FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms FREE PRESS Vol. XLII No. 15 | INDORE | MONDAY | JUNE 23, 2025 | Pages 12 ` 3 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. 38281/83 www.freepressjournal.in OP MIDNIGHT HAMMER fp Agencies JERUSALEM 160 Indians evacuated With Israeli airspace closed and commercial flights suspended, the Indian missions in Israel and Jordan, in a joint effort, evacuated 160 Indian nationals in the first batch under Operation Sindhu on Sunday, according to an embassy source. NEW DELHI Air India gets bomb threat Air India flight AI-114 from Birmingham to New Delhi received a bomb threat on Saturday, after which it was diverted to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely, Air India said on Sunday. A spokesperson said the plane was thoroughly inspected and all the checks have been completed. Egyptian foreign minister Badr Abdelatty's two-day visit to India beginning Monday has been called off in view of the escalating tension following the US's bombing of three major nuclear sites in Iran. Badr was scheduled to hold wide-ranging talks with external affairs minister S Jaishankar and commerce minister Piyush Goyal on Monday. The US attacked three sites in Iran early on Sunday, inserting itself into Israel's war aimed at destroying the Iranian nuclear programme in a risky gambit to weaken a longtime foe that prompted fears of a wider regional conflict as Tehran accused Washington of launching "a dangerous war." In an address to the nation from the White House, US President Donald Trump asserted that Iran's key nuclear sites were "completely and fully obliterated" in the mission called Operation Midnight Hammer. Satellite images taken after the American attack show damage to the entryways to the Fordo facility, which is dug deep into a mountain, while light gray smoke lingered in the air. Trump acted without congressional authorisation, and he also warned there would be additional strikes if Tehran retaliated against US forces. "There will either be peace or there will be tragedy for Iran," he said. Hours after the American at- tacks, Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard said it launched a barrage of 40 missiles at Israel, including its Khorramshahr-4, which can carry multiple warheads. Israeli authorities reported that more than 80 people suffered mostly minor injuries. Following the Iranian barrage, Israel's military said it had "swiftly neutralised" the Iranian missile launchers that had fired, and that it had begun a series of strikes toward military targets in western Iran. "We have completed our very successful attack on the three nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan," Trump said in a post on social media. "All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home." Trump added in a later post: "This is an HISTORIC MOMENT FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ISRAEL, AND THE WORLD. IRAN MUST NOW AGREE TO END THIS WAR. THANK YOU!" 4Continued on | P8 NASHIK MUMBAI E-paper Edit Trump’s gamble risks backfiring P.6 Nation Nitish ahead in temple politics P.7 Tehran hits Israel cities World calls for talks Emergency workers at an impact site following a missile attack from Iran, in Tel Aviv. Our objective was the destruction of Iran's nuclear enrichment capacity, and a stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world's number one state sponsor of terror. The strikes were a spectacular military success. Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated. Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace. If they do not, future attacks will be far greater and a lot easier. There will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days. Remember, there are many targets left. We (US and Israel) worked as a team like perhaps no team has ever worked before. And we've gone a long way to erasing this horrible threat to Israel. For 40 years, Iran has been saying, “Death to America, death to Israel”. I want to congratulate the great American patriots who flew those magnificent machines tonight, and all of the US military on an operation the likes of which the world has not seen in many, many decades. FP News Service Pak position: POTUS good for Nobel, not noble in Iran Agency PM Narendra Modi on Sunday conveyed to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian India's "deep concern" over the conflict with Israel and called for immediate deescalation of the situation through "dialogue and diplomacy". The 45-minute phone conversation between Modi and Pezeshkian came hours after the US bombed three major nuclear sites in Iran. The call came from Pezeshkian. The Iranian president briefed Modi in detail on the evolving situation, the