Bhopal News

Madhya Pradesh: 41.80L set to be removed from voter list

BHOPAL: More than 41.80 lakh voter names have been identified for deletion from the electoral rolls across Madhya Pradesh after the completion of the first phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the 2025 voter list, election officials said. The exercise covered all 230 assembly constituencies across 55 districts. The outcome of the revision will be reflected in the preliminary draft of the electoral roll, scheduled for publication on December 23. The SIR was undertaken to clean and update the voter list of over 5.74 crore registered voters ahead of future elections. The first phase, which involved door-to-door enumeration and verification, concluded late Thursday night. The 41.80 lakh names marked for deletion account for over 7.28% of the total electorate. The largest category consists of 22.5 lakh voters who have permanently shifted from their registered addresses, forming nearly 45 of the voter base. Another significant portion comprises absent and deceased voters, with 8.40 lakh names in each category. Together, they account for roughly three percent of the states voters. In addition, over 2.5 lakh voters, or 0.43 percent, were found to be duplicate entries, with names appearing at more than one address. Indore district recorded the highest number of proposed deletions. Of its total 28.67 lakh voters, more than 4.40 lakh names are set to be removed. Bhopal followed closely, with around 4.30 lakh deletions from its 21.25 lakh-plus voters. Gwalior ranked third, with over 2.50 lakh names marked for deletion, while Jabalpur stood fourth with more than 2.40 lakh voters to be removed from the list. In percentage terms, Bhopal will see the highest impact, with nearly 20% of its voter names facing deletion. Indore and Gwalior will see about 15% each, while Jabalpur will see around 12% deletions. Explaining the next steps, Joint Chief Electoral Officer Ram Pratap Singh Jadaun said, The EC is moving ahead with the process of deletion, correction, and verification. The first draft electoral roll will be released on December 23. Discrepancies found in over nine lakh cases The SIR was undertaken to clean and update the voter list of over 5.74 crore registered voters ahead of future elections. The EC is moving ahead with the process of deletion, correction, and verification. The first draft electoral roll will be released on December 23. Officials added that discrepancies between current voter details and the 2003 base records were found in about nine lakh cases.

Over 41.80 lakh voter names identified for deletion as first phase of SIR exercise ends in Madhya Pradesh

BHOPAL: More than 41.80 lakh voter names have been identified for deletion in 230 assembly constituencies in Madhya Pradesh, following the completion of the first phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list in the state. The result of the SIR can be seen in the form of a preliminary draft of the electoral roll, which will be published on December 23. The first phase of the SIR ended on Thursday night after a gruelling 44-day exercise of collecting filled up enumeration forms from voters through the network of booth level officers (BLOs). The 41.80 lakh voter names (7.28% of total voters in the state) that are up for deletion include 22.50 lakh voters who have permanently shifted from their registered addresses. They form around four percent of the total voters of the October 2025 list. The two other heads under which a major chunk of voter names will be deleted include absent and dead voters, which were 8.40 lakh each, collectively accounting to around 3% of the total 5.74 crore plus voters forming part of the October 2025 voter list. Over 2.5 lakh voters (0.43% of the total voters in the 2025 voter list) are duplicate voters, whose names are featured at multiple addresses. Indore, which is Madhya Pradeshs most populated district, housed the maximum number of absent, dead, shifted and duplicate voters. More than 4.40 lakh voter names out of the total 28.67 lakh voters are to be deleted when the preliminary draft list is published. The state capital Bhopal is next with 4.30 lakh voter names to be deleted out of the total 21.25 lakh plus voters named in the 2025 list. Gwalior is third in the list of districts with maximum deletions. More than 2.50 lakh voters, out of the 16.49 lakh-plus voters, will be deleted when the draft list is published. Jabalpur is fourth with 2.40 lakh-plus deleted voters, out of the total 19.25 lakh voters named in the 2025 list. In percentage terms, Indore, where all nine assembly seats were won by the BJP in the 2023 polls, will see more than 15% of voter names getting deleted. But the state capital Bhopal, where the BJP won five out of the seven assembly seats, stands to see deletion of the maximum 20% voter names. Jabalpur district, where the BJP won seven out of the eight assembly seats in the 2023 elections, will see the deletion of 12% voters from the 2025 list, while Gwalior district, where the BJP won four out of the six assembly seats in the last state elections, will see 15% of the names of the 2025 list getting deleted. The joint chief electoral officer, MP, Ram Pratap Singh Jadaun said, The Election Commission is now moving ahead with the process of deletion, correction, and verification. The first draft electoral roll will be released on December 23. If a voters details do not match the 2003 base records or if discrepancies are found, the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) will issue a formal notice to those voters. Such mismatches have been found in nine lakh cases.

Bhopal Contractor Loses Rs 30 Lakh In Online Game, Dies By Suicide: Police

A 32-year-old civil contractor allegedly died by suicide in his house in Bhopal on Thursday after losing nearly Rs 30 lakh in an online game, the police said.

CLAT 2026: Geetali Gupta from 'Toprankers-Legal Edge' Claims AIR 1 in CLAT 2026; Institute Bags 1, 2 & 3 Once Again

The results for the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT 2026) have been announced, and once again, students from the Bhopal-headquartered institute, Toprankers-Legal Edge ,have delivered an exceptional performance in this prestigious national-level exam for entry into National Law Universities (NLUs). According to the released results, students from this institute have secured the top three spots All India Rank (AIR) 1, 2, and 3 . Geetali Gupta from Toprankers-Legal Edge This marks thefourth time in the last six yearsthat the institute's students have achieved a 'Clean Sweep' of thetop three ranks. Data released by the institute indicates a dominant hold over the results, with7 students in the Top 10and51 students in the Top 100hailing from Toprankers-Legal Edge. " Guidance Received Exclusively from Legal Edge " AIR-1 GeetaliGupta, a resident of Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan, secured AIR 1. Expressing her thoughts on social media, Geetali said, "My parents taught me discipline since childhood, and Legal Edge gave that discipline the right direction. Throughout my preparation, I placed the utmost emphasis on consistency." Clarifying the role of the coaching institute, she added," I have been a student exclusively of Legal Edges 'Warriors Gold Batch'Classroom Program. The mentors at Legal Edge played a pivotal role in identifying and fixing my weaknesses. This success is the result of my parents' sacrifices and the guidance of my teachers. " Performance Analysis: As per the details shared by the institute,AIR 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, and 10are students of the' Regular Classroom Program .'Meanwhile,AIR 3 (Rohan, Karnataka Topper)achieved this feat through the institute's 'Distance Learning' course. Experts believe that securing AIR 3 through a distance course is a testament to the sheer quality of the institutes study material. Furthermore, the fact that6 out of the Top 10students were from the direct classroom program proves the successful impact of Legal Edgesmentorship. Consistency and Selection Standards Clean Sweep: This is the4th time in the last 6 yearsthat AIR 1, 2, and 3 are from the same institute in CLAT. Selection Ratio: This year, 51 students in the Top 100 are from Legal Edge. This means nearly 50% of the students entering the countrys top law colleges have been trained by this institute. Top Rankers: The institute has now produced the CLAT All India Rank 1 (AIR 1) a total of 7 times. Harsh Gagrani , Co-founder and Chief Academic Officer of the institute, stated," This result validates our academic process. For us, AIR 1 is as important as the last student who worked hard to improve their rank. We have always prioritized right guidance and hard work, and we will continue to do so in the future ." The CLAT 2026 results indicate that in an era of social media and aggressive advertising, success ultimately stems from a disciplined routine, right mentorship, and the synergy between teacher and student. About Toprankers Toprankers runs 50+ centres across India, teaching 20,000+ classroom students and serving 30,000+ learners overall, while operating Indias most-searched non-STEM test-prep platform, with 1.5M monthly users and 20M+ page views across Law, Management, and Design & Architecture.

Decomposed bodies of couple found in Indore residence

BHOPAL: A middle-aged couple identified as Kanhaiya Lal Paranwal and Smriti Paranwal were found dead under c inside their duplex house in Madhya Pradeshs Indore city on Thursday. Their residence is located at a Satellite Junction residential colony, just outside the Indus Satellite Green township under the Lasudia police station area. While Kanhaiya Lal (50) was found dead on the bed in the room, his wife Smriti was found dead inside the toilet adjoining the room. Intolerable stench and the heavily decomposed bodies suggested that the couple had died more than 20 days ago. While Kanhaiya Lal was bedridden after being paralysed for the last six months, his wife was also reportedly in depression due to her husbands bad health. The couple hailed from the Azamgarh district of eastern Uttar Pradesh and had built the duplex house around ten years back in the residential locality on Indores outskirts. According to informed sources, Kanhaiya Lal worked till a few years back at a pharmaceutical company in Pithampur in neighbouring Dhar district. After quitting the job, he was possibly engaged in stock trading and investment from home. He had suffered a paralytic attack and was bedridden for the last six months. The couple led a secluded life and hardly had anyone visiting them. According to neighbours, Smriti was last seen outside the house on November 26, after which she had never been spotted. The newspaper hawker, milkman and even the teams who visited the locality for Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists related work didnt find any response after visiting the house recently, a neighbour said. Feeling suspicious over the couple not being spotted for more than 20 days, neighbours peeped into the room on the houses first floor of the house from the balcony of an adjoining house on Thursday morning and reported to the police about the intolerable stench emanating from the closed house. Cops subsequently rushed to the duplex house, broke open its entrance and climbed upstairs, where the two bodies were in a heavily decomposed state. Lasudia police station sources said only the findings of the autopsy will reveal the cause of the deaths.

