KOLLAM l friday l may 22, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l city EDITION Pulwama ‘conspirator’ Burhan shot dead by unknown men in PoK A key accused in the 2019 Pulwama attack, Hamza Burhan alias ‘Doctor’, was shot dead in Pakistanoccupied Kashmir, Indian intelligence officials said File PIC Was designated a terrorist by mha in 2022 Supplied explosives to terrorists Burhan, identified as Arjumand Gulzar Dar from Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir, was allegedly shot by unidentified gunmen in Muzaffarabad, sustaining multiple bullet injuries that proved fatal, officials added. Burhan was designated a terrorist by the Union home ministry in 2022 under UAPA, following findings by NIA in its probe into the Pulwama attack ■ ■ The February 14, 2019 suicide bombing at Lethpora in Pulwama district killed 40 CRPF personnel after a JeM operative rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into a security convoy Investigators alleged Burhan played a crucial logistical role in the attack by supplying explosives and grenades to the terrorists ISI bURHAN HAD CLOSE TIES WITH isi AND WAS associated with Al-BadR TERROR OUTFIT 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 India-Africa meet KIIFB stays, but with borrowing wings clipped postponed over Ebola virus scare K S S R E E J I T H @ T’Puram Decision after fresh outbreak in DR Congo; fliers from affected countries to be screened E X P R E S S N E W S S E R V I C E @ New Delhi INDIA and the African Union have postponed the Fourth India–Africa Forum Summit, originally scheduled to be held in New Delhi from May 28 to 31, amid growing concerns over the Ebola outbreak in parts of Africa. The decision comes at a time when India was preparing to unveil an ambitious roadmap to deepen its strategic, economic and developmental partnership with the African continent after a gap of nearly a decade. In a statement issued on Thursday the Min, istry of External Affairs (MEA) said India and the African Union had held consultations on the “evolving health situation” in parts of Africa and agreed that it would be “advisable” to convene the summit at a later date. “Recognising the importance of ensuring the full participation and engagement of African leaders and stakeholders, and mindful of the emerging public health situation on the continent, consultations were held between the Government of India, the Chairperson of the African Union, and the African Union Commission regarding the holding of the summit and associated activities,” the MEA said. “Following these consultations, the two sides agreed that it would be advisable t o c o nv e n e t h e Fourth India-Africa Forum Summit at a later date,” it added. The decision to postpone the summit was taken against the backdrop of a fresh outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which the World Health Organization has declared a public health emergency of international concern. More than 136 deaths have reportedly been linked to the outbreak so far. The summit was expected to bring together leaders from across Africa along with representatives of the African Union Commission to chart a broader framework for cooperation in sectors ranging from trade, energy and technology to healthcare, capacity building and digital infrastructure. Several African leaders had already confirmed their participation. The postponement of the summit will delay what was being viewed as a major diplomatic push by New Delhi to reinforce its engagement with the African region amid intensifying geopolitical competition for greater influence on the continent. The previous India-Africa Forum Summit was held in October 2015, while subsequent plans were disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic and shifting global priorities. The MEA said that India has reaffirmed its “solidarity with the peoples and governments of Africa” and expressed readiness to support Africa-led efforts in tackling the health crisis. Airports issue advisory All major international airports in India have issued health advisories for passengers arriving from Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and South Sudan, asking them to report symptoms or exposure history to airport health authorities before immigration clearance Passengers with symptoms must immediately report to airport health officer or health desk before immigration clearance Directorate General of Health Services Watch for symptoms for 21 days The Directorate General of Health Services said passengers must watch out for fever, weakness or fatigue, headache, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, unexplained bleeding and sore throat. Also, those developing symptoms within 21 days of arrival must report the same and seek medical care Despite years of criticism, the new UDF government is learnt to have decided to retain KIIFB while curbing its independent market borrowing powers. Government sources said the move is aimed at addressing long-standing concerns over off-budget financing and mounting public debt liabilities. Instead of allowing KIIFB to raise funds directly from the market, the government is understood