sources said, adding he described India as a friend and partner in promoting regional peace, security and stability. LAHORE ‘TALKS ONLY OPTION’ New York: UN Secretary-General António Guterres led the world in expressing concern over the US bombing of Iran, calling it a “dangerous escalation” and asserted immediate return to negotiations were critical to avoid a "spiral of chaos". FP News Service In a major breakthrough, the NIA has arrested two men for harbouring the terrorists who had carried out the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 people dead, the agency said on Sunday. According to the NIA, the two men, Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar from Batkote and Bashir Ahmad Jothar of Hill Park in Pahalgam, have disclosed the identities of the three armed terrorists involved in the attack. They have also confirmed that the assailants were Pakistani nationals affiliated to the proscribed terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). "Parvaiz and Bashir had knowingly harboured the three armed terrorists at a seasonal dhok (hut) at Hill Park before the attack, as per NIA investigations. The two men had provided food, shelter and logistical support BHOPAL FIERY DON NEW DELHI PAHALGAM TERRORISTS Rain no relief for Naxals, FROM PAKISTAN; TWO warns Shah AIDES ARRESTED SRINAGAR PUNE B-2s, bunker busters used Modi speaks to Iran prez, calls for de-escalation and dialogue 4Continued on | P8 PTI UJJAIN US BOMBS IRAN CAIRO Egypt min calls off India visit INDORE There’ll be either peace or tragedy, says Trump DUBAI Briefs EDITIONS: TUT-TUT: INVESTORS AWAIT THE NEXT BIG ONE AMID RISKS 3 nuke sites ‘obliterated’ onstable Bhupendra Bamniya has been transforming young lives with books and knowledge. Turn to the Indore page to find out how. SEE P3 iii QUALITY @ VALUE MONEY Sports Bumrah is extremely hard to face: Duckett P.10 C ESTD-1983 Two accused have been arrested under Section 19 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act A day after backing US President Trump as a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize, Pakistan on Sunday condemned the US attacks on Iran, calling them a violation of international law. The development comes amid media reports suggesting Pakistan Army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, leaked sensitive intelligence about Iran’s top military commander Mohammad Hossein Baqeri to the US and Israel. 4Continued on | P8 US crossed a very big red line: Iran warns of consequences Agencies TEHRAN Iran on Sunday said the US would be “solely and fully responsible for the dangerous consequences” of its attacks on Iranian nuclear sites, adding that President Trump has “betrayed” American voters by submitting to Israel’s wishes. During an address to a meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Istanbul, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the US crossed “a very big red line” by attacking Iran’s three nuclear facilities. Speaking just hours after Trump announced that US warplanes had “obliterated” the nuclear sites, Araghchi condemned the strikes and called on the UN Security Council to act. “It is an outrageous, grave and unprecedented violation of the fundamental principles of the Charter of the UN and international law,” he said, adding LIGHTNING STRIKE that the “warmongering and lawless” US administration will be “solely and fully responsible for the dangerous consequences and far-reaching implications of its act of aggression”. “The Islamic Republic of Iran continues to defend Iran’s territory, sovereignty, and people by all means necessary against not just US military aggression, but also the reckless and unlawful actions of the Israeli regime.” 4Continued on | P8 n A PART OF B-2 PACKAGE PROCEEDED TO WEST AND INTO PACIFIC AS A DECOY n BOMBERS FLEW NON-STOP FOR ABOUT 37 HOURS FROM MISSOURI, US n JETS REFUELLED SEVERAL TIMES MID-AIR n THE MISSION LASTED ONLY 25 MINUTES n 7 STEALTH B-2 BOMBERS WERE INVOLVED n OVER 125 MILITARY AIRCRAFT DEPLOYED n 14 BUNKER-BUSTER BOMBS DROPPED n 2 DOZEN TOMAHAWK MISSILES PROVIDED COVER RAJA MURDER CASE Our Staff Reporter INDORE Our Staff Reporter to the terrorists, who had, on the fateful afternoon, selectively killed the tourists on the basis of their religious identity, making it one of the most gruesome terrorist attacks ever," it added. The two accused have been arrested under Section 19 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, which relates to punishment for harboring a terrorist. The NIA has said further investigation into the case is on. In an attack that shocked the nation, armed terrorists shot dead 25 tourists and a Kashmiri pony ride operator in cold blood at Pahalgam's Baisaran Valley. 