kochi l tuesday l june 03, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 16 l late city EDITION IPL 2025 final: upbeat punjab face bengaluru might today Fresh from its incredible win against Mumbai, Shreyas Iyer set to lead the team against resurgent Royal Challengers in Ahmedabad Shreyas Iyer Rajat Patidar ‘Sarpanch’ Shreyas comes to the fore trophy hunting in 18th edition for No 18 The Punjab skipper is the title-defending captain but with a different franchise. He led Kolkata Knight Riders to the title last year, but was not retained. He came into the auction with a statement to make. He has led from the front, inspired a bunch of uncapped Indian players to rise to the occasion. Can he go all the way against Bengaluru team? It has been the narrative from the beginning of the season. Will RCB finally win an IPL title? They had a new captain in Rajat Patidar, built a strong squad around Virat Kohli (No 18) and have dominated the season like never before. The bowling attack has played a crucial part as well. P11 Come Tuesday, expect a massive support for Kohli and Co 2022 last time a team (Gujarat Titans) won their first IPL title 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: Train arsonist sought absolution by killing kafirs T o b y A n t o n y @Kochi Sharukh Saifi, the accused in the 2023 train arson case, committed the act believing that killing kafirs (non-believers) was the shortest route to absolution for his sins, the National Investigation Agency has said. The submission was filed in response to the bail plea moved by Saifi in NIA court last month citing delay in the trial’s commencement. The court dismissed the plea. Saifi was arrested for pouring petrol on passengers on the Alappuzha-Kannur Express and torching the coach in April 2023 resulting in the death of three people. In his plea, Saifi claimed he was arrested on April 6, 2023, without being informed of the grounds Sharukh Saifi at for the arrest time of arrest in writing. He argued that the autopsy report stated that people died after jumping from the train rather than from the fire. Since further investigation is ongoing, he noted there was no likelihood of the trial commencing in the near future. However, the NIA, as quoted in the court order, said the New Delhi native felt remorse for his lifestyle and wanted to become “a true Muslim”. For this, he turned to online platforms to learn about violent jihad as propagated by radical Islamic preachers. “He decided that the shortest way to absolution for his sins was through the killing of kafirs (non-believers), and decided to commit a crime of massacre and terror,” it said.  ● More on P4 Panakkad family junks poll meet, UDF red-faced E x p r e s s Ne w s Se r v i c e @ Malappuram In what is being interpreted as a loud, clear and blunt message, members of the revered Panakkad Thangal family didn’t show up for the election convention of UDF candidate Aryadan Shoukath in Nilambur on Monday. The no-show has embarrassed the Opposition front, already mired in one controversy after another. No one from the family turned up for the convention though at least two key members were in Malappuram. IUML state president Panakkad Syed Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal is in Saudi Arabia for Haj. In his absence, it was normal practice to depute Malappuram district president Syed Abbas Ali Shihab Thangal for important functions. Syed Munavvar Ali Shihab Thangal, state president of the Muslim Youth League, also stayed away from the function. CPM was quick to react to the development forcing the UDF on to the back foot. “No one from the Panakkad family turned up for the UDF convention. Neither did (senior leaders) Sudhakaran and Ramesh Chennithala,” CPM central committee member P K Tesla won’t make in India: HDK Only wants showrooms; but Merc, VW, Skoda, Hyundai, Kia interested in manufacturing EVs DIPA K MONDA L @ New Delhi Swaraj, Anvar and Mohan file papers Malappuram: LDF candidate M Swaraj, former MLA and TMC leader P V Anvar and NDA’s Mohan George submitted their nomination for the June 19 Nilambur by-election on Monday, the last day to submit the papers. P4 Sreemathy posted on Facebook. “Can the Panakkad family campaign for a candidate who abu s e d T h a n g a l ? ” a s ke d Bineesh Kodiyeri, the son of former CPM state secretary late Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, in another social media post Realising the danger, the UDF leadership sprang into action and launched a firefighting mission, announcing that Abbas Ali Thangal would inaugurate Shoukath’s road show on Tuesday . “Don’t spread baseless allegations. Thangal did not stay away from the convention,” IUML national general secretary P K Kunhalikutty told reporters. The friction between the Panakkad family and Shoukath has been a point of discussion ever since the UDF candidate was announced. ● More on P4 Elon Musk-promoted Tesla is not interested in manufacturing electric vehicles in India, Union heavy industries minister H D Kumaraswamy said here on Monday, adding that the US firm seems interested only in opening showrooms in India. However, other global players including Mercedes, Volkswagen, Skoda, Hyundai and Kia have shown interest in setting up manufacturing facilities in India, he added. The minister’s comments came while announcing