THIRUVANANTHAPURAM l saturday l may 03, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 16 l late city EDITION now, Repairability index for smartphones in the offing Smartphone and tablet manufacturers will soon have to rate their products on a repairability index to help consumers make informed choices ‘tech ensures products have short lives’ five-point rating scale being considered A government panel on Friday submitted a report recommending introduction of the index. “Companies are not manufacturing devices for life. They are actually forcing consumers to buy another product as they have planned for their obsolescence. Technology has made sure products have short lifespans,” said Nidhi Khare, Consumer Affairs Secretary ■ ■ The panel has recommended a five-point rating scale that should be prominently displayed at points of sale, on packaging, and websites The rating will be based on parameters including repairability of key components like display, batteries, camera, and speakers; ease of disassembly; availability of spare parts; and software update policies 20,000 complaints received on faulty repair ecosystems 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 NIA sees Pak Army hand in Pahalgam terror attack Preliminary report points to role of LeT, ISI, and Pak Army: Sources MU K E S H R A N J A N @ New Delhi Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan share a light moment during the dedication ceremony of Vizhinjam International Seaport in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday | B P Deepu PORT OF PRIDE The Vizhinjam International Seaport — developed in partnership with Adani Ports and SEZ Limited — is India’s first deep-water, multipurpose seaport I8,867cr investment in phase I The state-led project has an annual handling capacity of 1 million TEUs in its first phase Trial operations began on July 13, 2024, and the port became fully operational on December 3, 2024 Since then, it has handled 285 ships and processed nearly 6 lakh TEUs — 10 times the initial estimate leaderspeak Vizhinjam seaport will unlock immense economic potential and place Kerala at the heart of global trade routes Narendra Modi, PM This is not just the opening of a port gate — it is the opening of India’s grand gateway to the development potential of the third millennium Pinarayi Vijayan, CM PM dedicates Vizhinjam Port to the nation E x p r ess N e w s S e r v i c e @T’Puram Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday dedicated the `8,867-crore Vizhinjam International Seaport - India’s first deep-water, multipurpose port - to the nation at a grand ceremony in Thiruvananthapuram , even as major political parties in the state vied with each other to take credit fo r re a l i s i n g t h e m e g a project. Touting Vizhinjam as a gateway to global maritime trade, Modi said the port marks a major step forward for India’s transshipment capabilities and economic self-reliance. “This port will unlock immense economic potential and place Kerala at the heart of global trade routes,” he said. Calling Vizhinjam a symbol of “new-age development”, the prime minister termed it a confluence of natural beauty and strategic potential. “The capacity of this transshipment hub will triple in the coming years, allowing the world’s largest cargo ships to dock here,” he said. “Until now, 75% of India’s transshipment was handled in foreign ports leading to substantial revenue loss. That is now set to change.” The development of Vizhinjam, he said, will keep that revenue within the country and create new economic opportunities, particularly for Kerala and its people. “India’s money will now serve India,” he said. Modi also credited the private sector’s role in maritime growth. “Over the past decade, investments under the public-private partnership model have upgraded our ports to global standards and made them future-ready he said. ,” Modi was greeted with enthusiastic applause upon his arrival at the venue. Opening his speech in Malayalam, he paid tribute to Adi Shankaracharya on his birth anniversary and concluded by honouring the late Pope Francis, who enjoys a strong following in the state. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan began his address paying homage to the victims of the Pahalgam terrorist attack. He hailed the commissioning of the port as the beginning of a new era. “We have achieved it,” he declared, echoing his statement at the inauguration of the trial run held on July 13, 2024. “This is not just the opening of a port gate — it is the opening of India’s grand gateway to development potential of the third millenni● More on P4 um,” he said.  