thrissur l wednesday l august 19, 2026 l `10.00 l PAGES 12 l city EDITION nO KHEL RATNA, PRUNED LIST FOR NATIONAL SPORTS AWARDS Tejaswin Shankar | AFP heartbreak for shooter Mehuli As many as 24 names were recommended for Arjuna Awards by the selection panel more than six months ago but the ministry struck out seven names. Prominent among them was shooter Mehuli Ghosh, the 2024 Paris Olympian and former World Championships medallist. The 10m air rifle shooter from West Bengal expressed shock on her exclusion The 2025 National Sports Awards will not have a Khel Ratna as the sports ministry on Tuesday came up with a pruned list after revaluation TEJASWIN, DIVYA AMONG 17 ARJUNA AWARDEES ■ ■ Among those who were named for the Arjuna Awards are World Cup winning chess player Divya Deshmukh, decathlete and high jumper Tejaswin Shankar and shuttler Gayatri Gopichand It was learnt that no name was recommended for the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award by the selection panel 2014 The last time khel ratna award was not given to any athlete 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 on 394 Expert panel today on police excess I-T heatsending entities SC to announce committee to examine violence; protest hijacked by anti-socials, say cops Bihar govt transfers SPs of Siwan, Bhojpur s u c h it r a k a lya n m o h a nt y @ New Delhi THE Supreme Court on Tuesday said it will constitute a high-powered committee to examine allegations of police excesses against student protesters on July 20 in Delhi. A bench of CJI Surya Kant and justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana said an order constituting the committee, comprising retired judges, a former DGP an ex-CBI director , and others, will be passed on Wednesday after getting suggestions from political parties on additional members to be included. The court said it will direct that video footage and CCTV recordings of the violence during the July 20 Parliament march be handed over to the panel for examination. The matter relates to allegations of excessive force used by Delhi Police during the protest at Jantar Mantar. During the hearing, CJI Kant said the committee can submit interim reports on urgent issues instead of waiting for a final report. The bench also indicated that states can submit a list of FIRs involving only students/ protesters. The court had sought the list of FIRs so SC rejects PIL on death penalty by lethal injection e x p r e s s n e w s s e r vi c e @ New Delhi IN a significant judgment, the Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a PIL seeking removal of the present mode of execution of death row convicts by hanging from the statute. “We are not persuaded that a case has been made out for reference of the decision of the three-judge bench in Deen Dayal Upadhyay case to a larger bench for reconsideration of the constitutional validity of Section 354(5) of the CrPC/Section 393(5) of the BNSS,” said a two-judge bench headed by justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta. The court dismissed the petition filed by lawyer Rishi Malhotra, who sought a judicial direction to the government to adopt the use of lethal injection instead of hanging as the mode of execution in death penalty cases. Section 354(5) says that when any person is sentenced to death, the sentence shall direct that he be hanged by the neck till he is dead. The bench, however, did not treat the dismissal as permanently foreclosing the constitutional question. It clarified that scientific and medical developments could alter the factual foundation on which the earlier judgment proceeded. “Constitutional interpretation is organic and must remain responsive both to the evolution of constitutional opinion and to the advances in scientific knowledge,” the bench said. Malhotra argued that 49 of 50 states in the USA have adopted death by lethal injection. “The lethal injection is quick, humane and decent, as opposed to hanging, which is cruel, barbaric,” he argued. The Centre had, in its affidavit filed last year, submitted that hanging is far safer and quicker than injections. File photograph of police action on protesters in Delhi on July 20 | Express Committee to comprise eminent persons. We are considering former senior police/CBI officers among its members ... — Supreme Court-bench led by CJI Surya Kant that it can consider invoking Article 142 to quash them, while cases involving those with serious criminal antecedents can be dealt with separately It asked all parties to suggest . priority issues and terms of reference of the panel. The bench also pointed out that the allegations concerning sexual assault, molestation and online harassment of women and other vulnerable persons will also be examined. The court said constitutional ques- tions concerning facial recognition technology surveillance, , allegations of sexual assault and online harassment of women will ultimately be decided by the court itself, and not by the committee. It will then fix a date for further hearing while the committee begins its work. For its part, the Delhi