After major hits ■ Before 1 Arifwala Air Defence Radar vijayawada l monday l may 12, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 14 l late city EDITION After Before ■ Director General of Military Operations Lt General Rajiv Ghai (2nd from left) with Air Marshal A K Bharti, Vice Admiral A N Pramod, and Major General S S Sharda | pti India’s iron fist crushed pak’s high hopes: forces 2 Chaklala Airfield After ■ Air Marshal AK Bharti, during a joint press briefing with defence officials on Sunday, showed detailed video of the effects of Indian Air Force operations during its air raids at Arifwala air defence radar in Pakistan, the Chaklala airfield and Sargodha airfield Sargodha is designated as a “Major Operational Base” and reportedly houses Pakistan’s fleet of F-16s Other targets in Pakistan hit by IAF were Murid, PAF base at Rafiqui and units at Lahore and Gujranwala 100 terrorists, including high-value targets, killed in May 7 strikes; Pak Army lost 35-40 personnel between May 7 and 10; India downed Pak jets; All Indian pilots safe 3 India sending team to u.n. against pak India issues Pak an ultimatum—fire for fire new normal New Delhi: With the United Nations Security Council’s 1267 committee set to meet next week, India will send a team with evidence highlighting Pakistan’s complicity in terrorism and TRF’s role in Pahalgam attack | P9 Cong seeks special Parliament session New Delhi: Leaders of the opposition in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabhahave written to PM for a special session of Parliament to discuss Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor Rajnath inaugurates new Brahmos unit Lucknow: BrahMos is not just a weapon but a “message” of India’s military strength, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Sunday at the inauguration of the largest integration and testing facility of the missile system here M AYA N K SI N G H @ New Delhi indian forces inflicted heavy losses to the Pakistan side via Operation Sindoor by destroying key military installations and downing fighter jets, apart from razing down nine identified terrorist camps, Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai said on Sunday . Giving details of Operation Sindoor at a detailed media briefing in New Delhi on Sunday evening, attended by senior military officials of the Army, Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy, the DGMO said that India achieved its desired objectives and Pakistan will have to pay a very heavy price if it resorts to any misadventure. Lt Gen Ghai said over 100 terrorists, including high-value targets such as Yusuf Azhar, Abdul Malik Rauf and Mudasir Ahmed, who were involved in the hijacking of IC 814 and the Pulwama blast, were eliminated during Operation Sindoor. He said all Indian pilots are safe while Pakistan lost 3540 Pakistani military personnel in the three-day combat. The military officials, however, did not comment on the losses on the Indian side, saying it would give an advantage to the adversary . “We are in a combat scenario and losses are a part of combat. The question to be asked is have we achieved our objectives of decimating the terrorist camps? The answer is a thumping yes. At this time I would not like to comment on the numbers, which platforms did we lose? We are still in a combat situation. If I comment, it will be advantageous to them. All our pilots are back home,” said Air Marshal A K Bharti. In response to a question, Air Marshal A K Bharti said India “definitely” downed a few Pakistani planes but refused to confir m the numbers. “Their planes were prevented from DAY 5 coming inside our border. So we do not have the wreckage with us but definitely we have downed a few planes,” he said. The officials stressed that Indian forces were extra careful not to inflict any casualties on civilians, and they stuck to this policy even though it meant some tactical disadvantage to the Indian side. Vice Admiral A N Pramod, DGNO said, “Along with kinetic actions by the Indian Army and Indian Air Force, the overwhelming operational edge of Indian Navy at sea contributed towards Pakistan’s urgent request for a ceasefire.” He added that India Navy remains deployed at sea in a credible deterrent posture, so that it can respond decisively to any inimical action by Pakistan, or Pakistan based terrorist. Adding on Air Force’s operational capability, Bharti said, “We can target every system at Pakistan’s bases.” DGMO Lt Gen Ghai also paid tribute to five Indian fallen heroes and civilians who “tragically lost their lives” during Operation Sindoor. “We have thus far exercised immense restraint and our actions have been focused, measured and non-escalatory How. eve r, a n y t h r e a t t o t h e sovereignty, territorial integrity and safety of our citizens will be met with decisive force,” he said. The DGMO said it was his Pakistani counterpart who made a call to him on Saturday afternoon, requesting a way out to stop the hostilities. Following this, the two DGMOs agreed to stop all firing and military action on land and in the air and sea with effect