the guidelines for the Scheme for Promotion of Manufacturing of Electric Passenger Cars in India (SMEC). He, however, added that the real intention of companies will be known only when the application window for the scheme opens. SMEC—meant for attracting investment from global EV manufacturers—will allow companies to import complete- New Union heavy industries ministry, the scheme EV scheme Notified by the aims to bring global investments and tech to India 10k crore Annual revenue plus L3,000 cr global asset base needed for cos to apply Lower import duty of 15% (down from 70%) for EVs priced above $35,000 25% domestic value addition must be achieved in 3 yrs, and 50% in 5 yrs 4,150 crore Must be invested in India within 3 years of getting approval Import quota capped at 8,000 cars per year, for 5 yrs. Unused quota can be carried forward to next yr ly built units of EVs priced below $35,000 at 15% import duty against the currently applicable rate of 70% for green cars. Government officials said Tesla, which had initially shown interest in setting up manufacturing units in India, attended only the first stake- holders’ consultation meeting to discuss the details of the scheme. They skipped subsequent meetings. US president Donald Trump, who is against American firms setting up factories abroad, has very close links with Musk. When asked about Musk’s sikkim Landslide kills 3 jawans, 6 others missing Rlys identifies trees along the tracks between Nagercoil and Vallathol Nagar that may disrupt movement of trains. Special drive launched to cut, trim, or secure them | P5 Terror no deterrent, KMRL speeds up Srinagar Water Metro feasibility study The Pahalgam terror attack and the resultant conflagration between India and Pakistan might have shaken the entire Kashmir valley But authorities . have ensured that development activities, including the proposed Srinagar Water Metro, won’t suffer a bit. If anything, the Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) — which the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has entrusted with conducting water metro feasibility studies at 21 centres across the country — has speeded up the study for the Srinagar project. While the terror attack had initially spurred thoughts of “delay”, the authorities grew determined to implement the project at the earliest to pass on E X P R ESS R EA D KMRL officials led by Kochi Water Metro COO Sajan P John conduct site visit in Srinagar for feasibility study the message that such “cowardly terror acts” cannot stop the nation from marching ahead. A three-member team headed to Srinagar in the third week of May and completed the preliminary study, which prima facie found the project “feasi- ble” in the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir. “We reversed our initial decision and undertook the challenge as we felt such cowardly acts shouldn’t come in the way of a region’s development activities. In fact, the authorities there are also pushing forward the Srinag ar Smar t City project,” said Kochi Water Metro chief operating officer (COO) Sajan P John, who led the team. The preliminary study identified routes linking the famous Dal lake and the Jhelum river which passes through the heart of the city . The targeted population was both local residents and tourists. It, however, suggested that only electric boats should be used, given the fragile environ● More on P4 ment there.  The site of the landslide (above) that hit a military camp at Chaten in Sikkim; and rescue operations (left) in progress | PTI lessly working around the clock under extremely challenging terrain and adverse weather conditions to locate and rescue the six personnel who remain missing,” the statement stated. “The Indian Army remains steadfast in its commitment to ensure the safety and well- E x p r e s s Ne w s Se r v i c e @ Guwahati A landslide struck an Army camp at Chaten in Sikkim’s Lachen district, killing three personnel. Four individuals were rescued while six other personnel were reported missing, a defence ministry statement said. The incident occurred on Sunday evening. The deceased were identified as Havaldar Lakhwinder Singh, Lance Naik Munish Thakur and porter Abhishek Lakhada. All three bodies were recovered. “Rescue teams are relent- Thousands of tourists evacuated Most of the over 18,000 tourists stranded in Sikkim’s Lachung and Chungthang towns following landslides were evacuated on Monday. Over 100 others are still stuck in Lachen being of all its personnel, demonstrating its unyielding spirit and dedication to duty even in the face of nature’s fury the statement added. ,” With rainfall in recent days exceeding 130 mm, roads to key tourist destinations, including Lachen, Lachung, Gurudongmar, the Valley of Flowers and Zero Point, suffered major damages. As emergency work is underway following a sudden increase in river Teesta’s water level, the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd restricted vehicular movement along National Highway 10. cashing in on cashew Plea in HC against ‘Thug Life’ ban call ‘Kannur Feni’ captures homegrown spirit, on its way into glasses Bengaluru: The co-producer of Kamal Haasan-starrer ‘Thug Life’ on Monday moved the Karnataka High Court over the proclaimed ban on the release and distribution of the movie in the state by