FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms FREE PRESS Vol. XLII No. 52 | INDORE | THURSDAY | JULY 31, 2025 | Pages 14 ` 3 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. 38281/83 www.freepressjournal.in Sports BUMRAH OUT! India face Oval Test without their ace P.12 No helmet, no fuel from tomorrow District Magistrate issues order  Our Staff Reporter INDORE Two-wheeler riders beware! From now, wearing helmets will be mandatory in order to get access to fuel from petrol pumps. The new rule will be effective from Friday, August 1. Collector and District Magistrate Asheesh Singh issued the all-important restrictive order on Wednesday. The decision comes close on the heels following instructions given by Road Safety Committee of the Supreme Court. The committee members under the stewardship of the Chairman and former Judge Abhay Sapre of Supreme Court visited the city on Tuesday. Collector Singh while elaborating the matter informed that twowheeler riders in the district, without helmets will not be supplied petrol by any of the pumps. Full report on Page2 fp Briefs NEW DELHI Cash haul: SC reserves verdict ESTD-1983 iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: INDORE UJJAIN WORLD PUNE BHOPAL NASHIK Cinema Sara and Khushi dazzle on the runway P.14 TRADE WAR? | US Prez draws a bead on India’s energy, defence purchases from Russia; to announce extra penalty tomorrow TRUMP SLAPS 25% TARIFF ON INDIA Agencies President Donald Trump said on Wednesday the United States will impose a 25% tariff on goods imported from India starting on Aug. 1. He also said his reciprocal tariff deadline for remaining trade partners will not be extended. "The August first deadline is the August first deadline - it stands strong, and will not be extended. A big day for America!!!" Trump wrote on his social media platform in all capital letters. He said India, which has the world's fifth largest economy, will also face an unspecified penalty on Aug. 1, but did not elaborate on the amount or what it was for, report PTI and Reuters. While India is our friend, we have, over the years, done relatively little business with them because their Tariffs are far too high, among the highest in the World, and they have the most strenuous and obnoxious non-monetary Trade Barriers of any Country. Donald Trump, US President "While India is our friend, we have, over the years, done relatively little business with them because their Tariffs are far too high, among the highest in the World, and they have the most strenuous and obnoxious non-monetary Trade Barriers of any Country," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. "They have always bought a E-paper Edit Mumbai’s killer potholes stay put P.6 104 killed, 399 hurt in 24 hours in Gaza WASHINGTON MUMBAI vast majority of their military equipment from Russia, and are Russia’s largest buyer of ENERGY, along with China, at a time when everyone wants Russia to STOP THE KILLING IN UKRAINE — ALL THINGS NOT GOOD!" India did not respond to the development. 4Continued on | P8 Govt: Will protect our interests ndia responded sharply to the imposition of a 25% tariff by the US, asserting that it attaches the utmost importance to protecting and promoting the welfare of its farmers, entrepreneurs, and MSMEs. “The government will take steps to secure our national interest, as it has consistently done in previous trade negotiations, including the recently concluded dealwith the UK,” it said in a statement. I One killed as mini truck hits kawadiyas INDORE: In a tragic incident, a recklessly driven mini truck hit a group of kawadiyas killing one of them on the spot on Khandwa Road on Wednesday. The errant driver managed to flee leaving the mini truck on the spot. DSP (Headquarters Rural) Umakant Choudhary informed Free Press that the incident took place near Kati Ghati between Gwalu and Choral village on Wednesday evening. A person named Adarsh Rathore (25), was killed while six others got injured. Full report on Page3 8.8 earthquake sparks tsunami across Pacific ‘BJP WILL RULE FOR ANOTHER 30 YEARS’ There was no mediation: Jaishankar Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar FP News Service Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar NEW DELHI MUMBAI then “it is disrespect of the Rajya Sabha”. The Opposition then walked out in protest. Trying to raise some new issues in his today’s address, Shah picked on Chidambaram saying “he asked for my resignation this morning” and also demanded to know, “What is the proof they (terrorists involved in Pahalgam attack) were Pakistani?” Shah then attacked Chidambaram saying who was he trying to protect, “Pakistan, Lashkar-e-Taiba or these terrorists”. In the context of the Operation Sindoor ceasefire, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar reiterated in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday that “from