kottayam l Sunday l september 07, 2025 l `12.00 l PAGES 24 l city edition out: a negative list that’s detrimental to image of police The Bureau of Police Research & Development (BPR&D) has come out with a list outlining acts and behaviour damaging the image of police flags misconduct, insensitive practices ‘no room for aggressive behaviour’ The list, compiled by the police research organisation over a period of one year, highlighted systemic shortcomings in the police machinery, which include ‘misconduct and insensitive practices’ that erode public trust and undermine credibility leading to weakening of the relationship between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve ■ ■ BPR&D has suggested that DGPs give special attention to the way police interact with the public, and warned that aggressive or insensitive behaviour “leaves a lasting impact on public perception” The report says that delays in registration of FIRs, misuse of preventive measures, and false cases lead to erosion of public trust 2024 at last year’s dgp conference, bpr&d was tasked with the list 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 Possible thaw as PM reciprocates Trump positivity friction between the two countries, including the US decision In a sign of a possible thaw to double tariffs on key Indian amid ongoing trade tensions goods to 50%. The move, linked and tariff pressure, Prime Min- in part to India’s continued purister Narendra Modi on Satur- chase of Russian crude oil, has day reaffirmed India’s commit- been termed by New Delhi as ment to its partnership with “ u n f a i r, u n j u s t i f i e d a n d the United States, responding unreasonable”. positively to the remarks by US Responding to a question on President Donald Trump. his post suggesting the US was Taking to X, Modi said: “Deep- “losing India and Russia to Chily appreciate and fully recipro- na,” Trump said, “I don’t think cate President Trump’s senti- we have. I’ve been very disapments and positive assessment pointed that India would be buyof our ties. India ing so much oil and the US have a from Russia.” very positive and Despite these difforward-looking ferences, both sides Comprehensive have emphasised and Global Stratetheir long-ter m gic Partnership.” strategic relationModi’s reship. External Afsponse came Special bilateral fairs Minister S hours after Presirelationship: Don Jaishankar on Satdent Trump deurday underscored “I get along very well scribed the Indiathe importance with Modi as you US relationship Modi places on the know... India and the as “very special” US partnership. He US have a special during a White said “PM Modi atrelationship. There is House press brieftaches enormous nothing to worry ing, during which importance to our about,” Trump said he said: “I’ll alpartnership with ways be friends the US. Where with Modi. He’s a President Trump is great prime minister.” However, concerned, he (PM Modi) has Trump also added: “I just don’t always had a very good personal like what he is doing at this par- equation with President Trump. ticular moment.” But the point is that we remain When asked whether he was engaged with the US, and at this open to resetting ties, Trump time, I can’t say more than said: “I always will. I’ll always that.” be friends with Modi... But InThe latest comments come dia and the US have a very spe- weeks after Modi, Russian Prescial relationship. There is noth- ident Vladimir Putin, and Chiing to worry about.” nese President Xi Jinping were The exchange comes against seen together at the SCO sumthe backdrop of rising trade mit in Tianjin, China. J aya n t h J a c o b @ New Delhi Committed to tripartite talks for political deal: Kuki-Zos Express News Service @ Guwahati The Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People’s Front (UPF) – umbrella organisations of Kuki-Zo rebel groups – on Saturday said the reopening of National Highway-2 in ethnic violence-hit Manipur “must not be misinterpreted as an endorsement of unrestricted movement between Meitei and Kuki-Zo areas”. KNO and UPF recently signed a deal with the Centre to extend the Suspension of Operations agreement. In a joint statement, they sais contrary to “misinformed” narratives, the KukiZos never closed or blocked NH-2. “KNO and UPF reiterate that this gesture must not be misinterpreted as an endorsement of unrestricted movement across buffer zones between Meitei and Kuki-Zo areas. The sanctity of these zones remains paramount, and the responsibility for securing the highway lies with the Government of India and its deployed force,” they said. They added that they would uphold the people’s aspiration in future political dialogues for the creation of a Union Territory with legislature for the Kuki-Zo people within the Constitution of India. Stating that the path forward