the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) in connecton with the actor’s controversial statement that ‘Kannada was born out of Tamil’. The Karnataka High Court is likely to hear the petition on Tuesday. P5 L a k s h m i At h i r a @ Kannur excise licence due Raise a toast, ‘Kannur Feni’ is officially on its way! Payyavoor Service Cooperative Bank has received the final green light to produce low-alcohol cashew liquor, and it’s set to make its much-anticipated debut next cashew season. Inspired by the iconic Goan Feni, this homegrown version will be crafted from fresh cashew, distilled right here in Kannur. The idea first took shape in 2016 when the cooperative approached the state government Inspired by the iconic Goan Feni, the homegrown version will be crafted from fresh cashew and distilled right in Kannur 16 pages, including 4 pages of kochi Express with a bold proposal to turn the region’s abundant cashew harvest into a signature spirit. After years of waiting, and an official nod from government in June 2022, the project was held up by regulations. Now, with It’s Tharoor vs Bhutto as India, Pakistan look to shape US view J aya n t h J a c o b @ New Delhi 28,000 on railway tracks trees at risk of falling K r i s h n a K u m a r K E @ Kochi plans to manufacture in India, Trump had said it would be “very unfair”. Meanwhile, India and the US are negotiating a trade deal under which India is expected to lower the import duty on American cars, which at present is in the range of 70-100%. Under the recently concluded India-UK trade deal, India has agreed to reduce the tariff on cars to 10% in 10 years. However, small EVs have been kept out of the purview of the deal. The application widow under SMEC will open next week, and won’t shut for 120 days. However, the Centre can reopen the window as and when required till March 15, 2026. On the likely chances of BYD applying under the scheme, officials said the Chinese EV maker is very keen but the Indian government has no plans to grant permission. The government estimates a revenue loss of `6,484 crore per applicant under the scheme. The project proposal has got the assembly subject committee’s approval, and the finance department has set tax rates The cooperative has applied for the excise licence the assembly subject committee’s report approved and the finance department setting tax rates, the stage is finally set. “Payyavoor and surrounding areas have abundant cashew cultivation. I’ve nurtured the idea of Kannur Feni since 1990, when I was president of Payyavoor panchayat. It has been a long journey to secure the assembly subject committee’s approval. We’ve applied for the excise licence, and the excise commissioner has assured us it will be granted. We expect to begin production by December this year,” said T M Joshi, president of the bank. The cooperative has earmarked four acres of land in Kankirakolli for the distillery . “Bringing together local farmers will help ensure quality We . estimate the production cost of one litre of Feni at around `200250. With 100% excise tax, we expect to price it between `500600,” Joshi said. However, there’s some uncertainty regarding the name. “We had hoped to call it ‘Kannur Feni’, but since there is a patent for ‘Feni’ in Goa, we’re cautious about using the term. With excise approval in hand, we’ll seek legal advice on this matter,” he said. The licence permits distillation strictly from cashew, with the season running from December to May . As diplomatic efforts intensify , delegations from both India and Pakistan are arriving in the US this week, seeking to shape political opinion among American lawmakers and officials. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor is leading an Indian all-party team back to Washington on June 3, after an outreach tour across Latin America. Meanwhile, a Pakistani delegation, headed by former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, begins its US leg in New York and Washington this week. Bhutto-Zardari’s nine-member delegation includes prominent figures such as former foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar, ex-information minister Sherry Rehman, former defence minister Khurram Dastgir Khan, and former foreign secretaries Jalil Abbas Jilani and Tehmina Janjua. Their visit extends beyond the US to London and Shashi Tharoor Brussels, according to a statement from Pakistan’s foreign ministry . The Indian delegation had initially touched down in New Bilawal York on May 24, Bhutto-Zardari ahead of the Memorial Day holiday when the , US Congress was out of session. With lawmakers now back in Washington, the Indian team is expected to hold engagements with members of influential Congressional committees, key US lawmakers, and some Trump administration figures. It remains unclear whether the Indian and Pakistani delegations will be in the same city at the same time.During a New York event last month, Tharoor had said: “India has demonstrated Pakistan will have to pay an increasingly higher price for backing terror attacks against the country,” adding that Islamabad “has not shown any seriousness about tackling ter rorism.” Pakistan has pitched its diplomatic push as a counter to India’s recent global outreach. It announced two delegations would travel to North America, Europe and Russia.