DAILY FROM: AHMEDABAD, CHANDIGARH, DELHI, JAIPUR, KOLKATA, LUCKNOW, MUMBAI, NAGPUR, PUNE, VADODARA JOURNALISM OF COURAGE SATURDAY, JANUARY 6, 2024, KOLKATA, LATE CITY, 16 PAGES PAGE 14 Ayodhya 2.0 Transformation of a temple town ED searches premises linked to Pawar kin’s company EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE MUMBAI, PUNE, JANUARY 5 THEENFORCEMENTDirectorate Friday searched premises linked to Baramati Agro of NCP MLA Rohit Pawar, grand nephew of NCP chief Sharad Pawar, in connection with the Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank (MSCB) scandal. Until Friday evening, the searches were still on. PremisesacrossMaharashtra, including offices of Baramati Agroandindividualsandentities linked to the company, were being searched. EDofficerssaidthatpremises of Kannad Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana in Sambhajinagar, Baramati Agro in Pimpali in Baramati, Hitech Engineering Corporation and places belonging to Rajesh Ingavle and Sanjay Avan — both linked to Hitech Engineering — and premises of Samruddhi Sugar Mill were being searched. `6.00 (`12 IN NORTH EAST STATES & ANDAMAN) WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM MOB ATTACKS OFFICERS PROBING WEST BENGAL PDS SCAM ED search team attacked by TMC leader’s supporters, Governor warns of action Three officers in hospital with serious injuries, cars vandalised, belongings looted SWEETY KUMARI & ATRI MITRA Sheikh joined TMC in 2013 KOLKATA, JANUARY 5 A POLITICAL storm erupted in West Bengal Friday after Enforcement Directorate officers, conducting a search at a TMC leader’s house in North 24 Parganas in connection with the PDS case, sustained serious injuries in an attack by the leader’s loyalists who also manhandled accompanying CRPF personnel. The ED, in a statement, said three of its officers sustained serious injuries and had to be admitted to a hospital after being attacked by a mob of 800-1000 people who gathered when the team went to search the house of TMC convener Sahajahan Sheikh in Sandeshkhali, North 24 Parganas. The armed mob, the agency said, “marched towards the ED officials with an intention to cause death”, vandalised cars of the team, snatched their personal and official belongings, andraisedslogansagainsttheED and the Central government. While the BJP demanded the CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 An injured ED officer who was assaulted by supporters of TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh during a raid at the latter’s residence in North 24 Parganas, West Bengal on Friday. PTI RELATEDREPORTS,PAGE3 RAVIK BHATTACHARYA Kolkata to Delhi, chorus in BJP: Mamata must quit, let NIA probe EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE KOLKATA, NEW DELHI, JANUARY 5 THE ATTACK by a mob of Trinamool Congress loyalists on an Enforcement Directorate teamdrewasharpreactionfrom theBJP,withitsleadersdemanding a probe by the National Investigation Agency, seeking Meet Shahjahan Sheikh, TMC strongman, lord of his own courts Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s resignation, and suggesting that Rohingya immigrants were part of the crowd. In a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Sukanta Majumder, president of the party’s West Bengal unit, wrote: “In a shocking turn of events today,anEDteamconductingaraid in Sandeshkhali, North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, facedaviolentassaultbyagroup of 100-200villagersinthevillage of TMCleaderShahjahanSheikh. Inresponsetotheseverityof this attack, an urgent plea has been made for the immediate initiationof anNIAprobe.Thisinvestigation is seen as crucial to ensuringthesafetyoflawenforcement personnelandupholdingtherule of law in the country.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 KOLKATA, JANUARY 5 SHAHJAHAN Sheikh may have burstontothenationallimelight Friday morning when an Enforcement Directorate team that came to raid his residence was attacked by his supporters, menandwomen,leavingseveral injured. However, in and around Sandeshkhali block in North 24 Parganas, located not far from the border with Bangladesh, Sheikh, 42, is well-known — for his fisheries and brick kilns, for being the “Bhai” running one of the strongest “teams (a euphemismforgangs)”around,andfor CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Navy foils hijacking LeT militant involved in murder bid in Arabian Sea, of Army officer shot dead in J&K commandos rescue crew with 15 Indians NAVEED IQBAL SRINAGAR, JANUARY 5 Destroyer INS Chennai responds to SOS, intercepts Liberia-flagged vessel A MILITANT affiliated to the Lashkar-e-Taiba was killed in an anti-terror operation in South Kashmir’s Shopian on Friday, state police said, adding that he was involved in several terror cases, including the killing of ArmyofficerUmerFayazin2017. “Acting on specific information regarding the presence of a terrorist in village Chotigam, Shopian, a joint cordon and search operation was launched in the wee hours by the police, Army(34RR)andCRPF(178Bn),” the state police said. During the search operation, as security forces approached the spot, “the hiding terrorist fired indiscriminately on the joint search party, which retaliatedeffectively,leadingtoanencounter”. The militant’s body was retrieved from the site, and security forces identified