lies in dialogue and not division, the statement said the government, KNO and UPF reaffirmed their commitment to a structured and time-bound tripartite dialogue for a negotiated political settlement under the Constitution. Meitei organisation Arambai Tenggol welcomed the tripartite peace agreement. E X P RE S S REA D Jaishankar to lead India at UNGA session New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will represent India at the high-level General Debate of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and is scheduled to deliver the national on September 27. P7 W I T H T HI S I S S UE Made in Japan PLUS 12 P AGES Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi lighting the lamp to inaugurate the Odisha Literary Festival 2025 as TNIE CEO Lakshmi Menon, Editorial Director Prabhu Chawla and Resident Editor Siba Mohanty look on, in Bhubaneswar on Saturday; and (left) actor and director Amol Palekar speaks during the session ‘Comrades in Arts: Love, Life, and Literature’ at the event | Shamim Qureshy/ DEBADATTA MALLICK | P5 ECI to meet all CEOs on SIR on Sept 10 MUKESH RAN J AN @ New Delhi UNDETERRED by the huge controversy over Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, the Election Commission of India has called a meeting of all Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) of states and Union Territories on September 10 to discuss preparedness to conduct similar exercise elsewhere across the country, officials said on Saturday . Apart from SIR for other states, the meeting would also discuss issues relating to hold- Buzz on nationwide SIR from January 1 ECI is likely to launch SIR for the rest of the country with the qualifying date of January 1, 2026. In an order on June 24, ECI had hinted nationwide SIR, but only rolled it out for Bihar ahead of Assembly election in the state ing upcoming assembly elections later this year in Bihar and in few other states including West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Pudduchery next year. The meeting is going to be the third of its kind since Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar took charge on February 19 this year, and will be attended by election commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi apart from CEC Kumar. A senior poll panel official said, “Even as the final agenda for the meeting is yet to be finalised, during the deliberations, it is expected that the Commission is going to make 4 cops suspended over custodial torture Express News Service @ T’Puram/Thrissur Four officers involved in the custodial torture of a Youth Congress leader at the Kunnamkulam police station have been suspended. The CCTV footage of the assault on YC Chovannur mandalam president V S Sujith in 2023 surfaced recently, triggering public outrage against the force. A statement from the State Police Headquarters on Saturday said four officers — Nuhman, sub-inspector of Viyyur police station; Sandeep S, civil police officer at Mannuthy police station, and Sasidharan and Sajeevan K J, civil police officers of Thrissur Town East station — have been placed under suspension. The order was issued by North Zone IG Rajpal Meena on the basis of a report submitted by Thrissur Range DIG. Meanwhile, Sujith said the officers should be dismissed from service and there will not be any compromise in his fight a g ainst injustice. “Nothing less than their expulsion can serve justice, considering the ordeal I went through,” Sujith said. He also sought exemplary punishment for the officers after re gistering a case against them. Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan said the UDF will continue its protest until the officers are removed from Dismissal sought V S Sujith, who was assaulted at the Kunnamkulam police station, said the officers involved should be dismissed from service. He also sought exemplary punishment for the officers after registering case against them. service and legal action is taken against them. “The five officers involved in the incident are criminals. The suspension is a ploy by the government,” he told reporters. Sujith was brutally assaulted by the officers on April 6, 2023, after taking him into custody According to reports, . Sujith had intervened when police threatened his friends standing by the roadside, prompting the officers to take him to the station, where he was assaulted. The assault resulted in serious injuries to the victim, including hearing damage in one ear. Though complaints were lodged then, the officers didn’t face any stern action, except the withholding of their increment. It was after a long legal battle, invoking the RTI Act, that Sujith received the visuals of custodial torture from the police station. “My family was shocked to see the visuals. I get emotional whenever I recall the incident. With the support of my leaders and party workers, I will go to any extent to ensure punishment for the cops,” he ● More on P5 told TNIE.  