tirupati l tuesday l december 23, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l late city EDITION S.C. pulls up U’khand govt over forest land grab by pvt entities 2,866 acres of forest land under lens The case concerns 2,866 acres of forest land, a part of which was leased to Pashu Lok Seva Samiti. The society subsequently allotted land parcels to its members. A dispute later arose, and it went into liquidation in 1984, surrendering 594 acres to government. But, some individuals, including the petitioner, claimed to have taken possession of the land in 2001 A vacation bench initiated a suo motu case on Monday observing that the state remained a mute spectator while forest land was being grabbed ■ 1950 Govt’s approach shocking: CJI-led bench ■ “What is shocking to us is that the State of Uttarakhand and authorities are sitting like mute spectators when forest land is being grabbed in front of their eyes,” the bench led by CJI Surya Kant said It directed all construction be halted at once and that vacant land, excluding residential houses, be taken into possession by the state when The land in question was alloted to Pashu Lok Seva Samiti 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 US expands online review of H-1B, H4 applicants e x p r e s s ne w s s e r v i c e @ New Delhi THE United States has extended online presence reviews to all H-1B and H-4 visa applicants worldwide, a move aimed at curbing work visa programme abuse but causing disruptions. “Beginning December 15, the Department of State expanded online presence reviews to ALL Shocking Knife attack on Inspector; accused shot in the knee H-1B and H-4 applicants as part of standard visa screening,” the US Embassy in New Delhi said Monday. “This vetting is being conducted globally for ALL applicants of ALL nationalities… while still permitting VISA companies to hire the best of the best temporary foreign workers.” H-4 visas cover spouses and unmarried children under 21 of H-1B holders. The State De- This vetting is being conducted globally for ALL applicants of ALL nationalities… while still permitting companies to hire the best of the best temporary foreign workers —US Embassy in New Delhi partment warned of delays, encouraging applicants to “apply as early as they can”. The expanded vetting has already disrupted travel plans for Indian H-1B holders who returned home to renew visas. Dozens of visa interviews scheduled between December 15-26 were abruptly cancelled or postponed, with many rescheduled for as late as March, The Washington Post reported. The State Department said delays followed expanded social media screening “to ensure that no applicants… pose a threat to U.S. national security or public safety .” Immigration lawyers de- scribed the impact as severe. “This is the biggest mess we have seen. I’m not sure there is a plan,” Indian immigration lawyer Veena Vijay Ananth told The Washington Post. Emily Neumann, a partner at Houston-based Reddy Neumann Brown PC, said she had “at least 100 clients stranded in India”. Indians, who comprise 71% of H-1B visa holders according to April 2025 data, are disproportionately affected. Explicit death threats to journos Press freedom has emerged as another flashpoint. Editors warned that threats against journalists have escalated after attacks on media offices last week. “Journalists are receiving explicit death threats,” The Daily Star editor Mahfuz Anam said at a protest organised in Dhaka by the Editors’ Council on Monday Bangladesh’s Editors’ Council protests the mob attack on Prothom Alo and The Daily Star in Dhaka, on Monday | AFP A youth who attacked a CI being whisked away in Anantapur | Express E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Anantapur In a shocking incident on the outskirts of Anantapur city a young man attacked a , Circle Inspector (CI) with a knife while police were attempting to arrest him. According to Anantapur Two Town CI M Srikant, on Sunday evening near a church in Aravind Nagar, three men — D Ajay Kumar, Akram and Sohail — attacked a man identified as Chakali Raja with a knife, leaving him seriously injured. Based on Raja’s complaint, police registered a case (Crime No. 274/25). Raja is currently in a coma. On Monday morning at around 9 am, police went to Shikari Colony near the TV Tower to arrest the main accused, D Ajay Kumar. The CI, an SI and a few constables reached the area in an autorickshaw. Ajay Kumar suddenly attacked the auto driver with a knife and stabbed him in the stomach, causing serious injuries. When local residents attempted to intervene, he also tried to attack a woman and a constable, Raghu, but they narrowly escaped. Ajay Kumar then fled the scene and hid in a sugarcane field on the outskirts of Akuthotapalli. During the search operation, he suddenly attacked the CI and attempted to injure him. Though the CI initially managed to escape and warned the accused, Ajay tried to attack again, during which the CI sustained knife