THE April 22 Pahalgam attack was perpetrated by the Lashkare-Taiba (LeT), Pakistan’s InterServices Intelligence (ISI), and the Pak Army, according to a preliminary report prepared by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Sources said the report mentions the conspiracy behind the brutal attack, in which 26 people were killed, was hatched by the LeT with directions and support from the ISI and the Pak Army . The preliminary probe found the involvement of around 20 active Kashmir Valley over ground workers (OGWs) in providing logistics support to the terrorists. OWG is a term used by security agencies to refer to people who provide logistics support to militants and assist them in their surreptitious movement. According to NIA sources, the identified OGWs are currently being intensely interrogated. During interrogation, it was revealed that both the main attackers were in touch with their Pakistani-based handlers E X P RESS RE A D Cong calls for fitting reply to terror groups New Delhi: Urging the Centre to act with firmness in the wake of Pahalgam attack, a resolution passed by the Congress Working Committee said this is an opportune time to demonstrate the nation’s will to teach Pakistan a lesson for its export of terror. P8 Herald case: Rahul, Sonia get court notices New Delhi: A Delhi court issued notice to Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi in the National Herald money laundering case, saying the accused have the right to be heard before cognizance is taken and that this right is crucial for ensuring a fair trial. P8 16 pages, including 4 pages of THIRUVANANTHAPURAM Express and they received specific instructions on the timing, logistics, and execution. NIA sleuths will also question two key OGWs— Nisar Ahmad alias Haji and Mushtaq Hussain—who are currently lodged in Kot Bhalwal Jail in Jammu to ferret out information from them. “The duo are known associates of LeT and were earlier arrested for their role in aiding terrorists involved in the 2023 attack on Army convoys in Bhata Dhurian and Totagali,” a source said. According to the NIA report, two prime suspects identified as Hashmi Musa (alias Suleman) and Ali Bhai (alias Talha Bhai) are Pakistani nationals. The NIA sleuths also performed a 3D mapping of the attack site and extracted dump data from mobile towers around the valley sources said. , “Satellite phone activity in the region spiked in the days leading up to the attack. At least three satellite phones were operational in and around Baisaran and signals from two have been traced and analysed,” said an official. Terrorists entered Kashmir Weeks ago NIA found the terrorists entered Kashmir weeks before the attack and were helped by a network of OGWs, who gave them all the logistics support including shelter, navigation, and reconnaissance Recce at 4 places, including Baisaran NIA said the terrorists reached Pahalgam around April 15 and did recce at Baisaran Valley, Aru Valley, Betaab Valley, and an amusement park. They chose Baisaran due to thin security Shehbaz seeks help from Muslim nations Pak PM Shehbaz Sharif on Friday urged Muslim countries, including Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Kuwait, to impress upon India to de-escalate and defuse tensions, reports said Smoke engulfs Kozhikode MCH casualty wing, 5 bodies found E XPR E S S N E W S S E RVIC E @ Kozhikode Five bodies were found at the emergency wing of Kozhikode Medical College Hospital after smoke billowed out of the UPS room on Friday night. “Two of them were already declared dead and their bodies were about to be shifted to the mortuary when the smoke came out. The condition of the other three persons was very critical, and we cannot say for sure at this time whether their death was due to suffocation caused by the s m o ke, ” s a i d Medical College principal K G Sajeeth Kumar. The smoke emanated from the UPS room of the casualty block after an explosion caused by short circuit, said fire and rescue officials. The smoke was noticed around 8pm and the patients were immediately evacuated. MLA T Siddique, who visited the hospital, told reporters that one of the recovered bodies was that of 44-year-old Nazeera from Kalpetta, who was admitted to the casualty . KCA suspends Sreesanth for 3 yrs over remarks on Sanju’s exclusion E x p r ess N e w s S e r v i c e @ Kochi The Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) has suspended former international cricketer S Sreesanth for three years, in a move that has triggered allegations of a coordinated crackdown against those who spoke out in suppor t of Sanju Samson. The KCA has also announced legal action against Sanju’s