April 22 to June 16, there was no phone call between PM Narendra Modi and US President Trump” and that “there was no trade linkage in any conversation with the US or other countries”. His remarks came in the context of Trump’s claims -made 30 times since the May 10 cessation of hostilities -- on having got India and Pakistan to agree to a truce by offering them trade deals. He claimed that rather “India gave the message that it is not open to mediation and will not accept nuclear blackmail”. Elaborating on the scenario which led to the ceasefire, Jaishankar said, “when Operation Sindoor began, a number of countries were in 4Continued on | P8 4Continued on | P8 A powerful 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula early Wednesday, triggering tsunami waves that reached Japan, Hawaii, Alaska and the US West Coast. Though initial warnings prompted mass evacuations and advisories across the Pacific, damage was limited and most alerts have since been downgraded. The quake, among the strongest ever recorded, struck at a depth of 21 km, about 120 km from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Tsunami waves up to 3–4 metres hit Kamchatka, with smaller surges—60 cm in Hokkaido, 2–5 feet in San Francisco, and under 1.5 feet in parts of Alaska and Canada— spotted elsewhere. Hawaii lifted evacuation orders but maintained an advisory, warning of dangerous currents. At least one person was killed in Japan and several were injured in Russia and NEW DELHI The Supreme Court on Wednesday reserved its verdict on a plea filed by Justice Yashwant Varma -- who faces an impeachment threat following the cashdiscovery row -- challenging the findings of the threemember in-house enquiry committee, which recommended his removal under Article 124(4) of the Constitution. In his writ petition, Justice Varma, a sitting judge of the Allahabad HC, sought to quash the communication forwarded by then CJI Sanjiv Khanna to the President and PM, recommending action based on the in-house committee's findings. MUMBAI Malegaon verdict likely Almost 17 years after a blast killed six persons and left more than 100 injured in Maharashtra's communally sensitive Malegaon town, a special NIA court is likely to deliver its verdict in the case on Thursday. Seven accused, including BJP leader and former MP Pragya Thakur and Lt Col Prasad Purohit, faced trial in the case for offences under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code. Major (retired) Ramesh Upadhyay, Ajay Rahirkar, Sudhakar Dwivedi, Sudhakar Chaturvedi and Sameer Kulkarni are the other accused in the case. NEW DELHI BNSS no to e-summons The SC has reaffirmed that summons issued under Section 35 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) cannot be served electronically. Dismissing Haryana's plea to modify a January 2025 directive, the Court held that notices under Section 41A CrPC or Section 35 BNSS must not be sent via WhatsApp or similar platforms. Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday declared that the BJP government, which came to power under Narendra Modi in 2014 will rule for at least 30 years and it would also ensure the liberation of Pakistanoccupied Kashmir. Replying to the discussion on Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor in the Rajya Sabha, Shah, who spoke in Lok Sabha on Monday, said the Centre would also ensure a complete end to infiltration and terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. In the last six months, no Kashmiri youth has been recruited as a terrorist and all those being killed were Pakistanis, he said. Shah also attacked the Congress, and especially its MP and former Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram, for branding Hindus as terrorists for political gains and insisted that “Hindus can never be terrorists”. Shah asserted that all the cases in which Hindus were implicated have failed before the courts of law. Earlier, the Opposition members walked out protesting against PM Modi not coming to the House to end the discussion, raising slogans like “PM ko bulao.” Leader of Opposition and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge told Shah - who insisted that he was there to “respond and clarify” - that the questions pertain to the PM and that if he is in Delhi and does not come to the House Waves strike Japan, Russia, US coast after 8.8 quake off Kamchatka; alerts downgraded but risk remains. One person dead and several injured in Russia and elsewhere elsewhere, mostly during evacuation. A kindergarten under renovation and a hospital in Kamchatka sustained minor damage. Power was cut off in Severo-Kurilsk after waves flooded its port. A dramatic video from a Kamchatka cancer clinic showed doctors continuing surgery as the quake rocked the room. The quake caused widespread panic in Japan, where memories of the 2011 Fuku- NISAR successfully Non-stop