WEDNESDAY AI GENERATED IMAGES 30 SEPTEMBER, 2026 ‘15% students in colleges and varsities face acute distress’ epaper.morningstandard.in facebook.com/TheMorningStandard X.com/TheMornStandard SCRIBE KING JOURNALIST GETS A ROYAL PROMOTION A journalist on Tuesday was crowned king of the traditional monarchy in Uganda’s Tooro Kingdom. He worked with Uganda Broadcasting Corp PAGE 9 RAPS YOGI GOVT SC scraps NSA against Sambhal accused, slaps `10L cost on UP S U C H I T R A K A LYA N M O H A N T Y @ New Delhi THE Supreme Court on Tuesday lit into the Yogi Adityanathled gover nment in Uttar Pradesh for the illegal NSA detention of Sambhal violence accused Mulla Afroz and imposed a cost of `10 lakh on it. Extrajudicial confession cannot be the sole basis for preventive detention, it ruled. A two-judge bench of justices Dipankar Datta and Sheel Nagu said: “Preventive detention cannot be based on inadmissible custodial confession. Custodial confession can’t be the basis for NSA (National Security Act).” It termed the government action “unsustainable in law”. While setting aside the Allahabad High Court order which upheld the detention of Afroz under the NSA, the top court held that preventive detention cannot be founded on a confession allegedly made by Afroz while in police custody. “Such confession is inadmissible and cannot constitute subjective satisfaction.” The bench had on September 8 reserved its judgment on Afroz’s appeal against the Allahabad High Court order denying him relief. The HC had initially granted him bail, but after the UP administration arrested him again, this time under the NSA on October 13, 2025, the HC refused to interfere with it. Afroz is alleged to be the mastermind behind the 2024 Sambhal violence that broke out soon after a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid. Four persons were killed in the riots. He was picked up after 54 days allegedly on the basis of his confession while in custody . The UP government opposed Afroz’s submissions and said that if released, he could instigate communal violence and disturb public order. On confession, it argued admissibility is to be decided during trial. Social discrimination rampant, says report A CAPITAL VIEW OF NEWS  NEW DELHI  J8.00  PAGES 12 A N U P V E R M A @ New Delhi Says lack of understanding of cross-border terror concern can impact bilateral relations J AYA N T H J A C O B @ New Delhi INDIA’s relationship with the US cannot move forward steadily if Washington does not fully appreciate New Delhi’s concerns over cross-border terrorism, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said amid renewed US engagement with Pakistan. Taking part at a session hosted by the Asia Society in New York, Jaishankar said terrorism remained one of India’s most consequential concerns and that a lack of understanding from a key partner could have a direct bearing on the relationship. “What for us in India is particularly important is the issue of terrorism,” Jaishankar said, adding that India had faced terrorism from a neighbouring country as part of what he described as a “deliberate, conscious policy” over several decades. “If something which matters so deeply to us, there isn’t enough understanding or appreciation or empathy of that, I think that creates a problem too,” he said. “If one of my primary concerns is not fully appreciated by my partner, then clearly there is an impact of that on the relationship.” His comments come against the backdrop of a complicated phase in India-US ties, marked by disagreements over tariffs and trade, India’s purchases of Russian energy and Washington’s renewed outreach to Islamabad. The Pakistan factor has acquired particular salience since the Trump administration returned to office in January 2025. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly spoken of his role in halting the India-Pakistan military confrontation following India’s Operation Sindoor last May, a claim New Delhi has consistently rejected, maintaining that the cessation of hostilities was reached bilaterally after call initiated by Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operation (DGMO). “We would certainly hope for and expect the relationship to move on an upward trajectory he said. “But I have to be real about ,” the issues that we confront, and to the extent we are able to move ahead on some of these issues, I think we’ll have a better relationship.” Jaishankar also described India-China relations as significantly improved compared with the period immediately following the 2020 border standoff. “If you asked me, compared to where you were in 2025, is the relationship better today? I would say yes. Compared to 2024, even more so.” External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar addresses an event in New York | PTI India explores Chinese air corridor India is exploring an alternative air corridor through China’s Xinjiang region to reduce the additional flying time and costs faced by Indian airlines due to the continued restrictions on the use of Pakistani airspace, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said on Tuesday Essar to build $15 bn steel plant in Iowa India’s Essar Group will invest $18 bn in the US—$15 bn to build a steel complex in Iowa and $3 bn for an iron ore mine and pelletizing facility in Minnesota. US President Donald Trump said Essarbacked Mesabi Metallics will build “the largest steel plant in American history” Chargesheet filed in bus gang-rape case Officer dismissed in Noida land case Assam Rifles jawan killed, 4 injured The Delhi Police has filed a 398-page chargesheet against a sleeper bus driver and conductor for allegedly gang-raping a minor during a journey from Greater Noida to Kashmere Gate in August. Police examined CCTV footage and found the bus in Timarpur. P4 The UP government has terminated the services of 1997-batch Provincial Civil Service (PCS) officer Harish Chandra over corruption charges linked to a land allotment case worth `3,800 crore during his tenure at the Noida Development Authority. P4 Suspected militants ambushed an Assam Rifles team on Tuesday near the Myanmar border in Arunachal Pradesh. A jawan was killed and four others were injured. The incident took place at around 6:30 am during a routine patrol. P8 THE much-awaited Phase III of the Barapullah elevated corridor was opened on Tuesday. Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the newly built elevated road along with three other road infrastructure projects worth `1,941 crore. The projects were inaugurated at a function in Barapullah attended by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, members of her cabinet and Union Minister of State for Road Transport Harsh Malhotra, among others. Shah wrote on X that the `1,635 crore Phase III corridor would provide signal-free connectivity between east and south Delhi. The nearly 10.9-km Barapullah elevated corridor connects Mayur Vihar Phase I through Sarai Kale Khan to south Delhi and the AIIMS area. It is likely TRAVEL MADE EASY `1,635 crore spent on Phase III of Barapullah corridor after cost escalation All three phases were originally scheduled to be completed by 2017 10.9-km Barapullah elevated corridor connects Mayur Vihar Ph I through Sarai Kale Khan to south Delhi and AIIMS Mukarba Chowk underpass to bypass traffic towards Punjab inaugurated Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurating Barapullah Ph III on Tuesday | EXPRESS to cut the travel time between east and south Dehi by 15 to 20 minutes. The project was originally scheduled for completion in 2017, but it faced multiple delays, pushing cost upwards. Shah also inaugurated the Mukarba Chowk underpass and laid the foundation stones for the Modi Mill-Savitri Cinema flyover and Loni underpass. TOP HONOURS: WOMEN BRING INDIA BACK TO GOLD FOLD INDRANEEL DAS T EXPRESS @ ASIAN GAMES NAGOYA HE day was gloomy. It was not confined to the outdoors from an Indian perspective. Since the kabaddi teams’ gold medals on Saturday, no Indian — individual or team — had managed to occupy the top step of the podium. The pall of gloom was lifted thanks to Neeru Dhanda (women’s individual trap) and the women’s 4x400m unit. In doing so, both Dhanda and the relay side created history First, a bit . on the shooter. In Nagoya, pitter-patter was a constant soundtrack all through Tuesday It’s why Neeru had to en. dure the toughest of conditions to become the first Indian shooter to win gold at these Games. Raindrops on her hand felt like cold pellets. It was not easy to hold the gun or let the mind wander away from the task at hand. Time and again, she had to remind herself to focus on the job at hand: the final. But Neeru was determined to make it count. Less than two weeks ago, she was lying on a hospital bed, not knowing if she would get to experience the thrill and tension of a final at a major multi-discipline event. She was the last to reach the venue, on September 26. She missed three-and-a-half weeks of training. But her grit prevailed in the end as she hit 28 targets in the final, two more than China’s Sun Yunong. If she was battling tough conditions, four women — Vithya Ramraj, MR Poovamma, Pra- HAT-TRICK: Gulveer finishes on a high Long-distance runner Gulveer Singh rounded off his campaign by completing a hat-trick of medals in the three events he participated. The 28-year-old from Uttar Pradesh began with a silver in 10,000m race, followed by bronze medals in 1500m and 5000m finals. (Top) Kiran Pahal, Prachi Choudhary, MR Poovamma & Vithya Ramraj celebrate after winning the women’s 4x400 relay final; (L) An ecstatic Neeru Dhanda on Tuesday | PTI chi Choudhary and Kiran Pahal — overcame immense pressure to win gold. At some level, the Indian women were expected to win, as their domination has been total. But marrying expectations and history isn’t the easiest thing in the world. However, they did it, even if Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser almost caught them out in the end. Vithya, called Kovai Express, was in blistering form to win three medals (gold, silver, bronze) here. She broke the CWC seeks Gyanesh’s head, suspension of SIR exercise SC to hear anti-CEC plea The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear next week a fresh plea questioning whether CEC Gyanesh Kumar could take decisions unilaterally on behalf of the EC without concurrence of the other Election Commissioners M U K E S H R A N J A N @ New Delhi DEMANDING the immediate removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, suspension of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and restoration of 13.3 crore names allegedly deleted from the voter lists, the Congress on Tuesday stepped up its broadside and sought the resignation of PM Narendra Modi too, stating the CEC could not have done the “match-fixing” of polls sans his nod. The demands were made at a two-and-a-half-hour meeting of Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi at the CWC meet on Tuesday | PTI the Congress Working Committee (CWC), chaired by party president Mallikarjun Kharge and