FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms FREE PRESS Vol. 15 No. 260 | BHOPAL | WEDNESDAY | MARCH 4, 2026 | Pages 14 ` 3 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. mpeng/2010/35815 www.freepressjournal.in Sports Gavaskar hails S amson’s redemption P.12 ESTD-1983 iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: BHOPAL UJJAIN MONEY PUNE INDORE NASHIK MUMBAI E-paper Edit Aviation sector bears cost of war P.6 India curbs industrial gas as Qatar outage tightens supply Cinema Actor Awards honour top talent P.14 WAR RAGES | US signals escalation as Iran, Israel exchange strikes, with Russia warning of rising nuclear proliferation risks TRUMP SAYS ‘TOO LATE’ FOR TEHRAN TALKS US to citizens: Leave region US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday urged American citizens to depart immediately from Iran, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Gaza, the West Bank and the United Arab Emirates via commercial means, citing “serious safety risks”. Largest US radar destroyed: Iran Iranian media claimed the AN/FPS-132, described as the largest US radar in the Gulf, was destroyed amid the widening Middle East conflict following US and Israeli attacks. Citing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, outlets said the radar had a 5,000km range and was completely destroyed in a missile strike, a claim later corroborated by Qatari officials. Drone strikes hit data centres Drone strikes hit three Amazon data centres, two in the United Arab Emirates and one in Bahrain, disrupting cloud services amid the US-Israel-Iran conflict. Amazon said the UAE sites were struck Sunday, while damage near Bahrain affected infrastructure. Outages shut UAE markets and stranded thousands at regional airports. AWS plans US$5.3 billion investment in Saudi Arabia. UAE intercepts missiles; 3 dead The Ministry of Defence said air defence systems intercepted nine ballistic missiles, six cruise missiles and 148 drones. Of 174 ballistic missiles detected, 161 were destroyed and 13 fell into the sea. Of 689 drones identified, 645 were intercepted and 44 landed in the country. Eight cruise missiles were neutralised. Authorities confirmed three deaths and 68 minor injuries, with limited property damage reported. HOLIDAY NOTICE The Free Press office will remain closed on Wednesday on account of Holi. There will be no edition on Thursday. Readers can keep abreast with happenings across the globe through www. freepressjournal.in IAEA flags Natanz damage Agencies DUBAI/WASHINGTON DC President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Tehran wanted talks but it was “too late” as the United States continued military operations against Iran. In a Truth Social post, sharing a Washington Post opinion piece titled We're witnessing the birth of the Trump doctrine, Trump wrote: “Their air defense, Air Force, Navy, and Leadership is gone. They want to talk. I said ‘Too Late!’” Later, Trump signalled the “end” of hostilities, claiming Iran’s Air Force and Navy had been destroyed and its leadership structure, starting with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, eliminated. His remarks came a day after Ali Larijani, head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said Iran would not negotiate with the US and denied reports that Iranian officials had sought talks. In an interview with NewsNation journalist Kellie Meyer, Trump said “boots on the ground” may not be necessary but there would be retaliation for the attack on the US Embassy in Riyadh and the deaths of US service members. Six US troops had been killed in action as of Monday. After Saturday’s strikes, Trump told the New York Post he would not rule out deploying ground forces, adding that “the big wave hasn’t even happened”. Citing Israeli media, Al Jazeera reported that Israeli air defences intercepted four Iranian ballistic missiles over Jordan and areas near Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank. No casualties were immediately reported. The International Atomic Energy Agency said entrances to Iran’s underground Fuel Enrichment Plant at Natanz were struck in the US-Israeli attacks. Based on satellite imagery, it confirmed damage to entrance buildings but said no radiological consequences were expected and no additional impact was detected at the facility, which was severely damaged in the June conflict. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned that the war could prompt Iran and its Arab neighbours to seek nuclear weapons, heightening proliferation risks. The Israeli government said its soldiers were operating in southern Lebanon. Defence Minister Israel Katz said the Israel Defence Forces were authorised to advance and hold additional positions to prevent direct fire on Israeli communities. Earlier, Israel struck Tehran and Beirut as the conflict escalated. Adequate fuel stock in MP: Dealer assn 1232.88 MT petrol, 1643.84 MT diesel consumption per day in MP Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL This satellite image provided by Vantor shows an overview of new building damage at Natanz nuclear facility, Iran, Monday, March 2, 2026 Rs 10,000 cr at risk, shipowners seek Hormuz passage After Iran’s Revolutionary Guards declared the Strait of Hormuz closed and threatened ships, the Indian National Shipowners' Association wrote to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways seeking safe passage. It said 27 Indian-flagged vessels are stranded, with assets worth Rs 10,000 crore at risk. A tanker narrowly escaped a missile strike. Freight