kozhikode l thursday l june 27, 2024 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l city EDITION Jaishankar flags India’s concerns over violence to Myanmar Dy PM First engagement with senior junta leader Jaishankar’s meeting with Myanmar’s Deputy Prime Minister U Than Shwe in New Delhi is the government’s first publicly acknowledged engagement with a senior leader of the Myanmar military junta in India. Jaishankar told Shwe that the continuing violence in Myanmar has led to a rise in illegal arms and narcotics arriving at the Indian border The external affairs minister on Wednesday conveyed India’s ‘deep concerns’ over the impact of violence in Myanmar on the Indian border Security sought for Indian projects ■ Jaishankar sought cooperation for the early return of about 100 Indians trapped in Myanmar’s Myawaddy town. Most of them fell prey to an international racket promising jobs in Myanmar ■ The minister also said he had pressed for credible security protection for India’s various ongoing projects in the strife-torn country 1,640 km is the length of India’s border with Myanmar 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 IT’s pouring Heavy rain and strong winds lashed several parts of Kerala on Wednesday. The state received 69mm rainfall on the day Holiday today Alert today For all educational institutions, including professional colleges, in Pathanamthitta, Wayanad, Idukki, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Alappuzha & Kannur’s Iritty taluk. Model residential schools in Wayanad, Idukki to stay open. Exams as per schedule An elderly man wades through knee-deep water at Bala Nagar near Vettucaud in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday. Heavy rain lashed several parts of the state on the day, inundating low-lying areas | B P Deepu Orange: Wayanad & Kannur Yellow: Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode & Kasaragod Girl, 4, injured after palm tree falls on house in Peringalakara, Ernakulam. Seven houses partially damaged in district. One house partially collapses in Kozhikode Rain/thundershower likely in most places till June 28 Kottayam receives max rainfall (103mm), followed by Wayanad (95.8mm), Kannur (89mm) & Kasaragod (85mm) Seawalls collapse on many coastal stretches in Kozhikode, breached at Chellanam in Kochi 5G spectrum auction fetches just 12% of targeted revenue R a k e s h K u m a r @ New Delhi Lukewarm response The Union government’s second 5G spectrum action on Wednesday saw subdued bidding by telecom companies, which collectively bid `11,340 crore for a total 141.4 MHz of airwaves. The bid value amounts to just 12% of the reserve price of `96,238 crore. The auction concluded in two days with seven rounds of bidding. Bharti Airtel emerged the top bidder by acquiring airwaves worth `6,856.76 crore, followed by Vodafone Idea at `3,510 crore. India’s largest telecom operator Reliance Jio had deposited the highest earnest money of `3,000 crore but bid only `973.62 crore to pick up additional spectrum. This year’s auction included spectrum across various bands — 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2500 MHz, 3300 MHz, and 26 GHz. However, telcos showed interest only in 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, and 2500 MHz bands In the last 5G spectrum auction held in August 2022, the government had fetched a record `1.5 lakh crore. The lukewarm response this time is attributed to the fact that most telecom service providers (TSPs), except Reliance Jio, participated in the auction mostly to renew their expired spectrums. Bharti Airtel, led by Sunil Mittal, acquired 97 MHz of spectrum to renew its expiring Snakes troubling Udma? Muhammad, 75, is on it E X PRESS READ CBI names ex-top cops in ISRO espionage case conspiracy chargesheet T’Puram: The CBI team probing the conspiracy behind the ISRO spy case has named high-ranking former police officers in the chargesheet filed at the Thiruvananthapuram Chief Judicial Magistrate Court on Monday. Former DGP Sibi Mathews, ex-IB Deputy Director R B Sreekumar, former Pettah Inspector S Vijayan and former Pettah Sub-inspector Thambi S Durgadath have been named as accused in the chargesheet | P4 J i t h u l N a r aya n a n @Kasaragod When residents of Udma face a snake problem, they make a call. Somewhere, the mobile phone of M Muhammad rings with urgency . Within minutes, Muhammad, 75, is on his trusty old bicycle -- his chariot -- furiously pedalling to the destination, where some terrified people and an even more terrified reptile await his arrival. Muhammad is not new to snake-catching, having done this for over 50 years. In fact, he is so renowned for his expertise that even forest department officials give Muhammad a call when they want some slithering visitors removed from human habitats and released into the wild. His family is always worried about his safety Yet, Muhammad contin. ues to pursue his passion. “The first time I rescued a snake was from a well when I was 18 years old. In the days, months and years since then, I have rescued many snakes, so many that I have lost count. Though I do not charge them anything for catching a snake, I happily accept anything people give me out of happiness for, as they put it, saving