Saturday, April 26, 2025 | 36 Pages | `5 & for State (+4 pages) `6 Reg.No MCS/048/2021-23; RNI No. 1541/1957 M.p.c.s office Mumbai. PIN 400001 THE FREE PRESS JOURNAL Vol. 68 No. 174 | Leader in E-paper circulation l www.freepressjournal.in ● EDITIONS: ● MUMBAI ● INDORE ● PUNE ● BHOPAL ● NASHIK ● KONKAN ● E-paper ● Member: Audit Bureau of Circulation (July to December 2024) NATION Midnight knock by police warning VCs not to attend conference, alleges TN governor Army chief reviews J&K security FPJ News Service MUMBAI The aftermath of the brutal terror attack in Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives, has seen swift military, diplomatic, and investigative action. Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi arrived in Srinagar on Friday to assess the security situation, receiving detailed briefings from the 15 Corps Commander and senior officers. The Army has launched extensive search operations to neutralize terrorists, particularly after intelligence indicated Pakistan-based groups' involvement. A Special Investigation Team (SIT), led by Anantnag’s Additional Superintendent of Police, is probing the attack, questioning over 200 individuals, including local pony drivers present at Baisaran meadow during the assault. Security forces remain on high alert following fresh ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the Line of Control (LoC). On the diplomatic front, India has intensified diplomatic efforts, briefing envoys from 45 nations, including G20 members and strategic partners, on Pakistan’s role in cross-border terrorism. 4Contd on | nation Briefs HC relief for Kamra The Bombay High Court has restrained the Mumbai Police from arresting stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra in connection with FIRs registered against him for allegedly making remarks insulting Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The court, however, allowed the investigation to continue. A bench of Justices Sarang Kotwal and SM Modakadmitted Kamra's petition, saying that “larger” and “serious” issues related to restrictions on the freedom of speech need to be considered. However, the court said “The investigation can continue, however, it is not necessary to arrest the petitioner,” the court said. SEE CITY Murmu at Pope’s funeral President Murmu arrived in Rome on Friday to attend Pope Francis's funeral mass. She was accompanied by Union Ministers Kiren Rijiju, George Kurian, and Goa Deputy Speaker Joshua De Souza. During her two-day visit (April 2526), she will pay homage at St. Peter’s Basilica and attend the funeral at Vatican City. Pope Francis, the first Latin American pope, passed away on April 21 at 88. India declared threeday state mourning, with the flag at half-mast on the funeral day. GAMES Shreyas Iyer returns to Eden to lead Punjab Kings charge against former team KKR Raina Assainar The father of an alleged kingpin of a drug trade cartel operated from abroad shot himself on Friday morning at his office in Kille Gaothan in Belapur. Fifty year old 50 year old Gurunath Chichkar left a note expressing his frustration with the investigating agencies Edit People have a different view on economy than economists SWIFT FOLLOW-UP | Home Minister tells chief ministers to identify Pakistan nationals in their respective states to cancel visas. He also convenes meet on suspension of Indus Waters Treaty FADNAVIS Donald Trump U-turn FOLLOW-UP on student visas Shah activates marching orders for Pakistanis MUMBAI Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar NEW DELHI Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday called up all the chief ministers to apprise them about the Pahalgam terror attack and to urge them to identify all Pakistan nationals residing in their respective states so that their visas could be cancelled. Shah, who had visited Kashmir and Pahalgam soon after the attack and had later attended the Cabinet Committee on Security meeting to discuss the developments and follow-up actions, is also learnt to have asked all the CMs to work proactively to ensure a prompt return of all Pakistani citizens. The Centre had earlier on Wednesday decided in the CCS that Pakistani nationals would no longer be permitted to travel to India under the South Asian Association for Regional Cooper- ation (SAARC) visa exemption scheme (SVES) and had announced those who had already come to leave within 48 hours. The following day, Thursday, the Ministry of External Affairs had announced that all the existing valid visas issued to Pakistani nationals would also stand revoked from April 27 (Sunday). Since a large number of Pakistanis come to India for medical treatment, it had made the norms slightly liberal for them by allowing the validity of such medical visas up to April 29. Shah also held a meeting at his residence on the Indus Water Treaty regarding which India had declared following the CCS on Wednesday that this treaty of 1960 will be held in abeyance with immediate effect until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism. 4Contd on | nation CLEAR MESSAGE: Authorities on Friday brought down the houses of two Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists connected with the attack in Pahalgam. One is of Asif Sheikh at Tral in Pulwama district and that of Adil Thoker in Bijbehera, Anantnag. The houses were razed using explosives after investigators uncovered their role in the attack. Kalpesh Mhamunkar Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has announced stringent action against Pakistani nationals overstaying in the state following the cancellation of their visas by the Union Government. The move comes in the wake of a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22 that claimed 26 lives, including six from Maharashtra. CM Fadnavis said, "In accordance with the Centre's directive, we have prepared a list of all Pakistani tourists currently in Maharashtra. Their movements are being closely monitored, and all police stations have been alerted to ensure compliance in their respective jurisdictions," he said. "Pakistani citizens must leave the state within 48 hours or face legal action." Fadanis added. It is believed that there are 18,000 Pakistanis currently in Maharashtra, some 8,000 of them in Mumbai alone. 