madurai l wednesday l may 28, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 14 l late city EDITION 65 injured as car Ploughs into Liverpool victory parade At least 65 people, including four children, suffered injuries on Monday evening when a 53-year-old white British man drove over people Vehicle entered street shut to traffic Car sped up when angry crowd blocked it The horrific incident happened around 17.00 GMT Monday when thousands of people were on the streets of Liverpool to celebrate Liverpool FC winning the Premier League. As the parade wound up, a Ford Galaxy drove into Water Street, which had been shut to traffic. The car, blocked by bystanders, suddently accelerated, knocking over people ■ ■ ■ Police said the roadblock on Water Street had been lifted temporarily just before the incident to allow an ambulance to pass through The Ford Galaxy car followed the ambulance onto Water Street, when an angry crowd blocked the car and opened the driver’s door The car then sped up, veering into people on both sides of the street no terror Police quickly disclosed the suspect’s details to refute Islamic terror angle 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 New form Govt extends ITR filing deadline to September 15 D I PA K M O N D A L @ New Delhi IN a major relief to income taxpayers, the government has extended the income tax return (ITR) filing deadline for Assessment Year (AY) 2024-25 from July 31, 2025 to September 15, 2025. The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), in a circular issued on Tuesday, said the extension was necessitated due to substantial revisions in the ITR for ms for AY 2025-26. These changes aim to simplify compliance, enhance transparency, and improve reporting accuracy As a result, more . time was needed for the development, integration, and testing of the necessary system utilities, it added. Additionally tax deducted at , source (TDS) statements— originally due by May 31, 2025—are not expected to be reflected until early June. This would have left taxpayers with a very limited window to file their returns, making the extension crucial. The CBDT said the move ensures a smoother filing experience, while addressing stakeholder concerns and maintaining the integrity of the tax filing process. “Given the complexity and increased reporting requirements in the revised ITR forms, including more granular disclosures of capital gains, foreign income, and asset ownership, the extension offers much-needed relief to taxpayers,” said Sandeep Sehgal, partner – tax, AKM Global, adding that taxpayers should use this window to verify their financial data to minimise errors while filing ITR. ‘Shocking’ jailing Bunked class? You could lose US visa of student over Sindoor post: HC Jayan t h Ja c o b @ New Delhi Grants bail, says such ‘radical’ reactions by state will only radicalise young people S U D H I R S U R YA W A N S H I @ Mumbai Reform young minds The Bombay High Court observed that educational institutions’ responsibility is not limited to imparting academic education. Institutes should also help students learn from mistakes and reform, the bench added National interest safe HC rejected the college’s argument that the student’s anti-national sentiments posed a risk to campus community, saying mere critical social media posts cannot weaken national interest THE Bombay High Court on Tuesday ordered the immediate release of a 19-year-old engineering student arrested for sharing an Instagram post on Operation Sindoor and slammed the Maharashtra government and state police for their ‘radical reaction’ to a critical comment. While granting bail, a bench of justices Gauri Godse and Somasekhar Sundaresan said it was “absolutely shocking” that the student was treated like a hardcore criminal even after she apologised and deleted the social media post. “It is shocking that an FIR was lodged against her on May 9 without even considering the fact that she had deleted the post and even apologised,” the court said, while observing that the girl’s act of sharing the post can only be termed as “act of indiscretion” by a young student. “How can the state arrest a student like this? Does the state want students to stop expressing their opinions? Such a radical reaction will further radicalise the person,” the court observed. The bench also pulled up the college authorities for rusticating the student without giving her an opportunity to give an explanation. “How can you rusticate? Did you call upon an explanation? What is the purpose of an educational institution? Is it only to educate academically? You need to reform a student or make a student into a criminal?” Justice Godse told the counsel appearing for the college. The court suspended the rustication order. Noting that the student missed some of her exams while in custody it issued directions to permit her , to appear for the remaining papers. As for the papers missed, the student can make appropriate