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 ■ ■ vijayawada l wednesday l december 31, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 16 l late city EDITION As the year draws to a close, we take a deep dive into the events, stories, and faces that mattered inside | P6 06 WEDNESDAY TADEPALLIGUDEM 31 12 2025   A LANDMARK YEAR FOR AP’S INVESTMENT Is this end of Maoism in AP? JOURNEY A MAJOR TURNING POINT CAME IN NOVEMBER AT THE 30TH CII PARTNERSHIP SUMMIT 2025 IN VISAKHAPATNAM, WHERE INVESTMENT COMMITMENTS FAR EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS Against a target of `10 lakh crore, the State secured `13.25 lakh crore through 613 MoUs Energy, IT, tourism, manufacturing and emerging sectors dominated the proposals Andhra Pradesh is witnessing a renewed wave of invest-ments due to clear vision, stable governance and a strong focus on economic growth — Chandrababu Naidu, CM Priority sectors include manufacturing, IT, electronics, renewable energy, logistics, food processing & infrastructure Investments are expected to generate large-scale employment and support inclusive urban and rural development The government has assured time-bound approvals through a robust single-window system and proactive investor handholding Andhra Pradesh’s advantages lie in its speed of doing business, leadership credibility and the “double-engine” NDA governments at the Centre and the State. Transparent administration and fast-track approvals have boosted investor confidence HRD AND IT MINISTER NARA LOKESH PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN PROMOTING ANDHRA PRADESH AS AN INVESTMENT DESTINATION. HEADING A CABINET SUB-COMMITTEE TASKED WITH FACILITATING EMPLOYMENT FOR 20 LAKH YOUTH OVER FIVE YEARS, LOKESH LED SEVERAL DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL ROADSHOWS The response reflected strong domestic and global investor confidence Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s sustained efforts to rebuild Andhra Pradesh’s brand image were widely credited for the renewed momentum. Through national and international engagements, he positioned the State as a destination defined by policy clarity, transparency and speed of doing business. TIMELINE : Decline of Maoism in Andhra Pradesh 2000-2010: Maoist dominance in tribal belts and frequent encounters and shutdowns. Andhra Pradesh is set to remember 2025 as a landmark year for investments, having firmly reentered the national and global investment landscape after years of uncertainty. The State attracted investment commitments worth nearly `20 lakh crore, driven by investorfriendly policies and proactive governance under the TDP-led coalition government IT Minister Nara Lokesh engaged directly with global business leaders to showcase the State’s sectoral strengths 2014: Andhra Pradesh bifurcation, intensified policing and development focus. 2016-2020: Sharp decline in Maoist incidents due to leadership losses. Nara Lokesh, HRD & IT Minister Major outcomes include Google’s $15 billion commitment to establish its largest AI hub outside the US in Vizag 2021-2023: Border-centric operations; reduced movement across states 2024: Minimal violent incidents reported 2025: Surge in surrenders with the start of Operation Kagar THEY (MAOIST CADRE) REALISED THAT GUNS NO LONGER PROMISE DIGNITY OR JUSTICE Harish Kumar Gupta, DGP, AP ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India committed `1.4 lakh crore for a greenfield integrated steel plant in Anakapalli district Six companies that signed MoUs at the CII Summit have already secured approvals Unlike earlier phases when MoUs often remained on paper, the coalition government moved swiftly to translate commitments into action. Reports: S Viswanath, Phanindra Papasani, Y Brahmaji, Neelima Eaty S Nagaraja Rao SET STAGE FOR 2026 GROWTH O Naresh Kumar, VP of Rushikonda IT, Park Association OTHER NOTABLE COMMITMENTS TCS investing `1,370 crore on a 21-acre campus expected to create 12,000 jobs Sify’s `1,500 crore AI-powered data centre and cable landing station Sattva’s integrated IT and residential hub Phenom’s `207.5 crore intelligent talent campus generating 2,500 jobs Innovation City R&D centres Up to 80% crop damage reported across major aquaculture belts in 2025 Andhra Pradesh exported 3.48 lakh MT seafood worth USD 2.37 billion in 2023–24 ported about 3.48 lakh metric tonnes of seafood worth USD 2.37 billion, with nearly 70–80 per cent of shrimp shipments going to the United States. The complete halt of U.S.