vijayawada l tuesday l july 08, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l late city EDITION Tahawwur Rana was in Mumbai to oversee 26/11 carnage Tahawwur Rana, the 26/11 mastermind, has admitted he was present in Mumbai during the 2008 attacks as a trusted agent of Pakistan ‘conducted many surveillance missions’ rana was involved in aiding the attack Even as Rana remains under NIA custody in Tihar Jail, his statement was recorded by Mumbai Police Crime Branch. Rana told interrogators that he had conducted many reconnaissance missions of several areas in Mumbai ahead of the 2008 attacks and was present in the area when Lashkar-eTaiba-linked terrorists attacked the Taj Hotel and went on a rampage ■ ■ The NIA has charged Rana for hatching a conspiracy to carry out the attacks along with friend David Headley, who is a Lashkar-e-Taiba operative and another key conspirator in the gruesome 26/11 attacks Rana was involved in planning the attacks and helped Headley in getting a visa by creating a false identity to help him travel to India 166 people were killed in the 26/11 attacks in mumbai 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 SC to hear pleas against Bihar EC fiat on Thursday Bench says timeline has no sanctity as polls for the state assembly are yet to be notified S U C H I T R A K A LYA N M O H A N T Y @ New Delhi Why fresh exercise? “Bihar’s voter list was finalised in January 2025. The ECI itself acknowledged this. Revisions were made until June. Then, suddenly, it was discarded… Without any proof, without discrepancies, 70 million voters now have to prove citizenship again,” Congress leader Randeep Surjewala said This is mass scale rigging and mischief being carried out by the ECI, under instructions from the ruling regime... It has wreaked havoc across the villages and towns of Bihar K C Venugopal, Cong The Supreme Court on Monday decided to hear on July 10, Thursday a batch of pleas chal, lenging an order of the Election Commission of India (ECI) for Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar. The batch of petitions included a joint Opposition plea filed on Monday Its signatories . are K C Venugopal of the Congress, Supriya Sule of NCP (Sharad Pawar), Arvind Sawant of Shiv Sena (UBT), Harinder Malik of Samajwadi Party Sarfraz Ahmed of JMM, D Raja of , CPI and Dipankar Bhattacharya of CPI (ML). Senior advocate Kapil Sibal mentioned the pleas filed before a two-judge bench comprising justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Joymalya Bagchi. “We will have it on Thursday,” the bench said. Sibal urged the court to issue a notice to the ECI, adding it will be impossible for the people to meet the tight timeline for enumeration. Other lawyers who made their submissions were Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Shadan Farasat and Gopal Shankarnarayanan. They argued that voters who fail to submit their forms with the specified documents will face the harsh consequence of being deleted from the electoral roll, even if they have voted in elections for the last 20 years. Singhvi said while the size of the electorate is 8 crore, as many as 4 crore will have to do the enumeration. “The timeline is so strict — by July 25 if you don’t give, you will be out,” Singhvi pointed out. Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, appearing for another petitioner, said the poll panel was not accepting Aadhaar cards and voter ID cards as proof for the enumeration. The bench, however, contended that the timeline “doesn’t have sanctity as elections have not been notified as yet”. It asked the petitioners to give advance notice to the counsel for the ECI. Apart from the joint petition by Opposition leaders, at least five other pleas have been filed, including those by the Association For Democratic Reforms, People’s Union for Civil Liberties, Trinamool Congress leader Mahua Moitra, Rashtriya Janta Dal (RJD) MP Manoj Jha, and activist Yogendra Yadav. Countries aligning with BRICS policies will be charged an additional 10% tariff LETTERS FIRED US President Donald Trump on Monday signed letters addressed to the leaders of 14 countries, announcing higher tariffs from August 1. Trump shared screenshots of 7 signed letters mentioning the new tariff rates for Myanmar and Laos (40% each); South Africa (30%); Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, and Kazakhstan (25% each). White House said more letters will be sent | P10 Aug 1 Higher tariffs on 7 countries from Aug 1 Trump threatens extra 10% tariff on BRICS allies J AYA N T H J A COB @ New Delhi HOURS after the BRICS leaders criticised the unilateral trade actions and Israel’s military strikes in Iran, US President Donald Trump late on Sunday night threatened to slap an additional 10% tariff on countries that support the ‘anti-American policies’ of the bloc. “Any country aligning themselves with the AntiAmerican policies of BRICS will be charged an ADDITIONAL 10% Tariff. There will be no exceptions to this policy,” Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social. He did not specify which policies were “anti-American” or which countries would be targeted. Trump’s threat followed BRICS joint declaration at the summit in Brazil, where member states including India, Brazil, China, Russia, South