villupuram l friday l october 03, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l city EDITION Israel intercepts Gaza flotilla carrying many global activists global sumud flotilla largest ever The Global Sumud Flotilla was the largest yet to try to break the blockade, and it comes at a time of growing criticism of Israel’s conduct in Gaza, where its offensive has killed tens of thousands of people. Activists said they hoped the sheer number of boats would make it difficult for Israel to intercept them all, but Israel declared the operation over on Thursday Israeli naval forces on Thursday intercepted and boarded vessels in a flotilla attempting to break its blockade of Gaza, detained top activists ■ 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, Madhya Pradesh (MP), regarding the death of children in the state’s Chhindwara district. 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 all drug , inspectors across the state have been asked to prevent the sale of Coldrif by pharmacies and freeze the stock wherever available 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. The syrup is manufactured by Sresan Pharmaceuticals. Since the syrup was also being supplied to Puducherry and Odisha, a communication has been sent to those states too to prevent its sale, he said.  P5 express read 3 killed as car catches fire after collision on NH Villupuram: Three youth were killed and two others injured as a car caught fire after hitting a median and collided with a lorry on the Chennai-Tiruchy NH in Villupuram on Thursday morning. Police identified the deceased as M Samsudeen (23) of Triplicane, K Rishi (25) of Kolathur, and J Mohan (25) of Pattabiram | P3 Shakha at govt school: 44 RSS volunteers held Chennai: Forty-four RSS volunteers were arrested by the Porur police on Thursday on the charge of trespass and unlawful assembly after they conducted a shakha at Iyyapanthangal govt HSS, as part of the organisation’s centenary celebration, without permission. They were later released on station bail | P4 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- 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 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 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 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- 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. 2 Indigo flights 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 and have the Pakistan expandbeen reported by this ing military infrapaper in 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 karur stampede 300 intellectuals urge TN to bring Vijay to justice 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 Delhi-Shanghai 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 state,” ment said. As for Air India, sources said the Delhi-Shanghai flight will be a daily service and most probably a Boeing-787. “We are looking at five days a week. Regulatory approvals are coming through.” IndiGo tickets for Kolkata -Guangzhou will be available for sale from Friday (Oct 3) on its website and the airline’s mobile application. Pilots asked to join meet 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 not hesitate to bring 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 that they were issuing the statement, unable to witness the circulation Thiruma questions of false information and be‘DMK &Vijay’s deal’ littling of the deaths, when the people of TN were underFaulting the police for not going inconsolable sorrow booking TVK chief Vijay in because of the tragedy . the stampede case, VCK’s The statement came down Thol Thirumavalavan said strongly on Vijay and said TN police’s approach may the videos from the event raise the suspicion if DMK showed that making the peois in a tacit understanding ple gathered to see him wait with Vijay | P4 for over seven hours without adequate food, water and toilet facilities, and making them follow his campaign vehicle without showing his face were the reasons for the stampede and deaths. It blamed Vijay’s supporters for spreading disinformation that there was a “conspiracy” behind the incident and that the actor did nothing wrong. Moreover, it added that sending a delegation of MPs to inquire into the Karur incident by the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, which did not send any such delegation to riots-affected Manipur or other parts of country affected by violence and natural disasters, is unacceptable.  P5 5+ years on, direct China air link from October 26 on AI 171 crash 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 state gets 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 538 cr Centre blinks, TN commences RTE admissions Su b a s h i n i V i j aya ku m a r @ Chennai 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 entry-level 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