SAMBALPUR  MONDAY  JULY 14, 2025  `9.00  PAGES 12  CITY EDITION CCTV CAMERAS IN TRAINS TO ENHANCE PASSENGER SAFETY In a first, the Ministry of Railways has decided to install CCTV cameras in all passenger train coaches and locomotives ‘WILL DETER MISCREANTS, ORGANISED GANGS’ VAISHNAV ASKS OFFICIALS TO MAKE USE OF AI The decision follows positive outcomes from experimental installations of CCTVs in Northern Railway. Railway officials said the move is expected to bolster passenger safety and help deter miscreants and gangs who exploit travellers. To preserve privacy, CCTVs will be installed in the common area near the doors | P7 ■ Officials said each locomotive will be equipped with six CCTVs. Additionally, each cab of a loco will be fitted with one dome-type CCTV camera and two desk-mounted microphones, they added ■ Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnav has encouraged officials to explore the use of AI on the data captured by the CCTV cameras 74,000 COACHES AND 15,000 LOCOMOTIVES WILL BE FITTED WITH CCTV CAMERAS 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 Khalistani terrorist Batala, 7 others arrested in US H A R P R E E T B A J W A @ Chandigarh IN a major crackdown on international terror network, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrested eight Khalistani terrorists across the US, including Pavittar Singh Batala—a gangster from Punjab wanted by the National Investigation Agency for terror activities linked to the banned Babbar Khalsa International. The eight men were picked up from San Joaquin County during an investigation into a gang-related kidnapping and EXPRESS READ CM orders probe into jumbo’s death in electric hooking Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Sunday ordered a high-level probe into the death of a female elephant in electric hooking in Sambalpur district. Expressing grief and concern over the matter, the chief minister assured that the persons involved in the incident will not be spared. “Strict action will be taken against the accused,” he asserted | P2 3 top commanders of ULFA-1 killed in ‘drone’ attacks Guwahati: The Paresh Baruah faction of ULFA-I on Sunday said it lost three of its top commanders in drone and missile attacks carried out by “colonial occupational forces.” The banned insurgent group in a statement said “lieutenant general” Nayan Asom died in a drone attack and “brigadier” Ganesh Asom and “colonel” Pradip Asom were killed in missile attack | P8 torture case. During the raid, a been charged with various ofcache of arms including a fully fences including kidnapping, automatic Glock, hundreds of torture, unlawful confinement, rounds of ammuniwitness intimidation, tion, several high-caassault with a semipacity magazines, and automatic firearm, isover $15,000 in cash suing criminal were seized. threats, and gang-reBatala had an Interlated enhancements. pol Red Corner Notice “On July 11, the San against him. The othJoaquin County Sherer arrested men are iff ’s Office AGNET Amritpal Singh, Dil- Pavittar Singh Batala Unit—alongside the preet Singh, ArshStockton Police Depreet Singh, Manpreet Rand- partment SWAT, Manteca Pohawa, Gurtaj Singh, Sarabjit lice Department SWAT, StanisSingh, and Vishal. They have laus County Sheriff ’s Office SWAT and FBI SWAT—executed five coordinated search warrants across San Joaquin County as part of a gang-related kidnapping and torture investigation,” the San Joaquin County Sheriff ’s Office said. NIA sources said they are in touch with their US counterparts for Batala’s extradition. The accused used virtual numbers and encrypted apps to promote a pro-Khalistan network. The module was reportedly operating under the instructions of terrorist Harwinder Singh Rinda. CM promises strong action amid storm over student’s suicide bid EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Bhubaneswar THE self-immolation bid by Soumyashree Bisi, the BEd student of Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College at Balasore, has snowballed into a huge controversy with the BJP government finding itself under attack from all sections for failing to prevent the unfortunate incident. While the 20-year-old is battling for life after sustaining over 90 per cent burns, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi rushed to AIIMS-Bhubaneswar immediately on his return from Delhi to enquire about her condition. After speaking to the doctors, the chief minister said he has instructed everybody to ensure best possible treatment for her. “The girl’s condition is extremely critical and does not permit her to be airlifted to AIIMS-Delhi. The next 24 hours are crucial. A team of specialists is treating her. Consultations with experts of AIIMSDelhi is on virtually to guide further treatment,” he said. “I have also spoken to the girl’s parents and assured them of full support. Strict action will be taken against those responsible for this incident. No one will be spared,” he said. Majhi said the Higher Education department has already CM Mohan Charan Majhi discussing with AIIMS doctors on health condition of Soumyashree Bisi | EXPRESS I have spoken to the girl’s parents and assured them of full support. Strict action will be taken against those responsible for this incident. No one will be spared Mohan Charan Majhi, CM taken action against the teacher concerned and the principal of the college. We will ensure that such