CHENNAI  MONDAY  OCTOBER 26, 2026  `9.00  PAGES 18  LATE CITY EDITION RESUMPTION OF WAR WILL NOT CHANGE IRAN’S STANCE: ARAGHCHI Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday that a resumption of war with the US and Israel would not change his country’s position COMES AFTER DON HINTS AT RENEWED ATTACKS His statement came after President Donald Trump indicated that he could resume attacks on Iran after the midterm elections in the US. Speaking at a televised event in Tehran, Araghchi said, “They have already done so twice and have seen the results. If they want to try again, they know they will achieve no different outcome” ■ Nov 3 IRAN SEEKS REMOVAL OF FOREIGN FORCES ■ Araghchi said to achieve peace and stability, “our region must move towards the complete absence of foreign forces” Trump said on Friday the US “may do another little Epic Fury,” referring to the military campaign that began in February. The US has moved thousands of additional troops to the region in recent weeks WHEN THE U.S. WILL HOLD MIDTERM ELECTIONS 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 EC hiding software info to Busted: Int’l drug bury manipulation: Cong cartel and `100 cr INTER-STATE OP Kharge demands annulment of assembly polls held in the past 2 yrs MUKESH RANJAN & RAMASHANKAR @ New Delhi / Patna EXPRESS READ Ex-army captain held for info leak Vellore: A retired Army captain was arrested in Vellore on Saturday night for allegedly sharing confidential information related to weapons procurement over WhatsApp to a woman who had claimed to be working with DRDO | P2 THE Congress on Sunday escalated its campaign against the Election Commission, accusing the poll body of suppressing crucial information about the ECINET software, while party chief Mallikarjun Kharge demanded that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) be halted immediately , assembly polls held in the past two years annulled, and future elections be held through ballot papers. The opposition party cited media reports about the poll body refusing to disclose the technical details of the ECINET software sought through RTI and alleged it was done to hide the alleged manipulation of electoral rolls. “The ECI is repeatedly refusing to provide this information because it will reveal the reality of the massive, centralised manipulation that has taken place,” said Congress general secretary in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh, adding the poll panel must clarify whether it is using artificial intelligence. Meanwhile, speaking at an event in Patna on Sunday Kharge called for return to ballot papers , to preserve the sanctity of election process and demanded the assembly polls held in the past two years should be annulled. Interestingly he named only the BJP-ruled West Bengal, Haryana, Bihar and Maharashtra; Congress won in Kerala and is sharing power with the TVK in Tamil Nadu, where elections were held in 2026. Launching a fierce attack on Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, the Congress chief alleged there were large-scale irregularities during the SIR process that influenced election results, accusing the CEC of enabling ‘vote theft’ under the garb of SIR. Kharge described the anti-SIR stir as a “second war of independence” and urged people to participate in INDIA bloc’s November 1 protest rally in Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan. “The protest by Opposition INDIA bloc in New Delhi is aimed at ousting of CEC Gyanesh Kumar,” the Congress president added, while speaking at an event to mark the 139th birth anniversary of Bihar’s first chief minister Shri Krishna Singh. Elections should be held using ballots to ensure transparency and restore public confidence. Democracy must be protected, and every vote must count Mallikarjun Kharge Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge speaks in Patna on Sunday| PTI Row over remark Kharge’s impromptu remarks during the Patna event triggered a political row. When a person in the audience said, “Modi won’t go anywhere or lose power”, Kharge retorted, “Even Modi’s father will go,” prompting a commotion at the venue | P9 BJP meets to mull how to ‘expose’ Oppn protests, rally RAJESH KUMAR THAKUR @New Delhi STRATEGIES to counter the Opposition’s protests against the Chief Election Commissioner and its November 1 rally were discussed at a top-level BJP meeting on Sunday as the , party strategised on “exposing” the Congress-backed efforts in its national ‘Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy’ campaign. The meeting, chaired by party chief Nitin Nabin and attended by senior leaders, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, discussed how the party could push back on the Opposition’s charges against the Special Intensive Revision of poll rolls, sources said. Plans for the BJP’s poll campaign in 2027 Assembly elections in UP, Punjab and three other states were also on the agenda. Sources said the leaders discussed a series of nationwide activities aimed at questioning the Opposition’s role in upholding democracy and