NEW DELHI 25 OCTOBER 2026 SUNDAY `12 PAGES 24 facebook/TheMorningStandard  X.com/TheMornStandard https://epaper.morningstandard.in PLUS: 12 PAGES Spot in the Midlife MARRIED TO MENACE MAGAZINE Dr Vikram Sampath Ravi Shankar Prabhu Chawla Preeti Shenoy Santwana Bhattacharya S Vaidhyasubramaniam Shankkar Aiyar A Protest Match Anti-dam stir: Arunachal mob on the rampage Sets NHPC office on fire, vandalises the houses of 3 politicians, including 2 MLAs P R A S A N TA M A Z U M D A R @ Guwahati UPROAR IN FRANCE AS STIR SWEEPS CITIES Tens of thousands of students and workers marched in Paris and other French cities over school funding | P9 PRESSINTAKE Jaishankar to talk energy, tech at Oct G20 Summit in Atlanta | P7 2 firearms & 10 live cartridges linked to Tiger firing found | P8 THE proposed 11,200-MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) turned a massive flashpoint on Saturday as anti-dam protesters in Arunachal Pradesh’s East Siang district set fire to an office of the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation and scores of vehicles parked on the premises of a police station, then vandalised houses of three politicians, including two MLAs, and later clashed with security forces that left several injured. The incident took place around 11 pm on Friday after a 12-hour bandh to protest against the hydropower project was over, Pasighat Deputy Superintendent of Police Tony Tatak said. The agitators vandalised the residences of BJP state unit president and former MLA Kaling Moyong, and Pasighat West legislator Ninong Ering, he said. The office of the Adi Bane Kebang, the apex body of the Adi community was , also ransacked, the officer said. Later in the night, violence broke out again in Pasighat town and adjoining Mebo in East Siang district, where clashes left several people injured. Pasighat remained shut on Saturday . The violence erupted hours after a bandh in Siang, Upper Siang and East Siang districts to protest against the proposed hydropower project was over, a senior police official said. The Union government had proposed SUMP , expected to generate 11,000 MW power, as a counter to a 60,000 MW Chinese project. The protesters are demanding scrapping of the hydro power project, withdrawal of armed forces from the region, deployed allegedly in connection with pre-feasibility report (PFR) or survey release of 10 arrested activists and re, instatement of some suspended village chiefs. The protesters fear displacement, loss of livelihoods and environmental and seismic risks. Joint protest The shutdown was jointly called by the Adi Bane Kebang United, SUMP Affected Area Youth Association, Siang Indigenous Farmers’ Wing and Adi Galo Welfare Society A damaged police station in Pasighat | ANI CM’s appeal Chief Minister Pema Khandu, expressed concern over the vandalism, looting and damage to property. “The government’s doors are always open,” Khandu said Real-time data: World’s first air pollution analysis facility for Delhi-NCR launched J I T E N D R A C H O U B E Y @ New Delhi THE Centre has launched the world’s first facility dedicated to ‘Air Pollution Analysis’ for the Delhi-NCR region. Known as the ‘Integrated Atmospheric Chemistry and Aerosol Toxicity Analysis Laboratory’, the facility is designed to forecast air pollution levels and analyse their composition at a spatial resolution of 400 metres for the next 72 hours. The facility identifies the composition of pollutants, their sources, relative contributions, and potential health implications. It provides real-time The Troubleshooter EXCLUSIVE VOICES information and advanced forecasts to support timely action against air pollution. Dr Jitendra Singh, Union MoS for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, stated that Delhi-NCR was chosen due to the serious public concern surrounding air pollution. “The new facility will not only inform us about the level of pollution in a specific area but also provide insights into the composition of the pollutants and their origins,” said Singh. He elaborated on the importance of real-time source apportionment, noting that at that moment, transportation was contributing approximately 25% of Delhi’s air pollution, with the overall pollution level recorded at around 180. The laboratory is equipped with advanced instruments to analyse the chemical composition of atmospheric gases and aerosols, including fine particulate matter (PM2.5), metals, toxic elements, and other components. It is integrated with IITM’s AIRWISE, which stands for Air Quality Warning and Integrated Decision Support System for Emissions. This system combines air quality forecasts, observations, and source apportionment infor mation to aid in pollution management. The Afterlife of Violence AMMA SPEAKS ‘I Became an Actress to Prove to Myself That I Can Act’ Home is Where You Park It Become a Witness, Become Everything SINDHU IN PRISTINE TOUCH, STORMS INTO FRENCH FINAL I N D R A N E E L D A S @ Chennai AT 31, badminton players usually start thinking about sipping a hot beverage within the confines of their homes watching