The Editorial Page: Red Fort blast reminds us that war against terror will never end 8 WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2025 JOuRNALISM of COuRAGE JAIPUR LATE CITY, 20 PAGES ₹6.00 l www.indianexpress.com DA I LY F R O M : A H M E DA B A D , C H A N D I GA R H , D E L H I , J A I P U R , KO L K ATA , L U C K N O W , M U M B A I , N AG P U R , PAT N A , P U N E , VA D O DA R A POSTAL REGN. NO. JAIPUR CITY/001/2024-26 Happening today lMINISTRY Of STATISTICS and Programme Implementation will release retail inflation data for October. Several economists see inflation dropping below 0.5%, which would be a record low. lPRIME MINISTER MODI, who is in Bhutan, will meet former King Jigme Singye Wangchuck and also participate in the Global Peace Prayer Festival. lEAM S jAISHANKAR will visit Canada to participate in the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting with Outreach Partners. lSUPREME COURT will hear pleas in connection with air pollution in Delhi-NCR. The Commission for Air Quality Management is expected to respond in the matter. Business as Usual By EP UNNY Nithari killings: Supreme Court acquits Koli, orders his release Ananthakrishnan G New Delhi, November 11 OBSERVINGTHAT“suspicion, however grave, cannot replace proof beyond reasonable doubt” and “courts cannot prefer expediency over legality,” the Supreme Court Tuesday set aside the conviction of Surendra Koli in a case of rape and murder of a teenage girl, one of the many cases that arose out of the Nithari serial killings two decades ago, and orderedhis“forthwith”release. The bench of Chief Justice of India B R Gavai and Justices Surya Kant and Vikram Nath reversedKoli’sconvictionwhile allowing his curative petition, anddirectedthathebereleased if not wanted in any other case. The bench noted that Koli hadalreadybeenacquittedin12 of the 13 cases against him and wondered how the same set of evidencethatdidnotholdgood in the 12 cases could be relied upon for conviction in just one. “There was no credible chain of custody or expert testimony establishing that a domestic help with no medical trainingcouldperformtheprecise dismemberment described. These gaps were central to the acquittals in the twelve cases. They are equally present here,” the bench said. It found procedural violations in the manner in which his Section 164 statement was recorded by the magistrate. It also pointed to loopholes in the recoveries allegedly made and »CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 l DAY AfTER EXPlOSION NEAR RED fORT, INVESTIGATORS fOCUS ON USE Of AMMONIUM NITRATE Car blast probe tracks doctors, Faridabad-Pulwama terror link Officials say bigger attack may have been averted; many held as investigation zeroes in on Pulwama Bashaarat Masood & Varinder Bhatia Pulwama, Chandigarh, November 11 THE PROBE into the Red Fort blast so far suggests it was the handiwork of the same “transnational and interstate” terror module that was busted by the Jammu and Kashmir Police days earlier, with roots in the Valley’s Pulwama district, it is learnt. According to highly placed sources in the police forces of three states, the man who was driving the Hyundai i20 that exploded is suspected to be Dr Umar Nabi (36), a resident of Pulwama and an employee of Faridabad’s Al Falah School of Medical Sciences & Research Centre. Investigators say two other members of this module — Dr Muzammil Ahmad Ganai (32), who hails from Pulwama and was also working at Al Falah, and Dr Adeel Majeed Rather (33) from Qazigund, who was working at a private hospital in Saharanpur — were arrested daysbeforetheblast.Policehad alsoseized358kgofexplosives, suspectedtobeammoniumnitrate, from Ganai’s rented home in Faridabad’s Dhauj village. Police sources said they believe Dr Umar went missing around the time of these arrests. They said he is suspected to be the man caught on footagefromseveralCCTVsdriving the i20 before the blast, which killed nine people and left many more injured. Bashaarat Masood & Ankita Upadhyay Pulwama, New Delhi, November 11 ON NOVEMBER 7, three days beforeani20carexplodednear theRedFort,DrUmar-un-Nabi Bhat,themansaidtobedriving the vehicle, called his sister-inlaw in Pulwama to say that he would return home in three days. On Monday night, as the family in Koil village of PulwamawaitedforUmar’sreturn, policeshowedupandaskedfor his brother Zahoor Illahi. They took him away, only to return sometime later to take away his elder brother Ashiq Hussain. The Bhats said they were not givenanyreason.Umar’sfather Ghulam Nabi Bhat was picked up for questioning while his At a polling