MADURAI l friday l october 03, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l LATE CITY EDITION Israel intercepts Gaza flotilla carrying many global activists Israeli naval forces on Thursday intercepted and boarded vessels in a flotilla attempting to break its blockade of Gaza, detained top activists global sumud flotilla largest ever The Global Sumud Flotilla, carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza, was the largest yet to try to break the blockade, its interception coming at a time of criticism of Israel’s conduct in Gaza, where it has killed over 66,000 people. Activists hoped the boats would make it difficult for Israel to intercept them all, but Israel declared the operation over on Thursday ■ 450 backers take out rallies against israel ■ Supporters of the flotilla took to streets in several cities across the globe, including Rome, Istanbul, Athens, Greece, and Buenos Aires in Argentina after the news of the interception broke Organisers of the flotilla said 39 of their boats were intercepted or assumed to be intercepted in a nightlong Israeli operation | P9 activists on 39 boats were carrying aid to gaza 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 ‘Bribe’ row drives probe on Customs siddharth prabhakar & d i pa k m o n d a l @ Chennai/ New Delhi BRIBERY allegations levelled against Chennai Customs by a Tamil Nadu-based company importing electronic goods, including sex toys, from China raised a massive storm on social media culminating in the Union Ministry of Finance announcing a “detailed factual enquiry” on Thursday . The ministry has directed the Department of Revenue to conduct a ‘fair and transparent investigation’, deputing a senior officer to examine all evidence and hear all parties in- cough syrup Probe on TN pharma firm after 8 kids die in MP and Raj S i n d uj a J a n e @ Chennai The Department of Drugs Control Administration (DDCA) has issued instructions to stop the sale of Coldrif, a cough syrup, in Tamil Nadu and has also frozen all its stock at the manufacturer’s plant located at Sunguvarchatram in Kancheepuram district. According to media reports, Coldrif and another cough syrup may have a role in the death of at least eight children in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. The move followed a communication from the Controller, Food and Drug Administration, MP regarding the death of chil, dren in the state’s Chhindwara. The syrup is suspected to be the cause for the death of six kids in the last two weeks there. S Gurubharathi, Deputy Director of Drugs Control cum Controlling and Licencing Authority told TNIE that drug in, spectors have been asked to prevent the sale of Coldrif by pharmacies and freeze the stock until further orders. He said five samples — one from the same batch of Coldrif suspected to have caused the deaths and four other drugs of different combinations produced by the same manufacturer — were lifted from the unit and sent for testing. P5 volved in the matter at the earliest. The controversy erupted after Wintrack Inc announced on X on Wednesday night that it would cease its import-export operations in India from October 1, citing “relentless harassment” and retaliation by Chennai Customs officials after it alleg- Wintrack Inc bypassed compliance norms: Customs The Customs department has alleged that Wintrack attempted to bypass compliance requirements by routing similar shipments through a related entity and accused the importer of trying to intimidate senior officers during adjudication proceedings RA J ESH K U MAR THA K U R @ New Delhi Expressing serious concern over the recent unrest in India’s neighbourhood, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Thursday linked the turbulence to the disconnect between governments and societies, as well as the lack of capable and peopleoriented administrators there. In his annual Vijayadashami address in Nagpur, Bhagwat cautioned that some forces, both internal and external, are attempting to create similar disturbances within Bharat. “The regime change in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and more recently Nepal due to violent outburst of public anger is a concern for us,” he said. The natural and immediate cause of such disturbances is discontent between the government and the society and the lack of able and people-oriented administrators. However, violent outbursts do not have the power to bring about the desirable change.” Only democ- Chennai: Porur police arrested 44 RSS volunteers on charges of trespass and unlawful assembly after they conducted a shakha at Iyyapanthangal HSS, as part of the organisation’s centenary celebration, ‘without nod’ Former President Ram Nath Kovind (R) with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat ahead of the latter’s Vijayadashami address in Nagpur on Thursday | PTI racy can bring lasting change, he added. Issuing a call for mutual respect and harmony while rejecting violence, Bhagwat said, “all communities, including those who adopted foreign religions, are part of the larger Indian identity.” Condemning hooliganism and attempts to provoke communal divisions, he said law enforcement authorities should act impartially against all such elements. Commenting on the US-imposed tariffs, Bhagwat said the US policy, based solely on self- interest, does not pose a challenge for India. “The world operates through mutual interdependence. By becoming atmanirbhar (self-reliant), and being cognizant of global unity , we must ensure that this global interdependence does not become a compulsion for us, and we are able to act according to our own will. There is no substitute for Swadeshi and Swavalamban,” he asserted. Bhagwat also raised concerns about global conflicts and increasing climate imbalance. Rajnath Singh applying the ‘tilak’ on Army chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi in Bhuj | PTI India warns Pak over any buildup in Sir Creek area Defence Minister Rajnath Singh says any misadventure will invite decisive response Creek.” The Creek is a 98 km long narrow strip of disputed IN a stern warning to Pakistan, water between the two counDefence Minister Rajnath tries in the marshy areas of Singh on Thursday said any Rann of Kutch and opens up misadventure by Islamabad in into the Arabian Sea. the Sir Creek sector will invite The area has inhospitable a “decisive response”. weather and terrain, while the Singh’s remarks from a mili- marshes are home to poisontary base near the India-Paki- ous snakes and scorpions. stan border in Bhuj in Gujarat There are continuing discame against the backdrop of putes in this area as have been the Pakistan expandreported by this paper ing military infrain the past. structure in the disputAfter performing a ed region. puja at the Bhuj Mili“Even after 78 years If Pakistan dares tary Station on the ocof Independence, Pakicasion of Vijayadashato act in Sir stan continues to cremi, Singh lauded