from 5 pm Saturday . The officials said that the Pakistani DGMO’s call came after Indian forces launched a fierce counter-attack on several Pakistani military installations including Rafiqui, Murid, Chaklala, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur and Chunian on Saturday morning. Sargodha Airfield (Where F16 jets were parked) Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to sources, gave the armed forces a clear INDIA has drawn a red line directive: “Wahan se goli in its security posture with chalegi, toh yahan se gola Pakistan: any provocation chalega” (If bullets come will trigger a sharper, more from there, shells will be forceful response. “If they fired from here). fire, we fire”— Sources said India that’s the new noris deter mined to mal, sources said, raise the cost of following the crosscross-border terrorborder strikes ism, making it clear under Operation that Pakistan cannot S i n d o o r, wh i c h selectively seek cothey emphasised is operation while constill on. tinuing to shelter “Operation Sinand support terror Wahan se goli door has not connetworks. cluded, there is a chalegi, toh yahan Prime Minister se gola chalega (If new normal in In- bullets come from N a r e n d r a M o d i dia’s response to there, shells will firmly told US Vice cross-border terrorPresident JD Vance be fired) ism,” said sources that any hostile acNarendra Modi familiar with the tion from Pakistan matter. Launched would invite a “far after the Pahalgam terror at- stronger and more devastattack that killed 26 civilians, ing Indian response.” That the operation targeted ter- same night, after Pakistan ror infrastructure in Paki- targeted 26 sites, India retalistan and Pakistan-occupied ated with overwhelming Kashmir (PoK). force at Pakistan air bases. Jayan t h Ja c o b & M ayank s i ngh @ New Delhi Uneasy calm in Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab as ceasefire takes effect F aya z Wan i an d H a r p r ee t B a j w a @ Srinagar / Chandigarh Cautious optimism prevailed among residents of the border states of Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab as the ceasefire appeared to take effect on Sunday , a day after Pak forces breached their commitment. In Jammu and Kashmir, residents of Uri and other border areas heaved a sigh of relief with no fresh reports of attack from across the border, while authorities in Punjab advised residents to continue voluntary blackout and be at home by 8 pm as a measure of caution. In stark contrast to the past few days, no sirens or explo- express read Fresh notices to three accused in liquor scam Vijayawada: The Special Investigation Team probing the alleged `3,200 crore liquor scam during former CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, is preparing to issue fresh notices to three key accused, K Dhanunjaya Reddy, K Krishna Mohan Reddy and Balaji Govindappa, who failed to appear before officials on Sunday | P3 Trolls target Misri, FS locks social media ac New Delhi: The vicious trolling of Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and his daughter on social media platform X forced him to lock access to his handle by the public. On the positive side, it has garnered enormous support from politicians and professionals who took to the same platform to laud the top diplomat | P10 sions were heard in J&K on Sunday. However, police officials advised residents who had moved to safer places not to retur n until the unexploded shells are cleared. On Sunday, the markets in Srinagar were abuzz with activity as shoppers thronged to buy essential goods. Two arrested for espionage Two persons, including a woman, were arrested in Punjab for their involvement in leaking sensitive clues to a Pakistan-handler on the Army’s movements | P10 “Yesterday was very scary as loud explosions could be heard. Soon, there was a blackout. It was tough to convince my children that things will become normal,” said Mushtaq Ahmed, a resident of Srinagar. In Uri, where at least 100 houses were damaged amid heavy shelling by Pakistan, life was slowly returning to normal. “There has been no shelling since yesterday morning. This is a big relief. We pray that there is permanent ceasefire,” said a Uri resident Abdul Qayoom Ganai. In Punjab, educational institutions in five border districts will remain closed on Monday as a matter of precatuion. Kashmir residents checking out cloths and backpacks at a market area in Srinagar on Sunday | pti Tearful farewell to Murali Naik with State honours E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Anantapur The final rites of Agniveer Jawan M Murali Naik, who was martyred in the line of duty during Operation Sindoor on the India-Pakistan border in Jammu and Kashmir, were conducted with full State honours in his native village of Kalli Thanda, Gorantla Mandal, Sri Sathya Sai district, on Sunday . A large number of locals, family members, officials, and dignitaries gathered to bid a tearful farewell to the brave soldier. Deputy Chief Minister K Pawan Kalyan paid floral tributes to the martyr and announced a compensation package