injuries. Ajay Kumar was hit in the knee and ran for a short distance before collapsing. Police later apprehended him. B’desh halts visa to Indians Motaleb Sikdar, leader of the National Citizen Party, shot at, further stoking pre-poll tension J aya n t h J a c o b @ New Delhi The Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi and its consulate in Agartala on Monday suspended all visa and consular services for Indians, as political violence and protests continued to roil the country less than two months ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for February 12. No timeline was given for the resumption of services, amid heightened diplomatic and security sensitivities between Dhaka and New Delhi. The suspension comes two days after a group of around 2025 protesters demonstrated outside the Bangladesh mission in Delhi, condemning the killing of Dipu Chandra Das, a gar- ment worker in Mymensingh, fied fears of targeted violence and demanding protection for and political unrest. minorities in Bangladesh. Hadi, 32, was the founder of External Affairs Ministry Inqilab Moncho, a platform spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal that emerged from last year’s had on Sunday said that “there mass protests against then was no attempt to breach prime minister Sheikh the fence or create a seHasina, which culmicurity situation at any nated in her ouster. He time,” adding the police had announced plans to dispersed the g roup contest the February 12 within minutes. elections and was camDays after the killing paigning in Dhaka of prominent youth when he was shot earleader Sharif Osman Motaleb Sikdar lier this month. Bin Hadi, another politiHis death triggered cal activist was attacked on widespread protests across Monday Motaleb Sikdar, Khul- Bangladesh, with supporters . na divisional chief of the Na- alleging that the assailants fled tional Citizen Party (NCP), was to India and demanding their shot in the head in Khulna and arrest. Police, however, said is undergoing treatment in hos- there is no clarity on the suspital. The attack has intensi- pects’ whereabouts. The dete- cricketers Following the World Cup win, BCCI has increased the domestic match fee for women cricketers. It will be a big boost to women players who strive to stay in the game without any WPL or India contracts. A look More on P11 Among the fastest of deals, NZ joins growing FTA list DIPAK MO N DAL @ New Delhi IN one of the fastest trade negotiations in recent times, India New Zealand on Monday concluded a free trade agreement (FTA) in just nine months, offering duty-free access for Indian goods to the island nation’s markets. India has sealed seven free trade pacts since 2014. The FTA with New Zealand is the third in the year so far. India has been looking to explore new markets ever since US President Trump imposed 50% tariff on goods. India’s talks with the US for a bilateral trade pact remain inconclusive. On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a telephone conversation with New Zealand PM Christopher Luxon after which the two leaders jointly announced the conclusion of what they described as the “historic, ambitious and mutually beneficial” pact. Earlier, New Zealand imposed peak tariffs of up to 10% on key Indian exports such as textiles and apparel, leather, ceramics, carpets, automobiles and auto components. Now, 100% of India’s current exports will get tariff-free access to the New Zealand market. In return, India has offered market access in about 70% of 150% S V i s w a n at h @ Vijayawada increase A senior women cricketer will now receive 50,000 for one-dayers and multi-day ties. Reserves will get 25,000. For T20s, the pay has increased from 20,000 to 25,000. Previously, senior domestic women cricketers used to get 20,000 (playing XI) and for reserves it was 10,000 Jr. cricketers also get hike Meanwhile, junior women cricketers (U15, U19 and U23) will receive a match day fee of 25,000 while reserves will get `12,500. For T20s, they playing members will get 12,500 and reserves will receive 6,250. Earlier, the fee was 10,000 for playing XI and `5000 for reserves Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has suggested that officials should not view the State’s liquor policy merely as a revenue-generating mechanism but as a system that ensures healthy and responsible growth. Emphasising that revenue alone should not be the sole objective, the Chief Minister said liquor must be treated like any other regulated product, with a focus on transparency, quality and public interest. Reviewing the Prohibition and Excise Department at the State Secretariat on Monday , the Chief Minister asked officials to study the existing lottery-based allotment of liquor shops, application fees, the introduction of a Liquor Identification Number (LIN) for every bottle, and the proposal to increase retailer margins. He also instructed officials to examine the possibility of granting exemption from Additional Retail Excise Tax (ARET) for bars. The Chief Minister stressed the need for comprehensive reforms aimed at curbing illicit liquor, controlling unauthorised ‘belt shops’, expanding digitalisation and strengthening environmental protection measP4 ures.  