Will Try To Make IPL 2026 The Turning Point Of My Life, Says LSGs New Recruit Raghuwanshi

Madhya Pradesh Premier League: Akshat Raghuwanshi's cricket career took off after the Covid-19 pandemic, when a century on debut in the Ranji Trophy made him one of the batting stars in Madhya Pradesh, helping them clinch the title for the first time. Now picked by Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL 2026 auction for Rs 2.2 crore, the middle-order batter from Ashok Nagar is determined to make his first appearance in the ten-team tournament the biggest turning point of his playing career. A turning point came after Covid-19, when I was playing in the U-19. I played well in U-19, and then I was picked for the Ranji Trophy, where I played well and made a hundred in my debut game. After that, I think I scored fifty-plus scores in four straight matches, as we won the Ranji Trophy that year. Yes, this is the best opportunity for me. I will try to make this IPL the turning point of my life, said Raghuwanshi in an exclusive conversation with IANS. The middle-order batter was focused on IPL 2026 auction proceedings with his teammates in a division tournament, feeling every emotion as his name was called for bidding from tension, to jubilation, and then a congratulatory message from India pacer Avesh Khan. I was seeing the whole auction from the beginning itself. I was quite nervous. So, before my name was about to come, a few names were already running, then suddenly it was a bit like, what will happen, will anyone take me or not? As soon as my name came, the first bid was made. I had all my teammates with me and the boys started screaming. They got happy and started singing and dancing. After that, the TV turned off. So, I didn't even know what happened, and to which team I went? But then I got a call from Avesh bhaiya, as soon as the bidding was completed. He told me that Lucknow has taken me, as he's also in that team and congratulated me. That's when I got to know that I would be a part of LSG, he recalled. The selection to LSG fulfilled a long-standing family dream. My family was very happy. I mean, they had this dream from the beginning that I should do well in cricket. So, they are very happy and celebrated this feat very well, said Raghuwanshi. Growing up in Ashoknagar, a place known for producing Sharbati flour, Raghuwanshis father laid the foundation of his cricketing skills. I started playing cricket when I was 4-5 years old. My father used to make me play with a plastic or a rubber ball. I used to play all day long. But when I was 10-11 years old, I decided that I had to play cricket. Because they made me start playing very early, I started liking it a lot. It was a lot of fun to play, and so, it was a very quick decision in my life to play cricket (professionally). When I was 10 years old, I shifted to Indore, as playing facilities werent present in Ashoknagar. His coaching transition also came at the right time. My father was my coach when I was young. But when I was 10-11 years old, my coach was Amay Khurasiya sir. He was the head coach at the MPCA academy. So, he taught me the techniques and basics of the game. Since featuring in Madhya Pradeshs Ranji Trophy-winning campaign, Raghuwanshis career has experienced a lean period, but recent white-ball performances indicate a promising turnaround. In this years Madhya Pradesh Premier League, Raghuwanshi emerged as the most notable batter of the tournament despite not leading the run charts. His explosive 105 off 45 balls against the Bhopal Leopards drew the attention of talent scouts, as he scored 239 runs in four innings at a strike rate of 177. Raghuwanshi acknowledges the pressure of expectations but also sees it as validation of his talent and abilities. Yes, absolutely. If you get to know that people have their eyes on you, then there is a little bit of pressure. But it also increases your self-belief a lot when other people are talking positively about you everywhere. So, you get a lot of confidence that I deserve to be at that level. With everyone saying good things about me, it helps a lot, and it feels really good when someone talks like this about me. His strokeplay is a key element of his distinctive aggressive style in T20 cricket, refusing to wait until he is set before launching his onslaught against bowlers. My aim while batting is always the same in T20s. If I get a little chance, that I can hit this ball for a four or six, then I give it a proper crack - whether it is the first or second ball, I don't see if I have gone or if I am set or not. If I feel that there is a ball in my area, then I take a proper chance on it, and it works for me. His signature shot the no-look upper cut over the third man - has been perfected through rigorous practice. Not instinctively, but I have practised it a lot in the last one or two years, especially with plastic balls for facing the bouncer, because in T20s, the third man is always up. In any situation, that area is always empty. So, whenever a bouncer comes, I try to hit it. While practising, I got so used to it that even without looking at the ball, if I put the bat on the ball, it comes out. Now, with practice, it has come so much in my muscle memory that it automatically comes out, he said. Raghuwanshi credits fellow Madhya Pradesh batting stars Rajat Patidar and Venkatesh Iyer for shaping his mental approach towards pressure situations. I get to learn a lot from people like Patidar and Iyer because in any tough situation, they tell me how to stay calm and composed. They always say that no matter what the situation is, have faith in yourself and keep batting. Normally, just don't think that this is the situation I have to get out of it or not. They just say, just keep batting and the team will get out of the situation. If you try to get out of it, then nothing can be done. But if you keep playing, you will get out of the situation. So, just try to stay there on the wicket. As he prepares for his IPL debut after fulfilling his commitments in Madhya Pradesh, Raghuwanshi's main focus is on learning and developing the mental strength needed to excel at the highest level. They always say that no matter what the situation is, have faith in yourself and keep batting. Normally, just don't think that this is the situation I have to get out of it or not. They just say, just keep batting and the team will get out of the situation. If you try to get out of it, then nothing can be done. But if you keep playing, you will get out of the situation. So, just try to stay there on the wicket. Also Read: Live Cricket Score He concluded by emphasising self-belief as the foundation of his success and regarded IPL 2026 as a pivotal moment in his career. I want to learn how to have self-confidence. The main thing in cricket these days is how good your self-belief is. The more self-belief you have, the better you can do in cricket. So, the main thing I want to learn is how to improve my self-belief. Article Source: IANS

Newborn found dead in toilet commode at government hospital in MP's Chhindwara

BHOPAL:In a chilling incident, a newborn female child was found dead in the commode of the toilet at the Civil Hospital in Parasia town of Chhindwara district in Madhya Pradesh. The incident was reported on Monday night, when a sanitary staff member proceeded to clean the toilet. The flush was choked. On checking the commode, she found the hand of the newborn baby stuck inside. Immediately, the other staff of the hospital were called on to retrieve the body. The newborns body was extricated after breaking the concerned commode, a senior official of the state health department in Parasia told TNIE on Wednesday. According to Dr Sudha Bakshi, the Parasia block medical officer (BMO), the local police were immediately informed about the incident. The body was subsequently sent for a post-mortem. While the local police officials are tight-lipped about the entire incident, sources privy to the ongoing probe said that the autopsy of the newborn baby points towards the newborns death having been caused due to pulmonary oedema (fluid buildup in the lungs). Primary police investigations revealed that at least 15 pregnant women had come for a prenatal check-up at the hospitals outdoor patients department on Monday. Based on the details mentioned in the hospital records, while 14 of those pregnant women have been traced and identified, one womans details remain incomplete, and her presence at the hospital on Monday has consequently been found suspicious. There is a strong possibility that the same woman might have delivered the baby in the toilet and then tried to destroy evidence by flushing the newborn through the commode. The investigating cops are now scanning footage of all 26 CCTV cameras installed at the Parasia Civil Hospital. The Parasia area of Chhindwara is the hub of coal mining activity in Chhindwara and was in the news in September-October this year, following the deaths of more than 20 kids due to cough syrup poisoning induced acute kidney injury.

Aishwary wins 3P gold with world record, Gurjoat clinches skeet event

NATIONAL SHOOTING NEW DELHI/BHOPAL, Dec 16: World Championship silver medallist Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar delivered a landmark performance at the 68th Shooting Nationals on Tuesday, firing a world record 470.5 to clinch gold in the mens 50m rifle 3 positions final at the Madhya Pradesh State Shooting Range. Aishwarys score is 1.6 points more than []

MP announces Rs 1,782 crore compensation package for thousands displaced by dam projects

BHOPAL: The Madhya Pradesh government on Tuesday approved a Rs 1,782 crore special relief package for families affected by submergence due to three major multipurpose dam and irrigation projects in the state. The decision was taken at a state cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav. The package will benefit families displaced by the Upper Narmada Project, Raghavpur Multipurpose Project and Basania Multipurpose Project in Anuppur, Mandla and Dindori districts. The special package is in addition to Rs 1,656.02 crore already earmarked for rehabilitation and compensation in the detailed project reports (DPRs) of the three projects. Officials said the total cost of the Upper Narmada, Raghavpur and Basania projects stands at Rs 5,512.11 crore. Together, the projects are expected to provide irrigation facilities for 71,967 hectares of land and generate 125 megawatts of electricity. As many as 13,873 families are likely to be affected by submergence and will receive compensation of Rs 12.50 lakh per family under the special package. In addition, around 50,000 Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe families will be given extra compensation. In another key decision, the cabinet approved a provision of Rs 90.67 crore under the revenue head for 202526 towards operation and maintenance of the Bhopal and Indore Metro Rail projects. The decision comes just four days before Bhopal is set to become the second city in the state, after Indore, to have an operational metro service. The cabinet also cleared Rs 48 crore for setting up six Forest Science Centres in the state between 202526 and 202930. The centres aim to promote forestry activities outside forest areas, improve forest land productivity, encourage agroforestry and create additional income opportunities through timber harvesting. Non-government organisations will also be allowed to establish such centres with permission from the Forest Department. Additionally, the cabinet approved the continuation of the Chief Ministers Udyam Kranti Yojana from 202627 to 203031, with an expenditure of Rs 905.25 crore. Under the scheme, youth aged 18 to 45 years are provided bank loans ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 50 lakh for self-employment, along with a 3 per cent annual interest subsidy and loan guarantee fee support for up to seven years. In a significant administrative reform, the cabinet approved measures to remove the distinction between sanctioned permanent and temporary posts in state government departments. It cleared amendments to recruitment rules to convert existing sanctioned temporary posts into permanent ones and decided to declare all work-charged and contingency posts as non-sanctioned, with no fresh appointments to be made under these categories.

Tejasvi Dahiya: Son school teachers, who hits sixes for fun | Exclusive

Rejected at last years IPL auction, Tejasvi Singh Dahiya rebuilt himself under a harsh, gurukul-style training regime in Bhopal. Son of two schoolteachers and armed with a fearless batting mindset, the Delhi batters Rs 3 crore KKR deal now offers him a chance to turn sacrifice, discipline and six-hitting flair into an IPL breakthrough.

Four children test HIV positive in MP government hospital; contaminated blood transfusion suspected

SATNA/BHOPAL: Four children suffering from thalassemia have tested HIV positive at Satna District Hospital in Madhya Pradesh allegedly due to contaminated blood transfusions, officials said on Tuesday. The case is four months old and an investigation is underway into it, an official said. Officials suspect the use of contaminated needles or blood transfusions for the spread of infection to the children. MP Health Minister Rajendra Shukla told reporters in Bhopal that he has ordered a probe into the matter and sought a report. It is also being investigated whether the blood transfusion took place in other hospitals also or only in the government hospital, he said. The affected children, aged between 12 and 15 years, received blood transfusions from the hospital's blood bank, as per an official. Devendra Patel, in-charge of the blood bank at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel District Hospital in Satna, said four children have tested HIV positive and an investigation is underway to determine how they got infected. Either an infected needle was used or a blood transfusion occurred. These are the two main reasons I believe. Blood transfusion seems to be the most likely cause, he told PTI Videos. All these children suffer from thalassemia, and some have received 80 or 100 blood transfusions, he said. A family member of one of the affected children said that their child was found to be HIV positive during a routine checkup about four months back, and he has been receiving medication, but it had proven to be of no use. After taking the medication for HIV, the child starts vomiting, feels low and becomes ill, he said. After the four children were detected with HIV infection, their family members were also tested and the results came out negative, he added. The Opposition Congress targeted the government over the matter and demanded the resignation of Health Minister Shukla. Speaking to reporters in Bhopal, Congress MLA and former minister Sachin Yadav claimed such incidents were continuously occurring in Madhya Pradesh. Earlier, a case of toxic cough syrup came to light in Chhindwara, followed by incidents of rat bites at hospitals in Indore and Satna, and now children have been given HIV-infected blood, he said. The health minister is unable to manage the department. He should resign. A murder case should be filed against those responsible for the Satna incident, Yadav said. Senior Congress leader Sajjan Singh Verma termed it a failure of the government. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav's government has no connection with ground realities, he charged. Somewhere rats are roaming in hospitals, somewhere children are being given HIV-infected blood. Instead of preventing HIV, you are spreading it. Mohan Yadav should wake up from his slumber. Children are the nation's heritage and should be taken care of, he added.