representations before the authorities. During the hearing, the court enquired about the girl’s mental and emotional status and directed the police to provide protection to the student. “Give her a separate classroom for writing exams,” the bench told the college. The allegation against the girl was that her social media post caused tension between two groups and posed threat to public peace. In her plea, the student said she shared a post without any ill intent and deleted it immediately after receiving a barrage of threats. The United States has issued a advisory to international students in the country including , Indian nationals, urging them to strictly comply with the terms of their student visas. The US embassy in New Delhi warned that students who violate visa conditions risk immediate consequences, including visa revocation and ineligibility for future US visas. “Always adhere to the terms of your visa and maintain your student status to avoid any issues,” the embassy stated in its The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday updated its monsoon forecast to above-normal rainfall for the whole season from June to September. The average seasonal rainfall across the country is likely to be 106% of the Long Period Average (LPA) with a model error of ±4%. Rainfall between 96% and 104% of the 50-year average of 87 cm is considered normal. As for the flow of monsoon, it is intense in different parts of the west and southern regions, and is way ahead of schedule. But scientists say the movement of the monsoon could slow down after three days, opening up the possibility of a dry spell. notice on Tuesday “If you drop . out, skip classes, or leave your program of study without informing your school, your student visa may be revoked, and you may lose eligibility for future US visas,” it added. Non-compliance of norms by students could result in im- mediate termination of their F-1 visa status, which may jeopardise their legal stay in the US and impact any future study or immigration benefits. According to the Open Doors 2024 Report on International Educational Exchange, the number of international stu- R S i v akumar @ Chennai Pahalgam Pedalling J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah cycles after chairing a Cabinet meeting at Pahalgam in Anantnag district on Tuesday. A month after a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, he interacted with the locals and assured them of reviving tourism | PTI e x p r e ss r e a d Court verdict in Anna varsity rape case today Kurian Joseph panel to start work from June 1 Suspected Maoists loot truck-load of explosives Chennai: A Mahila court in Chennai will deliver its judgment on Wednesday on the rape of an Anna University student that occurred on December 23, in which A Gnanasekaran (37), a biryani seller, is the sole accused | P2 Chennai: The high-level committee, led by former Supreme Court judge Kurian Joseph, constituted to study union-state relations will start functioning on June 1, to elicit views from public and other sections of society | P2 Bhubaneswar: Unidentified persons suspected to be Maoist operatives looted a truck-load of explosives from a remote and forested area located about 90 km from Rourkela, in Sundargarh district, Odisha on Tuesday. The area is the hotbed of Maoists Expects 108% in June Above-normal rains, fewer heatwave days Except for the Northeast, J&K and Ladakh, the rest of the country will receive abovenormal rainfall during monsoon season. Region-wise, the IMD expects normal rainfall in the Northwest (92-108% of LPA), followed by above-normal rainfall over Central India and South Peninsular India (over 106% of LPA). As for June, the countrywide rainfall is projected to be over 108% of LPA. Above-nor mal monthly minimum temperatures are likely across the country except in some parts , of Central India and the South Peninsula, where normal to below-normal minimum temperatures are likely As a re. sult, the IMD expect belownormal heatwave days over the Northwest and the East. A late night report claimed that the Trump administration has ordered all US embassies not to schedule new interviews for student visas as it intends to expand social media screening of the candidates. The US embassy in Delhi denied receiving the order dents enrolled at US colleges and universities reached a record high of 11,26,690 in 202324. India was the leading contributor with 3,31,602 students during that period — a 23% jump compared to the previous academic year. However, failure to follow the rules can have serious repercussions under Trump’s rule. Violations such as poor academic performance, unauthorised absence, or failure to report employment under Optional Practical Training can lead to deportation and termination of work authorisation. Court allows disabled rape survivor abort 28-week foetus IMD predicts 106% of 50-yr rainfall average for the season Ji t e ndra Chou b e y @ New Delhi Freeze on