FOLLOW US: @TheStatesmanLtd @thestatesmanltd thestatesman1875 www.thestatesman.com People’s Parliament, Always in Session India’s National Newspaper since 1818 BRIEFLY Indian shooting legend Jaspal Rana passes away at 49: New Delhi: Indian shooting great Jaspal Rana, a multiple Asian Games and Commonwealth Games gold medallist, passed away on Thursday night at the age of 49. The news was confirmed by National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) President Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo, who stated that Rana breathed his last at a hospital in Delhi. Rana’s demise comes as a major shock to the Indian sporting fraternity. He had recently undergone a medical procedure after falling ill during the Indian contingent's return flight from the ISSF World Cup in Munich, Germany. Serving as the highperformance coach for Indian pistol shooters, Rana reportedly began feeling unwell during the journey and was rushed to a hospital immediately after landing in Delhi last week. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep grief over Rana’s passing. | Pages 12 | ` 5.00 | KOLKATA LC | NEW DELHI | MUMBAI | BHUBANESWAR | LUCKNOW | SILIGURI | Saturday, 13 June 2026 CM: Focus on ‘trident’ strategy for reviving Bengal’s industry India summons US diplomat again over attacks on vessels with Indian seafarers STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE For the second time in three days, India on Friday summoned US Charge d’Affaires Jason Meeks to lodge a strong protest against continuing attacks on commercial vessels off the coast of Oman, which recently claimed the lives of three Indian seafarers. New Delhi stated that such actions are “unacceptable and undermine the safety, security and stability of international maritime commerce in a sensitive region at a difficult time.” The development comes after another incident on Thursday, in which a commercial vessel with 20 Indian crew members on board reportedly came under attack in the region. Earlier, India on Wednesday had also lodged a strong protest over recent attacks on vessels operating near the Strait of Hormuz, including the commercial ship Settebello off the coast of Oman, where three Indian nationals were killed. Govt to probe `635 crore BGBS payment Kolkata, 12 June C hief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday unveiled an ambitious “tridentshaped” strategy for reviving industry in the state. Mr Adhikari said his government will revive manufacturing and attract investment to the state by focusing on a three-pronged strategy of promoting heavy industries, Micro Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) and food and horticulture processing. Addressing a Press conference organised by the BJP to mark 12 years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government at the Centre, Mr Adhikari said restoring confidence among investors was essential to accelerating economic growth and creating employment opportunities. He said the state’s new BJP government was working on what he described as a “tridentshaped” development model. “It is centred on heavy industries, MSMEs, and food and horticulture processing,” said the chief minister. The initiative would include the establishment of processing units and ancillary industries aimed at strengthening the rural and industrial economy. “We have formed a team and a minister is overseeing the preparations. We are receiving several proposals, but we do not want to make promises that cannot be fulfilled,” Mr Adhikari said. Highlighting the state’s industrial potential, he stressed the importance of railway-linked manufacturing and engineering sectors. Referring to the Kanchrapara Railway Workshop, he said its expansion, along with the development of rail-centric industries, could generate substantial employment opportunities. He said that Kolkata: Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday announced a probe into the expenditure incurred towards organising the Bengal Global Business Summit (BGBS) during the tenure of the previous Trinamul Congress government in the state. Mr Adhikari said that a sum of Rs 635 crore was found to have been paid to an event management company for organising BGBS. Page 3 other railway workshops across the state will be revived and expanded. He also revisited the issue of Singur, saying his government would seek to bring the Tata Group back to West Bengal. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 12 June The US Charge d’Affaires was summoned by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) again on Friday, where India’s concerns over the incidents were formally conveyed to him. In a statement, the MEA said: “A strong protest was lodged with him (the US Charge d’Affaires) regarding the continuing attacks by US naval forces on commercial vessels carrying Indian mariners in the Gulf of Oman, which have already resulted in the tragic and avoidable loss of three Indian lives.” The MEA reiterated India’s deep concern over the use of lethal force against civilian shipping and stressed that such actions pose a threat to maritime safety and regional stability. “The Ministry once again conveyed its deep concern over the use of lethal force against civilian shipping. Such actions are unacceptable and undermine the safety, security and stability of international maritime commerce in a sensitive region at a difficult time,” the statement said. India also urged the USA to take immediate steps to ensure the safety of civilian vessels and to prevent any further loss of life. (Representational image)