Genetic researchers probe nuclear genome to explain exceptionally high TB burden among MPs Sahariyas

BHOPAL: Genetic science researchers from across the country have turned their focus to genomic factors that may underlie the abnormally high prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) among the Sahariyas, one of the three Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in Madhya Pradesh. The Sahariya population is largely concentrated in the GwaliorChambal region of Madhya Pradesh, particularly in Sheopur, Shivpuri, Guna, Ashoknagar, Gwalior, Morena and Bhind districts, with some presence in adjoining parts of Bundelkhand. Reported TB prevalence among the community ranges between 1,518 and 3,294 cases per 100,000 population, at least eight times higher than the national average of 187 per lakh. According to the World Health Organizations Global TB Report 2025 , India, despite remaining among high-burden countries, has recorded a 21 per cent decline in new TB cases, from 237 per lakh population in 2015 to 187 per lakh in 2024. Against this backdrop, the Sahariyas stand out as an extreme outlier. The ongoing research is being led by Prof Gyaneshwar Chaubey, a noted geneticist and biological anthropologist at Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi, in collaboration with researchers from several institutions, including the University of Calcutta and the Forensic Science Laboratory, Jabalpur. The team has already made a significant breakthrough by linking rare maternal mitochondrial haplogroups, N5 and X2, to heightened TB susceptibility among the Sahariyas. A haplogroup refers to a group of people who share a common ancestor, identified through specific mutations in mitochondrial DNA (inherited from the mother) or Y-chromosome DNA (inherited from the father). The findings, published in the international journal Mitochondrion in August 2025, were based on the analysis of complete mitochondrial genomes from 729 individuals, including 140 Sahariyas. The study revealed that the rare N5 and X2 haplogroups, absent in neighbouring populations, likely entered the Sahariya gene pool through ancient gene flow from western India during the early Iron Age. A subsequent founder effect may have compromised mitochondrial function, weakening immune responses to TB. Researchers noted that this genetic vulnerability, compounded by chronic malnutrition, poverty and limited access to healthcare, offers a compelling explanation for the tribes extraordinarily high TB burden. Building on these mitochondrial findings, the research team has now initiated whole-genome sequencing of Sahariya individuals to investigate the contribution of the nuclear genome to TB susceptibility. This phase aims to identify risk alleles or genetic variants in nuclear DNA that may act independently or in concert with mitochondrial factors to heighten disease vulnerability. The study is also examining long-standing patterns of endogamy within the community. High levels of marriage within the group, combined with a historically small effective population size, may have amplified harmful genetic variants through genetic drift and inbreeding. Preliminary analyses suggest that this demographic history could further intensify TB risk by concentrating deleterious alleles. Expanding from mitochondrial insights to nuclear genomics will give us a far more comprehensive understanding of genetic susceptibility among the Sahariyas, said Debasruti Das, the studys first author. This knowledge is crucial for designing targeted interventions for communities bearing the heaviest TB burden. Senior author Prof Prashant Suravajhala added that the ongoing work would also assess how genetic predisposition interacts with environmental and cultural factors. Such integrated insights can pave the way for personalised public health strategies and more effective TB control among tribal populations, he said.

Fire at Dalit familys home in MP that killed two teenagers takes communal turn now; 'love jihad' allegations surface

BHOPAL: A fateful blaze at a Dalit familys house in Madhya Pradeshs Sagar district, which killed two teenage boys, has taken a communal turn ten days after the incident. Activists related to various Hindu outfits reached out to a charitable trust hospital in Sagar city on Monday, alleging that the fire at the house in Chandamau village on the intervening night of December 4-5 was ignited by Muslim youth Fahim Khan alias Sonu. Sonu was allegedly stalking and troubling the familys 20-year-old daughter. The victims family members, including the mother and her elder daughter, supported the allegations of the activists in the saffron outfits. The elder daughter, a 23-year-old young woman, is currently recuperating from 60 per cent burn injuries at the same hospital, where her 17-year-old brother died on Sunday night. The mother-daughter duo alleged that Fahim Khan, who resides in the same village, was regularly troubling the younger daughter, and on being asked by the family to stay away from her, Fahim had threatened to kill the entire family. The elder of the two daughters, who is hospitalised, claimed that she had seen Fahim running away from near their house just when the blaze was triggered. While alleging it to be a Love Jihad incident, the Hindu outfit members demanded that a case be registered against Fahim, followed by his arrest. When the incident took place, the elder daughter and her two brothers, aged 14 and 17, were present in the house. Their father, mother and their younger daughter were away when the killer blaze happened. While the 14-year-old younger son died the same night, his 17-year-old elder brother died at the charitable trust hospital in Sagar city ten days later on Sunday night. Based on the initial police investigations, which suggested that the fire was suspected to have been caused by a kind of 'negligence', a fire-related case was registered at the Naryawali police station on December 5. But, with the mother and elder daughter now accusing the Muslim youth of setting their house ablaze, the cops have started a fresh probe into the entire matter. A team led by the sub-divisional officer police (SDOP) was sent to the concerned village, and a fresh probe is underway to cover all possible angles in the case, particularly following the recent statements of the family members, Sagar district police superintendent Vikas Kumar Sahwal said on Monday. Sources privy to the ongoing probe confided to TNIE that the SC familys younger daughter was regularly talking with the Muslim youth. Her family had caught her talking to him over the phone, after which he was asked to stay away from her. While the mother and elder daughter are alleging that Fahim had set their house on fire, the younger daughter and father are not blaming him for the inferno. Ongoing probe also suggests that Fahim had only helped the family to rush the severely burnt teenage brothers and their elder sister to the hospital.

Congress demands MP Dy CM and Health Minister Rajendra Shuklas resignation over fire incident at Rewa GH

BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh's Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Rajendra Shukla, is once again targeted by the Opposition party, following a fire at the Gynaecology Operation Theatre (OT) in a government hospital in Rewa district. The state Congress chief has also demanded Shuklas resignation while sharing a video of rats at a hospital, which he claimed was at the Jabalpur district hospital. On Sunday afternoon, while a caesarean surgery was underway at the Gynaecology OT of the Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital in Rewa, smoke suddenly started emanating, followed by a blaze. With the surgery being in the last stages after the birth of the stillborn child, the mother was safely evacuated out of the OT, and the babys charred body was left behind in the surgical tray. While a probe has been initiated in the matter to find what triggered the blaze and fix accountability for the lapses, the state Congress chief Jitu Patwari demanded the resignation of Rajendra Shukla over the incident. When the health minister cannot manage the health system in his own district, what can be expected from him for the entire State. Notably, the hospitals medical superintendent, Dr Rahul Mishra, is the nephew of Lok Sabha member from adjoining Sidhi district, Rajesh Mishra. Previously too several incidents of negligence have come to light at the same hospital, but no one has been held accountable. Even after hundreds of deaths across the State due to the governments negligence, why has Rajendra Shukla not been asked to resign? Patwari questioned. On Monday, Patwari shared on X a video of rats at a hospital, claiming it to be visuals from the Jabalpur district hospital. When the government hospitals arent safe, where on earth will the commoners go for treatment? If you have even the slightest concern for the state, then resign immediately and do justice to the people of MP. The deputy CM has been regularly on the Congresss radar in the recent past due to the deaths of 24 kids due to cough syrup poisoning in Chhindwara and adjoining districts, and also due to the deaths of two newborn babies following rat bites at the MY Hospital in Indore.

Ram Vilas Vedanti dies: Ram Janmabhoomi movement leader passes away at 67; last rites in Ayodhya

Ram Janmabhoomi movement leader and former BJP MP Ram Vilas Vedanti passed away at the age of 67 in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh, due to a heart attack. He was admitted to the hospital with severe blood poisoning and kidney failure. Efforts to transfer him to AIIMS Bhopal by air ambulance were unsuccessful due to poor visibility.

Probe ordered after goats seen eating midday meals with children at an Anganwadi in Madhya Pradesh

BHOPAL: A probe has been ordered and preliminary action initiated after videos went viral showing goats eating midday meals from steel plates alongside children, allegedly outside an Anganwadi centre in Madhya Pradeshs Katni district. Multiple viral clips show children seated in two parallel queues with food served on steel plates, while two goats are seen eating from plates kept at the end of one queue. Officials said the incident pertains to an Anganwadi facility operating from a rented private building in Sehra Mohalla of Kothi village, located in the tribal-dominated Dhimarkheda block. The arrangement was made due to the absence of an adequate government building for the Anganwadi or school, they added. Katni District Collector Ashish Tiwari said a team of officials was dispatched to the village immediately after the videos surfaced. The Anganwadi centre has been functioning from a private rented building since last year, while construction of a permanent facility is underway at another location, he told this newspaper on Sunday. According to Tiwari, the preliminary probe found that the Anganwadi supervisor, assistant and worker were not present when the midday meal was being served. Based on the initial findings, the salary increment of the Anganwadi supervisor has been withheld, and show-cause notices have been issued to the assistant and the Anganwadi worker, he said. The incident has drawn attention coming barely a month after a separate video from Sheopur district sparked national outrage. In that case, children at a government primary school in Hullpur village of Vijaypur block were seen being served midday meals on scrap paper. The November incident reportedly led to the suspension of the school principal and termination of the contract of the self-help group responsible for preparing the meals. The Sheopur episode had also prompted sharp political reactions, with Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi questioning the BJP-led central and state governments over the issue. Residents of Kothi village said the Anganwadi centre has been operating from the private building since January 15. No supervisor or worker ever comes here. Since 2024, children have been coming only to study and have midday meals. Around 60 to 65 children are beneficiaries of this centre, a villager said.