him as Bilal Ahmed Bhat from Chek Cholan, affiliated with the proscribed terror outfit LeT. As per police records, he was involved in several terror cases, including “killing of local Army personnel Umer Fayaz from Kulgam”. Lieutenant Fayaz, who was abducted and killed by militants in May 2017, was serving in 2 Rajputana Rifles and was on leave to attend a family function. Hisbullet-riddledbodywaslater found near a bus stand in Shopian’s Harmain village. In September that year, LeT CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Courts must safeguard interests of courageous journalists: High Court Bulk carrier MV Lila Norfolk in the Arabian Sea on Friday. PTI AMRITA NAYAK DUTTA NEW DELHI, JANUARY 5 FOILING A hijacking attempt in the north Arabian Sea, Indian Navy’s marine commandos (MARCOS) boarded a Liberiaflagged vessel Friday and rescued its crew of 21, including 15 Indians, after carrying out “sanitisation” operations. TheNavysaiditswarshipINS Chennai—aKolkataClassstealth guided-missile destroyer, it was on an anti-piracy patrol — intercepted the MV Lila Norfolk, a bulk carrier, at 3.15 pm Friday. The merchant vessel had sent a message on the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) portal, indicatingthatithadbeenboarded Thursdayeveningbyfive-sixunknown armed personnel. “SanitisationbyMARCOshas confirmed the absence of the CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 SummonstoExpresseditors,othersquashedindefamationcase JAGPREET SINGH SANDHU CHANDIGARH, JANUARY 5 NOTING THAT “journalism is civilisation’s mirror, and investigativejournalismitsX-ray”,the Punjab and Haryana High Court has quashed the summons and all subsequent proceedings in a defamation case registered against resident editors of The Indian Express and others. The Bench of Justice Anoop Chitkara, in a detailed order, noted: “Journalism is the fourth pillar of any democracy. As a journalist, the reporter’s sacrosanct duty is loyalty towards the citizenry. They serve as independent monitors of power, reporting information for public good and safety, addressing any problems or lacunae in the public system for its effective functioning and immediate redressal.Inthefearlesspursuitof their duties to uncover the truth and report such facts to the masses throughmedia,thesebravejournalists do face various hurdles, e.g., pressures from influential parties, groups, or government agencies, etc.” “Toensurehonestandcorrect reporting of actual events, such journalistsrequiretheprotection ofcourts,especiallyconstitutional courts,toenablethemtopublish news without fear of harmful consequences. Thus, all courts mustbemorevigilantandproactivewhilesafeguardingtheinterestsofsuchcourageoushumans,” said Justice Chitkara in a detailed judgement passed on January 4. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 BUSINESS AS USUAL BY UNNY Higher govt spend & investment set stage for 7.3 pc growth in FY24 In election year, India posts 7 per cent plus growth rate — third time in a row AANCHAL MAGAZINE NEW DELHI, JANUARY 5 INDIA’S GROSS Domestic Product (GDP) is estimated to grow7.3percentin2023-24,according to the first advance estimates of national income released by the National Statistical Office (NSO) Friday. The 7 per cent-plus growth rate in FY24 — the third year in a row, and in the backdrop of poor global conditions and a slowing down of the world economy — comes ahead of national elections likely to be held in a few months from now. The first advance estimates of growth is marginally up from 7.2 per cent in 2022-23, but way higher than the government’s initialgrowthestimateof 6.5per cent. Higher investment coupled with government expenditure along with a pickup in sectoral outputs of mining, manufacturing, construction and financial services,areseensupportingthe higher GDP growth. Agriculture EXPLAINED BIG PICTURE SINCE 1932 E Resilience in slowing ● world INDIA CONTINUES to post the fastest growth rate amidst a slowing global economy, clearly indicating a resilience despite worries in many parts of the world. A pick up in private consumption can broadbase economic growth. and trade, hotels, transport and communication services seem to be slowing down. Consumption demand is, however, seen tepid in the current financial year. Private final consumptionexpenditure(PFCE) — indicator of consumption demand — is seen growing at 4.4 per cent in 2023-24, the slowest pace in two decades barring the pandemic year of FY21. The previous low for PFCE growth rate CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 SC issues notice to UP govt on pleas against halal-certified products ban EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, JANUARY 5 THE SUPREME Court Friday issuedanoticetotheUttarPradesh government on two separate pleas challenging the ConstitutionalvalidityoftheUPgovernment’s notification “prohibiting the manufacturing, storage, sale, anddistributionof foodproducts withHalalcertificationwithinthe State of Uttar Pradesh, except for items produced for export”. One of the petitioners — Halal India Pvt Ltd, which claimedtobean“internationally recognised halal certification provider” — called the notification “an attack on the followers of Islam religion...”