BHUBANESWAR l tuesday l march 10, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 14 l late city EDITION Why No job scheme for acid attack victims, SC asks states, UTs The Supreme Court on Monday sought to know why a scheme for rehabilitation of acid attack victims through govt jobs has not been formulated Pay allowance, if jobs can’t be given: SC Stringent punishments for perpetrators The court said if logistical issues arise in providing such employment, the state governments could formulate a policy to pay subsistence allowance to the victims. The court was hearing a plea by Shaheen Malik, an acid attack survivor, seeking appropriate directions to states to implement proper measures for the well-being of acid attack survivors ■ ■ The court granted one final opportunity to states and Union Territories to comply with its Jan 27 order directing strong punishment for perpetrators and effective rehabilitation measures for victims That order proposed, among other things, seizure of assets of those found guilty of carrying out acid attacks to compensate the victims 2-judge Bench headed by cji Surya Kant was hearing the case CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOgGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI The BIG 33.1cr 50% 18% 1.6cr Household LPG consumers in India Imports make up Commercial LPG usage constitutes PIPED GAS Restaurants hit While no restriction has been put on piped gas supply as of now, analysts warn some disruption is likely if the war lingers on With commercial cylinders in short supply, Bangalore Hotels Association said restaurants in the city will remain shut from today Piped natural gas LPG SHOCKER PICTURE active connections of total domestic LPG consumption domestic connections of total LPG sold OMCs told to meet household demand first; Several states report shortage RAK E SH K U M AR @ New Delhi Amid fears of an imminent shortage of cooking gas due to import disruptions triggered by the ongoing Iran-Israel war, the Union petroleum ministry on Monday directed stateowned oil marketing companies (OMCs) to prioritise supply of LPG cylinders to domestic consumers over commercial users. The ministry also increased the waiting period for refills from 21 days to 25 days to prevent hoarding and black marketing. “All public sector OMCs shall ensure that LPG so procured is supplied/marketed solely to consumers of domestic LPG only,” the Union petroleum ministry said in an order. The government also directed all oil refineries and petrochemical complexes in India to utilise propane and butane streams to produce only LPG, instead of using them for other petrochemical products. The move comes at a time when India’s LPG imports have been affected due to supply disruptions in West Asia amid the ongoing conflict in the region. India imports more than 50% of its LPG requirements, with around 80% of the imports $119 Oil breaches $100-mark for 1st time in 4 years Crude oil prices on Monday crossed the $100-mark for the first time in four years with Brent crude touching an intraday high of $119 per barrel before cooling to $102.1 per barrel. West Texas Intermediate also soared to touch $119.48 per barrel but fell back closer to $100 | P12 coming from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE. Last week, the government directed OMCs to ramp up LPG production. With supplies from the Gulf region impacted, the government is now diversifying its import sources. According to a petroleum ministry official, India is already in talks with countries including Australia, Norway and Algeria to secure additional LPG supplies. New Delhi recently signed contracts to import around 2.2 million tonnes per annum of LPG from the US, accounting for nearly 10% of the country’s total annual LPG imports. Supplies under these contracts began in January 2026. Meanwhile, several states in- cluding Bihar, Maharashtra and Punjab have reported shortages of LPG and fuel. However, the government has clarified that petrol pumps and gas stations are functioning normally and there is no fuel shortage in the country . The decision to prioritise domestic LPG supply has, however, set alarm bells ringing among businesses. Several industry bodies have written to the government seeking urgent intervention. The National Restaurant Association of India on Monday warned that any disruption in commercial LPG cylinder supply could lead to widespread closure of restaurants. The Bengaluru Hotels Association also said that many restaurants in the city may not be able to operate from Wednesday due to shortage of commercial LPG. After industry bodies expressed concerns, the petroleum ministry stepped in to clarify that imported LPG for non-domestic use will be supplied to essential sectors such as hospitals and educational institutions. As for the shortage faced by restaurants and hotels, a panel of three OMC directors will review requests for LPG cylinders from them. Khamenei’s son chosen successor Iran named the hard-line Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his late father as supreme leader, a decision that is likely to annoy the US | P9 4-day week in Pakistan Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif announced work from home for 50% of the staff, a four-day working week, big cut in govt spend, and ban on state dinners and iftars | P11 Indian focus on peace, diplomacy, safeguarding national interest: EAM J aya nt h j a c o b @ New Delhi Briefing Parliament on the situation in West Asia, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday said India is in favour of peace and urges a return to dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the conflict. “India is in favour of peace and urges a return to dialogue and diplomacy. We advocate de-escalation, restraint and ensuring the safety of civilians,” he said. In his suo motu address to both houses of Parliament, Jaishankar said, India’s response to the conflict is guided by three core principles—peace and a return to dialogue and diplomacy the well-being and security of , the Indian community in the Gulf, and safeguarding India’s national interests. There are almost one crore Indian citizens who live and work across the Gulf, including thousands in Iran. The region is key to India’s energy security The Gulf . is also a major trade partner, accounting for $200 billion annually, he said. “The well-being and security of the Indian community in the region is our overriding priority We will . continue to work with the governments of the region towards that end,” he said, adding “our national interest, including energy security and trade flows, will always be paramount.” Jaishankar’s address was met with strong protests from the Opposition demanding a full-fledged debate in both Houses on the situation in West Asia. West Asia crisis: Edible oil prices surge in state amid hoarding concerns B i j o y P r a d