Africa, and several new entrants criticised protectionist trade practices and foreign military interventions. Without naming the US, the statement voiced “serious concerns about the rise of unilateral tariff and non-tariff measures which distort trade and are inconsistent with WTO rules.” The bloc reaffirmed its support for an inclusive trading system and rejected ‘punitive and discriminatory protectionist measures’. The declaration issued at Rio, Brazil on Sunday during the summit of BRICS leaders said the proliferation of traderestrictive actions “threatens to further reduce global trade, disrupt global supply chains, and introduce uncertainty into international economic and trade activities”. This is not the first time Trump has targeted BRICS. In June, he threatened to slap 100% tariffs on countries that move to replace the US dollar as the global reserve currency . BRICS, originally formed to amplify the voice of major emerging economies, has since expanded beyond its core members to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates. 5 Years of Uncertainty Lack of COA nod for YSR varsity’s b arch sparks concern E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Kadapa Hundreds of students enrolled in the architecture program at Dr YSR Architecture and Fine Arts University in Kadapa are facing an uncertain future due to the university’s failure to obtain mandatory approval from the Council of Architecture (COA). Despite being in the final year of the five-year Bachelor of Architecture (BArch) program, the YSRAFU students from 2020–2022 batches have yet to receive confirmation that their degrees will receive official COA recognition. T h e s t u d e n t s h av e launched protests, voicing frustration and fear that five years of hard work and lakhs of rupees in tuition fees may go in vain. Many have spent up to `15 lakh each on their education, but without COA certification, they are ineligible to practice as architects or pursue postgraduate studies. “The university admitted us without securing COA approval. We’ve been kept in the dark for years. Now we’re about to graduate, and we still don’t know if our degrees are valid,” said one final-year student. Adding political weight to the students’ agitation, APCC president Y S Sharmila Reddy visited the university to express solidarity P4 . probe ORDERED AGAINST SENA MINISTER Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis has ordered an inquiry against Shiv Sena minister Sanjay Shirsat and his son for buying a luxury hotel worth `110 crore much below its value for `67 crore in Sambhaji Nagar by rigging the entire tender process | P8 A file picture of damaged buildings in a residential area after heavy rainfall in Mandi district; (left) Relief material being sent by a helicopter to flood-ravaged residents on Monday | PTI CM Naidu set to release Srisailam water today K M A D H U S U D H A K A R @ Kurnool The Srisailam reservoir has filled to near capacity within the first 15 days of the current water year, an unprecedented event in two decades, prompting the state irrigation authorities to schedule the release of floodwaters downstream on July 8. For the first time, the Chief Minister of the State will be present at the Srisailam dam for water release in the monsoon season. Naidu will visit the temple town on Tuesday to perform Jalaharathi to the Krishna River before ceremonially lifting the dam’s radial gates. The release is expected to benefit irrigation projects downstream, including Nagarjuna Sagar. As of Monday evening, the reservoir was holding 192.96 TMC ft of water against its full capacity of 215.80 TMC ft, with water levels reaching 880.90 feet, just shy of the Full Reservoir Level (FRL) of 885 feet. In- flows totaling 1,67,669 cusecs are being received from the projects on the Krishna River (1,08,359 cusecs) and Tungabhadra (59,310 cusecs) rivers. An irrigation official called the scale and speed of inflows a record in recent memory . The Chief Minister is expected to arrive at Srisailam around 11 am on Tuesday He will offer . special prayers at the Sri Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Swamy temple before proceeding to the dam. After the water release, Naidu will interact with local farmers and water users’ associations in Sunnipenta. This year marks a rare return of abundant monsoon inflows and an early opportunity to serve irrigation needs across the Krishna basin. Historical data underscores the significance of this year’s early release. In 2023, the dam remained dry, and no water was released. In previous years, gates were typically opened in late July or August. tragic incident Soldier from Bapatla dies in Rajouri due to accidental fire E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Guntur In a tragic incident, Naik Uppala Ravi Kumar (24), a soldier from Bapatla district in Andhra Pradesh, lost his life due to accidental firing in the Dharamsal area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district. According to family members, the mishap occurred on Saturday night. Ravi Kumar was serving with the 54 Rashtriya Rifles, a unit of the Indian Army involved in counter-insurgency operations. According to official reports, the mishap occurred while Ravi Kumar was on duty His