and insurance costs may rise. Iran conflict sparks ‘great anxiety’: Govt Strike followed ‘operational opportunity’: Israel Envoy The Government of India said the escalating conflict in Iran and the Gulf region is causing “great anxiety”, confirming some Indians have died while others are missing. In a second statement issued on Day four of the conflict, the Ministry of External Affairs reiterated its call for restraint, dialogue and civilian safety. It noted nearly one crore Indians live in the Gulf and opposed attacks on merchant shipping. Indian missions are assisting stranded nationals. The government said the Prime Minister and the External Affairs Minister are in touch with regional counterparts and monitoring developments closely Israel’s Ambassador to India Reuven Azhar told The Indian Express that strikes on Iran were conducted during an “operational opportunity” that arose after Prime Minister Narendra Modi left Israel. He said the timing was not known during Modi’s visit. “It was an operational opportunity that came up only after Prime Minister Modi left,” Azhar said, adding regional developments were discussed but the strikes were not anticipated. Modi exhorts industry to ramp up investment, focus on research PTI Modi speaks to Sultan of Oman, Crown Prince of Kuwait, Amir of Qatar NEW DELHI Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday urged industry leaders to step up investments, embrace emerging technologies and prioritise research to leverage the vast opportunities offered by free trade agreements with various nations. Addressing the second webinar on Budget 2026-27, the prime minister said, the world is now looking for reliable and resilient manufacturing partners, and India has the opportunity to play this PM Narendra Modi spoke to Sultan Haitham bin Tarik of Oman, Crown Prince of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad AlMubarak Al-Sabah and Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on Tuesday, and expressed concern over attacks on their countries during the ongoing conflict in West Asia. During his telephonic conversations, Modi also condemned the violation of the three countries' sovereignty and territorial integrity and discussed with the leaders the welfare and security of the Indian community residing there role decisively and enhance the country's participation in the global supply chain. For this, he said, "all stakeholders must invest with confidence, adopt new technologies, and significantly increase investment in research — those days of being frugal in research are over. We must ensure quality in line with global standards. As I often say, when opportunities arise to move ahead, we must have only one mantra -Quality, Quality, Quality." 4Continued on | P8 ‘Shatak’ tax-free in MP Lunar eclipse turns Moon dusky red Our Staff Reporter MUMBAI Agencies BJP announces 9 RS candidates, fields Nitin Nabin from Bihar Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar NEW DELHI The Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday announced the names of its nine candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections and fielded party president Nitin Nabin from his home state of Bihar. The Rajya Sabha elections are due to be held on March 16 to fill 37 seats from 10 states. The counting will take place on March 20. In the first list for the biennial elections, released by BJP national general secretary Arun Singh, the party has picked two candidates each for Bihar, Assam and Odisha and one each for Chhattisgarh, Haryana and West Bengal. of oil to India. This route covers Hormuz, Oman, Iran and Qatar. The Saudi Arabia route has also been shut down, so India will not import oil from these routes. However, two options are still available for India. Russian crude purchases will help address the energy requirement. Secondly, curbs on export of refined oil to European countries have been imposed, the association said. The Union Petroleum Ministry said on X that in view of ongoing geopolitical developments in the Middle East, the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas reviewed the supply situation for crude oil and LPG. The situation is being continuously monitored and all steps will be taken to ensure availability and affordability of major petroleum products in the country. 4Continued on | P8 Russia offers oil to meet India’s need Agencies From Bihar, the BJP has named its national president Nitin Nabin and Shivesh Kumar as its candidates. Nabin is a legislator from the Bankipur Assembly constituency and, upon his elevation to the post of party president, it was expected that he would be moved to Parliament, just as his predecessor JP Nadda was. Nabin belongs to the Kayastha community and has risen through the ranks due to his organisational skills, which he demonstrated during the Chhattisgarh Assembly polls, for which he was the state in-charge and where the BJP managed to dislodge the Congress. Russia has conveyed its readiness to support India with energy supplies in case the escalating Gulf crisis disrupts global oil flows, according to a Russian source cited by Reuters. The offer comes at a time when tensions in West Asia have rattled energy markets and raised concerns over the security of shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a key chokepoint that handles a large share of global oil and gas trade. The Indian government on Tuesday said the country currently has enough crude and fuel stocks to weather shortterm shocks. 