the Creek, the reply ate disputes over the will be so strong armed forces for sucit will change Sir Creek Sector, decessfully thwarting Paspite India’s repeated both the history kistan’s attempts to and geography efforts to resolve the isbreach India’s defence sue through dialogue.” network during OperaRajnath Singh He pointed out that Pation Sindoor. kistan’s recent expan“Pakistan had tried sion of military infrastructure to penetrate India’s defences in the Sir Creek Sector reflects from Leh to Sir Creek Sector, its ill intent. but the swift and effective coun“If Pakistan dares to act in ter-action of the Indian forces Sir Creek Sector, the reply will during Operation Sindoor not be so strong that it will change only exposed the weaknesses both history and geography In of Pakistan’s air defence sys. 1965, the Indian Army showed tem but also sent out a clear courage by reaching Lahore message to the world that India and in 2025 Pakistan must re- can inflict heavy damage at a member that the road to Kara- time, place and manner of its chi also passes through the choosing,” Singh said. m aya n k s i n g h @ New Delhi 300 intellectuals urge TN to bring Vijay to justice Thiruma questions ‘DMK and Vijay deal’ Faulting police for not booking Vijay, the VCK chief said police’s approach may raise suspicion if DMK is in a tacit deal with actor Vijay | P4 J aya n t h J a c o b a n d S L a l i t h a @ New Delhi India and China have agreed to resume direct commercial flights by this month-end, marking yet another notable step toward normalising bilateral ties that have remained strained since the 2020 border standoff. The announcement comes after months of technical-level discussions between the civil aviation authorities on both sides, part of the Indian government’s broader approach toward the gradual normalisation of bilateral relations. IndiGo was first off the blocks, announcing the launch its daily air service on October 26 from Delhi and Kolkata to Guangzhou in South China. Air India, which operated the last flight to China in February 2020, will resume operations on the DelhiShanghai sector before this year-end. IndiGo is targeting the trading section that purchases products from China for sale in India with its connectivity to Guangzhou while Air India’s focus will be on the business community and students, a source said. “Subject to regulatory approvals, IndiGo will also introduce direct flights between Delhi and Guangzhou shortly ,” IndiGo said in a statement. IndiGo will use its Airbus A320 neo aircraft for operations. “IndiGo operated flights between India and China before the pandemic and has many of the necessary arrangements and processes already in place. The past experience and familiarity with local partner will enable IndiGo to resume these flights swiftly the statement said. ,” Su b a s h i n i V i j aya ku m a r @ Chennai E x p r e s s N e w s S e r v i c e @ Chennai Over 300 writers, poets, intellectuals, activists and journalists on Thursday issued a joint statement demanding the state government to not hesitate in bringing actor and TVK president Vijay before the law for the stampede that occurred during his rally in Karur on Saturday in which 41 people were killed. The statement also urged the state to find out if there were any lapses in security measures and enforcement in Karur, taking into assessment the previous events of Vijay and their impacts. “Measures to prevent such tragedies and control the crowd should be identified,” they said. They said they were issuing the statement, unable to witness the circulation of false information, when TN people were undergoing sorrow because of the tragedy The statement . came down strongly on Vijay and said videos from the event showed that making the people wait for hours without adequate facilities was among the reasons for the stampede.  P5 5+ years on, direct China air link from October 26 Centre blinks, TN starts admissions under RTE karur stampede 3 killed as car catches fire after collision on NH Shakha at govt school: 44 RSS volunteers held viral, with several individuals coming forward with their harrowing Customs story . In a rebuttal late Wednesday , Chennai Customs dismissed the allegations as “serious and false,” accusing the importer of misclassification of goods, concealment of undeclared items, and non-compliance with mandatory environmental and regulatory requirements. Officials said physical examination revealed undeclared USB charging cables and the absence of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) certification under the Battery Waste Management Rules, 2022. P5 Govt-society disconnect led to unrest in Nepal: RSS chief express read Villupuram: Three youth were killed and two others sustained injuries as a car caught fire after hitting a median and collided with a lorry on the ChennaiTiruchy NH near Vikravandi in Villupuram on Thursday edly exposed bribery demands. “After exposing their bribery practices twice this year, they retaliated, effectively crippling our operations and destroying our business in India. We deeply thank everyone who has supported us during these difficult times,” said the company on X. Wintrack’s social media post went 2 Indigo flights Grand finale Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and others offer flowers to Goddess Chamundeshwari during Jumboo Savari on Vijayadashmi day in Mysuru on Thursday | Udayashankar S AI 171 crash The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, which is working on its final report on the AI 171 crash at Ahmedabad, has asked the Airline Pilots’ Association of India to attend a consultation meet at DGCA HQ in Delhi on Friday The state government has announced that it will issue notifications for admissions under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, for the academic year 2025-26 on October 6. The announcement follows the release of the centre’s share of funds — `362.81 crore for the entire 2024-25 academic year and `175.59 crore as the first instalment for 2025-26. However, since the academic year has already begun, the admission under this category for this academic year will cover those eligible children who are already enrolled in entrylevel classes in unaided and non-minority schools across the state. The Madras High Court, in June, directed the centre to consider delinking the RTE component from the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) scheme and disbursing the funds separately Accordingly the matter . , was examined and, with the approval of the union education minister, it was decided to implement the direction, said a note shared by the education department. However, it is uncertain whether the centre has decided to permanently delink RTE from the SSA scheme. Under RTE, 25% of seats in entry-level classes (LKG/Class 1) of all unaided non-minority private schools are reserved for students from economically disadvantaged sections.  P5