Madhya Pradesh minister Vijay Shah sparks fresh controversy over remarks on Ladli Behna scheme beneficiaries

BHOPAL: Already facing a criminal case over his sister of terrorists remark about Indian Army officer Colonel Sophia Qureshi, BJP-ruled Madhya Pradeshs senior cabinet minister Kunwar Vijay Shah has sparked fresh controversy with comments on the beneficiaries of the CM Ladli Behna Scheme, the financial support program for women, which proved to be a key factor in the saffron partys success in the 2023 assembly elections. Shah, chairing the district development advisory committee meeting in Ratlam on Saturday evening, said, This district has 2.5 lakh Ladli Behna Scheme beneficiaries, at least 50,000 of them should come forward to honour the CM for completing two years in power. We should plan an event where the Ladli Behnas would honour the CM. When the government is giving crores of rupees at a Rs 1,500 monthly rate to each beneficiary, then honouring the CM at least once in two years is justified. In the video of the meeting, which has gone viral, Shah (the minister in charge of Ratlam district) can be heard telling the officials, Plan an event where the Ladli Behnas would honour the CM in the new year. We will arrange food for them. Those who dont come, we will then see what happens to them. Such beneficiaries would be investigated; if someones Aadhar isnt linked, their application will be put on hold. That means it will automatically be stopped. Then everyone will come. The remarks were enough to trigger a fresh political controversy. The BJP should honour its beloved sisters, it is instead having its pampered ministers insult them. First, the vile remarks against the nations pride Col Sophia Qureshi, and now threats to mothers and sisters of the state, this is clear proof of BJPs frustration and anti-women mentality. The CMs silence is tantamount to endorsing the entire insult. The minister who first insulted the countrys army and now millions of sisters in the state, he doesnt have any right to remain in the government, state Congress chief Jitu Patwari wrote on X. My linguistic mistake has hurt countrymen: Madhya Pradesh minister Vijay Shah apologises for 'sister of terrorists' remark Former CM and ex-state Congress chief Kamal Nath, also took to X on the same issue. The minister is threatening the women that failure to come to the CMs event will lead to them being dropped from the list of Ladli Behna Scheme beneficiaries. The BJP and its minister seem to be considering the Ladli Behnas as their bonded labour. It amounts to an open challenge to the civil rights and independent existence of women in the state. Importantly, the Ladli Behna Scheme was launched in June 2023 by then Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led BJP government in the state. Currently, Rs 1500 are being credited into the accounts of around 1.27 crore beneficiaries monthly under the pro-poor women scheme. Making an objectionable remark about Colonel Sophia Quereshi in May 2025 or this latest remarks about Laldli Behnas in Ratlam, isnt the first time that the senior cabinet minister Vijay Shah has made women-targeted remarks. In September this year, Shah had come out in support of his senior cabinet colleague and former BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya over the latters controversial remark related to the leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi, kissing MP sister, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, publicly. His (Vijayvargiya) statements are correct, as in the Indian culture, no brother kisses his sister in public. Kissing ones sister in public is not our culture and not at all in line with our customs and traditions. For those who indulge in such acts, they should do it in their homes and not on the crossroads, Shah had said in home district Khandwa in September. In April 2013, BJPs 62-year-old tribal politician Shah had to resign as the states scheduled caste and scheduled tribe welfare minister, reportedly in the wake of his sexual innuendos about some women BJP leaders and then MP CM (and current union agriculture minister) Shivraj Singh Chouhans wife Sadhna Singh. In March 2024, he had suggested that the Department of Posts appoint actor-turned-BJP MP Hema Malini as brand ambassador to get more deposits into its investment and savings schemes. Make her (Malini) the brand ambassador and then tell me, as were Hema Malinis patthe. Well get all the money of poor people out from the banks and put it in the post office, he had said while inaugurating the post office passport service centre in his native Khandwa district in March 2024.

Inter-state criminal nabbed in Indore after returning to fill SIR voter form

BHOPAL: Coming back to his home city Indore reportedly to fill up his Special Intensive Revision (SIR) voter enumeration form recently, a hardened inter-state criminal landed in the Madhya Pradesh polices net. Identified as Abdul Rashid, alias Talwar Singh (54), the criminal is accused in around 100 cases, including robbery, theft and murder in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and other states. He had recently returned to Indore after many years just to fill up the SIR enumeration form. On December 3, he broke into a closed flat in Indores Geeta Nagar locality and decamped with gold and silver jewellery valued in lakhs of rupees. Multiple teams were formed by the Indore Palasia police to crack the burglary-theft case, which led to the arrest of Abdul Rashid a few days later in Indore, following a specific tip-off. His questioning revealed that he had come down to his home city Indore after many years for filling up his SIR enumeration form. After filling the form, he committed the crime at the closed flat in Geeta Nagar, but acting on specific intelligence, the police arrested him a few days later, Indore police spokesperson and additional DCP of the city crime branch Rajesh Dandotiya told TNIE on Saturday. Subsequent investigations, based on Rashids sustained grilling, revealed that he was accused in around 100 cases of theft, robbery, burglary, murder and attempted murder in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and other states. Had he not come to Indore for filling up the SIR form and then not committed the burglary-theft, maybe we wouldnt have been able to nab him, a senior Indore police officer said. Stolen properties, including cash, jewellery and a two-wheeler, all valued at over Rs 7.5 lakh, were recovered from Rashids possession. He was originally a native of Indores North Toda locality and started committing thefts and burglaries from the age of 19. However, he later shifted to Akola in Maharashtra after the Indore police began searching for him. He married a woman in Akola and started living there. He earned the infamous sobriquet Talwar Singh a few years back, after he beheaded a man with a sword and then surrendered at the local police station with the severed head in Maharashtras Wardha.

Security increased at Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's Bhopal residence

BHOPAL: Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhans open-to-all official residence, Mama Ka Ghar, in the Madhya Pradesh capital has now turned into a heavily barricaded fortress following an increased security threat perception. A large number of metallic barricades have been erected outside the B-8B-9 combined bungalow in the high-security 74 Bungalows area of Bhopal. The bungalow, which has been Chouhans official residence since January 2024, was named Mama Ka Ghar after he shifted there from the Chief Ministers residence, weeks after Dr Mohan Yadav took charge as CM. Chouhan ruled Madhya Pradesh as chief minister for over 16 years. Highly placed sources in the state police said security at the residence has been augmented following specific alerts from New Delhi, indicating that the former chief minister and present Union minister is increasingly on the radar of across-the-border handlers of terrorist groups and separatist elements operating in the country. The security here has been beefed up since Friday night, with round the clock Dial-112 emergency response vehicle and a strong police picket having been deployed outside the big bungalow, a senior police officer, part of the enhanced security apparatus, told TNIE on Saturday. Chouhan already enjoys Z+ personal security cover, which was approved by the Union Home Ministry in December 2018, days after his 13-year-long BJP government lost power to the Congress in the Assembly elections. The Z+ category is extended to individuals facing severe threats and includes crack commandos, bulletproof vehicles and advanced security equipment. It is second only to the Special Protection Group (SPG) cover provided to the Prime Minister. Confirming the enhancement, Bhopal Police Commissioner Harinarayanchari Mishra said, The security of the highest level of protectees is reviewed periodically and based on the periodic review of the union ministers security, the security apparatus at his residence in Bhopal has been enhanced. While state police sources maintained that the security has been stepped up based on specific intelligence inputs from the national capital, political circles in Bhopal offered varying interpretations. Sections within the state BJP were abuzz with speculation that the move could signal Chouhans strong prospects of becoming the partys next national president. However, Congresss state media wing head and former minister Mukesh Nayak disputed this narrative. Enhancement of Chouhans security is being used by his followers for spreading it as a harbinger of his appointment as BJPs next national president. If it actually turns out to be true, then the entire state will be happy. But according to us, the security has been beefed up following a missive from the central government to the state government, about Chouhans security in the state not being adequate, which is why the security cover is being suddenly increased, Nayak claimed. Located on the main road in the 74 Bungalows area, Chouhan formally named the residence Mama Ka Ghar on January 3, 2024. Speaking on the occasion, he had said, The address has changed, but Mama ka Ghar will remain Mama ka Ghar. My bond with sisters, nieces, nephews and brothers is of love, trust and affinity, my doors will always remain opened for them. Whenever you remember me, come here without hesitation, because this is your maternal uncle and brothers house.

MP CM hails naxal cadre elimination as top achievement ahead of two-year government milestone

BHOPAL: A day before his government completes two years in power, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav termed the end of naxal cadres through the elimination and surrenders policy as the biggest achievement of his government so far. The naxal menace is as old as 37-38 years. Various naxal dalams had been formed way back in 1988-89. In 1995, an entire bus carrying 17 police personnel was blown into pieces. Four years later, a minister in the then Congress government (transport minister Likhiram Kanware) was brutally hacked to death by the outlaws. Despite Congress governments ruling the centre and states for decades since independence, the naxal problem wasnt adequately addressed, Yadav told journalists in Bhopal on Friday. In the three naxal-affected districts of MP, Dindori, Mandla and Balaghat, eliminating the naxals was a cumbersome task. Searching for and acting against 35-40 outlaws in the vast forests was difficult. They ran parallel courts, police stations, and councils of ministers. The fear of the Laal Salam extremist ideology among forest dwellers made anti-naxal operations even more difficult, Yadav added. But the situation dramatically changed when Union Home Minister Amit Shah set a March 2026 deadline for eliminating the naxal menace. I was initially sceptical about whether it was achievable, but he was confident, and the results are for all to see. The numbers in the Maharashtra-Madhya Pradesh-Chhattisgarh (MMC) Zone dropped to zero on Thursday the biggest and most historic development. Ten hardcore naxals were gunned down in 2025, the maximum in any year. First Dindori, then Mandla were freed from left-wing extremism (LWE), and on Thursday, Balaghat also recorded zero listed naxal cadres, Yadav said while congratulating the police forces involved in the operations. All credit for eliminating naxal cadres through the surrender or get killed policy goes to our brave cops. For the first time, IPS officers volunteered for postings in naxal-infested areas and set targets to uproot naxalism. Our IG in Balaghat Range, Sanjay Kumar, moved on a motorcycle like a regular jawan such was the commitment and dedication of our police force. We also pay rich tribute to all cops who sacrificed their lives, including young Inspector Ashish Sharma. The 42 surrenders in 42 days wouldnt have been possible without the proactive approach of our brave cops. Salute to their efforts, he added. They once ran a parallel regime in the jungles and terrorized villagers. Now, the same outlaws were competing among themselves to surrender first to save their lives. Mobile phone conversations between them reveal their urgency. With naxal cadre numbers now down to zero in Balaghat, Mandla, and Dindori, we will now ensure a proper framework and system to prevent naxalism from reviving, Yadav said. The MP CM also highlighted inter-state river linking projects like Ken-Betwa, Parvati-Kalisindh-Chambal, and the Tapti Basin Mega Recharge Project as other major achievements of his two-year tenure. The river linking projects, once implemented, will enhance irrigated land from 52 lakh hectares to 100 lakh hectares in five years, he maintained. While reiterating his governments commitment to ending drug abuse in MP, Yadav said, We have begun by banning liquor in 19 religious towns and cities. With cooperation from society and social organisations, we are confident of eliminating the drug menace completely within the next three years.

Study flags sector-specific gaps in Indias ESG push

Collaborative research by Kerala University and the Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal, publishes the findings

MP government moves to sack IAS officer over forged documents, controversial remarks

BHOPAL: Already in the eye of a storm following his controversial public statements about Brahmin girls and the judiciary, Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Santosh Verma now faces possible dismissal from the IAS cadre. In a late Thursday night development, the state government said the general administration department (GAD) has decided to move a proposal to the central government for Vermas dismissal from the IAS cadre. It has been found that his promotion from the State Administrative Service (SAS) to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) cadre was obtained through forged and fabricated orders. Criminal cases are pending against him in various courts. Therefore, a proposal for his dismissal from the IAS cadre is being sent to the central government, the state government said in an official statement. The departmental inquiry against Verma for obtaining a character certificate based on forged and fabricated documents is in its final stages. The reply submitted by Santosh Verma to the show-cause notice in the present case is not satisfactory. He is continuously issuing undignified statements. Therefore, it has been decided to issue a charge sheet against him, the statement added. The state government has decided to remove Verma from the post of Deputy Secretary, Agriculture Department, and attach him to the GAD pool without any department or work. Importantly, Verma is also the president of the Madhya Pradesh Scheduled Castes and ST Officers and Employees Association, also known as AJJAKS. The late-night statement came just three days before the Brahmin caste outfit, Brahmin Samaj United Front, was slated to stage a massive protest with a gherao of the Chief Minister's residence on December 14, pressing for action against Verma for his recent controversial comments about Brahmin girls. Back on November 23, while addressing the provincial convention of AJJAKS in Bhopal as the associations state president, Verma had made the objectionable remarks about Brahmin girls. Verma had reportedly said: Reservation should be given to only one person in a family until a Brahmin donates his daughter to my son or allows my son to have a relationship with her. Massive protests have since been held across the state by upper caste outfits. Upper-caste politicians from both the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress also recently met Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav, demanding stern action against Verma. Even before the controversy over his remarks about Brahmin girls could subside, another viral video showed him accusing the High Court of blocking Scheduled Tribe candidates from becoming civil judges. He alleged that the judicial recruitment process was deliberately designed to exclude SC and ST candidates. Reacting to the controversy around his statements, Verma has claimed that the issue is being manufactured to target him due to leadership-related internal disputes within AJJAKS.