rains cause widespread flooding; 2,900 people evacuated placed in orbit CM reviews flood crisis Agencies BENGALURU Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman V Narayanan on Wednesday, said that the GSLV F16 has successfully and precisely injected the NASA-ISRO NISAR satellite weighing 2,393 kg into its intended orbit in space. The GSLV-F16 rocket successfully placed the Earth Observation Satellite, a joint collaboration between the Indian space agency with its US counterpart NASA, into its intended Sun-Synchronous Polar Orbit (SSPO) this evening on its scheduled time. The ISRO Chairman congratulated the ISRO and NASA on their success and said, "This is our 102nd launch from 200 deaths since June 15 A ccording to sources, around 200 people have lost their lives in rainrelated incidents since June 15. While some drowned while bathing or attempting to cross swollen rivers and streams, others reportedly died by suicide or other causes related to flooding. Our Staff Reporter 4Continued on | P8 Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Wednesday reviewed the flood situation in Madhya Pradesh, where continuous rains have caused widespread flooding and waterlogging, especially in Gwalior and Sagar divisions. So far, 2,900 people stranded in floodwaters have been rescued in over 60 operations, officials said. The CM visited the state command centre and took stock of rescue and relief work. He said that saving lives and property remains top priority, urging full coordination among district administra- Army personnel rescue people from a flood-affected area in Shivpuri district on Wednesday tions, police, Home Guards and disaster management teams. Relief teams have been deployed across affected districts and are working to ensure timely support to all in need. The CM took detailed updates on operations in Guna, Shivpuri, Datia and Ashoknagar (Gwalior division); Sagar, Damoh and Chhatarpur (Sagar division); and Vidisha and Raisen (Bhopal division). He also met some flood victims and assured them that government will provide compensation for all losses homes, crops, belongings and livestock. 4Continued on | P8 offgrid Man dances at friend’s funeral to fulfil last wish Pankaj Malik MANDSAUR An emotional scene was witnessed in Jawasiya village of Mandsaur district on Wednesday at a funeral procession when a man danced his heart out, albeit with tears, to fulfil his deceased friend's last wish. Terminally ill cancer pa- tient Sohanlal Jain had written a letter to his best friend Ambalal Prajapati on January 9, 2021 where he expressed a wish that his friend should dance during his funeral procession. He wrote, "When my last rites take place, dance in front of me, so that I feel that my farewell is filled with happiness." 4Continued on | P8 PAHALGAM ATTACK TRF named in UNSC report Agencies NEW YORK BHOPAL 18 missions of GSLV. The previous F-15 mission was the 100th successful mission from Sriharikota." shima disaster remain fresh. Nuclear plants reported no anomalies, but ferries and airports suspended operations. Thousands sought shelter at evacuation centres, especially in northern coastal towns like Matsushima. Experts from the US National Tsunami Warning Center stressed that tsunamis can last for hours. Seeing this confluence of tears and smiles, villagers became emotional. Everyone appreciated this unique and hearttouching scene. Someone said, "Such friendship is rare in today's times," while others called it "not just a dance, but fulfilment of a promise." Deceased's son Mukesh Jain said his father was suffering from cancer since 2023, but he wanted to celebrate his death like any festival. He wanted people to take part in his funeral procession with a DJ and enjoy the event. Mukesh said the family was happy that his father's last journey went according to his wish. In a major diplomatic victory for India, the UN Security Council has named The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of Pakistan-based Lashkar-eTaiba, for its role in the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgamthat left 26 civilians dead. The development came through the latest report released by the UNSC’s 1267 Sanctions Committee’s Monitoring Team on July 24. The report states: “On 22 April, five terrorists attacked a tourist spot in Pahalgam. Twenty-six civilians were killed. The attack was claimed that same day by TRF, who in parallel published a photograph of the attack site.” The report further mentions that TRF repeated the claim the next day, but later, on April 26, retracted it. No other group claimed responsibility afterward. The Ministry of External Affairs sources said the mention of TRF in the report, despite Pakistan chairing the UNSC in July and attempting to remove such references, “punctures” Islamabad’s strategy of plausible deniability and exposes its terror proxy network in J&K. 4Continued on | P8