attended by former party The Mukarba Chowk underpass, built to ease traffic on the Outer Ring Road, has two vehicular underpasses and one pedestrian underpass. It is expected to benefit around 15,800 vehicles daily. Traffic from Badli and Rohini towards Azadpur and Jahangirpuri will be able to bypass the Mukarba Chowk interchange. A separate TWO GOOD INDIA BLOC MEET TODAY Several leaders of the INDIA bloc will skip Wednesday’s meet. AAP and DMK have said they won’t take part, while SP’s Akhilesh Yadav has said he will send a senior leader for the meeting to be held in Delhi | P7 The SC-appointed panel had earlier this year submitted an interim report in which it found students in colleges had to deal with “deep-rooted social discrimination, rampant sexual harassment in medical and engineering colleges; gender discrimination, hostel curfews and moral policing; caste identification by NEET-UG and JEE ranks and caste-based humiliation” | P7 Pak terror is the Barapullah Ph III bridges east to south fault line in US ties: Jaishankar EXPRESS READ AAP, DMK to skip meet The nationwide survey by SC-appointed task force also found that nine per cent students reported suicidal thoughts in last six months chiefs Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, along with senior leaders including Jairam Ramesh, K C Venugopal and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. The INDIA bloc meets on Wednesday to deliberate on the CEC and SIR row. “So, there are two forms of match-fixing: EVM match-fixing and voter list match-fixing, both are happening,” Rahul was quoted as saying. Briefing the media after the meeting, Ramesh said, “Rahul has been raising these issues related to polls in Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra and some did not believe him. He has been proven right,” Ramesh said, while alleging “elections in India were neither fair nor transparent since 2014.” long-standing PT Usha’s national record (400mH) and came back to anchor India to gold less than 24 hours later. Their time of 3:29.69s was over half a second quicker than the Bahraini quartet. Out of the six gold the country has won so far, it’s noteworthy that four have been won by the women (one in mixed team event), including the two on Tuesday. With the end of the athletics events at the Games, action will shift to other medal-friendly disciplines like wrestling in the days to come. In all, athletics yielded 24 medals (one gold, not as healthy as the previous edition in Hangzhou). Overall, compared to other days, Tuesday was a fruitful outing for India camp. P11 Work started for Modi Mill flyover facility for pedestrians and non-motorised traffic near Haiderpur Badli Mor Metro Station will improve safety . The Modi Mill flyover extension will strengthen signal-free movement towards Kalkaji and the IIT and ease pressure at major junctions. It is expected to improve connectivity between Nehru Place, Kalkaji and GK. 2 AAP leaders booked for assaulting cop EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ New Delhi THE Delhi Police has registered a case against AAP leaders Saurabh Bharadwaj, Jarnail Singh and others for allegedly assaulting a head constable and obstructing him while he was on duty The inci. dent took place on Monday when the AAP leaders accompanied former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal during his visit to Tilak Nagar. The head constable was in plain clothes and recording videos in the area when a crowd of AAP supporters surrounded and allegedly assaulted him. He was taken for a medical examination. On Tuesday Bharadwaj, AAP , MLA Kuldeep Kumar and other leaders were detained near Delhi Police headquarters. Bharadwaj said they had gone to the headquarters to file an FIR against PWD Minister Pravesh Verma, but were detained. The development came a day after an incident during a road inspection by Verma in Tilak Nagar on Sunday. A video of the incident shows a man, identified as Sahib Singh, recording the minister and AAP MLA Jarnail Singh, while holding large chunks of road material. The video shows Verma pulling down Singh’s mobile phone before slapping him. Singh then appears to confront the minister before a security guard intervenes and separates the two as people gather around them. On Monday, police filed a non-cognisable report (NCR) against Verma and an FIR against Jarnail Singh for allegedly obstructing a PWD assistant engineer and other public servants in the discharge of their duty . CISF jawan opens fire, kills 4 colleagues in J&K F AYA Z W A N I @ Srinagar FOUR Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel, including an assistant commandant and a sub-inspector, were killed in firing by a jawan in a fratricide incident inside a camp in J&K’s border district of Kathua on Tuesday . Police said a CISF jawan had an argument over some issue with his colleagues inside their camp at Sewa II Hydel Power Project in Mashka area of Basoli in Kathua district, bordering Himachal Pradesh. In the fit of anger after a heated argu- ment with his colleagues, the CISF jawan fired indiscriminately on four of his colleagues from his service rifle (AK-47). The four identified as assistant commandant Ankit Kumar Pandey, S-I Lakshman Singh, constable Rafiq Ahmed and constable Sandeep Kumar sustained critical bullet injuries. Hearing the gunshot wounds, the CISF personnel rushed to the spot and overpowered the accused and snatched his service weapon. The accused, identified as head constable Abhidesh Kumar Kumar, has been taken into custody .