hyderabad l Thursday l October 03, 2024 l `9.00 l PAGES 16 l LATE CITY EDITION Two ex-IAF pilots among 3 dead in helicopter crash near Pune Two former Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots and an engineer were killed after a helicopter crashed and caught fire near Pune city on Wednesday Preliminary probe blames it on fog IAF chopper makes mayday call in Bihar The chopper took off from a golf course near Pune and was headed to Juhu when it crashed around 7.40 am. Primary information pointed to fog as the cause of the accident. A detailed probe is underway, the police said. The Agusta 109 helicopter belonged to Delhi-based Heritage Aviation. At the time of the crash, it was on hire by the Nationalist Congress Party ■ ■ In a separate incident, an IAF helicopter made an emergency landing in Muzaffarpur district of Bihar after it developed a snag. The chopper was returning after air-dropping relief materials to flood-affected people The chopper landed in a waterlogged area near Darbhanga. All four on board were IAF personnel. Officials said they were safe 7.30 am when the chopper crashed in Bavdhan area, about 25 km from pune city 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 Iran’s oil rigs, N-sites could face retaliatory Israel strike Biden advises against hitting nuclear sites; 8 IDF soldiers killed in south Lebanon Agencies ISRAEL is reportedly gearing up to launch a blistering counter-attack to cripple Iran, which fired over 180 ballistic missiles on Tuesday in a major escalation of tensions in West Asia. According to reports in Israeli media, Iran’s strategic infrastructure, especially oil rigs, will be targeted. Also on the table are direct attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites, said news reports citing Israeli officials. The development further complicates Israel’s multi-front war as the country is advancing its ground offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon while still mounting attacks in Gaza to keep Hamas militants down. On Wednesday, Israel said it lost eight soldiers in southern Lebanon during a ground offensive against Hezbollah. In Gaza, Israeli ground and air operations reportedly killed over 50 people. Meanwhile, Israel’s foreign minister said he would bar UN secretarygeneral Antonio Guterres’s entry into his country because of bias. Earlier in the day, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened a crucial meeting with security chiefs at the IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv, his office said. The meeting, held hours before the Rosh Hashanah holiday to mark the Jew- People climb on the debris of an Iranian missile intercepted by Israel, near Arad, southern Israel | AP ish New Year, is learnt to have discussed and decided Israel’s response to Iran’s attack. Former Israeli PM Naftali Bennett also called for a strike on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and energy facilities. “We have the justification. We have the tools,” he wrote on X. US news site Axios reported that Israel has plans to take out Iran’s air defence systems and also set off targeted assassinations. An attack on Iranian oil facilities could push back the country’s econo- my by years, while destroying the air defence systems would make it more vulnerable. Political assassinations, if carried out, might set the stage for a regime change in Iran. If Iran’s nuclear facilities are hit, experts fear it will push the conflict to a no-return point. On Wednesday, US President Joe Biden said he will not support an Israeli attack on sites related to Tehran’s nuclear programme. “The answer is no,” he said when asked if he would support such retaliation. P9 Telugu expats recount shock & awe Avoid all non-essential travel to Iran: MEA In the wake of the escalating tensions, India on Wednesday advised its citizens to avoid all non-essential travel to Iran. The Ministry of External Affairs also urged the Indian nationals presently residing in Iran to remain vigilant and stay in contact with the Indian Embassy in Tehran A man from Nizamabad, Telangana takes shelter along with others inside a bunker in Tel Aviv after Iran’s missile attack on Israel on Tuesday night A j a y T o m a r @ Hyderabad A wave of fear swept through Israel when 180 ballistic missiles were launched by Iran on Tuesday night. For the Telugu-speaking community in Israel, including nearly 800 people from Telangana and 4,000 from Andhra Pradesh, the night unfolded with the same terrifying intensity as they, too, faced a harrowing experience. Speaking to TNIE, B Mahesh Goud, former president of the Israel Telangana Association (ITA), said people had to rush to the underground safety shelters/bunkers multiple times. “I was relaxing after finishing my work when sirens started blaring around 8 pm. Many missiles struck nearby, with one hitting a shopping complex just half a kilometre from my safety bunker,” Goud said. He noted that the night was more serious than the previous emergencies he had faced during his long stay in Israel. “Normally, we rush to bunkers and come out within minutes when the situation normalises. But this time, we were compelled to seek shelter at least three times, with missiles flying every 10 minutes. It was a powerful attack.” According to Soma Ravi, president of ITA, nearly 5,000 people from the Telugu-states reside in Israel, with the majority from Telangana hailing from Nizamabad and Jagtial districts. Most work as professional caregivers, earning between `5,000 and `6,000 shekels (around `1 lakh to `1.35 lakh) monthly. They reside in Ramat