hindu Jagran Manch. Khan allegedly posed as a Hindu named ‘Abhi’ and lured female students into his institute by showcasing his supposed devotion to Lord Shiva. Daily writings of Shiv Mahima on the classroom blackboard and multiple photos of Lord Shiva on the premises were used as a cover to mislead students and parents. Police recovered 24 objectionable Aslam Khan alias Abhi