-bound exports in 2025 led to sharp declines in volumes and realisations, forcing exporters to divert shipments to smaller markets such as Japan, Hong Kong, China and Europe. Nearly 70–80% of shrimp exports were U.S.dependent Complete halt of U.S. exports in 2025 triggered volume and price declines Accenture’s 10-acre campus These markets could not absorb comparable volumes, resulting in stock accumulation, price corrections and processing units operating below capacity . Strict antibiotic residue norms in alternative markets added to exporters’ losses, while the absence of a clear strategy to stabilise new export destinations further compounded the problem. In recent weeks, shrimp prices have shown a modest recovery offer, ing limited relief to farmers. Though rates remain below peak levels, the improvement has helped contain losses and restore some confidence. Farmers are now looking ahead to 2026 with cautious optimism, banking on better disease management, careful stocking, market diversification and policy support to revive the sector and ensure long-ter m stability . Sector hopes rest on diversification, better disease control and policy support in 2026 Alternative markets absorbed limited quantities and imposed strict residue norms RISING GOLD Cognizant’s `1,583 crore 8,000-seat campus at Kapuluppada IT Hills U.S. DEPENDENCE EXPOSED AS AQUA EXPORTS HIT T he year 2025 proved to be one of the most challenging periods for Andhra Pradesh’s aquaculture sector, with shrimp farmers hit by widespread disease outbreaks and a sharp disruption in exports to the United States following reciprocal tariffs. The twin shocks caused crop losses of up to 80 per cent across major aquaculture belts, pushing thousands of farmers into financial distress. Except for Nellore district, severe impact was reported in Krishna, Bapatla, East and West Godavari, Kakinada, Konaseema and Srikakulam districts. Early and mid-crop disease outbreaks, coupled with high feed, seed and power costs, made 2025 one of the harshest years for the sector in recent times. The crisis exposed Andhra Pradesh’s heavy dependence on the U.S. market. In 2023–24, the State ex- In a tribal hamlet near the Andhra–Odisha border, a former Maoist cadre in his forties has returned to farming after nearly 15 years underground. Enrolled in a rehabilitation programme, he now supports his family and sends his children to a government school. Former Maoist insiders acknowledge that ideological drift, internal weaknesses and an inability to adapt to social change have hastened the movement’s decline. PRICES HIT TRADITIONAL GOLDSMITHS HARD Over 50 per cent of the MoUs have entered the approval stage MEGA INVESTMENTS The real impact of these investments will be visible from 2026 onwards. Larger wave of construction, IT operations, and supporting services will accelerate over the next three to four years or decades, the dense forests of northern Andhra Pradesh echoed with gunfire, ideological slogans and the fear of an invisible enemy In 2025, those echoes have . begun to fade. The year is being seen as a watershed moment in the State’s internal security history, with Maoism—once deeply entrenched—reduced to near irrelevance. A combination of sustained security operations, intelligencedriven policing and large-scale voluntary surrenders has pushed the Left-Wing Extremist (LWE) movement to the brink of extinction in Andhra Pradesh. Director General of Police Harish Kumar Gupta said the State is witnessing one of the highest rates of voluntary surrenders, reflecting not only enforcement success but a fundamental loss of faith in Maoist ideology . In 2025 alone, more than 50 Maoists of various cadres surrendered, effectively ending organised Naxal activity in the State. Sixteen top leaders, including Madvi Hidma, Gajarla Uday and Metturi Joga Rao, were neutralised. Police said only 13 cadres linked to Andhra Pradesh remain active, most of them operating along the Andhra–Odisha border. The decisive push came through the Centre’s multi-state counter-insurgency initiative, Operation Kagar, aimed at eliminating Maoist influence across the Red Corridor by March 31, 2026. Unlike earlier operations focused largely on combing and encounters, the strategy emphasised real-time intelligence sharing, leadership decapitation, disruption of financial networks and sustained psychological outreach encouraging surrenders. Andhra Pradesh, which had already seen a steady decline in Maoist violence over the past decade, emerged as a model State where the movement collapsed faster than expected. Across the country, over 350 Maoists were killed and more than 1,000 surrendered. Andhra Pradesh alone accounted for over 60 voluntary surrenders. Many were second- and thirdgeneration cadres disillusioned with prolonged underground life and shrinking public support. Despite the success, officials cautioned against complacency , warning that unresolved socio-economic vulnerabilities could still be exploited by extremist narratives. “The end of Maoism must translate into the beginning of trust,” a senior police officer said, stressing the need for sustained development and justice delivery . Red to Green: A journey of change ILLUSTRATION: MANDAR