kottayam l wednesday l September 11, 2024 l `9.00 l PAGES 14 l city EDITION All-civilian crew blast off into space for 1st private spacewalk SpaceX on Tuesday launched its Polaris Dawn mission, carrying a 4-member civilian crew, for the first spacewalk by non-professional astronauts U.S. billionaire bankrolling the mission High-risk spacewalk to last 20 minutes The mission, whose total cost is not known, is jointly funded by US billionaire Jared Isaacman and SpaceX. Isaacman, the CEO of US firm Shift4 Payments, is accompanied by SpaceX engineers Anna Menon and Sarah Gillis, and retired US Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Scott ‘Kidd’ Poteet. The spacewalk is scheduled for late Wednesday or Thursday, midway through the flight ■ ■ ■ The spacewalk will bet at 700 km altitude, lasting about 20 minutes The entire cabin will be depressurised and the four astronauts will rely on SpaceX-built spacesuits for oxygen. Isaacman and Gillis will exit the spacecraft while Poteet and Menon will stay in the cabin to monitor it It is very risky mission as the quartet can be exposed to cosmic radiation 2 years The quartet underwent rigourous training for 24 months for the mission 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 Finally, CM Pinarayi breaks silence, rejects allegations of links with RSS E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ T’Puram Over 50 students hurt, Net banned in Imphal valley Protests in Manipur for second successive day in the wake of the fresh spurt of violence Students clash with security personnel during their protest over the recent violence, in Imphal on Tuesday | PTI Two more battalions of CRPF in Manipur The Centre is deploying two fresh CRPF battalions comprising about 2,000 personnel in Manipur. While one is being moved from Warangal, the other will come from Latehar in Jharkhand. One battalion will be based in Kangvai (Churachandpur) while the second will be around Imphal Joint team to probe drone bombing A joint team of officers drawn from the CRPF, the BSF and some independent technical experts will reach Manipur later this week for an analytical study of the drones and improvised rockets that have been used to launch attacks in some regions of the state over the last few days Hi-tech rocket tails recovered: police “There is evidence of drone and hi-tech missile attacks. Drones have been recovered. Tails of sophisticated rockets fired on civilian areas have been found,” Manipur IGP (Administration) K Jayanta Singh said. He did not elaborate from where these rockets and drones were procured P r a s a n ta M a z u m d a r @ Guwahati Over 50 protesting students were injured in Manipur on Tuesday when the police used force to thwart their attempt to march to Raj Bhavan even as the state government imposed a five-day ban on internet services in five Imphal valley districts. The government also ordered the closure of all colleges till Thursday. Curfew was reimposed in Imphal East and Imphal West districts while prohibitory orders under Section 163 BNSS were clamped in Thoubal district. One of the injured students, a girl, sustained grievous injuries, a senior government official said, adding she was admitted in the ICU of Regional Institute of Medical Sciences in Imphal. For the second straight day on Tuesday, the students attempted to march to Raj Bhavan but they were stopped by security personnel. This led to scuffles and the personnel dispersed the protesters by firing tear gas shells. The students of Manipur University also took out another protest march. The protests on Monday had turned violent when the students pelted stones outside Raj Bhavan. The students are on the streets demanding the removal of state’s security advisor and director general of police for failing to protect the lives and properties of citizens. Hundreds of them have been camping at Khwairamband Women Market since Monday . In an order, the home department said internet services had been suspended “to thwart the design and activities of antinational and anti-social elements, maintain peace and communal harmony and prevent any loss of life or danger to public/private property .” Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya, who held a meeting with the representatives of students and women groups at around 6 pm on Tuesday called , for peace. “In the wake of the sudden spurt of violent incidents, Governor Shri Lakshman Prasad Acharya expressed deep concern. The Governor has said that violence is not the solution to any problem. Everyone will have to contribute and find ways to overcome this problem,” a statement issued by Raj Bhavan said. It further stated that the governor was constantly speaking to public leaders, students and people in general. “In view of the present situation, the Hon’ble Governor has appealed to all sections of the society, student organizations and public leaders to work together to establish peace and help Manipur to scale a new height of growth and development,” the statement added. war of words On the eve of an LDF meeting, in which the CPI is set to raise the controversy surrounding ADGP M R Ajith Kumar, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan finally broke his silence on the allegations of RSS links. In his first public response since the controversy over the ADGP-RSS meeting erupted almost a week ago, Pinarayi contemptuously rejected Opposition’s charges of the CPM-RSS