SATURDAY 03 OCTOBER, 2026 epaper.morningstandard.in Map not to scale facebook.com/TheMorningStandard X.com/TheMornStandard CENTRE MARKS 28 STRATEGIC LADAKH SITES ON OFFICIAL MAP FRANCE STUDENT PROTESTS HIT 500+ SCHOOLS PAGE 9 Hockey legend named Punjab Cong chief ahead of polls H A R P R E E T B A J W A @ Chandigarh FORMER Indian Hockey captain Pargat Singh was on Friday appointed as the new president of the Punjab Congress months ahead of the Assembly polls. The announcement came hours after Amrinder Singh Raja Warring stepped down. The Congress, which had been mulling to appoint a Hindu face as the state president, finally settled for a Jat Sikh to replace Warring, who is also from the same community . Pilot took over from Bhupesh Baghel last month, as the latter “failed” to control infighting mainly between Warring and former CM Charanjit Singh Channi, in the state unit. Pargat Singh is seen as neutral. Sources said that the candidature of three-time MLA Pargat Singh, now AICC in-charge of Jammu and Kashmir, was strongly backed by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. Pargat Singh, who is widely regarded as one of India’s best defenders, has his task cut out in a largely fractured state unit. Singh, 62, served in the Punjab Police before quitting the service to enter politics in 2012. He first won election in the same year on the Shiromani Akali Dal ticket from Jalandhar Cantonment. In 2016, the SAD suspended him. He joined Awaaze-Punjab front floated by Navjot Singh Sidhu and Bains brothers. Later Singh joined the Congress and retained his seat in 2017 and 2022. UPCC CHIEF | P8 The government said in a statement that formally identifying them on the Survey of India map of Ladakh will help streamline official cartography, facilitate accurate recognition and promote greater public awareness. Gogra and Hot Spring, key friction points during the 2020 India-China military standoff, are among the strategic locations identified on the map A CAPITAL VIEW OF NEWS  NEW DELHI Was terror attack on Flydubai, says UAE Presidential adviser cautions against conspiracy theories E X P R E S S N E W S S E R V I C E @ New Delhi UAE Presidential adviser Anwar Gargash on Friday described the cockpit attack aboard a Flydubai plane from Dubai to Tel Aviv as a “dangerous terrorist act”, and praised Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar for his role in preventing a potentially catastrophic outcome. Gargash said Machchhar “deserves every bit of appreciation” for demonstrating exemplary courage after he was allegedly attacked by his co-pilot during Flydubai Flight FZ1073 on Wednesday . He also cautioned against speculation, saying that “vigilance and caution remain essential in confronting the risks of extremism and terrorism. Gargash, a former UAE minister of state for foreign affairs, praised Machchhar for preserving the safety of those aboard the His (Smit) aircraft during the professionalism emergency . and moral sense in The flight, carry- the darkest of ing 174 people, in- circumstances cluding 27 children, make him a hero was travelling from Anwar Gargash, Dubai to Tel Aviv Presidential adviser, when the incident UAE occurred. According to reports, the co-pilot allegedly attacked Machchhar with a knife inside the cockpit, causing the aircraft to plunge nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds. Other crew members and passengers intervened and overpowered the attacker, restoring control over the aircraft. The plane was subsequently diverted to Saudi Arabia and landed safely in Tabuk. The co-pilot, identified by Israeli officials as an Omani national, was arrested after the landing. Gargash also hit out at conspiracy theories surrounding the incident. “Modern aircraft are not merely traditional control devices, but fully digital environments of surveillance.” P9 Captain Smit Machchhar speaks in a video call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, from the UAE | PTI PM to pilot: You showed spirit of non-violence R A J E S H K U M A R T H A K U R @ New Delhi “I was doing it for my own life but at the same time I also knew that I cannot let him kill all of them,” said Captain Smit Machchaar, who foiled an attempt by his co-pilot on Wednesday to crash an Israel-bound Flydubai flight. Machchaar was speaking to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday in a video call from a hospital in the UAE. “Today is Gandhi Jayanti; you have demonstrated the true essence of nonviolence by living it,” Modi said. Hailing Machchaar’s grit, Modi added, “We Indians are not people who take lives, we are people who save lives,” he said. He told the pilot that prayers were being offered across India for his recovery, and that he had already spoken to the pilot’s mother and wife, adding he remained “just a phone call away India was waiting to .” welcome him, PM Modi told the pilot. Machchaar, who has flown for 17 years, said he opened the cockpit door when he realised the aircraft was going down. “I knew that it’s one last push,” he said, adding that he acted with whatever energy was left in him while lying injured in the cockpit. P7 G7 to release 100 mn barrels of oil R A K E S H K U M A R @ New Delhi AS diesel shortages have hit supplies and pushed up fuel prices, the Group of Seven (G7) industrial nations on Friday announced the release of up to 100 million barrels of crude oil and diesel from emergency reserves to ease soaring prices. Following the announcement, oil prices fell as much as $2. Brent was down $1.80, or 1.76%, at $100.50 a