of `50 lakh on behalf of the state government. He also promised to allot five acres of land, a 300-square-yard house plot, and a Martyr Agniveer Murali Naik was laid to rest with full State honours at Kalli Thanda in Sri Sathya Sai district on Sunday | EXPRESS government job for one eligible family member. Additionally, Pawan Kalyan pledged personal financial aid of `25 lakh to the bereaved family . The Deputy CM, accompanied by Ministers Nara Lokesh, Anagani Satya Prasad, Van- galapudi Anitha, S Savitha, and Satya Kumar Yadav, visited the martyr’s residence to pay their last respects and console his grieving parents, Jyothi Bai and Sriram Naik. The leaders offered emotional support and assured them that the govern- ment would stand firmly with them. housands gathered to bid farewell to the fallen hero. Minister Nara Lokesh not only participated in the funeral but also carried the martyr’s body on his shoulders as a mark of respect. He closely supervised the funeral arrangements and coordinated with officials to ensure the ceremony was conducted with dignity and honour. Speaking to the media after paying floral tributes to the mortal remains of the martyr, Lokesh condemned the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, J&K, where innocent lives were lost. Minister Lokesh praised the Army jawans for their dedication, determination, and unwavering resolve in protecting the motherland despite continued drone and missile attacks from P4 Pakistan. 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 ■ ■ Losses are a part of combat. The question to be asked is, have we achieved our objectives of decimating the terrorist camps? The answer is a thumping yes —Air Marshal A K Bharti India rejects Trump’s offer to solve Kashmir Jayan t h Ja c o b @ New Delhi INDIA has rejected US President Donald Trump’s offer to mediate on the Kashmir issue, making it clear that the only issue on the table is Pakistan vacating the territory it illegally occupies in PoK. Government sources made it unequivocally clear that India sees no role for external intervention in the matter. “We have a very clear position on Kashmir, there is only one matter left- the return of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK). There is nothing else to talk. If they talk about handing over terrorists, we can talk. We don’t want anyone to mediate. We don’t need anyone to mediate.” The Indian position is that the whole of Jammu & Kashmir is an integral part of India. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the US President’s mediation offer and thanked Trump for his willingness to step in. Trump, commenting on the recent ceasefire between India and Pakistan following four days of heightened military tension over the Pahalgam terror attack, praised the leadership of both countries. He also said that while mediation hadn’t been discussed, the US would substantially increase trade with both nations and was willing to assist in resolving the Kashmir dispute. “I am very proud of the strong and powerful leadership of India and Pakistan for having the strength, wisdom, and fortitude to fully know and understand that it was time to stop the current aggression that could have led to the death and destruction of so many, and so much. Millions of good and innocent people could have died! Your legacy is greatly enhanced by your brave actions. I am proud that the USA was able to help you arrive at this historic and heroic decision. While not even discussed, I am going to increase trade substantially with both of these great Nations. Additionally, I will work with you both to see if, after a “thousand years,” a solution can be arrived at concerning Kashmir. God Bless the leadership of India and Pakistan on a job well done,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. state registered 22.2% surge in number of deaths in 2021: report E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Vijayawada The Civil Registration System (CRS) in Andhra Pradesh recorded a notable rise in the number of both births and deaths in 2021 compared to 2020, according to a report released by the Vital Statistics of India. The report, compiled under the supervision of Registrar General of India Mritunjay Kumar Narayan, presents a comprehensive account of registered births, deaths, stillbirths, and infant deaths across States and Union Territories. The statistics not only reflect demographic trends but also form the foundation for policy planning in healthcare, education, and welfare schemes. In Andhra Pradesh, the total number of births registered rose from 7,14,017 in 2020 to 7,37,189 in 2021, an increase of 23,172, or approximately 3.2%. A similar upward trend was seen in death registrations, which jumped significantly from 4,55,000 in 2020 to 5,56,102 in 2021, marking a sharp increase of 1,01,102 deaths, or a 22.2% rise. While the rise in birth registrations is attributed to improved awareness and outreach, the steep climb in death registrations coincides with the second wave of the COVID19 pandemic, which devastated several parts of the country in P4 2021.