FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms FREE PRESS Vol. 14 No. 311 | BHOPAL | FRIDAY | APRIL 25, 2025 | Pages 14 ` 3 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. mpeng/2010/35815 www.freepressjournal.in ESTD-1983 iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: BHOPAL UJJAIN WORLD Sports INDORE NASHIK MUMBAI E-paper Edit Terror fails, India unites P.6 China pushes for tariff ban to end US trade war SACHIN @52 P.13 PUNE Cinema War, not words P.14 PAHALGAM TERROR ATTACK | PM Modi says killers will be pursued ‘to the ends of the earth’, vows to punish terrorists, their backers 'beyond their imagination' IDENTIFY, TRACK & PUNISH PTI MADHUBANI Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday declared that the killers of Pahalgam will be pursued "to the ends of the earth" and promised to "identify, track and punish every terrorist and their backers". In his first speech after the April 22 attack in Pahalgam in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed, the prime minister vowed to punish terrorists behind the strike and said India's spirit will never be broken by terrorism. Modi spoke briefly in English and said, "Friends, today from the soil of Bihar, I say to the whole world India will identify, track, and punish every terrorist and their backers. We will pursue them to the ends of the earth. India's spirit will never be broken by terrorism. Terrorism will not go unpunished." In the stern message, he said, "Every effort will be made to ensure that justice is done. The entire nation is firm in this resolve. Everyone who believes in humanity is with us. I thank the people of various countries and their leaders who have stood with us in these times." In a message to Pakistan without naming the country, Modi said he will state it categorically that the terrorists who carried out the attack and those who hatched the conspiracy, they will be punished beyond their imagination. "Punishment will definitely be served." The prime minister said the willpower of 140 crore Indians will break the back of patrons of terrorism. Paying condolences to the victims and their families, he said citizens across the country are in mourning over the brutal manner in which terrorists killed 26 innocent civilians in Kashmir on April 22. 4Continued on | P8 Bhopal Bandh tomorrow Bhopal: Traders have made a call for total bandh in Bhopal on April 26 in protest against Pahalgam’s terror attack. Bhopal Chamber of Commerce and Industries announced “Bhopal Bandh” to stand with the families of the deceased and to protest against this brutal terrorist attack. Bhopal Chamber of Commerce and Industries (BCCI) appealed to all the traders of Bhopal and all the business organizations of Bhopal to strongly protest against the Pahalgam terrorist attack. BCCI has called for total bandh on Saturday, 26 April. All-party meet: Leaders seek action against terror camps PTI NEW DELHI Daughter of slain Sushil Nathaniel breaks down before his funeral procession in Indore on Thursday. Pic: Anand Shivre India briefs G20 envoys Shah, EAM meet Prez 'Hamas leaders visited PoK' India on Thursday briefed New Delhi-based envoys of almost all G20 nations and those from its strategic partners on the dastardly Pahalgam terror attack and its link to cross-border terrorism, people familiar with the matter said. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri apprised the diplomats about various aspects of Tuesday's terror attack. Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar called upon President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan in the national capital on Thursday to brief her about the deadly terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, ahead of a scheduled all-party meeting. Israel's Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, compared the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam to the October 7, 2023 Hamas strike on Israel, citing similarities in their targeting of civilians and warning of growing coordination among terrorist groups. He linked the Pahalgam attack's timing to the recent visits by Hamas leaders to PoK. Persona Non Grata note to Pak diplomats I ndia has summoned Pakistan's top diplomat in Delhi, Saad Ahmad Warraich, and handed over the formal Persona Non Grata note for its military diplomats, ac- Heavy rush at Attari-Wagah PTI cording to sources. India's action comes after 26 people were killed and several others sustained injuries in the dastardly attack by terrorists on tourists in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday. The attack in the Pahalgam area of Anantnag district turned a place once known for its tranquillity into a site of mourning. Islamabad. The visuals have gone viral and triggered widespread outrage across social media platforms. On April 22, terrorists affiliated with The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of the Pakistan-based terror organisation Lashkar-eTaiba (LeT), carried out a massacre in the Baisaran meadow of Pahalgam. IANS CHANDIGARH 4Continued on | P8 NEW DELHI Death threat to Gambhir The head coach of the India men's cricket team, Gautam Gambhir, has found himself at the centre of a security scare after he received threatening emails, Delhi Police said on Thursday. The threats were received on April 22 - the same