As the Yuletide spirit fills the air, posters, cutouts, and dolls of Santa Claus appear everywhere, heralding the season of love and sharing. However, not many may know that Santa, the most popular symbol of Christmas, is inspired from and modelled after St Nicholas, a fourth-century bishop from Myra in ancient Ephesus Orthodox Church is home to six priceless relics, one of which is a fragment of the remains of St Nicholas. “St Geevarghese Mar Gregorios, aka Parumala Thirumeni, brought the relics to Pampakuda after visiting the Holy Land in 1895. He wished to gift them to his tutor, Konat Geevarghese Malpan. Upon learning that his beloved guru had passed away while he was overseas, St Gre- “Peace and security in the State must come completely under the control of the police. I am saying this with folded hands — do not misuse your authority I will never misuse my . authority but if anyone does, I , will not remain a silent spectator. Remember that,” Deputy Chief Minister and Jana Sena Party president Pawan Kalyan warned on Monday, calling for fir m policing Jana Sena chief and an end to Pawan Kalyan political interference in law enforcement in the State. Addressing the Padavi-Badyatha meeting of the Jana Sena Party, he referred to incidents in Tenali where police action against rowdies consuming ganja was allegedly opposed by YSRCP leaders, who he said were using the judicial system P4 as a shield.  express read In a little-known Kerala shrine rests the relics of the real-life ‘Santa’ Turkey, who was known for his generosity and secret gift-giving. Some may even find it hard to believe that the real-life Santa has a Kerala connection. For more than a century, Pampakuda, a sleepy village located 35 km away from Ernakulam, has been home to a relic of St Nicholas. Barring residents, not many are aware that the modest wayside shrine at Pampakuda in front of St John’s tariff lines, covering 95% of the bilateral trade value, while keeping 29.97% of tariff lines under an exclusion list covering sensitive sectors such as dairy and agriculture. “With zero-duty market access for Indian products, Indian exporters will become more competitive and enjoy a levelplaying field in New Zealand,” the commerce ministry said. With 100% duty-free access, India’s labour-intensive sectors such as textiles, footwear, marine products, gems and jewellery, handicrafts, engineering goods, and automobiles could see a sharp rise in exports. @ Vijayawada century-old connection Renj i t h Leen @ Kochi The FTA offers a dedicated pathway for Indian students in NZ, removing numerical caps and guaranteeing a minimum 20 hours of work per week during study E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e Liquor policy must focus on public interest: Naidu up to Dedicated pathway for Indian students Pawan calls for firm policing, warns against misuse of office Imfl, beer sales rise substantially in AP Massive pay hike for women riorating security situation prompted Indian student bodies to urge New Delhi to ensure the safety of Indian nationals in Bangladesh, particularly medical students. Amid the unrest, Bangladesh’s interim leadership convened a high-level meeting to review law and order. Inqilab Moncho issued an ultimatum, threatening to launch a movement to oust the interim administration if justice is not delivered in Hadi’s murder. Against this backdrop, Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander Grigoryevich Khozin called for de-escalation between Dhaka and New Delhi. “Shoulder to shoulder, India, Bangladesh and Russia were together (since 1971),” he said. Tariff-free access gorios gifted the relics to Fr. Konat Mathen, who was the Malpan (teacher) at the time. My grandfather, Konat Mathen Malpan, was instrumental in enshrining the relics near the wayside cross. Later, a The shrine housing the relic of St Nicholas at Pampakuda; (inset) The reliquary containing the relic | Express proper shrine was built, and the reliquaries were enshrined there,” said the priest whose family had several illustrious Syriac scholars. Fr Konat explained that the relics were gifted to St Gregorios by the Metropolitan of Jerusalem. Today, the bulk of the relics of St Nicholas rests in Bari in Italy, though fragments of his bones are kept in churches throughout Europe. TIFFA scan facility at seven govt hospitals Vijayawada: Minister for Health Satya Kumar has said TIFFA scanning facilities have been set up in 7 secondary hospitals across AP and will become fully operational from January 1 | P3 CM calls for cultural centre in Amaravati Vijayawada: CM N Chandrababu Naidu has directed officials to construct a modern cultural centre in Amaravati and identify suitable land at the earliest | P4