FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms FREE PRESS Vol. 14 No. 318 | BHOPAL | FRIDAY | MAY 2, 2025 | Pages 14 ` 3 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. mpeng/2010/35815 www.freepressjournal.in Online Report More than a week after the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam that left 26 people dead, there are strong indications that the terrorists involved remain active and hidden in south Kashmir, National Investigation Agency (NIA) sources claimed. Sources closely tracking the investigation said there is credible input suggesting that more terrorists may still be hiding in the region. They added that during the attack on April 22 in Pahalgam's Baisaran valley, there were suspicions of additional terrorists maintaining a distance, possibly to provide cover-fire in case security forces attempted a rapid response. The attackers are reportedly highly self-reliant, carrying food supplies and other essential provisions with them, allowing them to operate for extended periods in the forested terrain without requiring external logistical support. Investigative agencies have also recorded statements from survivors and eyewitnesses, revealing the horrifying precision with which the attack was carried out. 4Continued on | P8 fp Briefs DHAKA ICT notice to Hasina The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) of Bangladesh on Thursday issued a show-cause notice to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Shakil Alam Bulbul, a leader of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) - the banned student wing of Awami League - in an alleged contempt of court case. NEW DELHI GST revenue hits Rs 2.37 L cr Goods and Services Tax (GST) collection rose 12.6 per cent Y-o-Y to an alltime high of about Rs 2.37 lakh crore in April, which the government said shows resilience of the Indian economy and the effectiveness of cooperative federalism. The gross GST mop-up was Rs 2.10 lakh crore in April 2024. Today in IPL MATCH NO. 51 GT Vs SRH Ahmedabad, 7.30 pm iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: BHOPAL MONEY Sports Openers ignite, finishers explode P.12 Attackers likely hiding in south Kashmir, say NIA sources ESTD-1983 Economy to grow between 6.5-6.7% in FY26: Deloitte UJJAIN PUNE INDORE NASHIK Cinema Alia Bhatt dazzles in her special look P.14 WE WILL HUNT DOWN EVERY TERRORIST: SHAH PTI NEW DELHI Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday vowed to hunt down each and every terrorist involved in the Pahalgam attack and said all of them will be made answerable for the heinous act. Shah asserted that the Narendra Modi government will not spare any terrorist. "Whoever has carried out the dastardly attack in Pahalgam, we will not spare anyone. We will hunt down each and every perpetrator," he said at an event here to unveil a statue of Upendra Nath Brahma, the patriarch of Assam's Bodo community, and name a road after him. The home minister said the Modi government has been The US on Thursday said it supports India's right right to defend itself and its fight against terrorism as American Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth dialled Defence Minister Rajnath Singh amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan over the Pahalgam terror attack. Singh told Hegseth that Pakistan has been "exposed" as a "rogue" state fuelling global terrorism, and "destabilising" the region. pursuing a zero-tolerance policy against terrorists and fighting strongly against those who have been indulging in terror activities in Kashmir since the 1990s. "If someone thinks they will escape by carrying out such a cowardly attack, they are wrong. This is Narendra Modi's government. We will not spare anyone," he said. The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed an abetment to suicide case against a couple, filed after their sonin-law's suicide note accused them of calling him "impotent". The court noted that merely making an insulting remark did not amount to abetment to suicide. A case under Section 306, based on the man's suicide note, had alleged "abetment Don’t demoralise forces: SC on plea for Pahalgam probe PTI NEW DELHI PTI NEW DELHI Citing security concerns, Pakistan has announced the closure of specific portions of Karachi and Lahore airspace for four hours each day during May and put all airports across the country on high alert, a media report said Thursday. The development comes amid heightened tension between India and Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack and Islamabad's apprehension of retaliatory action by New Delhi. Pakistan has appointed serving ISI chief Lt Gen Muhammad Asim Malik as the new National Security Adviser (NSA) amidst raging tension with India. Lt Gen Malik, currently serving as Director General of Pakistan's spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), will hold the additional charge of the NSA. He is the country's tenth NSA, but it is for the first time that a serving ISI chief has been given the task Shah said the government's fight against terrorism will continue till the menace is completely wiped out. "Do not think that you have won by killing 26 people. Everyone of you will be made answerable," he said. Paying tributes to those killed in the Pahalgam attack, Shah said the entire country feels the pain of those who lost their near and dear ones to terrorists' bullets. "Each citizen of India is feeling the pain. It is our resolve to uproot terrorism from every inch of this country and it will be accomplished. Not only 140 crore Indians but the whole world is standing with India in this fight," he said. 4Continued on | P8 4Continued on | P8 The Supreme Court on Thursday pulled up the petitioners and refused to hear their PIL seeking a judicial probe into the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir in which 26 people were killed. