Meeting of gods Football legend Lionel Messi along with Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar during an event at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday. Tendulkar presented Messi with his signed ODI jersey on the occasion in front of packed stands. Pti BHUBANESWAR l monday l december 15, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l LATE CITY EDITION 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 Man held for bootlegging dies in custody, probe on E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Bhubaneswar Allegations of custodial death surfaced after a 45-yearold man detained by Banapur police in Khurda district on Saturday night for allegedly selling illicit liquor died under mysterious circumstances on Sunday . The deceased, identified as Chhabindra Nayak of Poda Sahi, was picked up by police along with an alleged accomplice Dibakar Nayak on charges of selling illicit liquor in the area. His family, however, alleged he was taken into custody without their knowledge and tortured by the cops. “Police took my husband into custody on Saturday night when I was in Nayagarh at a relative’s house. They later informed me that they were taking him to Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar, without giving any further details,” the deceased’s wife told mediapersons. Police, on their part, said Chhabindra complained of uneasiness on Sunday morning. He was immediately rushed to Banapur CHC and then referred to Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar where the doctors declared him brought dead, they added. They claimed that he was suffering from kidney-related ailments and his blood pressure was very low when he was rushed to Banapur CHC. Chhabindra’s wife refuted the police claims saying her husband did not suffer from any health problem. He died after being tortured in police custody at the police station, she alleged. The deceased is survived by his wife and three children. Basing on her complaint, Khurda SP Vivekanand Sharma said, a thorough investigation would be conducted. “As there are allegations of custodial torture, a magisterial-level inquiry will be conducted as per the NHRC guidelines,” Sharma said. As per the procedure, the deceased’s postmortem and inquest will be videographed. The CCTV footage of the police station will also be examined, he added. 12 killed in terror attack at Nitin Nabin named Jewish festival in Sydney BJP’s new national working president A G E N CI E S AT least 12 people were shot dead and 29 others, including two police officers, were injured as two gunmen opened fire at a crowd during a Jewish festival in Sydney Australia on , Sunday evening. One gunman was fatally shot by police and the second was in a critical condition, New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon told reporters. He added that police were looking into whether a third gunman was involved in the shooting. Police said the incident happened when over 1,000 people gathered at Sydney’s Bondi Beach for a Menorah lighting, which marks the beginning of the Jewish festival Hanukkah. As gunfire erupted, crowds fled from the beach. Video footage showed two gunmen with long guns firing from a footbridge leading to the beach. One clip broadcast on Australian television showed a civilian tackle one gunman by snatching his rifle. Police said investigators Emergency workers evacuate a victim at Bondi Beach in Sydney. Inset: Videograb of a civilian tackling and disarming a gunman | afp were examining a number of suspicious items recovered from the premises, including several improvised explosive devices found in one of the suspect’s cars. Australian Prime Minister High alert in India In view of the terror attack in Sydney, security agencies in India have sounded high alert across Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and other metro cities warning of imminent threat during the festival period of Hanukkah Anthony Albanese called the attack an act of evil antisemitism and terrorism. “This is a targeted attack on Jewish Australians on the first day of Hanukkah, which should be a day of joy a celebration of , faith,” he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the attack. In a post on X, Modi said, “Strongly condemn the ghastly terrorist attack carried out today at Bondi Beach, Australia, targeting people celebrating the first day of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah.” Bangladesh summons Indian envoy over Hasina’s statements SURVIVOR breaks her silence J ayanth ja c o b @ New Delhi Bangladesh summoned the Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma on Sunday to convey its concerns over what it described as “incendiary statements” by fugitive politi- cal figures, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who are currently in India. The interim government expressed “serious concern” over Hasina’s continued public statements, alleging that these were encouraging her support- ers to engage in violent acts aimed at disrupting the upcoming parliamentary elections slated for February next year. New Delhi rejected the allegations and reiterated that India has never permitted its territory to be used for activities inimi- Patna West), defeating Rekha Kumari of the RJD by over 51,000 votes. FOLLOWING NDA’s landslide Born on May 23, 1980, Nabin win in the Bihar assembly elec- entered politics in 2006 through tion, the BJP on Sunday ap- a bypoll after his father, veteran pointed five-term Bihar MLA BJP leader late Navin Kishore and minister Nitin Nabin (45) Prasad Sinha died of a heart atas its National Executack. Starting with tive (Working) presithe Bharatiya Janata dent, elevating a lowYuva Morcha (BJYM) key, next-generation as national general leader amid preparasecretary and Bihar tions for elections in p re s i d e n t , N ab i n key states. built a reputation as a BJP national gentop strategist with eral secretary Arun strong RSS roots, foSingh issued the noticusing on outreach fication which said who is nitin among the youth. Nabin’s elevation was Prime Minister nabin? approved by the parNarendra Modi con45-year-old BJP ty’s Parliamentary gratulated him on X, Board, and is effec- MLA from Patna’s praising Nabin as a tive immediately The Bankipur, Nabin is “hardworking kar. known as a lowdecision, announced yakarta” with “rich hours after Pankaj profile strategist. Is o r g a n i s a t i o n a l a five-term MLA, Chaudhary’s election experience.” as Uttar Pradesh BJP Nitish Kumar’s road Party sources see minister, BJYM president, underNabin’s elevation as veteran, scores the party’s something bigger Chhattisgarh thrust on young, disthan what meets the in-charge who c i p l i n e d wo rke r s eye, potentially pavscripted a victory from Bihar. Nabin, ing Nabin’s path to who belongs to the full national presiKayastha caste, currently dent by mid-2026. Nabin’s rise serves as Bihar’s road construc- stresses BJP’s onus on its trust tion minister and BJP in-charge in silent performers over mass for Chhattisgarh, where his appeal. booth-level strategies fuelled a Incumbent national presivictory Nabin won the Assem- dent J P Nadda’s term had end. bly election from Patna’s Bank- ed in 2024, but BJP extended his ipur constituency (previously tenure for the Bihar poll. RAJESH KUMAR THAKUR & Rama s hanka r @ New Delhi/Patna cal to the interests of Bangladesh. “We have consistently reiterated our position in favour of free, fair, inclusive and credible elections being held in Bangladesh in a peaceful atmosphere,” the Ministry of External Affairs said. After a trial court acquitted actor Dileep in the 2017 sexual assault case, the survivor on Sunday questioned whether law delivers equal justice | P5