highlighting achievements of the Modi government. “The meeting may have discussed spreading how the Congress and its allies want the inclusion of dead and fake voters in the voters’ lists under the pretext of protesting and demoralising a constitutional body like the Election Commission,” claimed a source. hawala trail M U K E S H R A N J A N @ New Delhi COORDINATED raids by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and state police forces helped dismantle a trans-national narcotics cartel operating across India, Myanmar and Bangladesh, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Sunday He said raids were carried out at 38 locations in Assam, . Mizoram and Manipur leading to 18 arrests, freezing of 1,424 bank accounts and uncovering of hawala transactions worth `100 crore. The operation, conducted on October 23 and codenamed ‘Operation Trident’, resulted in attachment of properties worth `17.82 crore, seizure of 500 detonators and the recovery of `12 lakh in cash. The synchronised action Announcing the operation on X, was designed to disrupt Shah said, “Central agencies and po- the network’s ability to lice forces in three northeastern move narcotics and states carried out simultaneous op- money across state and erations to dismantle the interna- international borders tional drug trafficking network and Amit Shah, home minister expose its financial links.” The cartel allegedly used the corridor connecting India, Myanmar Strategic shift and Bangladesh to move narcotics The operation marks a across borders, which Shah described strategic shift in as ‘Death Triangle Corridor’. India’s anti-narcotics The crackdown aligns with the campaign from a government’s zero-tolerance policy seizure-centric on drugs and the Vision Document approach to a on Narcotics Control for 2026-2029, network-centric which prioritises a systematic dis- model focussing on m a n t l i n g o f o r g a n i s e d d r u g dismantling the narco networks. infrastructure Investigations by NCB, Mizoram Police and ED uncovered a wider network of facilitators, shell entities and money mules supporting the cartel. The probe identified the kingpin as Myanmar-based Thangcintuang, alias Chintuang or Tluanga, who was wanted in more than 10 cases under NDPS Act. He was arrested in Delhi. Other key operatives arrested earlier included Vungkhanthawna, a facilitator responsible for coordinating the movement and delivery of Myanmar-origin consignments, and Lalrampari, a principal hawala operator, officials said. Lalrampari’s arrest by NCB on August 8, 2024, helped investigators uncover nearly `100 crore in illicit transactions and prompted joint financial action with the ED, he added. 8th case against Gem Veeramani, cops issue LoC against daughter EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Chennai THE Greater Chennai Police (GCP) have issued lookout circulars (LoCs) against five persons, including Archana, daughter of Gem Granites chairman R Veeramani (84), in connection with the Pocso and sexual assault cases registered against him, to prevent them from fleeing abroad. The granite baron has also been booked in a fresh case based on a complaint and statement given by another minor girl. The eighth case against Veeramani was registered on Wednesday, a police press release issued on Sunday said. With this, police have acted on complaints involving 12 minor girls in the cases against Veeramani and others. Eight persons have been arrested so far. Police had earlier issued an LoC against businessman Prakash in connection with the case. Veeramani was formally arrested on October 21 in connection with one of the cases. He and his former driver, Lazar, were formally arrested in another case on Thursday, police said. Veeramani, his two key associates, a 60-year-old woman and her 63-year-old husband, and former Gem Granites employee Ganeshan have been taken into police custody in connection with a case registered in 2025. Following a court order granting custody a Special Investiga, tion Team is questioning them at Peravallur police station based on evidence seized during the investigation. Archana, who was summoned for an inquiry on Sunday, did not appear, citing ill P7 health. Lack of govt schools forces students of aided institutions to forfeit 7.5% quota S U B A S H I N I V I J AYA K U M A R @ Chennai SILVER LINING FOR SINDHU P V Sindhu (L) put up a spirited fight against her nemesis and world no. 1 An Se Young before going down 21-16, 11-21, 12-21 in the women’s singles final of the French Open Super 750 badminton tournament on Sunday | BADMINTON PHOTO DEVAKOTTAI in Sivaganga district has five governmentaided higher secondary schools, but lacks a government school of that level. With the nearest government higher secondary schools located at least seven to eight km away, students from disadvantaged backgrounds are forced to make a difficult choice: travel long distances to retain eligibility for the 7.5% reservation offered to government school stu dent s in profe ssion al courses, or study in nearby aided schools and lose the quota benefit. 