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh castigated the petitioners for seeking a retired judge to monitor the probe into the Pahalgam attack and said retired judges were not experts. "In this crucial time, each and every citizen of the country has joined hands to fight terror. Do you want to demoralise the security forces by filing this kind of PIL? Don't bring this kind of issue to the judicial domain," the bench said. Petitioners Fathesh Kumar Saahu and others were consequently asked to withdraw the PIL. The top court asked the petitioners to realise the sensitivity of the issue and not make any prayer in court which demoralised the forces. "You are asking a retired Supreme Court judge to investigate. Since when the retired judges of the high court and supreme court became experts in investigation? They can only adjudicate and decide an issue. Don't ask us to pass an order. Go wherever you want to go. Better you withdraw," the bench told one of the petitioners. Justice Kant asked the petitioners to exercise caution while filing a PIL and expressed displeasure over the nature of prayers in the petition. The PIL was filed by advocates Fatesh Kumar Sahu and Vicky Kumar aside from Kashmir resident Junaid Mohd. They sought a direction to the Centre and the J&K union territory administration (UT) to ensure the safety of tourists. 4Continued on | P8 SC: Illegal construction can’t be MRO facility may come up near Bhopal airport Govt is having legalised, has to be demolished around 20 acres of Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL PTI NEW DELHI STRICT APPROACH order of the Calcutta High Court, which dealt with a petition highlighting unauthorised constructions. The high court asked the Kolkata Municipal Corporation to initiate demolition proceedings at premises where the illegal constructions came up on some floors. In an order passed on April 30, the apex court admired the "courage and conviction" with which the high court proceeded to take care of unauthorised construction in exercise of its jurisdiction in public interest. The Supreme Court has said courts must adopt a "strict approach" when dealing with cases of unauthorised construction and not engage in judicial regularisation of such structures. A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan said the law ought not to come to the rescue of those flouting its rigours for allowing it might result in "flourishing the culture of impunity". "Thus, the courts must adopt a strict approach while dealing with cases of illegal construction and should not readily engage themselves in judicial regularisation of buildings erected without requisite permissions of the competent authority," it said. The need to maintain a firm stance emanated from the court's "inviolable duty" to uphold the rule of the law and gained "more force" to facilitate the well being of all concerned, the top court said. The bench, as a result, dismissed a plea challenging an NIA to record Rana’s voice, handwriting samples Rape case against BJP leader’s son FP News Service SHIVPURI PTI NEW DELHI A Delhi court has allowed the NIA to collect the voice and handwriting samples of 26/11 Mumbai attack accused Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a source said. Special National Investigation Agency (NIA) Judge Chander Jit Singh, who on April 28 extended Rana's custody for 12 days, passed the order on April 30 on an application moved by the agency. Rana, a close associate of 26/11 main conspirator David Coleman Headley alias Daood Gilani, a US citizen, was brought to India after the US Supreme Court on April 4 dismissed his review plea against his extradition to India. A rape case was registered against Rajat Sharma, the son of BJP Municipality president Gayatri Sharma, in Shivpuri. A girl from Shiv Colony filed the complaint, leading the Kotwali police to take action on Thursday. According to the girl's complaint, she met Rajat on Facebook and their friendship developed into a romantic relationship. They began talking on the phone and met in person for the first time on August 20, 2023. During this meeting, Rajat proposed marriage and later asked her to engage in physical relations, which she consented to multiple times. The girl claims that Rajat recorded videos of their intimate 4Continued on | P8 The proposed Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) is likely to come up near Raja Bhoj Airport. It is learnt that the company doing investment in the project has surveyed the land and things are in pipeline in this regard. A senior officer of the aviation department said that the government is having around 20 of suicide" and accused the in-laws of harassment and calling him impotent when he visited them with his wife. Dismissing the case, a Supreme Court division bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and AG Masih said an offence cannot be made out "merely on the basis of allegations of harassment", LiveLaw reported. The top court noted that the suicide note did not indicate direct inducement or persistent cruelty, elements that are required to SC noted that suicide note did not indicate direct inducement or persistent cruelty, elements required to prove abetment to suicide prove abetment to suicide. It also observed that there was a gap of a month between the alleged remark and the death of the husband, between which there land near Raja Bhoj Airport and MRO project could come up on this land age wherein problems of aircrafts will be fixed,’ he said. Sources in the aviation department said that the company also plans to recycle decom- missioned aircraft and if it comes then it will be a first not only in India but also across Asia. ‘Currently guidelines of the new aviation policy are being prepared and they are in the final stage. Once guidelines are issued, the company will apply under the project. So far, the company has not given the project outlines,’ sources said. 4Continued on | P8 4 killed as car rams into culvert Our Staff Reporter Four people were killed and three others injured when a car carrying them lost control, hit a divider and overturned in Guna. The victims were travelling to attend a wedding ceremony when the accident occurred. Among the three injured, one person with severe injuries has been transferred to a hospital in Bhopal for advanced treatment. The car, carrying them lost control and crashed into a culvert near Bhadaura village under jurisdiction of the Myana police station on Thursday. The devastating incident BHOPAL moments and that b o t h families were aware of their relationship. She informed her family about Rajat and they were supportive of the marriage. However, after her brother was diagnosed with cancer, Rajat promised to marry her once he recovered. After her brother passed away on March 