barrel, while West Texas Inter mediate dropped $2.02, or 2.18%, to $90.85 a barrel. The move is also expected to help calm the Indian stock market, which has recorded its longest losing streak in 25 years amid pressure from high crude oil prices. The decision came after US President Donald Trump urged European allies, particularly Germany and France, to immediately release emergency diesel reserves or face a potential US diesel export ban. Trump is under pressure to address surging prices ahead of the midterm elections. The G7 said the reserves would be released immediately over four months. The release will be coordinated through the International Energy Agency . Sharing details of the move, Trump said: “Europe has just agreed to release a massive amount of their heavily stocked Diesel Oil. The process will begin immediately .” Diesel and crude oil prices have been rising amid the deepening US-Iran conflict. Diesel shortage has also been linked to Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil-processing facilities. Subsequently, Russia imposed curbs on diesel exports. China has also restricted fuel-product exports by stateowned refiners. Election issue Soaring fuel price has become a source of concern for the Trump administration as it could affect voters ahead of the November midterm polls ASIAN GAMES S Gold rush: India smash massive six IX gold in a day — this is by far the best day for India at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. If India were struggling to win gold medals in the first 10 days, the last three days have been quite productive. The day how, ever, belonged to the boxers and women’s hockey team. If three boxers secured a top of the podium finish, sending the country into a celebratory frenzy, the icing on the cake came later in the day on the hockey field. For the first time in 44 years, the women’s team rose from the lows of Paris 2024 to beat China 1-0 and INDRANEEL DAS EXPRESS @ ASIAN GAMES NAGOYA clinch gold at the Asian Games. In the process, they also sealed their berth for the LA 2028 Olympics on Friday Lalremsiami . landed the first strike in the tenth minute but from thereon, it was goalkeeper Bichu Devi’s heroics and a defence that ensured India a historic gold medal. Meanwhile, archers created history by winning India’s first-ever recurve gold. Sujeet Kalkal in wrestling was Indian women’s hockey team celebrate their gold medal | PTI also unstoppable. The three boxers, who stood on the top of the podium, were Lovlina Borgohain in the morning and two youngsters – Parveen Hooda and Ankush Panghal. With this, India have climbed to fifth place in the medals tally with 16 golds. P11 2 more gold in the offing On Saturday, India have a chance to add at least two more gold to the tally in men’s hockey and cricket team events.  J8.00  PAGES 12 10 PEAKS AND THREE MOUNTAINS AMONG THE 28 PLACES/FEATURES IDENTIFIED | P7 Over 700 detained as Oppn protests against CEC in city N I T I N R A W AT & S U D H I R S U R YA W A N S H I @ New Delhi/Mumbai JANTAR Mantar turned into a site of intense demonstrations on Friday with political parties, student groups, and civil society members trying to reach the protest site, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and calling for a halt to the ongoing SIR of electoral rolls. Around 700 people were detained when the protesters pushed their way to Jantar Mantar and the EC office. AAP leaders Atishi, Saurabh Bharadwaj, Sanjay Singh, Sanjeev Jha, activist Yogendra Yadav, RJD MP Manoj Jha and AISA activist Neha Bora were among those detained. Heavy security was deployed Security across central Delhi, with barricades heightened erected along Ashoka Road, Janpath, Parliament Street and Raisina Road. Internet Police said Section 163 of the Bharatiservices were ya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita was in suspended in force in New Delhi, prohibiting procentral Delhi, while entry and tests, marches and gatherings. Demonstrators questioned the exit gates of 12 metro stations curbs on their movement. One woman protester said, “What’s wrong were closed as part of security with going to Jantar Mantar? I didn’t raise any slogans or create any disarrangements. turbance, yet I’ve been detained.” Another protester said, “Our vote is our voice. Every eligible citizen should be able to use that freely .” In Mumbai, the CJP launched the second phase of its campaign at Shivaji Park, where hundreds of mostly young protesters gathered carrying placards targeting the EC. Several Bollywood personalities also joined the gathering. P3 EXPRESS READ Dad-in-law not liable for son’s conduct: HC The Delhi High Court has said that a father-in-law cannot be made liable for domestic violence for failing to control the conduct of his adult son. It has dismissed a woman’s plea, saying the mere existence of a domestic relationship was not enough to invoke Domestic Violence Act. P4 BSF foils infiltration bid in Punjab, kills 2 The Border Security Force (BSF) shot dead two people who tried to cross the border from Pakistan into Punjab late Thursday night, officials said, adding that their identities have not been confirmed yet. The bodies have been handed over to police for further investigation. P4 INSIDE High school students on Friday hurled projectiles at police who fired teargas, as clashes broke out in protests demanding better conditions in education. LAC FRICTION POINTS AMONG SITES IDENTIFIED Reservoirs go dry after worst monsoon in a decade | P7 Goldy Brar linked India-Dubai extortion network busted | P4