incidents are not repeated in any other educational institution,” he stated. Bisi on Saturday had set herself afire on the college campus as her repeated complaints of sexual and mental harassment by her head of the department Samira Kumar Sahoo went unheeded by the authorities. AIIMS- Bhubaneswar director Dr Ashutosh Biswas said she has sustained 90 to 95 per cent burn injuries and is on ventilator support. “Some of her internal organs have been severely affected due to the extent of the burns. A 10-member team comprising senior specialists from critical care, surgery, nephrology, pulmonology and anaesthesiology is closely monitoring the patient round-the-clock. Dialysis has been started and all interventions are on in consultation with AIIMS-Delhi experts,” said Dr Sanjay Kumar Giri, head of burn and plastic surgery department. Meanwhile, a three-member probe team comprising director of higher education Kali Prasanna Mohapatra, joint secretary Higher Education department Mousumi Nayak and Professor Jhumki Rath of the BJB Autonomous College, Bhubaneswar, reached the college and started their probe into the circumstances which forced the girl to take the extreme step. “Action will be initiated based on the findings of the report,” CM Majhi said. The National Commission for Women (NCW) has also taken cognizance of the incident and sought a report from the state DGP. Condemning the incident, NCW chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar directed the DGP to ensure a fair and time-bound investigation and take strict action against Sahoo, the prime accused in the case. The commission asked the DGP to submit an action taken report within three days. CONTINUED ON P5 Now, EC mulls pan-India revision of electoral rolls Move follows SC view that SIR is a ‘constitutional mandate’ M U K E S H R A N J A N @ New Delhi UNDETERRED by the controversy over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar, it is learnt that the Election Commission of India (ECI) has sent a communication to chief electoral officers (CEOs) of all states to activate poll machinery for a possible rollout of the exercise on a pan-India basis. The ECI’s decision comes in the backdrop of the Supreme Court’s observation last week that SIR is a “constitutional mandate” and that ECI can go ahead with the revision exercise in Bihar. Several opposition parties and civil society organisations had moved the Supreme Court challenging the intensive revision, saying it deprived eligible citizens of their right to vote for want of documents specified by the poll panel for inclusion in the voters’ list. Union Home Minister Amit Shah in an interview with this newspaper on Saturday had said, “I believe that if anyone has any concerns about the process, he/she should approach the Election Commission. Not with presumptions, but with examples of the outcomes of the process. Roll revision is not happening for the first time. It happened in 1991, too. Also, it’s not being done only in Bihar. I think it will be done across India. Anyway, the SIT TO PROBE ‘RAPE’ AT IIM-C; WOMAN REFUSES MED TEST Kolkata Police formed a nine-member special SIT to investigate the alleged rape incident involving a secondyear student of IIM-C | P8 HISTORY BECKONS Shoulder nudge, fiery spells and 14 wickets set up tantalising final day F I R O Z M I R Z A @ London THE atmosphere was crackling, like a heavy discharge of industrial grade current. The hosts were under the pump and the visitors, who had begun the series with a loss, knew they had the rare chance of back to back Test wins outside Asia and West Indies. The feisty Mohammed Siraj had made contact with Ben Duckett’s shoulder after a mistimed pull didn’t clear mid on. Nitish Reddy screamed in the general direction of Zak Crawley after the opener found one of the two gullies. Siraj was in happy rage after finding Ollie Pope plumb and Akash Deep, who opened up about his sister’s fight with cancer, had let out a visceral scream after spread-eagling Harry Brook’s middle-stump. When the players walked off for lunch, it was ironic because what could on the menu that was going to better two hours of cricket in excelsis? In short, sparks flew when the visitors resumed the morning session with vigour and purpose. It all seemed like a sp- illover of the one-over drama on Saturday evening. And it had nothing to do with the heat that’s engulfed the island nation this summer. Like always, Jasprit Bumrah was unplayable. Siraj was all fire and brimstone. And, together, they made the hosts’ batters look rather ordinary, some of it because the surface belatedly came to life. Post lunch, Washington Sundar, a contentious choice, played with the angles, created a few doubts and ran through England’s spine to pick up 4/22 across 73 legal balls. The last 12 minutes after India captain Shubman Gill was caught plumb infront was almost a repeat of England’s second innings late evening drama on Saturday Late Akash Deep’s . wicket made the contest more gripping. On Monday India re, quire 135 to secure a one of their great overseas wins. England, on other hand, need six wickets to take lead. Over to Lord’s, with great expectation. CONTEST FOR AGES Carlos Alcaraz took the first set while Jannik Sinner came back to win the next as the top two players in world battle for the coveted Wimbledon crown | AFP matter is before the Supreme Court.” On the opposition calling it