One more dies of rare Kochi to face Kollam in final showdown today brain infection in state k e r a l a c r i ck e t l e a g u e Express News Service @ T’Puram Befitting the tagline ‘Aavesha Cricket, at its Best’, the Kerala Cricket League (KCL) Season 2 has witnessed scintillating performances, exemplifying the quality of cricket on offer in the state. And the stage is now set for the grand finale. Table toppers Kochi Blue Tigers and defending champions Aries Kollam Sailors will fight it out in the final at Greenfield S t a d i u m in T hir uvan anthapuram at 6.45pm on Sunday . Organised by the Kerala Game on Final: Kochi Blue Tigers vs Aries Kollam Sailors Venue: Greenfield Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram 32 matches played so far Six participating teams 479 Most runs: Krishna Prasad (Adani Trivandrum Royals) 25 Most wickets: Akhil Scaria (Calicut Globstars) Cricket Association (KCA), the event has seen both seasoned players and promising talents set the venue alight with sparkling knocks and spells. Perfor ming consistently throughout the season, Kochi progressed to the summit clash chiefly on back of their star batter Sanju Samson. However, Sanju will not be part of the final as he is on national duty — for the Asia Cup. The team led by Sanju’s brother Saly Samson is eyeing the title, boosted by the form of opener Vinoop Manoharan, who stands fourth among the top run getters. They also have high hopes from its bowling unit, powered by the likes of K M Asif and Mohammed Ashiq. On the other hand, Aries Kollam Sailors went through highs and lows this season. However, the team is well set for the final following a thumping win against Thrissur Titans in the semifinal. Led by their top run getter and skipper Sachin Baby , the team also features a strong bowling lineup of Pawan Raj, Vijay Vishwanath, and Ajay● More on P5 aghosh N S. Express News Service @Kozhikode/ Kalpetta Kerala has reported another death from amoebic meningoencephalitis, a rare but deadly brain infection, taking the toll to four ove r t h e p a s t t wo months. Ratheesh, 45, a resident of Sultan Bathery, Wayanad, died on Saturday morning while under treatment at the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital. He had been battling the illness for the past two weeks. According to doctors, his condition worsened with multiple organ failures. Wayanad District Medical Officer (DMO) T Mohandas said the exact source of Ratheesh’s infection remains unidentified. “We could not confirm how he contracted the disease. He is said to have cleaned a well a few months ago, but transmission through such an activity is extremely rare. With two cases reported from Wayanad, we have tightened chlorination protocols across all water sources, including swimming pools in resorts,” the DMO ● More on P5 said. an assessment of the preparedness of different states to take up SIR exercise, as after Bihar the next round of intensive revision exercises are going to be taken up in those states, which are scheduled to go for assembly polls next year.” They, however, confirmed that all the CEOs have been asked to make presentations with regards to the number of electors and the details of the last SIR conducted in their respective states and UTs. Opposition parties including RJD, Congress, CPI, CPM, TMC, SP and DMK are against a nationwide SIR. New Canada report traces Khalistani terror finance h a r p r e e t b a j w a @ Chandigarh AT least two Khalistani extremist groups have received financial support, originating from Canada, for politically motivated violent activities, according to a new Canadian government report on terror financing. The report titled ‘2025 Assessment of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Risks in Canada’ has identified the Khalistani extremist groups receiving financial support originating from Canada as Babbar Khalsa International and the International Sikh Youth Federation. These groups, categorized under Politically Motivated Violent Extremism (PMVE), are suspected of exploiting funding networks, including non-profit and charitable sectors, to suppor t their objectives. The report classifies terrorist threats into three categories: Ideologically Motivated Violent Extremism (IMVE), PMVE, and Religiously Motivated Violent Extremism (RMVE). While IMVE attacks by lone actors have caused the most fatalities in Canada over the past decade, PMVE and RMVE groups rely on sophisticated international financing networks. PMVE groups, including Hamas, Hezbollah, and Khalistani extremists, are noted for abusing the banking infrastructure, cryptocurrencies and charitable organisations, the report said.