father, Samson Vishwanath, for remarks made against the association. The controversy began late last year when Sanju was left out of the Kerala squad for the Vijay Hazare Trophy, the national 50-over championship. S Sreesanth Sanju Samson The decision raised questions about whether it contributed to his later omission from the national squad for the Champions Trophy held this year. Former players, including Sreesanth, accused the KCA of unfair treatment and selective targeting of Sanju. The KCA’s statement, issued after a special general body meeting in Kochi on April 30, claims that Sreesanth and others made “false and derogatory” remarks about the association. It also names Samson Vishwanath as among those who made “baseless comments”, and warns of legal proceedings. Sreesanth, co-owner of Kerala Cricket League franchise Kollam Aeries and an IPL commentator, has now been banned from participating in any KCArelated activities for three years. This also disqualifies him from voting or contesting in the upcoming KCA elections, a notable consequence conside r i n g h i s vo t i n g r i g h t s as a former international crick● More on P4 eter.  Girl, 3, youngest to ‘take’ Box office data release triggers outrage among producers Santhara fast unto death investment concerns A N N A J O S E @Kochi The Kerala Film Producers Association’s (KFPA) decision to release monthly box office collection figures — a move it claims is aimed at helping investors — is evoking negative reviews. The move, initiated from February, has thrown open a rift, with some producers warning that it could backfire and end up discouraging investment, besides distorting perceptions of success in a fragile market. According to the KFPA’s March 2025 report, just one film – L2: Empuraan – out of the 15 released that month was commercially successful. The association defends its decision to release the figures, saying it would help inform producers of industry trends and financial outcomes. However, not everyone is convinced. Producer Sandra Thomas, among those vehemently opposed to the move, said the decision has started hurting the industry. “The numbers they release are partial. There are multiple sources of income, including OTT rights, remake rights, dubbing rights and theatre collection. When we release the theatre collection, it gives the wrong impression that the entire industry is in loss,” she explained. Santhosh T Kuruvilla, coproducer of films like Da Thadiya, Mayaanadhi and Nna Thaan Case Kodu, too, was critical of the decision. “I don’t know who hired these people to release monthly reports of Malayalam films. These are confidential numbers. If a body authorised or constituted by the state is releasing these figures, then it is understandable,” he posted on social media and called on those involved to stop “spreading false ideas” about the industry . Kuruvilla warned that publi- Hits of first 3 months ‘Rekhachitram’, ‘Officer on Duty’ and ‘L2: Empuraan’ were reported to be the box office hits of the first three months of 2025 cising box office failures could dampen investor confidence. “The goal of film production is not just high returns. The entertainment industry works on long-term goals,” he said. However, KFPA vice-president G Sureshkumar said they want to caution new producers about the risks in investing in the sector. “The numbers were released not to discourage investors. Numerous producers are in debt and experiencing losses. We cannot let this happen. Actors’ remuneration and production costs are increasing. Potential producers should be aware of the risks,” he told ● More on P4 TNIE.  A n u r aa g S i n g h @ Bhopal A three-year terminally ill child in Indore became the youngest to ‘embrace death’ through the Jain practice of Santhara. She passed away on March 21 minutes after the ceremony ended. Santhara or Sallekhana is a voluntary practice of fast unto death, which is undertaken when the end is imminent. But since patient Viyana Jain was just three, she couldn’t have taken the decision voluntarily. It was her parents Varsha and Piyush Jain, both techies, who took the call fol- lowing advice from Jain guru Rajesh Muni Maharaj. Santhara was declared illegal by the Rajasthan HC in 2015. The order triggered massive protests by Jains, who argued that Santhara was for self-purification. A month later, the SC suspended the order. Viyana underwent surgery for brain tumour in Mumbai in January “A couple of months . later, her condition started deteriorating following relapse of the brain tumour. We took her to our Jain guru. He told us her end was near and recommended Santhara,” said Varsha over phone.