Two top Naxals surrender in Balaghat; MP now free of all listed MMC zone cadres, says CM Yadav

BHOPAL: Continued surrenders by armed Naxal cadres in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra, driven by surrender or get eliminated anti-Naxal operations, resulted in two more hardcore Naxalites laying down arms in the forests of MPs Balaghat district on Thursday. Two wanted Naxals carrying a combined reward of 43 lakh surrendered at a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camp in the Korka area of Balaghat district. They were identified as Deepak Uike, a Gondia-Rajnandgaon-Balaghat (GRB) divisional committee member carrying a reward of Rs 29 lakh, and Rohit, who had a Rs 14 lakh bounty. With their surrender, Madhya Pradesh is now free of all listed CPI (Maoist) cadres from the Maharashtra-MP-Chhattisgarh (MMC) special zone. Based on interrogation of the armed Naxal cadres who surrendered recently, after the latest two surrenders, all listed Naxal cadres of the MMC zone have now been eliminated or have surrendered. This is a historic development, Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav announced on Thursday evening. Deepak Uike was considered the poster boy of Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) in Balaghat district, as he hailed from Palagondi village in the same region. Both Deepak and Rohit were part of the Malajkhand Dalam of the GRB divisional committee, which operated largely in the southern stretches of the MMC Zone. The dalam, led by CPI (Maoist) central committee member and MMC Zone chief Ramder Majji, saw 12 cadres surrender in Chhattisgarh on December 8. However, Deepak and Rohit had stayed away from the December 8 surrender. In the last 42 days, as many as 42 hardcore Naxalites carrying a collective bounty of Rs 7.75 crore have surrendered in MP, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra, the MP CM said, congratulating anti-Naxal police personnel. The chief minister also paid tribute to the 38 police personnel who have died in anti-Naxal operations in undivided and divided Madhya Pradesh since 198889. The elimination or surrender of all listed cadres in MP assumes special significance as it comes just two days before the Mohan Yadav-led BJP government completes two years in office. In 202324, four wanted Naxalites, including a woman cadre carrying a total reward of 71 lakh, were gunned down in encounters. In 2025 so far, ten armed Naxal cadres all of area committee rank carrying a total bounty of 1.46 crore have been killed, marking the highest Naxal casualties in any year, Yadav added.

BLS International secures renewal of attestation, apostille services contract with MEA

MUMBAI, Dec 11: BLS International Services on Thursday said it has secured the renewal of its contract for attestation and apostille services with the External Affairs Ministry. The renewed contract covers its existing service operations across Delhi, Hyderabad, Guwahati, Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Panaji, Kochi, Lucknow, Thiruvananthapuram, Jaipur, Patna and Puducherry, BLS International said in a statement. Under this agreement, BLS International will provide MEA attestation and apostille services for educational, non-educational, and commercial documents across [] The post BLS International secures renewal of attestation, apostille services contract with MEA appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Bhopal Diary | Sandalwood tree cut on assembly premises

An attempt by some people to cut and steal sandalwood trees from the Vidhan Sabha premises has exposed the state of security at the assembly complex. Notably, it happened while the winter session was underway. While one tree was felled, two others bore deep saw marks. Just two weeks earlier, thieves had cut down a sandalwood tree outside the DFO office in the VVIP 74 Bungalow area of Bhopal. In November last week, six sandalwood trees were felled and three of them stolen from the Gufa Mandir premises. Felling of sandalwood trees has happened a few days after the MP HC directed that no tree shall be cut, pruned or transplanted in Bhopal. White horse rent for wedding reaches Rs 11L Demand for white horses in Madhya Pradesh, particularly in states commercial capital Indore, is on the rise as the marriage season peaks. Most horse owners are getting demand for white horses from families preparing for weddings. The bookings for white horses range from Rs 51,000 to Rs 11 lakh. Decorating the same horses in the best manner is additionally costing Rs 2.5 lakh. Some horse owners have recently brought white horses from Pushkar to meet the surge in demand in the ongoing wedding season. The priciest white horse in Indore is 5-ft-tall Padmavati whose rent has reportedly reached Rs 11 lakh. Woman mountaineer to get Vikram Award Ace woman mountaineer Bhawna Dehariya will be awarded the states highest sporting honour Vikram Award. The decks were cleared for the mountaineer to get the award after the MP High Court junked a petition challenging her selection for the honour by the state government. The petition was filed by another Everest climber Madhusudan Patidar who had scaled the highest peak in 2017, while Dehariya achieved the same feat in 2019. Dismissing Patidars petition, the HC stated that his Everest feat was outside the five-year eligibility period specified in the states 2021 award rules. The state had chosen Dehariya for the highest award under the Adventure Sports category in 2023. Anuraag Singh Our correspondent in Madhya Pradesh singhanuraag.jaurno@gmail.com

A movement to break the misogyny hidden in words

In November, psychologist and social media influencer Divija Bhasin started the Proud Randi Movement online, encouraging women and girls in India to take back the meaning of a misogynistic Hindi slur by adding it to a hashtag to their bios. Bhasin said in a reel: If we stop finding this word insulting, men will lose the power to use it as an insult. The Proud R movement has had interesting offline predecessors when it comes to the reclamation of certain words. The Slutwalks of the early 2010s come to mind, of course. The first Slutwalk was in Toronto, in response to a police officer shaming women for their clothing. More were organised internationally; in India they were held in Bhopal, Delhi and Kolkata. The United States saw a pussyhat movement during which protestors wore pink hats to the 2017 Womens March, with the accessory serving as a rejoinder to President Donald Trumps widely-reported statement on women: grab them by the p***y. Bhasins current project is a virtual manifestation on the same lines, highlighting words that are used in sexually violent ways and repossessing them as the basis of activism. But online presence itself carries risks, and this campaign increases risks for some participants. Multiple FIRs have been lodged against her on charges of inciting minors to adapt abusive language and potentially influencing them towards sex work. Interestingly, both conservative and liberal factions have taken issue with the Proud R movement. Bhasin has been critiqued regarding how the slur originated in specific caste and class locations, raising questions about its weightage to people of privileged positionalities. The slur may be widely used against all women but it more precisely denigrates sex workers, who are likely for various systemic reasons to be of marginalised backgrounds. Bhasin acknowledges the words history in her original reel, and indicates rightly that the clients should be stigmatised, not the service providers. As to whether defanging the R-word creates intersectional solidarities depends on broader individual choices. Chances are that a person who is more deeply invested in feminist living will find the R-word deleterious because she is ideologically allied with sex workers issues, and not because she finds it offensive to be called one. That the word is in Hindi, and isnt weaponised pan-India, has also been a point of contention. But perhaps a more productive take would be to see that the fact there is no one terrible insult that cuts across all languages and cultures is not a bad thing. The misogyny is long-steeped, but not monolithic. The reclamation of sexually violent and highly gendered words is a part of known feminist practice. Shock is deployed purposefully, and sometimes effectively. The discourse that arises from the shock may be the most valuable part of such methods, which isnt to say that this kind of provocation isnt also problematic. What such provocation forces is (re)acknowledgment of misogyny, and its pervasive and assorted layers. It exists not only in ghastly crimes. Its in the everyday on the Internet and in the home, on public transport and in schools and offices. Its certainly in small words that have the power to detonate.

Madhya Pradesh: Six cops from Malhargarh station found guilty of framing teen in false drug case

BHOPAL: Cops from Malhargarh police station in western Madhya Pradeshs Mandsaur district had reportedly kidnapped an 18-year-old student in August 2025 and then arrested him in a fake case of opium smuggling. The revelations came to the fore on Tuesday during the hearing of the petition filed by Sohans family in the Madhya Pradesh High Courts Indore Bench four months after the illegal arrest and framing of the teenager in the false case related to seizure of 2.7 kg opium. Contrary to earlier statements of Mandsaur authorities about no foul play in the matter which as per them was a major narcotics seizure related arrest, the present Mandsaur district police superintendent Vinod Kumar Meena admitted before the HCs division bench in Indore on Tuesday, that the FIR didnt match the actual time and location, which were already captured in the video. The SP Mandsaur further submitted before the HC that the entire operation was led by a head constable of Malhargarh police and the case was registered against the teenager while he was already in illegal custody. Also, the probe by Malhargarh police wasnt carried out in pursuance of due legal procedure. The Mandsaur district police chief further confirmed to the HC that the cops seen boarding the bus (from which the teenager was picked) were actually staff of Malhargarh police station a submission which was contrary to the earlier statements of the cops in Mandsaur district in which those plain-clothed cops were disowned as Malhargarh police station staff. The SP-Mandsaur Vinod Kumar Meena further informed the court that six cops, including those who dragged Sohan out of the bus, have been suspended and a departmental inquiry instituted against them. As the High Court has reserved its order in the matter, legal experts expect stern action in the matter. The 18-year-old teenager was granted bail by the Court on December 5, while stating that he was kidnapped from the bus and then framed up in a false case related to 2.7 opium seizure. The young teenager was a promising student who had passed Class XII with first division marks. On the HCs directions, the SP-Mandsaur personally appeared before the Court on Tuesday. The district police chief admitted that the entire operation by Malhargarh wasnt in accordance with law, High Court advocate Manish Thakur said. The court also questioned the SP-Mandsaur about the previous statements of the investigation officer in the case, Sanjay Pratap Singh, who had submitted that those seen entering the bus four months back, werent police personnel. The SP admitted before the Court that those cops seen entering the bus were the staff of Malhargarh police station and all the six cops who were involved in the entire illegal operation and registering of the case and arrest of the youngster have been suspended and a departmental probe ordered against them. The HC has reserved the verdict in the matter, Thakur added. The matter dates back to August 29, 2025 when the 18-year-old student was dragged out of a bus in Malhargarh police station area of Mandsaur district. Few hours later, the Malhargarh police claimed that he had been arrested after being caught with 2.7 kg of opium. He was produced before a local court the next day and sent to jail in the NDPS Act case. The CCTV grabs, mobile phone videos and witnesses statements, however, told a completely different story. In the quest of justice for their son, the 18-year-old promising students family knocked at MP HCs doors in Indore, which led to the grant of bail to him on December 5.