Police strongly defended the use of force during the Parliament protest on July 20, telling the court that the agitation was hi- Marching orders were issued for SPs of Siwan and Bhojpur districts in Bihar over police action during their stint. While Siwan SP Puran Jha has been kept in waiting at the state police headquarters, Bhojpur SP Raj is now SP of Rohtas district. It was Jha under whose command an AK-47 rifle was used during a student protest in Siwan on July 25, while the encounter of activist Bharat Tiwari in Bhojpur forced a public outcry and Raj’s transfer jacked by “anti-social elements”. In an affidavit filed by DCP Sachin Sharma of New Delhi district, police said the protest “led to a breakdown of law and order in which 240 personnel were injured”. The response justified the use of standard lathis, facialrecognition cameras, and plainclothes spotters, while denying use of nail-fitted batons. The affidavit was filed in response to pleas alleging excessive use of force against protesters. money abroad D I PA K MO N D A L @ New Delhi THE income tax department has launched a nationwide campaign against suspicious outward foreign remittances, focusing on shell companies, persons behind them, and professionals associated with them. It has identified 394 entities that transferred large amounts outside India over the past three years, including 117 entities located in states along India’s land borders. It has also identified 36 professionals for scrutiny . The tax department said on Tuesday that it has uncovered a nationwide network of entities engaged in remitting funds abroad during a search operation targeting a group of fictitious charitable trusts involved in providing accommodation entries against bogus donations and contributions. Preliminary ground verification found that many of such entities had either filed no income-tax returns at all or filed returns reporting very small turnovers. “The turnovers had no apparent correlation with the large amounts of money being remitted abroad,” it said, adding that the transactions did not appear to match the stated purposes of the remittances, including payments for freight, software imports and consulting services. Mission Samudra sets sail, Vizhinjam port opens Kerala to the world E x p r e s s N e w s S e r vi c e @T’Puram Marking a new chapter in Kerala’s development, Chief Minister V D Satheesan on Tuesday launched the state government’s ambitious project, Mission Samudra, and the export-import (EXIM) operations at Vizhinjam International Seaport. Mission Samudra seeks to integrate Kerala’s 600-km coastline, two international seaports and 17 minor ports into a unified maritime zone, with the aim of turning the state into a global logistics and manufacturing hub. The move puts Kerala on the global maritime logistics map and opens a new gateway between India and the world, Satheesan said after the launch. Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, who was scheduled to deliver the keynote address, was conspicuously absent. Calling Vizhinjam the country’s first automated, algorithmdriven port using artificial intelligence, the chief minister said Kerala should leverage its strengths, including academics, through Mission Samudra. “With EXIM operations now a reality we can export our prod, ucts to hundreds of ports across several countries on six continents,” he said. Satheesan said preliminary Chief Minister V D Satheesan interacts with Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone CEO Ashwani Gupta and Vizhinjam International Sea Port Limited MD Geromic George before the inauguration of EXIM operations of the port on Tuesday | Albin Mathew work had begun on the International Maritime Museum, which will showcase Kerala’s maritime heritage. As part of Mission Samudra, the state also plans to set up a cruise terminal at Cochin Seaport. “Beyond establishing Kerala as a key player on the global maritime map, we will be able to export value-added products carrying the Kerala brand, some of which are in the containers I flagged off today. There is much more to be done to achieve this,” he said. Taking a political swipe, Satheesan said, “Had road and rail connectivity to the port been completed over the past 10 years, we could have earned at least 100 times the revenue we generate now. We have lost those years; the focus must now be on completing the project quickly and on time.” Industries Minister P K Kunhalikutty presided over the event, which was attended by MLA M Vincent, local body members, Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone CEO Ashwani Gupta, Santhigiri Ashram general secretary Swami Gururatnam Jnana Tapasvi, Palayam Juma Masjid Imam Suhaib Moulavi, Ports Secretary Rathan U Kelkar and Vizhinjam International Seaport Ltd MD Geromic George, among others. Mission Samudra Covers Kerala’s 600-km coastline, two international seaports and 17 nonmajor ports Announced in V D Satheesan’s maiden Budget with an allocation of I400 crore Aims to position Kerala as a “Port City” on the global maritime map Integrates road, rail, sea and inlandwaterway