4Continued on | P8 4Continued on | P8 BHOPAL Shatak has been made taxfree in Madhya Pradesh. The film showcases the 100-year journey of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Chief Minister Mohan Yadav watched the film on Tuesday evening. The film depicts how the Sangh came into existence and how its senior functionaries faced various obstacles while spreading its ideology. 4Continued on | P8 Skywatchers across the country turned their gaze upward as a dramatic lunar eclipse unfolded on Tuesday evening, turning the full moon into a darker orb. As Earth's shadow moved steadily across the lunar surface, the Moon shifted its shade from a bright white to deeper shades of amber and red. The changing hues drew many to gather on terraces and open grounds for a clear view of the spectacle. In the northeastern state of Govt inks `5,083 cr deal to acquire helicopters for Coast Guard, missiles for Navy Lunar eclipse seen from Bhopal Assam, striking visuals of the moon were observed, showing a dusky red disc. For enthusiastic skywatchers, telescopes with high-resolution lenses were also set up for the people to witness the lunar eclipse. Algorithms built detailed dossiers on security guards, tracking addresses, duty hours, routes and those they protected, forming what intelligence officers call a "pattern of life". The years-long campaign paved the way for the 86-yearold’s assassination. Real-time traffic data helped Israel and the CIA determine when the Supreme Leader would be in his office and who would join him. Reuters earlier reported that Israeli intelligence detected a leadership meeting and advanced the NEW DELHI 11 of 12 suspects from Gwalior-Chambal region Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL strikes. The CIA confirmed Khamenei would be present. Israel disrupted components of about a dozen mobile phone towers near Pasteur Street, blocking warnings. The intelligence picture relied on Unit 8200, Mossad and military data analysis, including social network analysis parsing billions of data points. The Defence Ministry on Tuesday sealed contracts worth Rs 5,083 crore for the procurement of six Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) and surface-to-air missiles. While the ALH Mk-II helicopters are being procured for the Indian Coast Guard, the Shtil missiles will be deployed onboard the Indian Navy's warships. "The contract for ALH MkIII (maritime role) along with operational role equipment, an engineering support package, and performance-based logistics support, valued at Rs 2,901 crore, has been inked with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd," the ministry said. It said these twin-engine helicopters incorporate stateof-the-art features superior to 4Continued on | P8 4Continued on | P8 Hacked cameras, human source led to Khamenei strike Agencies EXCISE CONSTABLE RECRUITMENT TEST SCAM PTI offgrid Nearly all traffic cameras in Tehran had been hacked for years. When senior Iranian officials arrived near Pasteur Street, where Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a US-Israeli air strike on Saturday, Israel was watching, the Financial Times reported. One camera provided a key angle into a guarded section of the compound. The US-Israel-Iran war has sparked concern among residents about fuel prices, but there is no need to panic as the state has adequate stock of petrol and diesel to meet demand, the Madhya Pradesh Petrol Pump Dealers Association said. Daily petrol consumption stands at 1232.88 MT and diesel at 1643.84 MT in Madhya Pradesh, the association added. According to Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), the nodal agency in Madhya Pradesh, a buffer stock of 21 days is maintained regularly. Fuel reserves can last 60 to 90 days in Madhya Pradesh, depending on usage, if flows through the Strait of Hormuz remain disrupted due to the Israel-Iran war. There are 3,700 petrol pumps across MP, including 192 in Bhopal, according to the association. On Tuesday, the petrol price in Bhopal was Rs 106.52 per litre, while diesel cost Rs 91.89 per litre. Amid the West Asia crisis, Tehran has shut down the Strait of Hormuz, a choke point that carries around 50% 60 to 90 days of fuel available even if Strait of Hormuz disruption continues, says IOC An FIR has been registered against 12 aspirants of the excise constable recruitment examination for cheating and dishonesty in an exam held at one of the examination centres in Ratlam. Eleven suspects are from the GwaliorChambal region and one is from Sonipat, Haryana, officials said here on Tuesday. Once again, the GwaliorChambal region has come into the limelight in the Employee Selection Board (ESB) examinations. Earlier, in the police constable recruitment examination, the ESB had not instituted examination centres in the GwaliorChambal region. Similarly, in the excise constable recruitment examination, no centre was instituted in the region. An FIR was registered at TT Nagar police station in Bhopal Red Flag The exam papers were red-flagged during an analysis of online examination data of successful candidates. A total of 1,10,032 candidates appeared for the examination conducted between September 9 and September 21, 2025, to fill 243 posts. In the results declared on February 5, the board withheld the results of the 12 candidates. According to the FIR, the 12 candidates did almost nothing but scroll through their online exam papers for the first 30 minutes before answering 100 questions in the last 15 minutes, averaging one answer every nine seconds. on Monday against the candidates and an unknown person 4Continued on | P8