. Another petitioner is Jamiat Ulama-eMaharashtra. A bench of Justices B R Gavai andSandeepMehtainitiallysaid that the high court could also consider the issue but the petitioners argued that the notification issued by the Office of the Commissioner, Food Safety and Drug Administration, UP, on November 18, 2023, has panIndia ramifications and would impact inter-state commerce. Theycontendedthatasimilar position has not been taken for practices of other religions or denominations. They submitted it will have a significant impact on public health, and on religious practices,affectingthefreedomof religion. The plea by Halal India Pvt Ltd, filed through advocate Ejaz Maqbool, submitted that the “widespread impact of the Impugned notification and the ban… has instilled fear in the populace all across India”. Italsoaddedthat“pertinently, impugned notification and FIR have had nationwide repercussions that have particularly affectedacertainreligiousminority i.e., the Islamic community and have created apprehension that the practice initiated by the Respondent State may be replicatedbyotherstates,intensifying thepervasivefear.Thisapprehensionissubstantiatedbyinstances wherein leaders of other States haveadvocatedforasimilarban”. The Supreme Court, meanwhile, turned down the petitioner’s request to direct that no coercive action be taken in pursuanceofthenotificationandsaid itwouldlookintotherequestlater. The Halal India plea also CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Mumbai hospital teaches AI how to detect cancer from scans PAGE 1 ANCHOR RUPSA CHAKRABORTY MUMBAI, JANUARY 5 CONSIDER THIS scenario: With a simple click, doctors will be able to assess the hardness, texture and elasticity of tumours, including gaining insights into the likelihood of a patient’s survival and responsiveness to chemotherapy. Once the stuff of sci-fi, an initiative by Mumbai’s Tata Memorial Hospital, India’s largest cancer hospital, is doing justthat—deployingdeeplearningtoteachArtificialIntelligence (AI) how to diagnose cancer earlyon.Thisdetectiontool,doctors say, will also help avoid unnecessary chemotherapy for predicted non-responders. With the hospital’s Bioimaging Bank having integrated 60,000 digital scans of cancer patients over the past year, the hospital has laid the groundworktodevelopacancerspecific algorithm. It has also started using AI to reduce radiation exposure for paediatric patients undergoing CT scans. Dr Sudeep Gupta, the directorof TataMemorialCentre,said, “Cancer cases are expected to double from 13 lakh to over 26 lakh in the next decade. This increase necessitates specialised manpower for early diagnosis. Mumbai’s Tata Memorial Hospital has laid the groundwork to develop a cancer-specific algorithm. File Cancer can be cured in many cases if detected early and treated swiftly.” And this is exactly where AI comes in, since it utilises radiomics — a technique capable of extracting essential information from medical scans that is not easily discernible by the human eye. “Advanced algorithms and deep learning to analyse medical data can help detect cancer early on,” said Dr Gupta. Tata Memorial Hospital started the Bioimaging Bank in 2023, in collaboration with the Indian Institute of TechnologyBombay (IIT-B) and start-ups. The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Centre (RGCIRC) in Delhi, and the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh are contributing medical scans to assist with the deep learning efforts. Dr Gupta said the project involves storing slides from medical tests to help diagnose the disease and develop treatments. Since the human eye cannot always detect tumours, identification of factors like texture analysis, elastography (to check organ stiffness) and tumour hardness is beyond human capability. In contrast,thebiobankwillbeable to predict tumour prognosis directlyfromimageswiththehelp of specialisedalgorithms,known as prognostication or prediction algorithms. “These algorithms can anticipate the tumours’ aggressiveness,immunosynthesisrate(the speed of the immune system’s immune response) and the chances of a patient’s survival from CT or MRI scans itself. However, the final diagnosis and treatmentwillbemadebyanexperienceddoctor,”saidDrGupta. So how exactly will this algorithm work? AI works on how the human brain processes information from different sources. To diagnose cancer, AI will analyse radiological and pathological images. AI systems use machine learning to learn from vast data sets and become increasingly proficient in recognising unique features associated with differenttypesof cancer.Thistechnology will allow assessment of changes in tissues and potential malignancies, which in turn will help in early detection of cancer. Dr Suyash Kulkarni, the head of Departmentof Radiodiagnosis atTataMemorialCentre,told The Indian Express, “The radiology team will conduct comprehensive imaging, generating long-term data on the patient's behaviour, treatment response, disease recurrence, response to recurrence and overall survival. Leveragingthisrichdataset,they willutiliseAIandmachinelearning protocols to develop predictivemodelstodeterminetumour survival and to determine the level of aggressiveness required in a patient’s treatment.” He added, “The image bank is collecting tumour images, before segmenting and annotating them. The segmentation involves outlining tumours and CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Kolkata