to be considering a new mechanism under which the state would raise develop- ment loans and route the funds to KIIFB as grants for infrastructure projects. A proposal to this effect had earlier been submitted to the previous LDF government, but was rejected over concerns that it would undermine KIIFB’s autonomy, sources said. “When KIIFB borrows from the market, interest rates can go up to eight or nine per cent. But when the state raises development loans through the Reserve Bank, the average interest rate is around seven per cent,” a senior government of- IMD forecasts weak monsoon in Kerala KSCSTE-Institute for Climate Change Studies in association Kerala is staring at a weak with IMD, Kerala State Disasmonsoon this year, with the ter Management Authority, India Meteorological Depart- Directorate of Environment ment (IMD) projecting rainfall and Climate Change, and Inat below 92% of the state’s dian Meteorological Society . long period average (LPA) of The LPA is the average rain1,863.4mm during the June- fall or climate variable recordSeptember southwest ed over a specific region monsoon season. for a given interval, calAccording to IMD, culated over a long even June, the onset timespan. month, is expected to O P Sreejith, scienreceive below normal tist and head of climate rainfall, signalling a monitoring and preBelow weak start to the diction at IMD, who Normal rainy season. Meanpresented the historwhile, climate experts Rainfall projected ical rainfall analysis said the state needs to at below 92% of at the session, said be prepared for both Kerala has consistlong period drought and extreme ently experienced average of rain situations. deficient monsoon 1,863.4mm The projection — rain during El Nino based on the LPA years. The Indian 1971-2020 — was presented at Ocean Dipole, another major ‘Tracking the Monsoon: Kera- climate driver that can somela outlook 2026’, a multi-secto- times offset El Nino impacts, ral climate preparedness dia- is expected to remain neutral l o g u e o r g a n i s e d i n this season, offering little comThiruvananthapuram by the pensatory effect.  ● More on P4 S h a i n u M o h a n @ T’Puram govt to raise Devpt loans State mulls new mechanism under which development loans would be raised It would route the funds to KIIFB as grants for infra projects The mechanism would secure loans at lower interest rates ficial said. The Union government’s decision to classify KIIFB borrowings as part of the state’s P U S H P I TA D E Y @ New Delhi IN the ongoing trade talks with the US, India has secured relatively favourable terms on several items facing investigation under Section 232, including pharmaceutical products, auto parts and aircraft components, a commerce ministry source familiar with the matter said. “As far as certain other products are concerned which are under Section 232 investigation, there is a separate treatment for them also. We have got exemption for aircraft parts and, to some extent, on auto parts. We also have a framework to work on generic phar ma,” the source told TNIE. Under Section 232 of the US Trade Expansion Act of 1962, the US government can impose tariffs on imports on grounds of national security concerns. Washington has invoked the provision to levy duties on sec- Delegation coming Commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal said a US delegation is expected to visit India next month for further negotiations on the proposed agreement. This follows the talks held in April in Washington between Indian and US officials tors such as steel, aluminium, automobiles, aircraft and their parts, semiconductors and pharmaceuticals. These tariffs currently range between 10% and 50% on a range of strategic products. Some Indian exports, including steel, aluminium, and autoparts face tariffs of 25-50% under Section 232. Generic phar maceuticals, however, currently attract no tariff. In the India-US joint statement signed in February 2025, the US had agreed to provide India with “negotiated outcomes with respect to generic pharmaceuticals and ingredients”, contingent on the findings of the Section 232 probe. “So comparatively, when I look at our terms of settlement, the terms are better than any competitor for India,” the source added. Indian negotiators have been pushing for product-specific relaxations as part of the broader bilateral trade discussions. The development comes at a time when India and the US are continuing negotiations for a proposed bilateral trade agreement, with both sides aiming to conclude an interim arrangement before moving towards a broader pact. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit India from May 23 to 26. The four-day visit, his first visit to India since taking office, will focus on trade, defence and energy cooperation. NEET-UG paper leak: NTA officials face scrutiny from MPs P reeth a N a ir @ New Delhi 27 Maoists lay down arms in Jharkhand AT HOME, IN HOUSE UDF’s women MLAs K K Rema, Vidya Balakrishnan, Bindhu Krishna, Usha Vijayan, Ramya Haridas, Shanimol Osman and K A Thulasi pose for a photo after the swearing-in ceremony in the assembly in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday | B P Deepu | P4 Vande Mataram made mandatory at all WB-recognised madrasahs S U B H E NDU M A I T I @ Kolkata West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari reverentially prostrates before monks during a visit to Belur Math, in Howrah district on Thursday | PTI structure KIIFB,” the source added. Asked about KIIFB’s future if the UDF came to power, V D Satheesan had told TNIE during the election campaign: “We have a commitment. The state has provided sovereign guarantee for KIIFB’s borrowings. The state is therefore responsible for the loans availed by KIIFB. The option before us is to study the issue comprehensively and restructure KIIFB.” The UDF is also weighing a proposal to stop routing Motor Vehicle Tax revenue and fuel cess collections to KI● More on P4 IFB. US offers ‘separate treatment’ for India under Sec 232 probe E x p r e s s Re a d Ranchi: In a major breakthrough, 27 Maoists surrendered before senior police officials in Jharkhand on Thursday. The surrendered cadre included six sub-zonal committee members, six area committee members, and 13 squad members. Police said 25 of the 27 Maoists are top commanders and members of the ‘strike squad’ belonging to teams led by central committee members Misir Besra and Asim Mandal. P8 liabilities has sharply reduced Kerala’s borrowing limit. Against this backdrop, the new government is planning to end KIIFB’s direct market borrowings to avoid high-interest loans, sources said. “The main reason for dropping the proposal to dissolve KIIFB is that the development projects it executed at the local and constituency levels have become indispensable,” a government source said. “Many KIIFB-funded projects are still under way, including in the constituencies of UDF MLAs. In this situation, the government’s only option is to re- Mandatory singing of Vande Mataram is not just confined to schools in West Bengal, the fiat extends to all madrasahs that are sponsored, aided and recognised by the state government as well. The West Bengal Directorate of Madrasah Education issued a directive on May 19 to district magistrates, secretary of West Bengal Board of Madrasah Education and other offices related to madrasah education di- Replaces Tagore song Banglar Mati Banglar Jol Vande Mataram replaces the state song, Banglar Mati Banglar Jol, composed by Rabindranath Tagore in 1905 in school assemblies. The Tagore song was introduced by the erstwhile Trinamool Congress government led by Mamata Banerjee recting them to implement the singing of Vande Mataram in all madrasahs during morning assembly prayers mandatorily with immediate effect. “Singing of Vande Mataram will henceforth be mandatory in all recognised madrasahs as well. Why should it not be mandatory in madrasahs at a time when other recognised schools in the state do the same?” wondered Khsudiram Tudu, state minority affairs and madrasah education minister. The BJP government had on May 14 directed its mandatory singing during assembly prayers in all institutions under the school education department. Amid the row over the cancelled NEET-UG exams, top officials of the National Testing Agency (NTA) came under intense scrutiny from a Parliamentary panel on Thursday over the question paper leak and related irregularities. According to sources, NTA Director General Abhishek Singh informed the panel that the question paper was not leaked through the agency’s system, adding that the CBI is currently investigating the breach. The panel summoned the officials amid multiple arrests by the CBI, which included teachers and intermediaries allegedly linked to the question paper leak prior to the exam. During the meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports, several opposition MPs grilled the NTA officials on the steps they have taken to strengthen the exam system. Sources said that when MPs questioned how the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (Undergraduate) paper was leaked, Singh responded that it had not been compromised through the NTA system. Several MPs then pressed him on how the leak occurred and why the exam had to be cancelled and a retest conducted. Singh, however, said that the matter is being probed by the CBI. According to sources, some opposition MPs demand- 70% of short-term reforms implemented Top officials including Education Secretary Vineet Joshi, NTA Chairperson Pradeep Kumar Joshi, and Abhishek Singh, gave a detailed presentation on the recommendations of the Radhakrishnan report for reforms in the agency. Sources said Singh informed the panel that around 70% of the shortterm measures suggested have already been implemented ed that the investigation report be shared with the panel, but BJP members argued that the CBI should be allowed to complete its probe without interference. Sources said Parliamentary panel’s chairperson, Congress MP Digvijaya Singh, raised objections to comments made by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan during a May 15 press meet regarding the standing committee. He said the panel had raised legitimate questions about why the ministry had not acted on the recommendations in its report concerning the NTA.