Gan and various neighbourhoods around Tel Aviv, with a smaller group in Ashkelon, approximately 60 km away. Ravi described the atmosphere on Tuesday night as tense, as it was the first time that missiles had targeted the city. “Israeli security forces sent mobile alerts, and sirens blared, warning residents to take cover,” he explained. Gatherings outside were restricted to just 30 people, he added. Continued on P5 over-the-counter sale ban coming on morning-after pill monal contraceptives available OTC include the Combined Oral The Central Drugs Standard Con- Contraceptive (containing estrotrol Organisation (CDSCO) is like- gen and progestin, it is taken daily to recommend a ban on the ly) and the Progestin Only Pill over-the-counter (OTC) sale of all (also taken daily). hormonal contraceptive drugs, inInterestingly, the six-member cluding oral emergency contra- expert sub-committee was formed ceptive pills (ECP). after the Tamil Nadu government An exper t sub-committee proposed a ban on the OTC sale of formed by CDSCO is all set to rec- hormonal contraceptives citing ommend that the Drugs and Cos- “its irrational usage” at the 62nd metic Rules of 1945 be suitably Drugs Consultative Committee amended to make them prescrip- meeting held in September 2023. tion-only drugs. This newspaper The sub-committee’s mandate has learnt that the panel will soon was to study the issue and make a submit a report. recommendation At present, unon whether such press der the National a ban is needed. Reproductive and clusive Dr Pinkee SaxeChild Health Prona, professor, Deg ramme, the partment of ObDrug Controller General of India stetrics and Gynaecology, Lady (DGCI) allows the sale of 0.75 mg Hardinge Medical College, is the tablets of Levonorgestrel without chair of the sub-committee. Its prescription as an emergency con- other members include M N Sridtraceptive. ECPs, better known as har, Joint Director of Drugs Conthe morning-after pill, were intro- trol cum Controlling Authority duced in India in 2002 and can pre- (in-charge), and a representative vent a pregnancy if taken within from the Indian Council of Medi72 hours of unprotected sex. cal Research (ICMR). Experts say the availability of A highly-placed source privy to the drug OTC help prevent un- the deliberations said the panel it wanted pregnancies and avert is overwhelmingly in favour of abortions. However, in Tamil making prescriptions from a phyNadu, and other parts of India, sician mandatory for the purECPs are notoriously difficult to chase of contraceptives, includaccess at pharmacies. Other hor- ing ECPs. Sin d u j a Jan e @ Chennai `5,800 crore worth drugs seized in Delhi’s biggest haul U JW A L J A L A L I @ New Delhi The Special Cell of the Delhi Police busted an international drug cartel and seized contraband worth `5,820 crore in what is billed as the biggest haul in the national capital. While the kingpin of the cartel is said to be in Dubai, the police have arrested four local players — Tushar Goyal, Himanshu Kumar, Aurangzeb Siddiqui and Bharat Jain. Additional Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Pramod Singh Kushwah said the Intelligence Agency of the Central government received information that a cartel based in Delhi is smuggling cocaine from abroad. On October 1, the Special Cell received specific information about the arrival of a large consignment of drugs at a warehouse belonging to Goyal at Mahipalpur in Delhi. A Special Cell team raided the warehouse during which 560 kg of cocaine and 40 kg of hydroponic marijuana were seized. Tushar is the main receiver and distributor of the drugs, the police said. Kumar and Siddiqui are his associates. The accused told the police that the seized marijuana is from Phuket in Thailand while cocaine originated in South American and West Asian countries. inside Payments stalled, corporate schools may stop SC, ST Students intake I P2 Worm-infested eggs served to kids in Jagtial Anganwadi I P2 Minister links KTR to Samantha-Chay divorce, kicks up row E x p r e s s N e w s S e r v i c e @ Hyderabad Two days after breaking down over being trolled on social media, allegedly by people linked to the BRS, Endowments Minister Konda Surekha on Wednesday found herself embroiled in another controversy after linking pink party working president KT Rama Rao to the divorce of actors Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Akkineni Naga Chaitanya. Her remarks, which included accusing Rama Rao of blackmailing and tapping the phones of Tollywood actors, invited sharp criticism from various quarters. Strongly reacting to the remarks, Samantha asserted that her divorce was amicable, with no political conspiracy involved. “My divorce is a personal matter, and I request that you refrain from speculating about it. Our choice to keep things private doesn’t invite misrepresentation. Could you [Surekha] please keep my name out of political battles? I have always remained non-political and wish to do so,” she said. “I hope you realise that your words carry significant weight as a minister,” the actor said. Similarly, Chaitanya took to X to share that their divorce was a mutual decision considering the differ- ence in their life goals. “However, there have been various baseless and completely ridiculous gossip on the matter so far. I have remained silent all this while out of deep respect for my earlier spouse as well as my family Today, the claim made by Konda . Surekha garu is not only false but also absolutely ridiculous and unacceptable. Women deserve to be supported and respected. Taking advantage and