their favourite movie or sport. The challenges of courts would not be as enticing as it would have been five years ago, especially if one is a multiple Olympic and world championships medallist. P V Sindhu is one such player who has a cabinet full of medals; most players would be envious of. She has won Olympic medals, Worlds gold and different medals and numerous other BWF Tour titles. Yet, when she should be slowly walking into the sunset, she is still conjuring wins like a regular top player. There is no sign of age slowing her down or mental f atigue due to a long career. At the French Open on Saturday, post a middling Asian Games campaign, she again showed vintage Sindhu signs. She had been struggling in the final games but not against Hina Akechi as she won 21-10, 20-22, 21-16. She will face World No 1 An Se Young in the final. There was some criticism when she lost the Asian Games in the quarterfinal but she can be excused for losing in her third match in less than 24 hours. The gruelling schedule was cruel. Despite such a long career, one big positive was her fitness. She has remained relatively injury-free. Something which she said was because she understood her body and played accordingly “It is important to . know your body she had said ,” at the Asian Games. “We use gadgets and know where we are straining, and when we need to take it easy and when I have to give my best: PV “I have to give her a good fight, a tough fight. Every point matters. I know we’ve played a lot of times and she’s been doing really well. But I think tomorrow is a different day. Every day is a new day. I just have to go out there and give my best. I’m ready to give a fight” P V SINDHU  2nd Her second BWF Tour Super 750 final after Japan Open which she won Classes moved online after Jamia students, guards clash during stir IFRAH MUFTI AND U D AYA N K I S H O R E @ New Delhi JAMIA Millia Islamia announced on Saturday that the classes for all courses would be held online with immediate effect, citing disturbance on the campus due to the students’ hunger strike for the restoration of the students’ union as the reason. The strike completed 13 days on Saturday . The university’s decision came after students clashed with security guards, who had allegedly attempted to dismantle their tents. The university also announced closure of Dr Zakir Hussain Library . A statement from the university said, “In view of the ongoing situation and in order to ensure the safety and security of bonafide students in the University Campus, the Competent Authority, JMI, has decided to conduct classes of all courses of the University through online mode with immediate effect until further notice.” The move came a day after 10 people, including Congress MP Imran Masood, were detained near the campus. The stir con- we can give more than 100 per cent. Sometimes one may not be able to give 100 per cent. We need to preserve ourselves.” At World No 11, she is the best shuttler in the country, even now. With LA28 less than one and half years away it augurs , well. But for Sindhu it’s one tour nament at a time. For her, right now it’s best to “enjoy where am I at right now, and I enjoy the f a m e. ” Fo r now, she has final to take care of against someone she has not won before. “But I think tomorrow is a different day,” she said. P11 Burnt body of Class 12 student found in school, note recovered E X P R E SS N E WS S E R V I C E @ New Delhi The university has announced closure of Dr Zakir Hussain Library and old library Protest over students’ union elections in varsity The stir began on October 12, with protesters demanding an official notification announcing a schedule for the students’ union elections. The last polls were held in 2005, and the union was dissolved in 2006. tinues despite Registrar Prof. Md Mahtab Alam Rizvi claiming that the administration has formed a panel for students’ union. He said, “I’ve informed the students that … as soon as the committee completes the draft constitution, we will conduct the elections, a proposal the students agreed to.” Rizvi also accused Masood and fellow MP Imran Pratapgarhi of entering the campus illegally to instigate students. He said a complaint has been filed against them. He said on Saturday, “Imran Masood arrived yesterday. He broke through a wall to get in. Imran Pratapgarhi also arrived. He broke a lock to enter. These are unauthorised individuals.” On an objectionable graffiti on Kashmir on the campus, the teaching and non-teaching staff said that such actions undermined the academic atmosphere. They adopted two resolutions, asking students call off strike and to repaint defaced walls and cover slogans they described as condemnable. EXPRESS READ Centre extends defence secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh’s tenure by 1 yr The Centre has extended the tenure of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh—a 1989-batch IAS Kerala cadre officer—by one year, till October 31, 2027, according to an order issued on Saturday. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved the extension beyond his scheduled tenure. P7 Forces take over Kuki rebels’ camp in Manipur, 1st since peace pact inked The security forces on Saturday took control of a designated camp of Kuki rebel outfits in Manipur after it was found to be housing 17 people. They were posing as members of the outfits. This is the first time a camp of rebel outfits has been taken over by the forces after the peace pact. P8 IN a suspected case of suicide, an 18-year-old Class XII girl student was found burnt behind the guard room of a school in east Delhi’s Krishna Nagar on Saturday The police found the . student in a burnt state when it reached the school. She was taken to a hospital, where she was declared brought dead. A fire department official said that a call was received at 11.58 am about the student setting herself on fire, after which a fire tender was rushed to the spot, where the student was found burnt. An investigation team recovered the student’s school bag and certain other material from the spot. The police found a suicide note in the bag, which is being studied to ascertain the sequence of events leading to her death and her mental state. “The circumstances leading to the incident are being examined, and further enquiry is in progress,” DCP (Shahdara) Rajendra Prasad Meena said. When the deceased did not return home on time, her sister-in-law went to the school to make enquiries. After reaching the school, she got to know about the incident and later informed other family members. The police stated that the student’s family, friends and the teachers are being questioned. The body has been sent to the mortuary for post-mortem, the police said. Man held from Delhi over Surat’s industrial effluents to be dumped into Arabian Sea sting op video on Sidda CAUSE OF CONCERN Threat to marine ecology THE empowered committee of Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, as part of India’s largest deep-sea disposal project, has recommended dumping 650 million litres per day (MLD) of treated industrial wastewater from the textile and chemical hubs in Surat in deep sea near the Gulf of Khambhat in Arabian Sea. The effluents are proposed to be carried through pipelines to the landfall located near Danti Village in Navsari, and extend to the outfall point offshore in 1 Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change approved India’s largest deep-sea disposal project in Surat 2 The project aims to manage 650 million litres a day of treated industrial wastewater from textile & chemical sectors in Surat, which will be discharged into deep sea in the Gulf of Khambhat the Ubharat and Vansi regions of the Arabian Sea. The project vehicle, Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation, said the onshore pipeline network will extend approximately 67.5 km, while the offshore pipelines will range between 15 km and 17.9 km 3 Environmentalists criticise the lack of a zero-waste policy instead of deep-sea dumping, which may damage marine ecology from the landfall point to the respective marine diffuser locations. Under the chairmanship of M S Negi, chief of the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) on Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ), the proposal has been recommended for CRZ clearance in Representative image J I T E N D R A C H O U B E Y @ New Delhi line with the CRZ Notification of 2019, at a meeting on October 8, 2026.In its recommendation, the committee highlighted the saturation of existing effluent disposal systems from the CETPs into local creeks. “The treated effluent is currently discharged into nearby creeks. Due to the limited carrying capacity of these creeks, further discharge of treated effluent is not permissible,” the committee said. Environmentalists have criticised this approach. Local fisherfolk in Navsari and Surat fear a loss of livelihood. “They are concerned that releasing such huge daily volumes of industrial wastewater (650 MLD) will decimate local fish populations and push thousands of fishing families into financial hardship,” said MSH Sheikh of Brackish Water Research Centre, a Surat based non-profit. E X P R E S S N E W S S E R V I C E @ B’luru SLEUTHS of the Central Crime Branch (CCB) have arrested a man from Delhi for allegedly uploading videos related to the alleged sting operation against former Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah. The accused has been identified as Ritesh Pandey, who is from Uttar Pradesh and is in his early 20s. Pandey was traced after the police digitally investigated the videos and found the source. He is said to have used a second- hand mobile phone and a Wi-Fi connection to upload the videos to avoid detection. He allegedly got a pen drive from a person said to be associated with a regional political party. A senior officer said that the probe is on to establish the source of the video, the circumstances under which it was recorded and circulated, and whether other individuals were involved in the alleged sting operation. Pandey has revealed a name and summons has been issued to the latter, the officer said.