connectivity Manufacturing zones, stuffing centres and dry ports to be developed near Vizhinjam and Kochi ports Vizhinjam to become the country’s first port to offer green bunkering services Girl, 13, and 3 minor boys detained for her grandfather’s murder Kollam, as the second accused. The other two acA 13-year-old girl and three cused are his friends, both minor boys were detained aged 17. on Tuesday for the murder Preliminary investigaof a 65-year-old man, who tion points to financial gain was found dead at his resi- as the motive. As per the podence at Karuvatta in Alap- lice, the girl reportedly puzha the day before. Police wanted an iPhone while the said the girl, granddaugh- boys were in need of money t e r o f t h e d e c e a s e d , to buy a motorcycle. S iva n k u t t y C h e t t i ya r, However, the police are planned the robbery-mur- also checking a revenge ander and remained on video gle after the boys told them call with her boyfriend as that the girl had complained he and his friends killed to her boyfriend that him. Sivankutty had touched Sivankutty’s body her inappropriatewas found with his ly and that she hands and legs tied wanted him killed. at the back with “The alle g ation bedsheets and will be discussed in clothes. As per the detail,” Vishnu autopsy, he was said. smothered to death. The police said Six sovereigns of the murder took Sivankutty gold and cash were place between Chettiyar stolen from the 10.45pm on Saturhouse. “Sivankutty day and 1.30am on was found with injuries Sunday “The boys travelled . that caused internal bleed- from Paravur to Haripad on ing. However, the cause of the Maveli Express on Satdeath was smothering,” u r d a y a n d r e a c h e d District Police Chief T K Sivankutty’s house around Vishnu Pradeep told TNIE. 10.45pm on an autorickThe police said the case shaw. Before entering the initially appeared to be a house, the girl’s boyfriend robbery gone wrong. “How- reportedly called her on ever, contradictions in the video call to confirm the logirl’s statements changed cation of the house. She the direction of the investi- stayed on video call while gation. Situational evi- the boys killed Sivankutty ,” dence and statements DySP Rajappan said. helped lead us to theculThe police said the girl prits,” Kayamkulam DySP and the other accused knew Rajappan Rauthar told each other as her family TNIE. had lived in Paravur. The police have arraigned Sivankutty, hailing from the girl as the first accused, Ambalapuzha, had been livand her boyfriend, a Plus-II ing in Paravur after mar● More on P4 student from Paravur in riage.  V a r s h a S o m a r a j @Kochi Sonia Gandhi memoir to be published on Nov 10 Congress leader Sonia Gandhi’s memoir will be published on Nov 10. It is expected to reveal why she turned down the prime minister’s post, among other things. “Belonging: A Journey of Love” is being published by Alfred A Knopf hockey world cup EXPRESS READ Harmanpreet & Co prepared for high-stakes Pak clash CM opposes Governor summoning police chief s w a r o o p s w a m in at h a n @ Bengaluru FOR a decade, the senior Indian men’s hockey side haven’t lost to Pakistan. 19 matches, 17 wins and two draws. The dominance has been near total. And matches have spanned multiple events: Asian Games, Asian Champions Trophy, Asia Cup, Commonwealth Games and FIH events. Forget the hype that’s already been visible on TV screens over the last few days. Thanks to the difference in the skill levels between the two nations, the gap is embarrassingly yawning. But it’s time to forget all of that and treat the 90 minutes at the Wagener Stadium on Wednesday as a standalone event where history, form and recent meetings have no bearing. But this is exactly the kind of situation that India will have trained for in the lead-up to the Last five matches 2026 Pro League: Ind bt Pak 7-1 2026 Pro League: Ind bt Pak 4-3 2024 Asian Champions Trophy: Ind bt Pak 2-1 2023 Asian Games: Ind bt Pak 10-2 2023 Asian Champions Trophy: Ind bt Pak 4-0 World Cup. When they were reduced to 10 men at the Olympics quarterfinal against England, the players could have easily been rattled. Instead, they knew what to do because they had prepared for that scenario. Similarly, Paddy Upton, the side’s mental conditioning guru, will have war-gamed this exact scenario. Play a match against Pakistan at the World Cup knowing only a win will seal qualification. As long as India don’t go away from the basics of the sport, this is a game they will back themselves to win 95 times out of 100. Their penalty corner battery is worldclass and it’s currently purring with Harmanpreet Singh finding some form in this bash. T’Puram: Chief Minister V D Satheesan on Tuesday criticised Governor Rajendra Arlekar for summoning the state police chief to the Lok Bhavan, saying an officer should be called by the governor only through the state government. Responding to questions at a press conference, the chief minister said the government had already taken a strong position against the practice and would formally convey its dissatisfaction to Lok Bhavan. P4