booth in Jahanabad district on Tuesday. EXPRESS Himanshu Harsh & Asad Rehman Patna, New Delhi, November 11 BIHAR RECORDED its highest ever voter turnout of 68.76% in the second and final phase of polling for the Assembly elections Tuesday, even as the exit polls unanimously predicted a comfortable victory for the incumbent NDA. The turnout figure surpassed all previous polling recordsinBiharsince1951,accordingtotheElectionCommission (EC). The first phase of polling, held on November 6 across 18 districts, had then set a record of 65.08% voter turnout. In the two phases, Bihar registered an overall turnout of 66.92%, with the participation ‘Bigger attack averted’ Topsourcesfromcentralsecurity agencies said they »CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 The car driver: Umar Nabi, doctor who led ‘white-collar’ group mother was taken away, reportedly for DNA sampling. PolicesuspectUmarwasthe leader of the “white-collar group” of doctors in a terror module busted days before the Red Fort explosion. “He is suspected to have been steering and motivating the rest of the flock,” an officer said. Umar’s sister-in-law Muzamila Akhtar said, “We didn’t know anything. We came to know about him (Umar) only when the media arrived here this morning.” Police sources said Umar had been missing after Dr Muzammil Ahmad Ganai was arrested from Faridabad. Akhtar said a police team, led by a Superintendent of Police and his deputy, arrived at their home Monday night. A victim’s relative breaks down outside a mortuary in New Delhi. PTI l MORE REPORTS, PAGE 4 PULWAMATOFARIDABADTOREDFORT:THE‘MODULE’ Dr UMAR NABI Suspected i20 driver WORKED AT Al Falah, Faridabad Dr ADEEl MAjEED RATHER Dr SHAHEEN SHAHID WORKED AT Dr Ganai was suspected to have used her car, from which a rifle was seized WORKED AT Al Falah, Faridabad R/O Lucknow Famous Hospital, Saharanpur R/O Qazigund, J&K R/O Koil village, Pulwama, J&K Pulwama Dr MUzAMMIl AHMAD GANAI WORKED AT Al Falah, Faridabad R/O Koil village, Pulwama, J&K Lucknow, November 11 TWO DOCTORS from Lucknow, who are siblings, have been taken into custody as part of the probe into the alleged “transnational and interstate” module unearthed by the Jammu and Kashmir Police, The Indian Express has learnt. Police said the duo have been identified as Dr Shaheen Shahid Ansari and her brother DrParvezAnsari.Theirparents l Whatexitpollssay AGENCY NDA MGB Dainik Bhaskar 145-160 73-91 Times Now-JVC 135-150 88-103 IANS-Matrize 147-167 70-90 P-Marq 142-162 80-98 News18 140-150 85-95 level of male and female voters standing at 62.8% and 71.6% respectively.Thecountingofvotes will take place on November 14. In the 2020 Assembly polls, the state had recorded a turnout of 57.29%. All the exit polls, which declared their projections Tuesday evening, gave the NDA »CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Trump: Will bring down tariffs on India, ‘pretty close’ to reaching deal AAMIR RASHID Saharanpur Red Fort Faridabad Lucknow A plumber; the i20 car was bought with his documents R/O Samboora, Pulwama, J&K (His brother also detained) »CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Lucknow link under scanner: Two All responsible will be doctor siblings taken into custody brought to justice: PM Bhupendra Pandey Bihar second phase sees record turnout of 68.76%; exit polls predict NDA return live in Kandhari Bazar in the old city area. On Tuesday, the Uttar Pradesh Police and the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), along with the J&K Police, carried out searches and questioned the family. A senior officer confirmed the development and said the siblings are in the custody of the J&K police, who are questioning them along with other suspects. DrShaheenwasemployedat Faridabad’s Al-Falah School of Medical Sciences & Research Centre, where at least two other accused — Dr Muzammil AhmadGanai,whowasarrested earlier, and Dr Umar Nabi, the suspected Red Fort blast accused—wereworking,officials said.Afourthdoctor,AdeelMajeed Rather, was arrested from Saharanpur, where he worked with a private hospital. On Tuesday, sources said a jointteamoftheJ&KPoliceand UP ATS conducted searches at »CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Express News Service New Delhi, November 11 DECLARING THAT investigativeagencieswillunearththe “conspiracy” behind the blast near Delhi’s Red Fort, which has claimed nine lives so far, Prime Minister Narendra Modi saidTuesdaythattheperpetrators “will not be spared” and “all those responsible will be brought to justice”. The Prime Minister’s remarks were echoed by Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh who said those behind Monday’sincidentwill“facethefull wrath”ofagenciesthatareconducting a “swift and thorough” investigation. Modi’s reference to a “conspiracy” was the first public indication by the country’s top leadership of a terror plot linked to the blast. The Prime Minister was speaking in Bhutan’s capital »CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 US President Donald Trump congratulates Sergio Gor after he is sworn in as Ambassador to India, at the Oval Office. AP RAVI DUTTA MISHRA New Delhi, November 11 USPRESIDENTDonaldTrump Tuesday said the US will bring down tariffs on India, and that Washington is “pretty close” to reachinga“fairtradedeal”with New Delhi. India currently faces 50 per cent tariffs, the highest on any country globally,primarilyduetothe‘penalty’ duty of 25 per cent for purchasing Russian oil. “Right now, the tariffs are very high on India because of theRussianoil,andthey[India] »CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 E. EXPLAINED The final lap India and the US have commenced working on the text for the draft trade agreement. New Delhi believes there is no need for another round of talks. Given that almost 25% of the tariffs on India is due to oil purchases from Russia, the government hopes final tariffs will not be more than 15-20%. FIRST STEP IN THIS DIRECTION COULD POSSIBLY BE A VIJAY HAZARE TROPHY GAME NExT MONTH Board’s message for Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma: Domestic first, then India Devendra Pandey tion could possibly be a Vijay Hazare Trophy game starting on December 24. This is the IF TWO of Indian cricket's only one-day game in the dobrightest stars have to stay in mestic calendar between the the team, they will have to three-ODI series against South maketheirwaythroughthedo- Africa from December 3-9 and another three-match series mestic grind. againstNewZealand This is the messPAGE 1 from January 11 — age from the Indian both at home. board for Virat Kohli The Indian and Rohit Sharma. Both have retired from Tests Express has learnt that Rohit and T20 Internationals but has informed the Mumbai continue to represent the Cricket Association (MCA) that country in One-Day Interna- he will be available for the Vijay Hazare Trophy but there is no tionals. The first step in this direc- clarity on Virat’s availability. Mumbai, November 11 anchor Virat (37) and Rohit (38) last featured in the ODI series in Australia last month, where they went on to join hands for a winning partnership in the finalgame.WhileRohitstarred in two of the three games, including a hundred, Kohli bounced back from two ducks to hit an unbeaten 87. “The board and team management have conveyed to bothofthemthattheywillhave to play domestic cricket if they want to play for India. Since both of them have retired from two formats, they have to play domestic cricket to be match- Virat and Rohit have retired from Tests and T20 Internationals but continue to represent the country in One-Day Internationals. FILE fit,” sources in the board told The Indian Express. Rohit and Kohli retired from T20Is after the T20 World Cupin2024,andcalledtimeon their Test careers after the 2024-25 tour of Australia. Rohit is learnt to have informed the MCA that he might even be available for the T20 Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament, scheduled to start on November 26, subject to Mumbai’s qualification. He has also been practising at Mumbai’s Sharad Pawarindooracademy.TheIndian board is hoping to see Kohli, who lives in London, Jaipur play domestic cricket too. Ajit Agarkar, chairman of the selection committee, had conveyed last month about the need for players to turn out in domestic cricket. “I think we made it clear a year, or a couple of years back, thatwheneverplayersareavailable,theyshouldbeplayingdomestic cricket. I mean, that’s the only way you’ll keep yourself sharp and playing cricket, if you’ve got a long enough break. Whether that’s possible with the international cricket you’re playing or not, that only time will tell, but if the guys are free,theyshouldbeplayingdomestic cricket,” he said. Rohit and Virat played one Ranji Trophy game each last season. In January, Kohli turned up for Delhi after 12 years,whileRohitturnedupfor a Mumbai game after 10 years. At the time, Rohit, explaining the long absence from domestic cricket, had said: “...since I have started playing Test cricket regularly, which is from2019,youhavehardlyhad any time. When you play so much international cricket throughout the year, you need »CONTINUED ON PAGE 2