visa interviews? below-normal in N-E, J&K weather system to bring tn more rain E x pr e ss N e ws S e r v i c e Low pressure area @ Chennai A view of the flooded Motorai Palada village near Ooty in Tamil Nadu, following heavy rainfall in the Nilgiris on Tuesday | PTI The regional meteorological centre on Tuesday stated that a low-pressure area, formed over the northwest Bay of Bengal off the Odisha coast, is expected to intensify over the next 48 hours. Several districts in the state, especially those in the souther n region, which have already received abovenormal rainfall due to a lowpressure system in the Arabian Sea, may receive more rain until May 30. The low-pressure area is likely to move slowly northwards towards Bangladesh and Myanmar over the next few days, during which time A satellite image Tamil Nadu is expected to receive significant rainfall. There may be a break in r a i n f a l l a c t iv i t y f ro m June 1. An orange alert has been issued for the ghat areas of Coimbatore, Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, Theni, and Nilgiris districts, where heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected. Tiruppur, Dindigul, and Kanniyakumari may experience heavy rain.  P7 A pregnant woman with 80% disability, who was raped by her neighbour, terminated her 28-week foetus on Tuesday after the Madras High Court allowed her to undergo the procedure. Under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Rules, termination of foetus is allowed only up to 24 weeks. The woman is suffering from Friedreich’s Ataxia, a rare neurological condition that has led to paralysis of her limbs and 80% permanent physical impairment. The woman’s mother did not notice her pregnancy in the early stages because of her condition. After noticing bodily changes, the woman took her daughter to the Government Medical Hospital in Chengalpattu where doctors confirmed that she was in her 28th week of pregnancy . Though the police registered a case against the accused for rape and criminal intimidation, the doctors at the hospital refused to terminate the p re g n a n cy c i t i n g r u l e s. The mother later moved the Madras High Court, seeking direction to the hospital to terminate her daughter’s pregnancy The woman cited preg. nancy due to rape and her daughter’s medical condition fo r s e e k i n g t h e c o u r t ’s intervention. Justice D Bharatha Chakravarthy, in his order, said that the woman, being a rape survivor, is entitled for medical termination of pregnancy He fur. ther said that the outer limit of 24 weeks need not be held as a barrier in this case since the woman’s mother noticed it only after 24 weeks because of her medical condition. The only consideration that has to be made is the matter of risk associated with the continuation or termination of the pregnancy by a Medical Board that can be constituted by the Dean of the Government Medical College Hospital, Chengalpattu, the court had ruled recently . P7 p o w e r st r u g g l e Grid issue pulls plug on TN’s renewable power, 70mn units lost in a week 5th gen advanced medium combat aircraft Defence Minister Rajnath Singh approved the ‘execution model’ of the mega indigenous 5th Gen fighter jet for the IAF | P9 S G U R U VA N M I K A N AT H A N @ Chennai Amid increasing push by centre and state governments to produce more renewable energy grid curtailment has led to , 70 million units of renewable power not being evacuated by the Tamil Nadu Transmission Corporation (Tantransco) over the past one week, power producers said. State authorities said decrease in power demand due to change in weather led to the drop in uplifting of renewable power. According to REPA (Renewable Energy Producers Association), the Tamil Nadu Grid Manager (TN SLDC) and Tantransco have been reducing power intake by curtailing the grid for three to five hours a day in many substations, including Theni, Surandai, Veeranam and Aralvaimozhi, in the last one week to 10 days. This has resulted in eight to 10 million units of generated renewable energy going waste every day, REPA said. The non-utilisation of RE has come amid the Union Ministry of Power setting an increased Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) for Tamil Nadu by fixing a target of 33.01% of power demand for 2025-26 to be met through renewable sources. It is noteworthy that the state could not meet last year’s target of 29.91% as renewable power generation fell short by 3%. REPA’s chief advisor K Venkatachalam told TNIE that the wind season has begun early in Tamil Nadu this year and will continue until September. “It is disappointing that the state-run power utility has started cutting off the grid and refusing to accept wind power from producers from the beginning of the season itself,” Venkatachalam alleged.  P7 Tantransco has been reducing wind power intake by curtailing the grid for three to five hours a day in several substations across Tamil Nadu | file pic