h a n @ Bhubaneswar The escalating conflict in West Asia has begun to impact edible oil market in the state with prices rising sharply largely driven , by hoarding and profiteering by some wholesalers and retailers. Refined vegetable and seed oils have become costlier by `10`20 per litre, mustard oil by `8-`10 per litre while palm oil prices have gone up by around `5 per litre in two major markets of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar. Traders attribute the sudden spike to disruption in the supply chain, rising freight costs and concerns over potential blockades along key global shipping routes. However, Odisha Byabasayee Mahasangha, the apex commodities traders body of the state, has asserted that there is sufficient supply of edible oil and the steep price hike is not justi- fied by market fundamentals. Mahasangha general secretary Sudhakar Panda said the actual increase in wholesale prices is minimal but some traders might be charging significantly higher rates at the retail level. There has been only a marginal in- There is enough stock of edible oil to meet the state’s requirement for the next 15 to 20 days. This is not the time for traders to keep a profiteering motive – Sudhakar Panda, Odisha Byabasayee Mahasangha Most parties in Bengal for 1-2 phase of polls, ECI told S U B H E N D U M AI T I @ Kolkata Almost all political parties in West Bengal on Monday suggested to the Election Commission of India that the upcoming assembly polls in the state be held in one or two phases. The full bench of the ECI met representatives of political parties separately at a private hotel in Kolkata’s New Town as part of its review of the preparations for the polls that are likely in April. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, accompanied by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, met representatives of the TMC, BJP CPI(M), , Congress and AAP, among others. The ruling Trinamool Con- Minister claims CEC asked him to shut up TMC minister Chandrima Bhattacharya alleged the CEC didn’t want to hear their objections. “He told me ‘shut up’ when I wanted to convey grievances on voter deletion gress and CPM expressed concerns about ‘unbearable’ harassments faced by common citizens during SIR hearings and categorising more than 60 lakh voters as ‘under adjudication’ status. The TMC delegation, comprising ministers Firhad Hakim and Chandrima Bhattacharya PanikkaR reshaped modern April 26, 1936—March 09, 2026 Indian history crease of around `5 per litre in the wholesale market but some retail traders are charging up to `20 more per litre for popular refined oil brands, he said. “T here is enough stock of edible oil to meet the state’s requirement for the next 15 to 20 and Rajeev Kumar (retired DGP), urged the ECI not to conduct the poll without addressing the discrepancies in the voters’ lists. However, the BJP was noncommittal on the issue of SIR but demanded that polls be held in one to three phases and in a peaceful environment. “We sought the active deployment of 400 companies Central forces already present in the state,” they later told reporters. Officials said the excise department was asked to ensure production and distribution of intoxicants do not increase in the run-up to the polls. The RBI was asked to ensure cash is not used to influence voters. KN Panikkar stands alongside the generation that transformed modern Indian history from political narrative to social history; from nationalist teleology to structural analysis, writes Rajan Gurukkal | P8 days. This is not the time for traders to keep a profiteering motive,” Panda warned, pointing to the role of a handful of major importers in influencing market prices. “There are five to seven major importers of edible oil who have formed a kind of syndicate. It is for the central and the state governments to verify their stock position and the landing cost of their imports,” Continued on P5 he said.  No-confidence motion against CEC coming PR E E T HA N AIR @ New Delhi IN signs of heightening friction between the Opposition and the Election Commission of India (ECI), several parties are mulling a notice to move a motion seeking ouster of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, sources said on Monday . The issue was discussed on Monday at an INDIA bloc meeting chaired by Mallikarjun Kharge, leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha, said a Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader who also pointed out that West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee is currently holding an indefinite dharna against lakhs of names being deleted in the ongoing poll roll revision in the state. “The CEC has degraded the great seat he occupies,” the TMC leader said. Congress sources said they would support the notice and that other INDIA bloc parties are on the same page. The notice has been drafted collectively, said the leader. As per rules, signatures of at least 100 MPs from Lok Sabha and at least 50 MPs from Rajya Sabha are required to move the notice. The CEC can only be removed on grounds of proven misbehaviour or incapacity . Tragic Monday: Six road mishaps claim 13 lives in Odisha E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e A horrifying spate of road accidents in a span of 24 hours claimed 13 lives across the state on Monday . Four of the fatalities were reported in Bargarh district. The other deaths were reported from Sambalpur (3), Sundargarh and Keonjhar (two each), and Khurda and Balangir (one each). The mishap in Bargarh was the most tragic as it claimed four members of a family, including a threeyear-old child. Police said six members of a family from Ghati Jampali village under Binika police station limits were returning home after a wedding feast on the intervening night of Sunday and Monday. A speeding MUV rammed into both motorcycles near a curve, killing four of them, near Mehena Chhak on the Godb- The burnt truck after the accident near haga-Mahulpali road. Dimirimunda Chhak in Sambalpur district Police arrested the MUV driver, identified as Mukesh Patel, for allegedly driving the vehicle at high speed. The vehicle involved in the crash is reportedly associated with a liquor outlet. In the second mishap, three youths were killed after their motorcycle collided head-on with a container truck near Dimirimunda Chhak under Jamankira police station limits in Sambalpur district on the day . The impact was so severe that the bike was trapped under the container’s wheels. The collision also triggered a fire in the truck, completely torching the bike and the front portion of the container. All three youths riding the bike sustained critical injuries and were rushed to a hospital where they were declared dead. The mishap led to a road blockade, with villagers demanding a permanent solution to frequent accidents on Continued on P5 the stretch.