a shadow CAA-NRC, Shah had said, “They opposed everything the EC does. They need to justify their poll defeats, so they present fake narratives.” In the communication to the CEOs, the ECI asked them to prepare for conducting SIR in their respective jurisdictions with January 1, 2026 as the qualifying date, which means that above 18 years on Sibal says SIR is unconstitutional Election Commission has always been a “puppet” in the hands of the BJP government, Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal alleged, adding that the poll body’s Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar is “unconstitutional” that date would be included in the voters’ list. According to sources, a few CEOs have already started putting out voters’ list published after the last SIR held in their states. The website of Delhi CEO has the 2008 voters’ list when the last revision took place. According to sources, ECI will take a final call on nationwide exercise after July 28 when the Bihar SIR case will come up again for hearing in the top court. EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ New Delhi BOOTH-level officers of Election Commission of India (ECI) conducting the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar have found a number of individuals from Nepal, Bangladesh, and Myanmar possessing Indian documents such as Aadhaar, domicile certificates, and ration cards, sources said on Sunday . According to ECI officials, ground-level officials have so far established direct contact with nearly all voters in the state as part of the exercise. “During house-to-house visits, a large number of people from Nepal, Bangladesh and Myanmar have been found. They have got Aadhaar, domicile certificates, ration card,” said an official. Sources said a thorough verification will be carried out between August 1 and 30, and names found not eligible will be excluded from the final voter list to be released on September 30. The ECI had said SIR was necessary in Bihar due to a number of reasons, including inclusion of foreigners in the current list. No forest tampering in govt’s new ecotourism policy move HEMANT KUMAR ROUT @ Bhubaneswar AMID the controversy over attempts to create tourism facilities on forest land, the Odisha government is in the process of formulating a new ecotourism policy that aims at encouraging environmental conservation with tourism promotion and community development. The draft Odisha Ecotourism Policy 2025 proposes a significant shift in the way tourism infrastructure is planned and executed in ecologically sensitive areas. It mandates that no new accommodation will be developed within forest or protected areas in a routine manner. Instead, only day-tourism facilities will be allowed after thorough feasibility assessments. “All new proposals for ecotourism development in forest and wildlife areas will be evaluated under the guidelines for Sustainable Ecotourism in For- est and Wildlife areas, 2021 issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), NTCA (Normative Standards for Tourism activities and Project Tiger), 2012, Forest (Conservation) Amendment, Act 2023, and the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act, 2023,” the draft stated. The new policy will promote quiet and immersive visitor experiences, focusing on natural and cultural heritage, conservation and livelihood options for the local community. However, opening of new destinations other than forest and wildlife areas will be taken up by other line departments. The wildlife wing of the Forest department will be responsible for infrastructure development and circuit improvement within protected and forest areas, while the Tourism department will manage destination development in non-forest revCONTINUED ON P5 enue areas. Shringla, Nikam among 4 nominated to Rajya Sabha EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ New Delhi Mohammed Siraj celebrates England opener Ben Duckett’s wicket on Sunday | AFP ‘People from Nepal, B’desh, in Bihar list’ PRESIDENT Droupadi Murmu has nominated former foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, lawyer Ujjwal Nikam, Kerala BJP leader C Sadanandan Master, and historian Meenakshi Jain. In a notification issued late Saturday night, the Ministry of Home Affairs said that the President has nominated the four eminent persons to the Rajya Sabha to fill vacancies necessitated by the retirement of nominated members. Harsh Vardhan Shringla Ujjwal Nikam A 1984 batch Indian Foreign Service officer, Shringla had served as India’s Ambassador to the US and Thailand and as high commissioner to Bangladesh. He was foreign secretary from 2020 to 2022. Sadanandan Master Meenakshi Jain Maharashtra lawyer Nikam was the special public prosecutor in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks case. Sadanandan Master, a retired school teacher from Kerala, lost both his legs in an attack alleg- edly carried out by CPM workers in 1994. Historian and author Jain served as a lecturer at Delhi University’s Gargi College. In 2020, she was awarded the Padma Shri in recognition of her contributions to the fileds of literature and education. The President of India can nominate 12 people to the Rajya Sabha. These are well-known individuals from diverse backgrounds including art, literature, and public service. Four of the 12 nominated seats were vacant; the latest nomination fills those vacancies.