8.46 lakh students from south districts Across 10 southern districts — including Dindigul, Madurai, Tirunelveli, Theni, Sivaganga, Ramanathapuram, and Kanniyakumari — 8.46 lakh students are enrolled in government-aided schools The disparity is particularly significant in southern Tamil Nadu, where 10 districts account for 45.1% of the total student enrolment in governmentaided schools. Government-aided schools are included in the school network used to assess children’s access to education. However, students studying in government-aided schools are excluded from the 7.5% reservation in professional courses, which is available only to students who complete their schooling from Classes 6 to 12 in government schools. This distinction puts students in areas where government-aided schools are the most accessible option at a significant disadvantage. Unde r Tamil Nadu’s Right to Education (RTE) Rules, 2011, the state must provide access to a neighbourhood school within one km for children in Classes 1 to 5, and within three km for P7 those in Classes 6 to 8. SUSTAINABLE FARMING Ladakh becomes India’s first fully organic UT F AYA Z W A N I @ Srinagar LADAKH was declared India’s first fully organic Union Territory on Sunday, in a nod to its sustained efforts to promote chemical-free farming. “This is a moment of immense pride for Ladakh and the entire nation. Our farmers have demonstrated that environmentally responsible agriculture can flourish even in the most challenging geographical conditions,” Lieutenant Governor (LG) V K Saxena said. It follows a phased, multiyear initiative aimed at eliminating synthetic fertilisers, chemical pesticides and toxic soil additives from agricultural practices across the Union Territory . The big push came in July, when the LG ordered a complete prohibition on the procurement, distribution, sale, marketing, and use of chemical and synthetic fertilisers for agricultural practices across Ladakh. In March, the administration had flagged off distri- bution of organic fertiliser among farmers across villages to ensure timely availability before the sowing season. The move to organic farming is expected to improve soil fertility protect water resourc, es, preserve biodiversity and promote healthier food production. Besides, it is expected to create new opportunities for Ladakh’s farmers by improving the value of lo- This is a moment of immense pride for Ladakh and the entire nation. Our farmers have demonstrated that environmentally responsible agriculture can flourish even in the most challenging geographical conditions — LG V K Saxena cally grown organic produce, including apricots, sea buckthorn, buckwheat, barley and vegetables. “Organic certification, better post-harvest management, value addition, branding and stronger market linkages can help farmers access consumers who increasingly seek authentic, traceable and organically produced food,” an official said. Saxena said the goal is to ensure that the organic status brings real value to Ladakh’s farmers through better market access, improved price realisation and sustainable livelihoods. MODI SAYS CONG RULE FAVOURED RICH Inaugurating the RBI’S `169-crore data centre and Cybersecurity Training Institute in Bhubaneswar, the PM alleged the masses were denied banking services during Cong rule | P9 Dark clouds hover over Marina beach in Chennai on Sunday | P JAWAHAR ‘Cyclone Arnab’ to cross AP coast on Wed; three rain-related deaths in TN EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Chennai THE deep depression over the Bay of Bengal is expected to intensify into a cyclonic storm by early Monday and strengthen into a severe cyclonic storm by the morning of October 27. The weather system to be named Cyclone Arnab is expected to intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm and cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam by the forenoon of October 28 (Wednesday), the IMD said on Sunday . In Tamil Nadu, an orange alert has been issued for four districts — Ariyalur, Pudukkottai, Sivaganga, and Ramanathapuram — on Monday, with heavy to very heavy rain likely at isolated places. Meanwhile, three separate rain-related deaths have been reported from Dindigul and Krishnagiri on Sunday. T An- kesh (6), a Class 1 student from Rajasthan whose family works on a far m in Ammapatti, drowned after slipping into the water accumulated near a channel in Oddanchatram in Dindigul on Sunday. Muthusamy, a 45-year-old daily wage worker, died after falling into a pit filled with rainwater near the Gandhi Vegetable Market at Thangachiyammapatti in the district. A 45-year-old woman riding pillion on a two-wheeler in Krishnagiri district was electrocuted on Saturday night after a snapped electric line fell on her. Chennai is likely to receive moderate rain in some areas on Monday Heavy rain is also fore. cast at isolated places in Kanniyakumari, Tir unelveli, Thoothukudi, Tenkasi, Virudhunagar, Madurai, Theni, Dindigul, Karur, Tiruchy, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and NaP6 gapattinam districts.