day terrorists gunned down 26 people, mostly tourists, in Kashmir's Pahalgam -- from a suspicious Gmail account. NEW DELHI Court junks Rana’s plea A Delhi court on Thursday dismissed the plea of jailed 26/11 terror attack accused Tahawwur Hussain Rana seeking to talk to his family members. "Not allowed," special Judge Chander Jit Singh held. Rana filed the plea through his lawyer and said talking to his family members was a fundamental right and they must be worried about his well being. The NIA opposed the application, arguing he could share crucial information if allowed to speak with his family. A video has emerged showing a man carrying a cake into the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi on Thursday, just two days after the brutal terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 civilians in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam and a day following India's strong diplomatic retaliation against Blaze in garbage dump near BHEL spreads in surrounding area Fire tenders from CISF, BMC, Raisen rushed to spot 4Continued on | P8 BSF jawan detained by Pak Rangers after accidentally crossing border Our Staff Reporter ually pressed into service. BHEL public relations officer Vinodanand Jha said, "It was garbage, not industrial scrap, that caught fire. The flames spread through dry leaves and bushes in a forest-like zone. Our main plant blocks are nearly a kilometre away, so there is no damage to the infrastructure. The fire originated in a bushcovered area where garbage was dumped." A Border Security Force (BSF) jawan has been detained by Pakistan Rangers after he accidentally crossed the Punjab border and talks are on between the two forces to secure his release, officials said on Thursday. Constable PK Sahu of the 182nd battalion was apprehended by the Pakistan Rangers across the Ferozepur border on Wednesday, they said. Sahu, a resident of West Bengal, was in uniform and carried his service rifle. He was accompanying farmers when he moved ahead to rest in shade and was apprehended by the Rangers. Municipal Corporation (BMC), Raisen, and BHEL, were deployed to contain the flames. Despite initial efforts by CISF jawans, the fire escalated, prompting the arrival of additional fire engines from the Municipal Corporation and Raisen. BHEL reportedly has only two fire tenders of its own. Foam tenders located within the premises were also used during the operation. Over a dozen fire engines were event- 4Continued on | P8 4Continued on | P8 offgrid Navy test-fires surface-to-air missile PTI NEW DELHI Indian Navy's guided missile destroyer INS Surat successfully test-fired a mediumrange surface-to-air missile. The missile has a range of around 70 km, it is learnt. "The Indian Navy's latest indigenous guided missile destroyer INS Surat has successfully carried out a precision cooperative engagement of a sea-skimming target, marking a significant milestone in strengthening the Navy's defence capabilities," the Navy said. "This achievement demonstrates India's growing prow- ess in indigenous warship design, development, and operations, and underscores the nation's commitment to selfreliance in defence manufacturing," it said. The Navy said the "milestone" is a "testament" to the force's "unwavering commitment" to safeguarding the nation's maritime interests and its dedication to Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India). Pak plans missile test Pakistan has issued a no-fly zone in the Arabian Sea and warned of live fire, with sailors also advised to stay away from the area. The announcement comes as Pakistan prepares to test a new missile amid rising tensions with India PTI ISLAMABAD Pakistan on Thursday put Simla Agreement and other bilateral accords with India on hold, suspended all trade, closed its airspace for Indian airlines and said any attempt to divert the water meant for it under the Indus Water Treaty will be considered an Act of War. Islamabad also closed the Wagah border post, cancelled visas given to Indians under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) and asked military advisers at the Indian High Commission to leave -mirroring steps taken the previous evening by India over the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. The Pakistani announcements followed a meeting here of its National Security Committee chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in response to the Indian decision on Wednesday to suspend the Indus Water Treaty and downgrade diplomatic ties with Islamabad. That call was taken by India after the attack Tuesday in Pahalgam that killed 26 people, mostly tourists. The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of the banned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba claimed responsibility for the attack. On Thursday, without naming Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at a public meeting in Bihar that the killers of Pahalgam will be pursued "to the ends of the earth" and promised to "identify, track and punish every terrorist and their backers". A statement issued after the Islamabad meeting, which included key minister and the three services chiefs, said Pakistan's armed forces "remain fully capable and prepared to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity against any misadventure". Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said there were reports that India was planning to target different cities through terrorist acts. "If our citizens are targeted then Indian people will also suffer," he told reporters after the meeting," he told reporters. Pakistan pointedly mentioned the 1972 Simla Agreement that said differences will be settled through negotiations, and recognised the Line of Control between the two countries. 4Continued on | P8 ‘India likely to be first to sign trade deal with Washington’ Our Staff Reporter NEW YORK/WASHINGTON BHOPAL NEW DELHI Act of War: Pak on diversion of water under Indus Treaty ED court rejects bail applications of Saurabh, Sharad PTI BHOPAL A massive fire broke out in a garbage dump near Gate No. 9 (Swarn Jayanti Gate) of Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), Bhopal on Thursday. Fuelled by dry leaves, bushy vegetation and strong summer winds, the fire spread rapidly across the area. No casualties or property damage were reported. Firefighting operations continued till late afternoon. According to officials, the exact cause of the fire has yet to be ascertained. Several firefighting units, including those from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Bhopal 4Continued on | P8 Outrage over cake at Pak High Commission NEW DELHI Several Pakistani nationals visiting India started returning home through the AttariWagah land route in Amritsar on Thursday, a day after the Centre set a 48-hour deadline for them to leave the country. Leaders across party lines on Thursday assured their support to the government in taking decisive action against terrorism and destroying terror camps, even as they flagged security lapses in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, where 26 people were gunned down by terrorists. During an all-party meeting to discuss the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, the government said it was taking all measures to ensure security. It noted that the attack was aimed at vitiating the atmosphere at a time when the economy was on the upswing and tourism was booming in Jammu and Kashmir. The government did not spell out any kind of action against terrorism during the meeting and the opposition also did not seek any such details. After the meeting, all leaders assured their full support to any government action against the perpetrators of the terror attack. The Enforcement Directorate (ED)’s special court has rejected bail pleas of former transport department constables, Saurabh Sharma and Sharad Jaiswal, in connection with a money laundering case. The order was passed by ED’s special judge, Sachin Kumar Ghosh. Advocate Rajnesh Barrya, representing the accused, confirmed the court's decision to Free Press, stating, “The ED court has rejected bail pleas of Saurabh Sharma and Sharad Jaiswal.” On April 2, the same special court had granted bail to Sharma, his co-accused Chetan Gaur and Jaiswal in a disproportionate assets case filed by the Special Police Establishment (SPE) of Lokayukta. MONEY LAUNDERING CASE The bail was granted after the SPE failed to present a chargesheet against them within 60 days of their arrest. The case traces back to December 18, 2024, when the Lokayukta conducted raids on the residences and offices of Saurabh Sharma and his business associates, Chetan Singh Gaur and Sharad Jaiswal. During raids on the night of December 19-20, 2024, the Income Tax Department seized over 52 kilogrammes of gold and approximately Rs 11 crore in cash from an Innova car abandoned in Mendori forest area, which was owned by Chetan Singh Gaur. 4Continued on | P8 PTI US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said he expects India to strike the first bilateral trade deal to avoid President Donal Trump's reciprocal tariffs. A 26 per cent 'reciprocal' tariff on Indian exports to the US is currently on a 90-day pause, set to expire on July 8. However, like other countries, India is presently subject to a 10 per cent tariff under the existing policy. According to the New York Post, Bessent told a roundtable of about a dozen reporters on Wednesday that trade talks with India are "very close" to reaching a successful conclusion because the world's most populous nation doesn't have "so many high tariffs." After Hindenburg report, Mossad hacked Pitroda’s server, tracked Rahul IANS NEW DELHI Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly ordered Mossad to step in and protect Indian billionaire Gautam Adani from a global campaign believed to be orchestrated by Hindenburg Research. Netanyahu took this step because the controversy broke just days before Adani Ports signed a $1.2 billion deal to buy a major stake in Israel's Haifa Port, according to a media report, as he was concerned the report could harm not only the businessman's reputation but also a key economic partnership between India and Israel. Netanyahu, who was personally present during the Haifa deal discussions, reportedly met Gautam Adani in a private session. In that meeting, sources say Netanyahu conveyed deep concerns about the potential sabotage of Israel's strategic interests, suggesting that the report might have been intended to derail not only the Haifa Port transaction but also broader economic and diplomatic cooperation between Israel and India. 4Continued on | P8