them. After capturing the snakes, I licences and also to bolster its mid-band spectrum holdings across select circles. Bharti Hexacom, a subsidiary of Bharti Airtel, acquired 15 MHz of airwaves for `1,001 crore. Vodafone Idea picked up 50 MHz spectrum across low band and mid band series (900 MHz, 1800 MHz, and 2500 MHz) in as many as 11 circles. Reliance Jio acquired additional spectrum in the 1800 MHz band in Bihar and West Bengal. “Spectrum auction 2024 was part of a continuous allocation process... TSPs have taken spectrum not only for continuity of service but for expanding their services but the volume is limited because already a large part of the spectrum required was auctioned only last year,” said Union telecom minister Jyotiraditya Scindia. Birla stays in LS Speaker’s saddle Second presiding officer to get two terms; elected by voice vote P r e e t h a N a i r @ New Delhi National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate Om Birla was on Wednesday elected Lok Sabha Speaker for the second consecutive term after a motion moved by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was adopted through voice vote. The Speaker election for the 18th Lok Sabha was keenly watched as it witnessed a rare contest between Birla and the Opposition INDIA bloc’s candidate Kodikunnil Suresh after both sides failed to arrive at a consensus. Birla became the only presiding officer to serve two terms after Balram Jakhar. Pro-tem Speaker Bhartruhari Mahtab made the announcement after the Opposition did not press for division of votes to the motion. While elections to the Speaker’s post were common before Independence, the position witnessed contests only thrice in Independent India — in 1952, 1967 and 1976. Three-term BJP MP Birla represents Kota in the Lok Sabha. NDA allies Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Jitan Ram Manjhi (HAM-S), Prataprao Jadhav (Shiv Sena) and Chirag Paswan (LJP-RV) also moved motions in Birla’s favour. Shiv Sena (UBT) member Arvind Sawant moved the motion to elect Kodikunnil to the post. After the voice vote, Mahtab announced that all other motions, barring the prime minister’s, became infructuous. Birla’s election was a foregone conclusion as the NDA has 293 members as against the INDIA bloc’s 237 in the Lok Sabha. Congratulating Birla on his re-election, Modi expressed confidence that he will guide parliamentarians and play a big role in the House in fulfilling people’s expectations. In his speech, Birla said that in the last decade, the expectations, hopes and aspirations of the people have increased. “Therefore, it becomes our responsibility to make collective efforts to fulfil their expectations and aspirations effectively The 18th . Lok Sabha is the world’s largest celebration of democracy More than 64 crore voters participated . with great enthusiasm. On behalf of the House, I express my gratitude to them,” he said. Delhi court sends Arvind Kejriwal to 3-day CBI custody S u c h i t r a K a lya n M o h a n t y @ New Delhi Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was on Wednesday sent to threeday CBI custody by a local court after his arrest by the central probe agency in the excise policy case. The CBI, which produced Kejriwal in Rouse Avenue Court, sought five-day remand to inter- CBI officials leave Rouse rogate him in the case, Avenue Court with Delhi but Judge Amitabh Ra- CM Arvind Kejriwal | PTI wat ordered three days of custody. Kejriwal is in Tihar Jail over his alleged involvement in a money laundering case linked to the now-scrapped liquor policy . The Enforcement Directorate had arrested him on March 21. After serving a production warrant late on Tuesday night, the CBI on Wednesday sought the court’s permission before formally arresting him in the case. There was high drama during the hearing in the courtroom, with Kejriwal himself addressing the court and saying he and other AAP leaders, including Manish Sisodia, were innocent. “I am innocent, my lord,” he told the judge. Video grab of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi in a rare handshake before escorting Om Birla to the Speaker’s chair, in New Delhi on Wednesday | PTI Sharp statement “The nation turned into a prison... Emergency brought with it anti-social and dictatorial policies that destroyed the lives of the poor, the Dalits and the deprived,” Speaker Om Birla said Massive Oppn protest after Chair’s Emergency rap P r e e t h a N a i r @ New Delhi Soon after his election as Speaker, Om Birla on Wednesday sparked a row by reading out a resolution condemning the imposition of Emergency as an attack on the Constitution by former prime minister Indira Gandhi, triggering massive protests by the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. “This House strongly condemns the decision to impose Emergency in 1975. We appreciate the determination of all those who opposed Emergency , fought and fulfilled the responsibility of protecting democra- cy 25th June 1975 will always be . known as a black chapter in the history of India,” he said. The House was adjourned after chaotic scenes of protests and sloganeering by the Opposition. Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the Speaker’s reference to Emergency. “The happenings during the Emergency exemplified what a dictatorship looks like,” Modi said. For his part, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said, “What we saw was the Speaker unfortunately raising a matter that had not been discussed in the House and in a manner that came across as confrontational.” PJ, ex-comrade cross swords in cyber war media. “Manu Thomas was not involved in any political work for fifteen As the CPM readies for an intro- months. Was he fighting quotation spection in the wake of the severe gangs, indulging in gold smuggling, drubbing in the Lok Sabha election, or quarry owners during the Lok Sabthe party finds itself in an imbroglio ha election? If Manu makes false acin its citadel, Kannur, with expelled cusations against someone in the district committee member Manu party we cannot merely stand by and , Thomas coming out in the public with nod,” he wrote on Facebook. a series of serious allegations against Jayarajan did not spare the media party leaders from the district. either. “During his long stint with the CPM stalwart P Jayarajan CPM, Manu Thomas had to joined issue with Manu on make several sacrifices in Wednesday with a hard-hithis journey from a farmer’s ting facebook post targeting family to the leadership of the expelled leader. He SFI and DYFI. He became an threatened to sue his former elected member of a local comrade for slander. body and later made it to the , Manu retorted daring party district committee. Jayarajan to a public debate But the media had ignored on the allegations he raised. him all through this journey . Manu Thomas It all started with the CPM But suddenly on 24th June, expelling Manu, who was on a hiatus 2024, he gets widespread media coverfrom party work for over an year, last age. Why? Just because he left the Sunday . CPM,” the FB post alleged. Later in an interview with a newsManu replied, inviting Jayarajan to paper, Manu levelled allegations an open debate. against the district leadership, includ“Let the people know everything, ing Jayarajan, accusing them of har- including the fact that you started a bouring strong ties with criminal discussion to form a new group in the gangs, including those involved in party recently I have nothing to hide . gold smuggling, and, quarry mafia. from the party and people,” he wrote ● More on P4 An enraged Jayarajan took to social on Facebook. E x p r e s s N e w s S e r v i c e @Kannur punctuation frustration M Muhammad and his trusty old bicycle alert the forest officials,” says Muhammad. Though a septuagenarian, Muhammad shows no signs of slowing down, let alone stopping. To ensure he’s always available when they need him, Muhammed keeps his service discreet, asking people to call his personal number. This also helps him ensure that calls seeking his service are not made to his home, as they would end up adding to the worries of his family Original. ly from Sirsi in Karnataka, Muhammad came to Kasaragod when he was 16. He is a daily wage labourer. ● More on P4 Applicant’s licence renewal bid hits apostrophe roadblock K r i s h n a K u m a r K E @Kochi Peter Leo D’Couth, an AngloIndian residing at Pachalam in Ernakulam, was restless on Wednesday His driving licence . was expiring, and his efforts to get it renewed were going in vain. It was not manpower shortage at the Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) or official apathy that was making Peter’s task difficult. Rather, it was the apostrophe in his name that was causing the problem. For, despite umpteen tries, MVD officials could not enter his name, along with the apostrophe, in their new software ‘Sarathi Parivahan’, stalling his application. “The system simply rejects his name and an ‘error’ message pops up. Hundreds of Anglo-Indians like Peter are facing the same problem,” said a senior MVD official. “We are helpless. In the end, we enter the names without the apostro- Peter submitting his licence renewal application at the MVD office in Kakkanad, Kochi, on Wednesday The system simply rejects the name of Peter Leo D’Couth (due to the apostrophe) and an ‘error’ message pops up. Hundreds of AngloIndians like him are facing the same problem — A senior MVD official phe,” said the official. Peter, 60, did not want his name changed. “My name is mentioned correctly in my two-wheeler driving licence that expires on Wednesday So what’s the issue . now?” wondered Peter, as he waited in the queue to remit the licence renewal fee. Finally, after much coaxing by MVD officials who convinced him of the issue, Peter reluctantly agreed to change his name. Peter vaguely recalls encountering the ‘name’ issue before. “It was either while applying for a ration card or a Voter ID card . At the time, too, I had to go to an Akshaya centre and change my name,” Peter told TNIE. The MVD official said when the new software was implemented, there were issues with the dot (.) too initially . “Officials would then enter names without the dot. However, many applicants later came to us for name correction. The issue was rectified later, but the volume of applications was so huge that the work (correcting the name) is still pending,” the ● More on P4 official said.
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