4Contd on | nation pursuing three strategic plans to ensure Pakistan does not receive a single drop of water, following the Pahalgam terror attack. Patil told ANI the government has devised short-term, mid-term and long-term measures to completely halt water flow to Pakistan. These were finalised in a high-level meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, where a detailed roadmap was discussed in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "The government is committed to ensuring not a drop of water reaches Pakistan," Patil said. "Desilting of rivers and redirection of water channels will begin shortly." SC pulls up Rahul Gandhi over Savarkar remarks FPJ News Service MUMBAI The Supreme Court on Friday censured Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for making "irresponsible" remarks about freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Savarkar during a rally in Maharashtra. While the court stayed criminal proceedings against Gandhi, it issued a stern warning against making such statements in the future. A bench comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and Manmohan observed, "Let's not mock our freedom fighters." The court questioned Gandhi's understanding of history and urged restraint while speaking about national icons. Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Gandhi, contended that the charges of promoting enmity Centre defends Waqf Act amendments FPJ News Service MUMBAI The Centre on Friday strongly defended the constitutional validity of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 in the Supreme Court, urging it not to impose any "blanket stay" on a law passed by Parliament, which carries a "presumption of constitutionality." In a voluminous 1,332-page preliminary affidavit filed before a bench led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs urged the apex court to dismiss the batch of petitions challenging the amendments, calling them part of a "deliberate, purposeful and intentionally misleading In a 1,332-page affidavit, Centre urges SC to reject petitions against 2025 Act, citing constitutional validity, secular regulation, and rampant misuse of Waqf laws narrative" aimed at misconstruing the legal intent behind the new law. The Centre contended that “a blanket stay (or a partial stay) without being aware of the 4Contd on | nation and public mischief were not applicable in the case. However, the bench pushed back, highlighting the respectful language used by Indian leaders in the colonial era, even in correspondence with British officials. "You are most obedient… does your client know that Mahatma Gandhi used the phrase 'your faithful servant' when addressing the Viceroy? Can he be called a servant of the British merely for that? 4Contd on | nation ISRO legend passes away Former ISRO chief K. Kasturirangan (84) died in Bengaluru on Friday. His body will be kept at Raman Research Institute for last respects on April 27. A renowned astrophysicist, he led India’s space program for nine years and chaired the National Education Policy drafting committee. He also served as Rajya Sabha MP, Planning Commission member, JNU chancellor, and director of NIAS. Known for his contributions to X-ray and gamma-ray astronomy, Kasturirangan leaves behind a legacy in science and education. 4See also | nation that had been summoning him after his elder son, Naveen was found to be involved in drug cases. Chichkar used a 9mm pistol to shoot himself at around 7 am on Friday at the ground floor of his building which he used as his office. “By around 9 am, his nephew informed the police. The building where he stayed was behind NRI police station area and while he stayed at the fourth floor, the ground floor functioned as his offices. The 9mm pistol does not have license and we are investigating from where he got the pistol,” Assistant Commissioner of Police (crime branch) Ajay Landge said. According to sources in Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), a Red Corner Notice was issued around 15 days ago against Naveen, who had studied in London, and is said to be on the run, wanted by NCB in the drug cartel case running into hundreds of crores. Recently, 4Contd on | nation FPJ News Service MUMBAI NO WATER TO PAK: In a major development, Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil announced on Friday that India is Builder kills self over son’s drug cartel links NAVI MUMBAI Cinema Check out our verdict on OTT and film releases In a dramatic policy reversal, the Trump administration announced Friday it would reinstate the active immigration status of thousands of foreign students whose records had been abruptly terminated in early September. The Depart- ment of Justice made the surprise announcement in federal court, marking a swift retreat after weeks of mounting legal pressure from universities and advocacy groups. The terminated records had appeared in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), 4Contd on | nation Pakistan’s gamble & India’s options Analysis V. Sudarshan A t the briefing to the all-party meeting on Thursday, the Government admitted that lapses had led to the terrorist attack at Pahalgam, which resulted in the horrific deaths of 26 people. The Government was asked at the meeting: Whom are you holding responsible?A direct answer was not provided. It was not considered the forum for such detailing. It is learnt that the Government is of the opinion that the attack was not due to a lack of New Delhi's commitment, synergy, or orientation on the ground. The urgent need, it believes, is first and foremost to ensure that such an attack does not happen again. Alongside that, the Government is prioritising measures to prevent infiltration—though both are easier said than done. The Government is also working through a set of dilemmas as it steadily shapes its multi-pronged response and puts in place a functional deterrence. New Delhi has joined the dots, and what emerges is what the Govt believes is “strong and compelling evidence” of a Pakistani signature. One such indication is the use of the M4 assault rifle, which is being characterised as having very clearly come from NATO stock left behind in Afghanistan. 4Contd on | nation