PARDIKA Proposals worth `8.29 lakh crore, with potential to create 7.62 lakh jobs, have been approved by the State Investment Promotion Board (SIPB) Andhra Pradesh’s IT landscape saw significant developments in 2025, with several major investments signalling a new era for the city. Google, in collaboration with the state government, signed a deal to set up a USD 15 billion AI data centre in Visakhapatnam. Reliance’s joint venture, Digital Connexion, plans to invest `98,000 crore to develop 1 GW of data centre capacity across 400 acres. F A t 5 a.m., when most of Proddutur is still a s l e e p, 3 8 year-old Ghouse Basha steps into a small hotel kitchen on Jinnah Road, stirring vessels instead of shaping gold. Until a year ago, his mornings began at a workbench, crafting ornaments that earned him a steady income and respect as a skilled goldsmith. Today rising gold prices have pushed him, , and many like him, out of their ancestral profession and into daily-wage work. His story reflects a quiet crisis unfolding across Kadapa district. As gold prices touched historic highs, customer purchases declined sharply drying up orders , for handmade ornaments. In Proddutur, once a hub of skilled swarnakaras, workshops remain open but largely idle. Artisans say they now spend more time waiting than working, uncertain about when the next order will arrive. For Ghouse Basha, who once earned about `20,000 a month, the past year has been devastating. With work dwindling, he struggled to pay house rent, school fees and insurance premiums before finally leaving the trade. He now works from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. at a hotel, earning `500 a day . “There is nothing left to save, and this income cannot secure my children’s future,” he says. Fifty-year-old Shamsheer Basha, a seasoned goldsmith who once earned `3,000– `4,000 a day says the decline began even before , the recent price surge, as outside artisans undercut local workers. As gold became costlier, orders almost vanished. He bought an auto to support his family but earns barely `600 a day most of which , , goes towards loan instalments and household expenses. For Erraballi Akhtar Ahmed, the crisis is also about losing a legacy His father, Johar—popular. ly known as “Junkila Johar”—spent over five decades crafting traditional jhumkas. Akhtar mastered the same intricate skills but now survives on occasional work and mounting debts. “Many goldsmiths have left the town in search of work. We don’t even know where they went,” he says. Veteran artisan Pala Obulesu, who has run a workshop for 30 years, says the last eight months have been the hardest. Once earning `25,000 a month, he now struggles to pay shop rent and electricity bills. Health and age have worsened the plight for others like Zakheer Hussain, 52, who is burdened with debts after multiple surgeries. Gold prices have risen from `48,480 in 2020 to `1,40,450 in December 2025, making ornaments unaffordable and eroding demand for handcrafted jewellery As workshops fall silent and skills . passed down through generations risk fading away, goldsmiths in Kadapa district are urging the government to recognise their crisis and support the survival of a traditional craft on the brink. Recent price recovery has offered temporary relief Nation Migration, mobility and elections | P7 Federalism at crossroads | P9 business Top trends that shaped the economy | P14 Sports How the year panned out for India in sports | P15-16 Assam STF arrests 11 for ties with Jamaat radicals ‘All were working under direct orders from Bangladesh groups’ express news service @ Guwahati ELEVEN people were arrested in Assam and Tripura for their alleged links with Bangladeshbased fundamentalist groups that were aiming to destabilise the Northeast, police said on Tuesday . Assam’s Special Task Force said the arrests were made for alleged links with Imam Mahmuder Kafila (IMK), an offshoot of Bangladeshi terror group Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), which is banned in India. Ten among those arrested were nabbed from Assam’s Baksa, Barpeta, Chirang and Darrang districts while one was arrested from Tripura’s West Tripura district on December 29 and 30. The IMK was founded in 2018 by Jewel Mahmud alias Sohail, a former JMB member. The STF dossier said senior leaders of JMB, Ansarullah Bangla Nasim Uddin, the kingpin, and Junab Ali Another Hindu man killed in Mymensingh A Hindu security guard, Bajendra Biswas, was fatally shot at a garment factory in Mymensingh on Monday, marking the third such incident targeting minorities in the country in two weeks Team (ABT), and Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) had issued directions to IMK leadership to activate its Indian modules. Bangladeshi nationals Umar and Khalid were assigned to coordinate Assam-based activities. One Nasim Uddin alias