Four constables killed as their vehicle collides with truck in MP's Sagar

SAGAR: Four constables of a bomb squad from Morena were killed and another cop was seriously injured when their vehicle collided with a container truck in Madhya Pradesh's Sagar district on Wednesday, an official said. The accident occurred at around 4 am on National Highway- 44 between Bandri and Malthone in Sagar district, the official said. The vehicle carrying personnel of the bomb detection and disposal squad collided head-on with a container truck parked on the wrong side of the highway, Bandri police station in-charge Sumer Jagat said. The impact was so severe that the police vehicle was severely damaged. Four personnel died on the spot. They have been identified as constable Pradhuman Dixit, constable Aman Kaurav, driver Paramlal Tomar, all residents of Morena, and dog master Vinod Sharma, hailing from Bhind, the official said. Another constable, Rajiv Chauhan, sustained serious injuries. He was immediately taken to Bansal Hospital in Bhopal, where his condition was reported to be critical, the official said. A dog that was part of the squad was safe, he said. After being alerted, local administration and police personnel rushed to the spot and launched a rescue and relief operation. Prima facie, it seems the police vehicle's driver lost control of the wheels, which led to the accident, the official said. The police registered a case, and a search was on for the truck driver. The bodies were sent for post-mortem, the police added.

Khajuraho cabinet meet for Bundelkhand revamp

BHOPAL: A special meeting of the Madhya Pradesh cabinet on Tuesday approved series of proposals focussed on the development of states Bundelkhand region which has been counted among the most backward and underdeveloped regions of the country since decades. Chaired by CM Dr Mohan Yadav in the states tourist city Khajuraho in Chhatarpur district the state cabinet meeting approved a special industrial incentive package for Bundelkhand, ushering investments worth Rs 24,240 crore and direct employment for nearly 29,000 people in the region. Under the package which is meant for the Maswasi Grunt industrial area in Bundelkhands Sagar district, the land allotment and annual land lease rate have been fixed at just 1 per square metre. Additionally, a facility of 20 equal annual instalments has been provided for payment of development charges, while the maintenance fee has been set at Rs 8 per square metre per year. To encourage investors, 100% reimbursement of stamp duty and registration fees has been approved. Industrial units will also be exempted from electricity duty for five years from the date of commencement of commercial production. Large industrial units will be governed by the provisions of the Industrial Promotion Policy 2025 and Investment Promotion Scheme 2025, while MSME units will be covered under MSME Development Policy 2025 and MSME Incentive Scheme 2025. Cement manufacturing units will not be eligible for this special package, which will remain in force for the next five years. The cabinet also approved an administrative sanction of Rs 2,059.85 crore for the upgradation and construction of the 76.680 km SagarDamoh road as a four-lane carriageway with paved shoulders under the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM). The project will include construction of 13 underpasses, 3 major bridges, 9 medium bridges, one ROB, 13 major junctions and 42 medium junctions. It approved 990 regular and 615 outsourced posts for operating the new government medical colleges at Damoh, Chhatarpur and Budhni. For each of the three medical colleges, 330 regular posts will be created and 205 personnel will be engaged on an outsourcing basis. The cabinet also gave in principle approval to develop Virangana Durgavati Tiger Reserves Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary as the third cheetah habitat in the state.

Three hotel staff die of suspected food poisoning in MP's Khajuraho; several critical

BHOPAL: At least three lower-rung staff/workers of a prominent three-star hotel-cum-tourist resort in Madhya Pradeshs world-famous tourist city, Khajuraho, have died due to suspected food poisoning, while at least three to four are stated to be in critical condition at a government hospital in Gwalior. The tragic incident happened after the lower-rung employees had a delayed lunch at around 5 pm in their portion at the Gautam Hotel and Resort on Monday. The condition of 11 of the staff members deteriorated a short while later and they started vomiting, after which they were rushed to the Chhatarpur district hospital in the late evening. Potato and cauliflower curry is suspected to have caused the health emergency. With their condition continuing to worsen, the doctors at the Chhatarpur District Hospital referred them to adjoining Gwalior for life-saving treatment. Three of the critical workers identified as Pragilal Kushwah (54), Ramswaroop Kushwah (47) and woman staffer Girija Rajak (35) died during the course of treatment at the Jai Arogya Hospital (JAH) in Gwalior, official sources in MPs Chhatarpur district said. Out of the 11 workers who took ill, nine were referred to Gwalior. While three died during the course of treatment at the JAH Hospital, six others have been admitted at two other government hospitals in Gwalior. Three to four of the remaining staffers, who are admitted at two hospitals in Gwalior, are stated critical. Three workers died due to suspected food poisoning. Immediate funeral assistance of Rs 5,000 each has been approved for the three deceased. Also, financial assistance of Rs 20,000 each has been released for the three bereaved families. Further, action is being taken to provide assistance of Rs 4 lakh each under the Sambal Scheme. Primary probe revealed that the workers of the hotel-cum-resort had lunch out of the food prepared by them only. Food poisoning is suspected in food which was prepared and consumed by them and not the food prepared at the hotel-cum-resort for the guests, which included officials of the state government, Chhatarpur district collector Parth Jaiswal told TNIE . The concerned portion where the food was cooked and consumed by the workers has been sealed and the samples of the food leftover sent for testing. The report will be with us in a day, based on which further action will be taken, he added. Food samples have also been taken for testing from other hotels and resorts, which are reporting major tourists/visitor occupancy presently, Chhatarpur district chief medical and health officer (CMHO) Dr RP Gupta said. Angered over the incident, the family members of the deceased workers and other ailing workers blocked the Khajuraho-Bamitha Road, demanding Rs 1 crore compensation for each bereaved family from the government. The tragic incident happened on a day when the states CM Dr Mohan Yadav was in the tourist hotspot Khajuraho with his entire council of ministers, for a special cabinet meeting and other related events. Most of the hotels and resorts in Khajuraho housed state government ministers and officials for two long days.

Training aircraft crashes after hitting electricity wireline in MPs Seoni district

BHOPAL: A training aircraft crashed after hitting a 33 KV electricity wire line in Madhya Pradeshs Seoni district on Monday evening. The instructor pilot Ajit Anthony and the trainee pilot Ashok Chawda, who were on board the aircraft were injured and rushed to the hospital, where they are now stated out of danger. The incident occurred around 6:30 pm near the fields of Amgaon, about two kilometres from the Suktara airstrip. Villagers said they saw sparks, heard a loud explosion, and then witnessed the aircraft crash in a nearby field. According to Seoni district police superintendent Sunil Mehta, the aircraft belonged to the Redbird Aviation Academy and had taken off from Suktara airstrip. It was preparing to land when its wing struck the electricity wireline. The impact caused the line to trip, preventing a larger accident. Several nearby villages reportedly experienced temporary power outages following the mishap. Primary investigations suggest that it was perhaps some snags in the aircrafts engine which could be behind the crash. The actual reason for the mishap will, however, be clear only after the DGCA probe, SP Mehta said. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the crash.

Model held for selling drugs in Bhopal; seizures worth 1.6 lakh

MP ministers brother held as police bust inter-state ganja racket in Satna

BHOPAL: An alleged inter-state ganja smuggling racket has been busted in Satna district of Madhya Pradesh with the arrest of two men, including Anil Bagri, the elder brother of MPs minister of state for urban development and housing Pratima Bagri. Acting on a specific tip-off, a police team from Rampur Baghelan police station raided the house of one Pankaj Singh in Marahuan village late Sunday night and seized more than 46 kg of ganja worth over Rs 9 lakh, stashed in sacks under a tin shed. The seizure led to Pankaj Singhs arrest. He later told police that Anil Bagri had brought the ganja consignment to his house in an SUV on December 4. A subsequent probe led the Rampur Baghelan police to Anil Bagri, the ministers brother. Both Pankaj Singh and Anil Bagri have been arrested and booked under the NDPS Act. They were produced in court on Monday and sent to judicial custody, Rampur Baghelan police station in-charge Sandeep Chaube told TNIE . Bagris questioning revealed that he transported the consignment to Pankajs house at the behest of his brother-in-law, Shailendra Singh Shibbu, who was recently arrested in a ganja smuggling case in Uttar Pradesh and is currently lodged in Banda jail. Shailendra is no stranger to narcotics cases - he was arrested in September 2024 in a cough syrup smuggling case in Satna district. We will bring Shailendra Singh on a production warrant from Banda Jail to investigate this racket further, the police officer added. Further investigation suggests the ganja consignment was sourced from Beohari (Shahdol) and that key players in the racket may have links to Chhattisgarh.

Bhopal Metro BIG update: CM Mohan Yadav says metro services to start from...; check details

The 6.22-km-long first phase of the Bhopal Metro to be inaugurated will cover eight stations. Check details below.

10 days, 33 surrenders leave Naxal ranks in MMC Zone on brink of collapse

BHOPAL: Ten days and 33 surrenders have shrunk the number of armed Naxal cadres to single digits, for the first time in more than three decades in the Maharashtra-Madhya Pradesh-Chhattisgarh (MMC) Special Zone. The CPI (Maoist) MMC Zone comprises bordering districts of the three neighbouring states MP, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh including Balaghat district and parts of Mandla district (MP), Rajnandgaon, KCG, MMA and Kabirdham districts of Chhattisgarh, and Gondia district of Maharashtra. Around 40-45 armed Naxal cadres were active in two major parts of the MMC Zone. Three Dalams, Khatiya Mocha, Bhoramdev and Borla, formed the Kanha-Bhoramdev Division in the northern MMC Zone, covering Balaghat and Mandla districts of MP and Kabirdham district of Chhattisgarh. At least two Dalams, Malajkhand (including the defunct Tanda Dalam cadres) and Darre Khasa, formed the Gondia-Rajnandgaon-Balaghat (GRB) division in the southern MMC Zone, where cadres armed with AK-47s, INSAS rifles and Under Barrel Grenade Launchers (UBGLs) remained active. A series of bulk surrenders began on November 28, when 11 Darre Khasa Dalam cadres, led by MMC Special Zonal Committee spokesperson Vikas Nagpur alias Anant, surrendered in Gondia (Maharashtra). Nagpure had recently appealed for an end to armed struggle and sought time from the CMs of the three BJP-ruled states to surrender, amid intense pressure from joint anti-Naxal operations. Just nine days earlier, on November 19, cadres of the same Darre Khasa Dalam had killed Ashish Sharma, a young inspector of MP Polices elite Hawk Force, in an encounter at the tri-state border. Before surrendering with 10 cadres, Nagpure had left behind four armed cadres, likely to persuade other Dalam members. who later surrendered in Chhattisgarh on Monday. Nine days later, Madhya Pradesh reported its biggest-ever Naxal surrender when ten cadres of the KB Division surrendered before the MP Chief Minister in Balaghat district on Sunday (December 7). They collectively carried a bounty of Rs 2.36 crore, including two top leaders MMC Zone secretary Surendra alias Kabir Sodi and Special Zonal Committee Member Rakesh Odi alias Manish. This surrender ended the northern MMC Zones KB Division and its three Dalams, effectively freeing the non-tourist forest areas of the Kanha National ParkTiger Reserve from the LWE presence. On Monday, the surrender of MMC Zone head and CPI (Maoist) Central Committee member Ramder, along with 11 cadres of the Malajkhand Dalam (GRB division), nearly cleared the southern MMC Zone of Naxals, leaving only six armed cadres on the run. Two cadres from Ramders Malajkhand Dalam and four from Nagpures Darre Khasa Dalam are still absconding. They may also surrender soon due to mounting pressure under the Surrender or Get Eliminated policy, a senior MP police officer told TNIE. Earlier, between November 1 and 6, eight other wanted cadres including two women, Sunita and Taruna had surrendered in MP and Chhattisgarh. In the last 38 days, around 40 LWE cadres have surrendered in the MMC Zone. Only six remain. Once they surrender or are neutralised the armed Naxal presence, already nearly wiped out in MP due to the 22 surrenders on Sunday and Monday, will disappear from the entire MMC Zone, the officer added.