10, the girl urged Rajat to fulfill his promise, but he began making excuses. The victim also alleged that local leaders pressured her to withdraw her complaint. Despite facing pressure, she remained determined to pursue the case. Amid ongoing cases of rape and blackmail involving Hindu girls, a fresh ‘love jihad’ incident has surfaced in the Gunga area of rural Bhopal. A youth from a different community allegedly lured and raped a minor Hindu girl, and is now pressuring her for marriage. The accused was arrested on Thursday and is being questioned by police. According to reports, the girl, aged 17 years and 6 months, lives in a village under Gunga police station. Sahil Khan, 22, a resident of the same area who also works in agricultural fields with his father, is accused of befriending the girl through false pretences. About a month ago, Sahil raped her when she was alone. Recently, Sahil started pressuring the minor for marriage and religious conversion, prompting her to inform her parents. 4Continued on | P8 4Continued on | P8 was no contact between him and his in-laws. The Supreme Court's order came days after the Madras High Court refused to quash the case against the man's in-laws. The court laid out instigation, engagement in any conspiracy and intentional aiding as requirements for a case being qualified as abetment to suicide. Citing a previous case, the Supreme Court held that merely because the remark was insulting, it wouldn’t by itself acres of land near Raja Bhoj Airport and MRO project could come up on this land. The German- based INAVIA Aviation is interested to develop MRO facility and last month its Managing Partner Michael Howell had met Chief Minister Mohan Yadav regarding the project. ‘As far as MRO facility is concerned, only few cities in India like Delhi, Chennai and Mumbai are having the MRO facility. It’s like a gar- Youth arrested in ‘love jihad’ case involving minor girl ‘Insulting remarks not abetment to suicide’ Online Report US urges India, Pakistan to de-escalate tensions The US has urged India and Pakistan to de-escalate their tensions over the Pahalgam terror attack as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held separate phone conversations with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to emphasise on avoiding further escalation. In his phone conversation with Jaishankar on Wednesday night, Rubio expressed his "sorrow" for the lives lost in the "horrific" terror attack and reaffirmed the US' commitment to cooperation with India against terrorism, according to the US State Department. The US Secretary of State called on Sharif for Islamabad's cooperation in investigating the "unconscionable" attack that killed 26 civilians. On his part, Jaishankar told Rubio that the perpetrators, backers and planners of the Pahalgam terror attack must be brought to justice. Pak closes ISI chief Karachi, Lahore appointed airspace Pak NSA offgrid NEW DELHI E-paper Edit BJP yields on caste census P.6 PAHALGAM TERROR ATTACK | Home Minister says fight against terrorism will continue till menace is completely wiped out US supports India's right to defend: Rajnath MUMBAI constitute abetment of suicide. "There should be evidence suggesting that the accused intended by such act to instigate the deceased to commit suicide," LiveLaw quoted the bench as saying. Section 107 of the IPC defines 'abetment of a thing', that is, the different ways a person can be deemed to have encouraged or aided someone else in committing a crime. This includes instigation, conspiracy and intentional aid. FP News Service/Agencies GUNA occurred at around 2.30 a.m., police said. After hearing the loud bang, the owner of a nearby Dhaba (eatery) reached the spot and called the police and ambulance. Gopal Choube, the investigating officer and police station in-charge, said, "It is possible that the driver, who Modi: Right time for create in India, create for world PTI MUMBAI Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday that technology was playing an increasingly important role in the lives of people and urged content creators to build a more compassionate future by using art forms such as music, dance and storytelling. " H u m a n s should not be turned into robots. We need to make them more sensitive," Modi said while batting for creative responsibility at the inauguration of the first World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) here. WAVES is envisaged as a platform to position India as a global hub for media, entertainment and digital innova- tion by bringing together creators, start ups, industry leaders and policy-makers from across the world. The prime minister's remarks came against the backdrop of a raging debate over online content and the Supreme Court asking the government to frame guidelines to regulate it. Modi said WAVES has the potential to become a global talent platform at a time when India is emerging as an international hub for film production, digital content, gaming, fashion, music and live concerts. He said this was the right time for "create in India, create for world" when the world is looking for new ways of storytelling while India has so much more to offer. was among the victims, dozed off, leading to the incident." He further said, "The victims were returning home from a wedding celebration when the accident occurred. Among the injured, one is in critical condition and has been referred to Bhopal for advanced medical attention. However, it remains uncertain who was at the wheel, as only one of the survivors can communicate, albeit not coherently." The deceased have been identified as Govind Raghuvanshi (28), Sonu Raghuvanshi (35), Veeru Kushwaha (24), and Hitesh Bairagi (24), all of whom hailed from Rijoda village. 4Continued on | P8 Ukraine, US finally seal minerals deal AP KYIV After months of tense negotiations, the US and Ukraine signed a deal that is expected to give Washington access to the country's critical minerals and other natural resources, an agreement Kyiv hopes will secure long-term support for its defense against Russia. According to Ukrainian officials, the version of the deal signed Wednesday is far more beneficial to Ukraine than previous versions, which they said reduced Kyiv to a junior partner and gave Washington unprecedented rights to the country's resources. 4Continued on | P8