kottayam l Wednesday l January 15, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 18 l city EDITION J&K incomplete without PoK, says Defence Minister in akhnoor Rajnath Singh on Tuesday described PoK as India’s ‘crown jewel’ and said that Pakistan is using the ‘foreign territory’ ‘for terrorism’ end terror or face consequences, Pak told battle of akhnoor holds significance Rajnath Singh warned Pakistan to end terrorism or face consequences. “J&K is incomplete without PoK. People there are deprived of a dignified life. Pakistan makes efforts to mislead and provoke them against India in the name of religion. PoK’s land is being used for terrorism,” he said, adding that Pakistan will have to put an end to its nefarious designs ■ ■ The Battle of Akhnoor is significant as the Army successfully thwarted Pak’s Operation Grand Slam and advanced towards Lahore ‘History stands as a testament that Pakistan has lost every war against India — be it the tribal invasion of 1948, 1965, 1971, or 1999 Kargil. In each case, Pakistan has faced humiliation and defeat’ 1,20,355 sqkm is the total area of Jammu and Kashmir, including poK 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 House panel to summon Meta over Zuckerberg election claims Will seek an apology from the social media giant for ‘factually incorrect’ statements RA J E SH K U M AR T HA K UR @ New Delhi Chairman of Parliament’s Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology Nishikant Dubey announced on Tuesday that the panel would summon Meta chairman Mark Zuckerberg over his “factually incorrect” statements about the outcome of the 2024 Lok Sabha poll. The panel will seek an apology from the social media giant for “tarnishing” India’s image. On Monday, I&B Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had lashed out at Zuckerberg for his remarks. Zuckerberg founded Meta, which owns Facebook. “My committee will summon Meta for this incorrect information. Incorrect information about any democratic country tarnishes its image. This organisation will have to apologise to Parliament and the people here for this mistake,” Dubey wrote on ‘X’. On Monday Vaishnaw react, ed strongly on ‘X’, tagging Meta and saying, “It is disappointing to see misinformation from Mr. Zuckerberg himself. Let’s uphold facts and credibility .” Vaishnaw said: “From free food for 800 million, 2.2 billion free vaccines, and aid to nations worldwide during COVID, to leading India as the fastestgrowing major economy, PM Modi’s decisive 3rd-term victory is a testament to good governance and public trust.” Vaishnaw said that Zucker- Make India climate-smart, predict quakes better: PM RA J E SH K U M AR T HA K UR @ New Delhi PM Narendra Modi called on the scientists on Tuesday to focus on innovating earlywarning systems for earthquakes and launched initiatives to make India “climate-smart”. Emphasising the importance of research, he said, “There is a need to develop warning systems for earthquakes and scientists and researchers should work in this direction.” Commemorating the 150th year of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Modi described its journey as a significant chapter in India’s modern science and t e c h n o l o g y. Modi also launched ‘Mission Mausam’, the initiative to boost weather monitoring using state-of-the-art technologies, including advanced radars and satellites. He underscored the necessity of making India more “weather-resilient” and “climate-smart”. The objective is to improve “the understanding of climate processes and provide air quality data that will help strategise weather management and intervention in the long run”. berg’s “factually incorrect” remarks failed to acknowledge India’s achievements and the strong mandate secured by the government. The remarks are part of the Meta founder’s comments in a podcast with Joe Rogan. Zuckerberg said that 2024 was a big election year globally, and in many countries, including India, incumbents lost the polls. sacred ascend The Thiruvabharanam (sacred ornaments) for the deity, which was brought from the Pandalam temple, being taken up the Holy Steps of the Sabarimala shrine for Makaravilakku on Tuesday | Shaji Vettipuram | P5 for boby chemmanur While granting bail to the businessman in a sexual harassment case, the High Court observed that body shaming is not acceptable in our society | P4 Govt to declare those missing Kerala to rally other in Wayanad landslides as dead states to fight new E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @T’Puram “There is some sort of global phenomenon — whether it was inflation due to the economic policies to deal with Covid or just how the governments handled Covid — which seems to have had a broad effect not just in the US, but globally leading , to a decrease in trust in incumbents and perhaps in democratic institutions overall,” he stated in the podcast. In the 2024 elections, while the BJP fell short of a majority on its own, its alliance secured enough seats to form the government, reinstating Modi as PM for a third straight term. Bail The state government has decided to declare those who went missing in the Mundakkai-Chooralmala landslides as dead, which will help their immediate relatives get ex-gratia payments. On Tuesday, the government issued a directive to form committees which will carry out the procedures required to declare the missing people as dead. The decision has come as a huge relief for families of people who went missing in the disaster that struck havoc in the hilly region in Wayanad on July 30 last year. As per the government record, 266 persons were reported dead and 32 missing in the disaster. With the latest decision, the death toll would become 298. The government had earlier announced guidelines to pro- Death toll to reach 298 As per the government records, 266 persons were reported dead and 32 missing in the Wayanad landslides. With the latest decision, the death toll would become 298. vide financial aid, including exgratia, to the relatives of those who died in the mishap. The committees will be formed at the local as well as the state levels. According to the government order, the revenue department officials will collect FIRs registered in connection with missing people. The officials will prepare special inquiry reports, marking that the missing persons could not be located. The local-level committee will include the panchayat secretary, village officer, and the police station house officer as members. The committee will prepare a list of the missing people and submit it before the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), which will in turn examine the list and forward it to the state-level committee with proper suggestions. The state-level committee will have additional chief secretary (home), principal secretary (revenue and disaster management) and principal secretary (local self-government) as members.  ● More on P4 State reports over 4,000 Pocso cases in 2024 R a h u l R @Kollam Pocso cases in 2024 (Until Nov) Sexual abuse of children continues to be a major concern in Kerala, with 4,196 incidents reported under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act, 2012, last year, until November. According to a source with the State Crime Records Bureau, the figure is expected to exceed 4,500 once data consolidation for December 2024 is completed, which is expected by the first week of February . In 2023, a total of 4,641 Pocso cases were registered in the state. Among the districts, Thiruvananthapuram report- T’Puram 541 Palakkad Kollam 397 Malappuram 465 P’Thitta 150 Kozhikode 416 248 Alappuzha 296 Wayanad Kottayam 211 Kannur city 198 Idukki 212 Kasaragod 140 Ernakulam 393 Thrissur 340 Railway police Total number of cases is expected to exceed 4,500 once data consolidation for December 2024 is completed, said a source 178 11 SourceState Crime Records Bureau ed the highest number of cases (541), followed by Malappuram (465), Kozhikode (416), and Kollam (397). The least number of cases was reported in Pathanamthitta (150). Soja Thulsidharan, special prosecutor for Pocso cases in Kollam, said there has been a surge in the number of child sexual abuse cases in the state in recent years — with a large number of such incidents originating from the victims’ home and educational institutions. She also highlighted an increase in cases involving male victims. Soja said there has been a growing awareness about reporting sexual abuse of male children. “Previously, sexual abuse cases involving male victims were limited to one or two. But now around 50 such cases are reported annually she said. ,” The special prosecutor said the rise in consensual sex among teenagers is contributing to the issue. “Teenagers often do not realise that sexual activity below the age of 18 is not legally consensual. These incidents often come to light when the victim becomes pregnant or faces other medical issues. It is important to not only raise awareness but also educate children about the Pocso ● More on P4 Act,” she said.  regulations of UGC respect the autonomy of universities and the rights of Worried over new UGC reg- state governments in matters ulations, which it feels would concerning education,” Pirob the state universities of narayi said, inaugurating the their autonomy, the Kerala ‘International Conclave on government is planning to Next-Gen Higher Education’, garner the support of other at the Cochin University of state governments to exert Science and Technology (Cuconcerted pressure on sat), Kalamassery on the Union government Tuesday . Later, Higher Educato withdraw the contion Minister R Bindu tentious clauses in the State universities told TNIE that the proposed guidelines. function Ter ming the new according to acts state government will reach out to other regulations “concernformulated by states on the issue. ing and disappointelected State gover nments legislative ing”, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said assemblies, and have especially taken the creation of affront to the section the Union government and the UGC are adopt- such regulations regarding the appointundermines this ment of Vice Chanceling an approach aimed autonomy lors of state at destabilising the universities under Pinarayi Vijayan, CM universities. “A meeting of edustate governments. “State universities function cation ministers will be conaccording to acts formulated vened to chalk out a future by elected legislative assem- course of action. The state blies, and the creation of such government will be sending a regulations undermines this letter to the Union government autonomy The Union govern- to express our reservations on . ment and the UGC should re- the new draft regulations,” she ● More on P4 frain from such actions and said.  An u K u r u v i l l a @ Kochi E X PRE S S REA D Peechi dam accident toll rises to three Thrissur: One more girl, who was among the four teenagers who fell into Peechi reservoir on Sunday, died while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Thrissur on Tuesday. Irene, 16, a student of St Claire’s HSS and a native of Pattikkad, is the deceased. Two other girls had died on Monday. Sexual abuse of teen: 44 held in four days Pathanamthitta: Four days after the shocking revelation of a teen girl, who alleged that she was sexually abused by many people over the past five years, police have recorded the arrest of 44 accused out of a total of 58 names stated by survivor. Police said they have intensified probe to nab remaining accused. P4 Maha Kumbh: akhadas get right of way to sangam Pa r a m i ta G h os h @ Prayagraj The day of the first Shahi Snan of Maha Kumbh, 2025, was, like always, primarily the day of the akhadas. Shahi Snans are the red-letter days on the Kumbh timetable, and for the devout, who have come from far and wide to take a dip in the Sangam on the occasion of the first Shahi Snan of Makar Sankranti, there is a slight interruption in programme — when the Naga sadhus, their lithe bodies resplendent with ash and health, break into a run for the river. For most, this is the marquee event of the mela, as sadhus wielding swords, maces, and tridents, blissed out on life, wave to the crowds, creating a few moments of intense connection as they move towards the Sangam. It is believed that the dip taken after the babas have bathed will yield great spiritual benefits. The gesture of making way for others is part of the Kumbh tradition. “It all began in 1801 when fights broke out between the different sects and denominations, or the akhadas. On being petitioned to broker a peace, the Peshwa intervened and decreed the sequential order of the akhadas at the Shahi Snans,” says Herambh Chaturvedi, a retired professor of Allahabad University. Ever since, that order — which gives the sects of Naga sanyasis the first right of way to the Sangam — has been enforced by the Akhada Parishad and followed by the different sects of ascetics and renunciants. Tuesday’s Shahi Snan passed without incident except for a brief period of chaos when devotees pushed through the security cordon and entered the area reserved for the sadhus. Bathers started crowding the banks of the river by 4 am and the wave of excitement rippled through them at the first sighting of the sadhus. It seemed a carnival of spirits. Sadhus began bathing at 5.15 am. Conch shells were blown, and dhol (drums) and tasha, nagare (kettle drums) were beaten, even as chants of ‘Har Har Mahadev’, ‘Jai Ganga Maiyya ki Jai’ and ‘Har Har Gauri Shankar’ rent the air. At least 1.38 crore people took holy dip on Makar Sankranti on Tuesday | pti