4Continued on | P8 4Continued on | P8 Iran’s parliament has approved a measure to close the strategic Strait of Hormuz, the state-run Press TV said. The Supreme National Security Council, Iran’s top security authority, is required to finalise the decision. Bibi says US prez created a ‘pivot of history’ Jerusalem: Applauding US President Donald Trump's "bold decision" to hit Iran's nuclear facilities, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday said that it demonstrated "peace through strength" and will lead to a future of peace and prosperity in the region and beyond. A little over a month ago, Netanyahu appeared to have been shunted to the shadows by Trump, who hopscotched the West Asia without visiting Israel, traditionally Washington's closest regional ally. Two more accused arrested; Woman held for in transit remand till June 28 mom-in-law’s murder RAIPUR U n i o n Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said Naxalites won't get rest during monsoon as operations against them will continue during rains, even as he ruled out talks and appealed to the ultras to lay down arms and join the journey of development. "Every time during monsoon, Naxalites used to get rest (as swollen rivers hamper anti-Naxal operations inside dense forest). But this time, we will not let them sleep during monsoon and we will move further to achieve the target of 31/3 (2026 to eliminate Naxalism)", Shah said. "No need for talks. Just give up armed struggle and join the mainstream. Close Strait of Hormuz: Parliament INDORE In a significant development in the Raja Raghuvanshi murder case, Shillong Police’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) arrested two more individuals, including a local property dealer and a building security guard, for allegedly helping destroy crucial evidence after the crime. The two arrests bring the total number of people held in the case to seven. Additional DCP (Crime) Rajesh Dandotiya told Free Press that the SIT, which has been camping in Indore for several days, arrested Silom James, a property dealer, and Balveer Ahirwar, a security guard, for their roles in concealing and later destroying a bag belonging to Sonam, the woman at the centre of the case. James and Ahirwar were produced before the court from where they were given transit remand till June 28. The bag—reportedly contain- Meghalaya police took the accused to the spot where the evidence was destroyed ing jewellery, a pistol, and a laptop—was hidden in a rented flat in the Heera Bagh area of the city, where Sonam stayed for several days after returning from Shillong. She surrendered to the police in Ghazipur on June 8. Silom James, who had rented the flat to murder coaccused Vishal Chauhan at Rs 17,000 per month, was arrested from Bhorasa toll gate in Dewas district on Saturday evening, allegedly while attempting to flee to Bhopal. 4Continued on | P8 Property dealer approached cops According to Shillong police, Silom had given possession of the flat on June 1. Thereafter, Sonam stayed over there till June 8. After she surrendered before the UP police in Ghazipur, Silom, who was probably watching the news about the incident, reached the police station to give information about the tenant. A woman allegedly killed her 47-year-old mother-in-law in the bathroom of their rented house in the Vijay Nagar area on Sunday evening. It is said that the woman and her daughterin-law were alone at home and they had an argument over some issue after which the accused woman attacked her mother-in-law. The police have detained the accused and she is being questioned.   According to Vijay Nagar police station in charge Chandrakant Patel, the deceased was identified as Gomati Choudhary, a resident of the New Shriram Nagar area of the city. She was found injured in the bathroom by her husband and was rushed to the hospital but she could not be saved. Preliminary investigation revealed that Gomati had an argument with her daughter-in-law Neha Choudhary over some issue. The argument escalated and Neha It is said that the woman and her daughter-in-law had an argument after which the accused attacked her took her inside the bathroom and allegedly attacked Gomati with a heavy object (piece of a tile). Neha has been detained and the body sent for autopsy. A relative Malkhan Singh informed the Free Press that Gomati was staying here in the rented accommodation on the first floor of the building with her husband Koushal Prasad Choudhary, son Sandeep, daughter-in-law Neha and Gomati’s daughter Sapna. At the time of the incident, only Gomati and Neha were at home. They had an argument and when Neha took Gomati inside the bathroom, Gomati’s husband Koushal Prasad reached home from duty. 4Continued on | P8