understanding. Speaking at the Kovalam area committee office inauguration on Tuesday, Pinarayi unleashed a scathing attack on the Congress, listing out instances of Congress leaders’ leaning towards the Sangh parivar. “A section has been indulging in a major campaign that the CPM has RSS links. At no stage has the CPM indulged in any sort of RSS appeasement. The CPM has lost many lives in RSS attacks. It was the CPM which always resisted the Sangh Parivar and opposed communalism. Never was there any kind of compromise with the RSS. Everyone knows who said he has stood guard for RSS shakhas,” said Pinarayi, in an apparent reference to KPCC president K Sudhakaran. Noticeably, in spite A section has been indulging in a major campaign that the CPM has RSS links. At no stage has the CPM indulged in any sort of RSS appeasement PROTESTING junior doctors in West Bengal on Tuesday defied the Supreme Court’s directive to resume work by 5 pm, saying they would continue with their ‘ceasework’ protest till their demands are fulfilled and the rape-murder victim of the RG Kar Hospital gets justice. The agitating doctors also rejected an email invite from a state government official for talks with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to resolve the impasse, taking exception to the conditions for talks. An email sent by Health Secretary N S Nigam to the protesters on Tuesday evening read: “Your small delegation (maximum 10 persons) may visit Nabanna now to meet government representatives.” During the day, the protesting doctors had marched to Swasthya Bhavan, the head- quarters of the health department, and staged a sit-in outside the office building. One of the protesters said the official could have come out and spoken to them in person, instead of sending an email. Dr Debasish Halder, who organised a sit-in, said the language of the communication is not only disrespectful to doctors but downright insensitive, adding: “We find no reason to reply to this mail.” E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Kochi Coming down heavily on the state government for not taking legal action based on the Justice K Hema Committee report, the Kerala High Court directed the state to hand over the entire report of the panel to the special investigation team (SIT) constituted to probe the complaints of sexual harassment in the Malayalam film Industry . “Why was the state government inactive till now, even though it received the report in 2019,” asked the court. Terming the conduct of the state executive as alarmingly lethargic, the court said that the government had done nothing for more than four years except sit on the report. “Prima facie, of- The J&K police have registered a first information report (FIR) against a Wing Commander at the Air Force station here after a woman flying officer accused him of rape and mental harassment. The FIR was lodged at the Budgam Police Station under Section 376(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which pertains to aggravated rape by persons in positions of authority . An Inspector-rank police officer is overseeing the probe. The complainant alleged that she was sexually assaulted on December 31, 2023 during a New Year’s party held at the Officers’ Mess at the Air Force station in Srinagar. Both officers are posted there. “On the guise of giving me a gift, the Wing Commander asked me to collect the gift from his room. Once I went inside the room, the Wing Commander forced himself on me and sexually assaulted me. I tried to resist it in all possible ways and managed to run away from the room after pushing him,” the survivor alleged. She said while she was afraid to report the incident, when the accused officer visited her office, she did not find any no signs of remorse on his face. The victim approached a few women officers who suggested K Sudhakaran of his almost hour-long outburst, Pinarayi maintained total silence on the allegations raised by Left MLA P V Anvar against the ADGP . Minutes after Pinarayi cornered him, Sudhakaran shot back saying Pinarayi has been living on the BJP’s mercy. If not, he would have gone to jail Malappuram dist police chief, 8 DySPs transferred T’Puram: In a major development following the allegations raised by MLA P V Anvar against ADGP M R Ajith Kumar and a host of other police officers, the state government has transferred Malappuram district police chief S Sasidharan and all eight DySPsin the district. Sasidharan has been transferred as SP, Vigilance Ernakulam Range. R Viswanadh is the new Malappuram district police chief. P4 Yechury in critical condition at aiims CPM leader Sitaram Yechury’s condition is critical and he is on respiratory support at AIIMS Delhi, his party said. He has acute respiratory tract infection ‘Alarmingly lethargic’ Terming the conduct of the state executive as alarmingly lethargic, the High Court bench said the govt had done nothing for more than four years except sit on the report Prima facie, offences under the IPC and Pocso Act are made out. Why no action was taken, asked court fences under the IPC and Pocso Act are made out. Why no action was taken?” the court asked. A special bench comprising Justice A K Jayasankaran Nambiar and Justice C S Sudha also directed the government to hand over the entire Hema Committee report, to- gether with all its annexures — documentary and otherwise —to the SIT. The investigation team should go through