Tide Now Supports Over 1 Million Small Businesses in India

Gen Zs and millennials make up over 85% of Tides MSME community a powerful reminder that young India is steering the country's entrepreneurial momentum Tier 2, 3, 4 and beyond cities driving growth with over 96% members (MSMEs) on the platform, from towns like Bareilly, Bhopal, Murshidabad, Lucknow and North 24 Parganas Tide , the UKs leading business management platform, today announced that it has surpassed 1 million members (MSMEs) in India. This rapid growth reflects the deep trust that Indian small businesses from nano to micro and emerging SMEs have placed in Tide to simplify how they register, run and grow their businesses. The platform has doubled adoption since its launch in December 2022. India has emerged as Tides largest and fastest-growing market globally in member acquisition, showcasing the success of its India-first strategy and strong product-market fit. Gurjodhpal Singh, CEO, Tide in India, said, This milestone is more than a number its a story of trust. In just under three years, one million Indian entrepreneurs have chosen Tide to be their partner in growth. This reflects our commitment to helping small businesses who have been gravely underserved save time and money by giving them business critical tools across finance, admin and related commercial services that they need, to grow. India is where some of Tide's most innovative products are being developed, creating strong use-cases to be implemented globally . A trusted business partner for Indias entrepreneurs Tides success has always been rooted in scaling responsibly and delivering real-world impact. The company is doing so by building a unified, highly-connected digital platform that reduces the burden of business finance and admin. Over the past year, Tide has delivered product innovation at pace across India with products including: Bill Payments: SMEs in India can pay their utility bills with no extra costs and earn rewards. The product is backed by enhanced security. Udyam Registration: Enabling MSME registration and access to priority government benefits including low-interest loans, subsidies on electricity certifications, protection against delayed payments, etc. GST Registration: help obtain a Goods & Services Tax Identification Number (GSTIN), enabling compliance, marketplace selling, input tax credit claims, and vendor trust. Scheme Discovery: Smart matching of government benefits and subsidies to business eligibility. Fixed Deposits Intermediation: Helping SMEs to earn competitive returns on their balances in a seamless and paperless experience. NCMC Card Integration: A single smart Tide card that doubles up as a national mobility card, accepted across multiple transport modes. Structured partners: Provides disbursement of funds to freelancers and vendors via a secure partner portal. Analytics on spending deliver real-time data so SMEs can make faster decisions about cashflow, a key pain point for SMEs. Tides member make-up Tides growth in India is being driven by a new generation of business owners, with over 85% (865,000) of its members under the age of 40, including 58% Gen Z and 42% millennialsreflecting the strong entrepreneurial momentum among Indias youth. And, with our oldest member at 95, simply proves that its never too late to do what you love. The platform is scaling rapidly across emerging business hubs, with 63% of its members from states such as Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Maharashtra, and a majority comprising small and micro entrepreneurs like local retailers, freelancers and service-led solopreneurs. With strong adoption in Tier 2, 3, 4 and beyond towns namely Bareilly, Bhopal, Murshidabad, Lucknow, North 24 Paraganas, Jaipur, Firozabad, Ghaziabad, Shahjahanpur and Kota with not a single Tier 1 city in the top 10 Tide is playing a significant role in enabling the digital transformation of Indias most underserved business communities. Championing entrepreneurs beyond business tools Tide believes progress happens when entrepreneurs are supported not only with products but with recognition, access and ecosystem change. Women in Business mission: On track to bring 500,000 women entrepreneurs onto the platform by 2027. Tides Bharat Women Aspiration Index brings forth voices from beyond metros to shape better policies for women entrepreneurs across Tier 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 towns in India. Udaan Chronicles: Tides flagship mentoring roadshow, created to help small business owners in semi-urban and rural India, brings expert-led mentoring directly to entrepreneurs who lack access to formal networks and financial resources. UK-India collaboration: Enabling SME expansion across borders through industry delegation. Contributing to critical dialogue shaping future trade for small businesses under the provisions of the UK-India FTA. Tides progress in India is rooted in accountability and global investor backing. The company recently secured a $120 million strategic investment, in a funding round led by TPG. Tide is also deepening its long-term commitment to India with a 500 million investment over the next five years, starting 2026. This investment underscores Indias role as a cornerstone of Tides global growth strategy, which will be used to fuel product innovation tailored for Indian SMEs, technology and AI-led development and expansion of Tides financial ecosystem including payments, credit, and investment solutions. Tides strategy in India emphasises digital inclusion to bring formal financial and business services to underserved entrepreneurs outside major metros, in smaller towns and rural clusters. This approach aligns with the Government of Indias efforts to formalise and digitise MSMEs and increase their access to credit, markets and exports. Among some of the exciting new features to be launched next year, include investments, acquiring, insurance, easy access to formal credit, banking services and advanced payment acceptance solutions. Tide is here to make managing business smoother and more successful. About Tide Launched in 2017, Tide is the leading business management platform in the UK. Tide helps SMEs save time (and money) in the running of their businesses by not only offering business accounts and related admin services, but also a comprehensive set of highly usable and connected administrative solutions from invoicing to accounting. Tide has nearly 800,000 SME members in the UK (14% market share) and 1,000,000 SMEs in India. Tide launched in Germany in May 2024 and in France in September 2025. Tide has also been recognised with the Great Place to Work certification three years in a row. Tide has been funded by Anthemis, Apax Digital Funds, Augmentum Fintech, Creandum, Salica Investments, Latitude, LocalGlobe, SBI Group, Speedinvest and TPG, amongst others. It employs more than 2,500 Tideans worldwide. Tides long-term ambition is to be the leading business management platform globally. www.linkedin.com/company/tide-banking twitter.com/TideBusinessIND www.instagram.com/tidebusinessindia/ www.facebook.com/TideBusinessIndia

NEP aims to infuse Indian ethos into Macaulay-era education system: Pradhan

BHOPAL, Dec 7: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday said the objective of the National Education Policy was to infuse the Indian ethos into the Macaulay-era education system. Addressing a workshop on Implementation of National Education Policy-2020: Challenges and Possibilities in Bhopal, he said the time has come to connect Indias traditional education systems with artificial intelligence to gain global recognition for the countrys rich cultural and knowledge traditions. He described Madhya Pradesh as an ancient centre of scientific, [] The post NEP aims to infuse Indian ethos into Macaulay-era education system: Pradhan appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

10 Maoists surrender before CM Mohan Yadav in MP's Balaghat district

BHOPAL: In a landmark development in Madhya Pradeshs anti-Naxal operations, ten hardcore Maoist cadres, including four women, surrendered before Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav on Sunday in Balaghat district. The group, associated with the CPI (Maoist) Maharashtra-Madhya Pradesh-Chhattisgarh (MMC) special zone, carried a combined bounty of Rs 2.36 crore and laid down two AK-47s and two INSAS rifles at a special programme attended by the CM. Addressing journalists in Balaghat, Dr Yadav said, Today is a big day for the success of anti-Naxal operations of MP Police. Though Dindori and Mandla district had already become free of LWE, todays big development will result in Balaghat district also getting majorly free of the outlaws. This speaks volumes about the success of the targeted anti-naxal operations based on the prime principle of surrender or get eliminated and will go a long way in freeing Kanha National Park-Tiger Reserve and Bandhavgarh National Park-Tiger Reserve of any remnants of the naxal cadres. The ten surrendered cadres belonged to the Kanha-Bhoradev (KB) division of the MMC Zone, which operated in northern parts of the zone covering Balaghat and Mandla in Madhya Pradesh and Kabirdham in Chhattisgarh. Among them were MMC Zone secretary and special zonal committee member Surendra alias Kabir Sodi (50), SCZM Rakesh Odi alias Manish, and area committee members Lalsingh Marawi, Salita alias Savitri, Navin Nuppo alias Hidma, Jaisheela alias Lalita Oyam, Vikram alias Hidma Vatti, Zarina alias Jogi Musak, and Samar alias Somaru. The cadres, aged between 26 and 50, hailed from Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra, with the two SZCMs having been linked to multiple past killings of villagers suspected of being police informers. Key sources in the state polices anti-Naxal establishment said that with this surrender, the northern part of the MMC Zone running through Kanha National Park is now free of Naxal activity. This development is expected to allow anti-Naxal camps of the MP Police and central paramilitary forces to shift focus to the southern MMC Zone, which includes the Gondia-Rajnandgaon-Balaghat (GRP) division, where 18 armed Naxals, including a 14-member group led by central committee member Ramder, are still active. The surrender comes just a day after an encounter between MP Police and Ramders group along the MP-Chhattisgarh border and 36 days after another hardcore Naxalite, Sunita, became the first cadre to surrender under the states special surrender-cum-rehabilitation policy of 2023. In 2025, MP Police also eliminated 10 hardcore Naxalites, who carried a total bounty of Rs 1.86 crore. The mass surrender in Balaghat marks the largest-ever surrender by armed Naxals in Madhya Pradesh, significantly strengthening the states efforts to curb left-wing extremism and secure sensitive areas, including Kanha and Bandhavgarh tiger reserves.