Tamim of Assam’s Barpeta Road is the head of the outfit’s Assam cell. After the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government in Bangladesh in August last year, cadres of JMB, ABT and AQIS were activated, resulting in revival of their ideological influence and Indian networks, including through IMK-linked platforms, the STF said. “These elements were working under the direct orders from Bangladesh-based groups. Their main aim was to destabilise Assam and the rest of the Northeast,” STF chief Partha Sarathi Mahanta said. Those arrested from Assam were identified as Nasim Uddin alias Tamim (24), Junab Ali (38), Afrahim Hussain (24), Mizanur Rehman (46), Sultan Mehmud (40), Md Siddique Ali (46), Rasidul Aalam (28), Mahibul Khan (25), Sharuk Hussain (22) and Md Dilbar Razak (26), he added. Jagir Miah (33) was nabbed from Tripura. Khaleda Zia: 15 Aug 1945 – 30 Dec 2025 the reluctant politician who shaped B’desh Jaishankar to attend funeral Reflecting the importance New Delhi attaches to Khaleda Zia’s legacy, foreign minister S Jaishankar will represent India at her funeral. He will travel to Dhaka on Wednesday Pushed education reforms Khaleda Zia’s tenure as PM restored the parliamentary system and introduced compulsory, free primary education J AYAN T H J ACO B @ New Delhi K haleda Zia, Bangladesh’s first female prime minister, died in Dhaka on Tuesday at the age of 80. For more than three decades, her fierce rivalry with Sheikh Hasina shaped Bangladesh’s politics, dividing the nation between two dominant leaders whose personal animosity often mirrored the country’s deeper political fault lines. Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid rich tributes to Khaleda Zia, recalling her contribution to strengthening bilateral ties. Born on August 15, 1945 in Dinajpur, then part of British India, Zia entered public life reluctantly At 15, she married Ziaur Rah. man, who would go on to become a central figure in Bangladesh’s 1971 liberation struggle and become President in 1977. His assassination in 1981 pushed Zia into politics. During the nine-year military dictatorship that followed a 1982 coup, she emerged as a prominent face of resistance, boycotting army-backed elections and enduring repeated house arrests. Her uncompromising stance earned her a loyal following. Following the fall of military rule in 1990, the BNP won the general election, and Zia was sworn in as PM in 1991, becoming one of the few elected women in the Muslim world. ‘Fake’ wrestling coach forges federation letter for US visa F i r o z M i r z a @ Chennai A bizarre query that could be linked with kabootarbaazi (immigration racket) left the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) stunned on Tuesday. The consular section of the US Embassy in New Delhi asked the federation about a wrestling coach who has claimed WFI’s backing for attending a training camp from January 10 to 28 at Mat Sense Academy (Oregon). According to the document submitted in the US Embassy , Sandeep, son of Bijender Singh, sought the US visa and submitted WFI’s sponsorship on its letterhead as a support- ing document. The letter signed by R K Purushotham, WFI’s joint secretary, claimed that the federation will bear Sandeep’s travel expenses, accommodation and camp fees apart from providing him a daily allowance. Sandeep claimed that he is a wrestling coach at the Sports Authority of India. The sponsorship and official authorisation letter also mentioned three names — Sunil (coach), Anshu (wrestler), and Rajan (physiotherapist) — apart from Sandeep. “We have informed the US Embassy that the person is neither empanelled as a coach with WFI or the world body, United World Wrestling,” WFI chief Sanjay Kumar Singh said. “...as per WFI regulations, only the President, Secretary General, and the Administrative Of ficers are authorised to sign official correspondence on behalf of the Federation,” WFI told the US Embassy in its reply . express read Thousands of devotees throng Tirumala temple Tirumala: Vaikunta Dwara Darshan began at Tirumala amid devotional fervour on Tuesday. Srivari temple echoed with chants of ‘Govinda Nama’ as thousands of devotees passed through the Vaikunta Dwara after having darshan of Lord Venkateswara on the auspicious occasion | P3 Govt takes up S’guptam drain modernisation Vijayawada: The NDA government has taken up the modernisation of Sankaraguptam Major Drain with an outlay of `20.77 crore, aiming to permanently address seawater intrusion that has been damaging coconut plantations for decades in BR Ambedkar Konaseema district | P4 Final notifications on new districts issued Vijayawada: The State government on Tuesday issued final notifications on restructuring of districts. Markapuram and Polavaram districts were newly created. Madanapalle was made headquarters of Annamayya district as part of the rejig | P4