the report in its entirety to see whether any offence, cognizable or otherwise, has been made out at the instance of any person and proceed to take suitable action in accordance with law, by treating the contents of the report as “information” to set the law in motion, the bench stated. It said the SIT should then forward a report, on its action, to the state government within two weeks. On receipt of the report, the government should file a counter affidavit with a copy of the action taken report. “Then we will open the sealed cover and see if the SIT’s action or inaction is justified,” said the bench. The court issued the order in response to a public interest litigation filed by Navas A alias Paichira Navas of Thiruvananthapuram, seeking a directive to the state government to initiate criminal proceedings against those accused of sexual exploitation and harassment of women in the film industry, as found by the Justice Hema Committee. The bench is also considering petitions related to the Hema Committee report. During the hearing, Advocate General K Gopalakrishna Kurup submitted that the DGP had constituted an SIT to look into the complaints of sexual assault, and 23 cases have been registered in different police stations and transferred to the SIT. However, these cases are based on complaints filed following the release of the report, not directly on the report ● More on P7 itself.  Missing elderly woman found buried; murder suspected Kadavanthra, eyeing her cash hadra’s son Radhakrishnan and gold. told TNIE that he last saw his The suspected crime hap- mother on August 3 when he The body of a 73-year-old pened before August 9 as a visited her at her home on Kawoman, who was reported CCTV visual showed the cou- rithala Road near Kadavanmissing from Kochi last month, ple leaving the rented house thra. “She did not complain was found buried on near the Korthussery about anything and looked the premises of a temple in Kalavoor in happy he said. ,” rented house in Alapthe early hours of that However, she was not in the puzha on Tuesday . day . house on August 4. Since she The police suspect “Subhadra used to used to go for temple visits, the deceased, Subcarry gold ornaments Radhakrishan, the youngest of hadra, a resident of while travelling. So, her three sons, waited for three Kochi who went misswe suspect that the days and filed a missing pering on August 4, was duo befriended her for son complaint at the Kadavanmurdered. cash and gold. The ex- thra police station on August Subhadra They are on the act motive behind the 7. lookout for the couple crime can be ascerThe police found her mobile —Mathews alias Nithin of Kat- tained only after the couple’s phone was switched off under toor in Thrissur and Sharmila, arrest,” said Alappuzha DySP the Mannanchery police staa native of Udupi — who had M R Madhu Babu. tion limits, and found that she been living in the rented house He said the elderly woman was spending time with a couin Kalavoor. The search has was a frequent visitor to pil- ple from Kalavoor. “The case been expanded to Karnataka grim centres and temples in was handed over to the Manas the duo’s last mobile tower different parts of the state, and nanchery police later,” the ● More on P4 location was detected in mostly travelled alone. Sub- DySP said.  Mangaluru. Police believe that the duo We suspect the couple befriended the elderly woman for cash and befriended Subadhra, who gold. The exact motive behind the crime can be ascertained only after the duo’s arrest — M R Madhu Babu, Alappuzha DySP lived alone in her house near E XPR E SS N E WS S E RVIC E @Alappuzha/Kochi Junior doctors march towards Swasthya Bhawan in Kolkata on Tuesday | PTI IAF Wing Commander booked for rape in J&K F aya z W a n i @ Srinagar Pinarayi Vijayan has surrendered before the RSS and has been its slave for long. Now, he’s on a rampage against others after his RSS links got exposed HC pulls up state govt, asks why it sat on Hema panel report for 4 yrs Medics defy SC fiat, reject Didi’s call E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Kolkata Pinarayi Vijayan long ago, said Sudhakaran while talking to the media in Kollam. “Pinarayi Vijayan has surrendered before the RSS and has been its slave for long. Now, he’s on a rampage against others after his RSS links got exposed,” said Sudhakaran, who challenged the CM to reveal the agenda of the ADGPRSS meeting. Earlier in the day, CPI indicated that it would raise the issue over the ADGP meeting RSS leaders at the LDF meet on Wednesday “What’s the rea. son for an ADGP in Kerala to engage in back-to-back meetings with RSS leaders? He should reveal the purpose of his visits,” said CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam. He also rejected Speaker A N Shamseer’s remarks justifying the meeting between the ADGP and RSS leaders. The chief minister broke his silence on the RSS row amid mounting pressure from the CPI to come up with concrete steps on the issue.  ● More on P4 she file a internal complaint. She did and a Colonel-rank officer was assigned to probe the assault, the FIR states. “The Wing Commander was made to sit down with me twice in January this year to record the statements. I objected to his presence,” she said and alleged that the probe was later closed. She then filed a fresh internal complaint. “However, the committee did not perform its duties properly hence her po,” lice complaint.