service . weapon is believed to have discharged accidentally, causing severe injuries. Fellow soldiers nearby rushed to his aid and shifted him to the nearest military medical facility . Despite their prompt response and the efforts of medical personnel, his injuries proved fatal, and he succumbed shortly after. The local police have registered a case and launched an investigation. Ravi Kumar was the second son of Emmanuel and Lakshmi, residents of Chilakalavaripalem village in Nagaram mandal. He had joined the Indian Army four years ago. Recently , he had returned home on leave to get engaged to a relative’s daughter. The family was in the process of finalising the wedding date when he received fresh deployment orders for ‘Operation Sindoor,’ prompting him to return to duty . His sudden death has left his family, friends, and the entire village in deep shock and mourning. Locals remember him as a disciplined and responsible young man, deeply committed to his service. express read Amaravati Quantum Valley gets govt nod Vijayawada: State government has approved the Amaravati Quantum Valley Declaration to transform the capital region into a global quantum innovation hub by 2035, following a G.O. issued by the ITE&C Department | P4 Uddanam cashew wins national ODOP award Srikakulam: Uddanam cashew has been selected for the national award under the One District One Product (ODOP) initiative. The recognition comes as part of the Centre’s efforts to promote region-specific products | P3 daily soap Rescue ops on to trace 30 missing Kyunki neta again abhineta, Smriti back as Tulsi people after cloudbursts in Himachal K a r t i k Bha r ad w a j @ Mumbai ha r p r eet b a j w a @ Chandigarh SEARCH and rescue operations in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh were intensified on Monday with the use of drones and sniffer dogs to trace 30 people who went missing after cloudbursts, flash floods and landslides wreaked havoc in the Thunag, Gohar, and Karsog subdivisions last week. A team of 250 personnel from the National and State Disaster Response Forces, Army, IndoTibetan Border Police, and Home Guards, along with the administration and locals, are part of the rescue work. ‘Issue regular updates’ CM Sukhu has directed officials to issue regular weather updates and to counter misinformation circulating on social media The disaster resulted in the death of 52 people, with 78 reported deaths since the onset of the monsoon on June 20. Meanwhile, a 10-month-old infant, Nitika, was rescued from the debris of her home in Talwara village. Her father, Ramesh Kumar, was found dead, while her mother and grandmother are still untraced. The infant is currently being taken care of by her aunt. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu expressed concern over the rising incidents of cloudbursts across the state. The local weather office issued a yellow warning for heavy rain at isolated places in four districts of Una, Hamirpur, Solan and Sirmaur districts till Wednesday . As many as 235 roads are closed in the state, of which 176 were in Mandi district alone. Besides, 163 transformers were affected in the state. Actor-politician Smriti Irani will be returning to play the role of Tulsi Virani in the reboot of Ektaa Kapoor’s 2000s iconic daily soap, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. “Some journeys come full circle, not for nostalgia, but for purpose. Returning to Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi is not just a step back into a role, but a return to a story that redefined Indian television and reshaped my own life,” Smriti said in a statement. “Today, I stand at a crossroads where experience meets emotion, and creativity meets conviction. I return not just as an actor, but as someone who Straddled two powerful platforms in 25 years Smriti said she straddled two powerful platforms — media and public policy — in the last 25 years, adding both have their own impact with “each demanding a different kind of commitment” believes in the power of storytelling to spark change, preserve culture, and build empathy she added. ,” The show will to return to its original platform, Star Plus, on July 28. Other than Smriti, the serial will also star Amar Upadhyay, who will return in the role of Mihir. Hiten Tejwani, and Gauri Pradhan will also be seen reprising their roles from Smriti’s first look as Tulsi in Kyunki the show’s original version. In a recent media interaction, Smriti revealed that there were talks about a reboot to the series in 2014, but she had to reject the offer because of her sojourn into politics. However, Ektaa took to social media to claim that such an idea wasn’t in the works at all. She later deleted the post. Smriti, who served as Union minister across multiple portfolios from 2014 to 2024, lost the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Amethi to Sonia Gandhi family loyalist Kishori Lal Sharma by over 1.5 lakh votes, a constituency she had wrested from Rahul Gandhi in 2019. With her return to acting, does this mean a sabbatical from politics, or is it just a calm before the 2029 storm, Kyunki Actor Bhi Kabhi Politician Thi? ‘Kyunki’ aired from 2000 to 2008 and was the most successful serial of its time, with TRPs in double digits for many years.