India named in u.s. drug Report The 2025 Annual Threat Assessment of US Intelligence Community claims China and India directly and indirectly supply materials to drug traffickers targeting US 52,000 Panel graphic Non-state groups are often enabled, both directly and indirectly by China and India as sources of precursors and equipment for drug traffickers, the report claims | P7 Says India, China among primary source nations for fentanyl precursor chemicals and pill pressing equipment tirupati l thursday l march 27, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l anantapur EDITION Opioid deaths were caused by cartels, which also facilitated nearly 3M illegal migrant arrivals, straining US resources in 2024 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 Naidu orders probe into death of Pastor Praveen Major reorganisation and redeployment of troops New Army division to defend Eastern Ladakh E x p r e ss N e w s S e r v i c e @ Rajamahendravaram\Vijayawada Amid cries of foul play in the death of Hyderabad-based gospel preacher Pagadala Praveen (45) in a road mishap, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has ordered a thorough investigation, and directed DGP Harish Kumar Gupta to examine every detail of the incident. Naidu expressed deep sorrow over the demise of Praveen. The incident occurred while he was going on a two-wheeler from Hyderabad to attend a Christian gathering in Chagallu, 30 km from Rajamahendravaram. The mishap took place near the Godavari Fourth Bridge at Konthamuru village in East Godavari district on Monday night. It was initially deemed a mishap by Rajanagaram police. The sudden death of the well-known preacher had raised suspicion, with many questioning the police narrative. Gospel preacher Sabbella Prasada Reddy called for an indepth probe, emphasising Praveen’s significant following in the Telugu States. “We suspect this was not a road mishap,” Reddy asserted, mentioning that Praveen earlier voiced concern about threat to his life from unidentified individuals. Describing Praveen as an exceptional scholar in Christian theology Pastor John Wesley said, “We , trust the system, but police should reveal the truth.” Former MP GV Harsha Kumar alleged a targeted killing, linking the incident to a perceived rise in attacks on Christians after the NDA came to power in the State. “Praveen was murdered, not killed in an accident,” the former MP claimed, accusing fundamentalist groups of targeting him out of envy for his oratory prowess. “The government should address our doubts with an open investigation,” the former MP said. Terming Praveen’s death deeply saddening, YSRCP chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy demanded an P4 impartial inquiry into the incident. New division to boost strategic deterrence M aya n k S i n g h @ New Delhi 72 division to Guard Ladakh The new division is in process of getting raised. The headquarters are being raised with one of its brigade headquarters already deployed in Eastern Ladakh and has begun functioning Sources The new permanent Army division being raised in Eastern Ladakh under the Northern Command is called 72 Division. This is in addition to the 3 Division, responsible for entire LAC Uniform force To move back In an ad-hoc decision, Jammu Division-based counter terrorism unit Uniform Force was moved to the Line of Actual Control. It will now go back to Jammu The Indian Army is in the process of raising a divisionlevel formation to be permanently positioned in the sensitive Easter n Ladakh area, sources told this newspaper. This will be in addition to the 3 Division, which is responsible for the entire Line of Actual Control (LAC). Terming it a major re-ORBAT move, sources said the new formation will be called 72 Division. ORBAT means ‘order of battle’ and Re-ORBAT means reorganising and redeployment of existing troops. In the Army a division com, prises 10,000-15,000 combat troops and 8,000 support elements, commanded by a Major General, and made up of 3 to 4 brigades. A brigade has a troop size of 3,500-4,000 with a brigadier as commander. A major general commands a division. “The headquarters are being raised; one Brigade headquarter is already deployed in Eastern Ladakh and has begun functioning,” sources said. The larger elements of the formation are being trained in the western parts of the country “to synchronise the personnel, equipment and organisation as per specific tasking,” sources added. The 72 Division will be permanently placed under the Leh-based 14 Fire & Fury Corps, which was raised in September 1999 after the Kargil war. The Corps handles some of the most sensitive frontiers and battlefields in the world. The area that will be under the 72 Division is currently being taken care of by the counter insurgency wing called ‘Uniform Force’. Its elements, in lesser numbers, were moved as an ad-hoc arrangement to fill the gap. The Uniform Force will soon move back to its old location in Reasi, Jammu Division. The Army’s decision to raise a permanent division in East Ladakh is important as the situation along the LAC remains sensitive, which calls for constant vigil and strategic preparedness. A standoff took place between Chinese and Indian troops in May 2020, followed by a deadly clash in June. After several rounds of talks, Indian and Chinese troops completed their disengagement in the Depsang and Demchok areas of Ladakh in October last year, following which regular patrolling resumed. However, the troops from both sides remain in the vicinity of the LAC. Not allowed to speak in LS: Rahul P r e e t h a N a i r @ New Delhi Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Wednesday claimed he was not allowed to speak in Parliament after Speaker Om Birla made “unsubstantiated” remarks about him. He also accused the Speaker of running the House in an “undemocratic manner.” Rahul’s remarks came after Birla asked him to follow rules and maintain the dignity of the House. During Zero Hour, Birla noted that members had repeatedly violated procedural rules. “In this House, father and daughter, mother and daughter, husband and wife have been members. In this context, I expect the Leader of the Opposition to conduct himself in accordance with Rule 349 that deals with rules to be observed by members in the House,” he said. SC stays totally insensitive Allahabad HC remark heatwave Likely to intensify in state today The heatwave is likely to intensify, affecting 199 mandals across multiple districts on Thursday, says Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) Managing Director Ronanki Kurmanath | P3 S u c h i t r a K a lya n M o h a n t y @ New Delhi The Supreme Court on Wednesday stayed the Allahabad High Court’s recent observations on the grabbing of a minor girl’s breasts and pulling the drawstrings of her “pyjama” not amounting to an attempt to rape and said it reflected total “insensitivity” and “inhuman approach”. Taking strong exception to the HC’s observations, the court termed it a “very serious matter”. The court took suo motu cognisance of the matter after “We the Women of India” collective wrote to Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna. Accused Pawan and Akash allegedly grabbed the breasts of an 11-year-old girl in the Kas- ‘Strict action must be taken against judge’ The National Federation of Indian Women demanded action against Allahabad HC Justice Ram Manohar Narayan Mishra over his controversial observations. It demanded gender sensitivity training for judges ganj district of UP Thereafter, . one of them broke the string of her pyjama while trying to pull it down, attempted to drag her beneath a culvert and allegedly tried to rape her. But due to the intervention of passers-by they , couldn’t proceed. “It is a very serious matter,” Justice Gavai said, “exhibiting total insensitiveness on the part of the judge.”