exploiting the personal life decisions of celebrities for the sake of media headlines is shameful,” he said in the post. Chaitanya’s father, Nagarjuna, also criticised the remarks and urged the minister to withdraw them. “Do not use the lives of popular film personalities, who stay away from poli- My divorce is a personal matter, and I request that you refrain from speculating about it. Could you [Surekha] please keep my name out of political battles? I have always remained non-political and wish to do so — Samantha, Tollywood actor tics, to criticise your opponents. Please respect fellow citizens’ privacy Your allegations against my fam. ily, being a responsible minister and woman, are completely irresponsible, and false,” he posted on X. KTR sends legal notice, gives Surekha 24 hours to apologise Meanwhile, Rama Rao took the legal route and sent a notice to the minister over her “baseless and defamatory statements”. In the notice, he condemned the allegations made by Surekha, including claims about phone tapping and comments linking him to the divorce of the actor couple. The Sircilla MLA demanded that the minister immediately retract her comments and issue a public apology . The former minister also threatened to file a defamation suit if Surekha failed to tender an apology within 24 hours. continued on P5 Engg students abduct, rape woman; 1 held E x p r e s s N e w s S e r v i c e @ Warangal A B.Pharmacy student was allegedly raped in a hotel room not very far from the Inthezargunj police station here recently . The incident took place on September 15 but came to light on Tuesday after the victim, who returned to her village in Bhupalpally district, narrated the nightmare she went through to her mother. Her mother approached the Warangal Police Commissioner Ambar Kishor Jha on Tuesday night and explained to him how her daughter was sexually assaulted. The police commissioner immediately asked Warang al ACP B Nandiram Naik and Inthezargunj inspector M Shiva Kumar to register a case against the culprits and launch an investigation. According to the ACP, the B.Pharmacy s t u d e n t w a s forced by two engineering students, who study at a private engineering college in Narsampet, Warangal district, to accompany them to a lodge. “One of the accused, who is known to her, went to her hostel in Bollikunta on September 15. Despite her protests, he and the other accused person forced her into their car and took her to a hotel in Warangal,” the ACP said. Once inside a room, the culprits forced her to take alcohol and later outraged her modesty . After receiving the complaint, the police visited the lodge. They collected the CCTV footage and the Aadhaar details of the culprits from the hotel. They identified the main accused and took him into custody “We are search. ing for the other accused,” said Inthezargunj inspector Shiva Kumar. The victim has been sent to hospital for medical examination. Express Read Guv okays ordinance giving statutory powers to HYDRAA Hyderabad: Governor Jishnu Dev Varma has given approval to an ordinance that confers statutory powers on the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Monitoring and Protection Agency (HYDRAA). With this ordinance, the government intends to provide legal status to HYDRAA and give it additional powers, which were till now vested with various departments | P4 joining the dots Rumble in Punjab as core team of CM disintegrates H a r p r e e t B a j w a @ Chandigarh Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s trusted core appears to be disintegrating. But the big question is: is the CM slowly losing his utility for the Aam Aadmi Party? Take Navneet Wadhwa, director of communications at the Chief Minister’s Office. He put in his papers after he was told that his contract will not be renewed. A few days ago, Onkar Singh, Officer on Special Duty to the CM, quit. Singh was considered close to Mann and was in-charge of his Dhuri constituency. His exit came as a surprise as he was also handling the political programmes of Mann’s spouse Dr Gurpreet Kaur. The axe is expected to fall on one more important official, say sources. Besides, five new faces were inducted into the Mann ministry recently while four ministers were dropped, two of whom — Chetan Singh Jouramajra and Anmol Gagan Maan — were considered close to the CM. When Mann recently fell down at the Chandigarh airport after deboarding from a chartered plane, the Opposition Congress and the Shiro- ‘Delhi takes call in all major political parties’ A few days ago, Tarsem Singh, father of Khadoor Sahib MP and pro-Khalistan leader Amritpal Singh announced his plan to float a political party. He said, “There is no regional party to look after the interests of Punjab. All decisions of major political parties are taken in Delhi. Hence, the decision to form new party.” mani Akali Dal (SAD) took another pot shot at his failure to stay sober during work hours. But the AAP leadership chose not to defend him. Mann was later admitted to Fortis Hopsital in Mohali where he was dignosed with leptospirosis. Among those who called on him at the hospital were Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains, Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan and Congress MLA Pargat Singh. In May, SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal had predicted an AAP split in the state, which could have been a shot in the dark. But clouds of uncertainty persist in the political landscape of Punjab though the Southwest monsoon has withdrawn.
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