MP Speaker urged not to fix House session date during marriage season

BHOPAL: Marriages cast their shadow on the Madhya Pradesh Assemblys winter session that concluded on Friday. On the concluding day of the four-day winter session, 14 MLAs from the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress, besides the lone Bhartiya Adivasi Party (BAP) legislator Kamleshwar Dodiyar, were absent in the Assembly for reportedly attending wedding ceremonies. On the final day, Speaker Narendra Singh Tomar read out the names of six MLAs who were to raise their questions during the Question Hour, but the legislators werent to be found. Three other MLAs whose questions were also listed were not present, which left the Speaker surprised. The Speaker subsequently read out the names of the 14 MLAs who were absent. They included Kunwar Singh Tekam, Narendra Singh Kushwaha, Dhirendra Bahadur Singh Dhiru, Satish Malviya, Arvind Pateria, Rajesh Shukla, Virendra Singh Lodhi and Bhupendra Singh (all BJP MLAs), Atiq Aqeel, Nitendra Singh Rathore, Mukesh Malhotra, Bhairon Singh Bapu, Rajendra Bharti (Congress legislators) and the lone BAP MLA Kamleshwar Dodiyar. The absence of the MLAs prompted the states parliamentary affairs minister Kailash Vijayvargiya to request the Speaker to keep in mind the wedding days while deciding the sessions in future. Many of the MLAs have skipped the proceedings today (Friday) after informing that they have to attend marriages in their families. Before deciding the session in future, we need to also keep in mind that there are fewer marriages when sessions are to be convened. After all, being public representatives, the legislators have to be present in marriages as well, Vijayvargiya appealed to the Speaker. It was perhaps for the first time in nearly 20 years that the Vidhan Sabha had five full minutes left in Question Hour with absolutely nothing to do due to the absence of the 14 MLAs, a legislator said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

Stray cattle menace: 237 road accidents led to 94 deaths in last two years in MP

BHOPAL: The menace of stray animals is proving deadly for humans in Madhya Pradesh. Over the last two years, a person has either lost their life or suffered grievous injuries every third day in road accidents caused by stray cattle across the state. In a written reply to a question raised by former Leader of Opposition and seven-time Congress MLA Ajay Arjun Singh, the Dr. Mohan Yadav government informed the Vidhan Sabha on Friday that 237 road accidents attributed to stray animalsparticularly cattlewere reported during this period. Citing data from the state police and the home department, Animal Husbandry and Dairy Minister Lakhan Patel said these 237 accidents led to 94 deaths and 133 injuries. This means that 227 human casualtiesfatalities and serious injuries combinedoccurred due to stray-animal-related road crashes over two years, averaging at least one major casualty every three days. However, the minister did not share any data on damage to farmers crops caused by stray cattle. Since the assessment of crop losses due to stray animals, especially cattle, is not done by the Animal Husbandry and Dairy Department, the information cannot be provided, Patel said in his reply. He also confirmed that no proposal was under consideration to compensate farmers for such losses. Patel further briefed the House on the existing cow-protection infrastructure in the state. Currently, about 4.5 lakh cattle are housed in nearly 3,000 gaushalas (cowsheds) across Madhya Pradesh. Of these, more than 2,200 gaushalas operate under the Mukyamantri Gauseva Yojana, while the remaining cowsheds are run either by voluntary organisations or by local bodies across the states 55 districts. For the 202526 financial year, the state government has allocated 296.20 crore for the upkeep and management of gaushalas.

CAG flags misuse of IT Park land in MP, finds storehouse and non-tech related units on subsidised plots

BHOPAL: An audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has uncovered alleged misuse of land leased in the IT Parks of Bhopal and Jabalpur. These plots, meant for information technology and allied firms, were found to house a nursing college, a medicine storehouse, and units manufacturing electric equipment and water-pump starters. The audit, carried out in June 2023 across IT Parks in Bhopal, Indore and Jabalpur, showed that 11 out of 20 completed units were engaged in activities inconsistent with those mentioned in their lease deeds. The findings relate to the Shivraj Singh Chouhan period. According to the CAG report tabled in the Madhya Pradesh Vidhan Sabha on Thursday, the MP State Electronic Development Corporation Limited (MPSEDC), the agency responsible for developing and promoting IT Parks, didnt act against the lessees/firms. Instead, it supported the 11 firms by paying them Rs 3.96 crore as land subsidy and Rs 61.44 lakh as other incentives/subsidies. One firm that received 0.87 acres in the Jabalpur IT Park in June 2017 for running a BPO-Call Centre, IT Training Centre, and Data Processing Centre, was operating a nursing college, even though MPSEDC had paid a subsidy of Rs 53.36 lakh to the firm. Another firm allotted land to manufacture electronic equipment, and software was using its building to store medicines, after already receiving Rs 15.78 lakh land subsidy. In Bhopal, a firm that was allotted two acres in May 2018 for manufacturing LED lights and electronic products was only assembling components, not manufacturing them. It had been paid a subsidy of Rs 165.4 lakh. The audit also noted severe underperformance: 101 firms allotted 123 plots and expected to create 6,536 jobs by 2023, but had created only 96 jobs. Construction hadnt even started in 84 cases. Four firms recorded as functional were actually locked. Additionally, 13.57 acres in Bhopal and Indore IT Parks were encroached.

Day after being released into wild, 10-month-old cheetah cub found dead in Kuno National Park forests

BHOPAL: One of the two cheetah cubs released into the wild, along with their mother, at the Kuno National Park the day before, was found dead on Friday. A South African female cheetah, Veera, was released along with its two cubs from the enclosures into the wild by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav on International Cheetah Day. One of Veeras cubs, which was aged around 10 months, was found dead in the forest on Friday. The cub had been released into the wild along with its sibling and mother, Veera, on Thursday. During the night, the cub got separated from mother and sibling. The exact cause of death will be confirmed after the post-mortem report is received, Cheetah Projects field director said in an official statement on Friday night. Veera and the other cub, meanwhile, are together and doing well, the statement said. CM Dr Mohan Yadav had released six-year-old Veera and two cubs (born in February 2025) into the wild in Kuno National Parks (KNP) Parond Forest Area, marking the International Cheetah Day on Thursday. After Friday's tragic development, the KNP in Sheopur district now has 28 cheetahs, including eight Namibian and South African adults (five females and three males) and 20 India-born cubs. As many as 18 out of the 28 surviving cheetahs at the KNP, including Veera and her lone surviving 10-month-old cub, are hunting in the wild, while the remaining ten cheetahs, including 33-month-old Mukhi and her five cubs, are housed in the protected enclosures. The death of Veeras cub is the second death of an India-born cheetah cub in less than three months. On September 15, a 20-month-old female cub of Namibian cheetah Jwala, had died in the KNP jungles, reportedly after an encounter with a co-predator leopard. Jwala, along with four cubs, was released from the enclosure into the jungles in February and now continue to be in the same forests with three surviving cubs.

CAG audit finds major gap in allotment, development of land given for IT Parks in Madhya Pradesh

BHOPAL: Land allocated on lease in IT Parks in Bhopal and Jabalpur for operating information technology and allied companies/firms, has been found housing nursing college, storehouse of medicines and units manufacturing electric equipment and water pump starters, an audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has revealed. Audit of IT Parks in Bhopal, Indore and Jabalpur conducted in June 2023, to ascertain business activities, construction status and land use, has revealed that 11 out of the 20 completed units were engaged in activities inconsistent with those which were mentioned in the respective lease deeds and didnt fall into the category of activities pertaining to the IT industry. The audit pertained to the period while the Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led BJP government ruled the state. According to the CAG report, tabled in the Madhya Pradesh Vidhan Sabha on Thursday, the MP State Electronic Development Corporation Limited (MPSEDC), which is responsible for developing and promoting IT Parks, didnt act against the concerned lessees/firms. It instead supported the concerned 11 firms by paying them Rs 3.96 crore as land subsidy and Rs 61.44 lakh as other incentives/subsidies. One of the firms was allotted 0.87 acres land in the IT Park, Jabalpur in June 2017. Being an IT-enabled services firm, it had to carry out activities relevant to BPO-Call Centre, IT Training Centre and Data Processing Centre. The audit (physical inspection) in June 2023, however, revealed that no such centre existed in the building constructed on the land allotted to the firm. However, a nursing college was found running in the buildings basement. The MPSEDC had paid Rs 53.36 lakh subsidy to the concerned firm. Another firm was allocated land on lease at the IT Park in Jabalpur, for manufacturing electronic equipment and software. But during the audit, the building was found to be used to store medicines. The concerned firm had already been given Rs 15.78 lakh land subsidy. One firm was allotted two plots spread in two acres of land at the IT Park in Bhopal in May 2018 for manufacturing LED lights and electronic product mix. The physical inspection in June 2023, however, revealed that the firm wasnt manufacturing anything, but merely assembling the components of LED lights and bulbs. The MPSEDC had paid Rs 165.40 lakh subsidy to the firm. Further, 101 firms, which were allotted 123 plots, aiming to create 6,536 jobs by 2023, created merely 96 jobs by 2023. In the 101 firms that were yet to commence operations at the time of the audit in 2023, even the construction work hadnt started in 84 cases, while buildings were under construction in 10 cases. Just seven firms had completed the construction. Despite non-completion of construction/non-commencement of operations, the MPSEDC did not act against those firms by terminating the leases and re-allotting to other interested parties/firms. Further, the audit noticed that four firms at IT Parks in Bhopal and Jabalpur, which were shown to be functional in records, were actually locked and non-functional. Also, it was observed during the scrutiny of records that 13.57 acres of land in two IT Parks in Bhopal and Indore were encroached, which resulted in Rs 3.62-crore loss to the government. It also deprived the MPSEDC of Rs 2.28 crore in the form of opportunity cost, which it could have earned as land premium, had it prevented the encroachment and allotted the land to the applicant firms. The audit also observed that the MPSEDC had not prepared any long-term plan or strategic plan to develop IT Parks of the state, in line with the applicable IT Policy, due to which it didnt set any annual target for allotment of plots/space and commencement of production/delivery of services by the firms.

Kashmirs Dal Lake May Find its Twin in Bhopal, Shikara Service Launched in Upper Lake

Twenty new shikara boats equipped with high class entertainment facilities like bird-watching, savoring local dishes, mobile markets of handicrafts and organic vegetables and fruits

Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav launches 20-strong fleet of Shikaras in Bhopals Upper Lake

BHOPAL:Tourists craving to relish rides on the Shikara boats, but finding the iconic Dal Lake in Kashmir or backwaters of Kerala too far, now have the option to enjoy the same ride in the heart of India Madhya Pradesh. With a 20-strong fleet of Shikaras, the Shikara Boat service was launched in the Madhya Pradesh capital Bhopals Upper Lake on Thursday. The 20 Shikaras, which were launched by Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav, are equipped with food and comfortable seating arrangements for visitors, and are expected to give Madhya Pradeshs water tourism a new identity at the national and international level. While urging tourists from across the country and residents of Bhopal and the state to enjoy the Shikara Boat service, the CM said that the Madhya Pradesh Tourism is expanding water-sports activities and that tourists will also be able to purchase indigenous products while enjoying the shikara rides. The CM and other dignitaries enjoyed tea, poha, samosas andfruits from the shikara boat restaurant. The CM also purchased traditional Bag & Batik textiles and organic products from the floating boat market. This is for the first time in Madhya Pradesh that Shikaras are being operated on such a large scale. All the 20 Shikaras which were launched on Thursday, have been built using pollution-free, modern technology. They are built from fibre-reinforced polyurethane and high-quality non-reactive materials that do not cause any chemical reaction with water, ensuring the complete safety of the lakes ecology and water purity. This is for the first time in Madhya Pradesh that Shikaras are being operated on such a large scale. These shikaras have been crafted by an internationally renowned organisation whose boats are already popular with tourists in Kerala, Bengal, and Assam. With their addition, Bhopals Boat Club is now ready to welcome visitors with these attractive new vessels. Along with boating, tourists will be able to enjoy bird-watching and purchase handicrafts, local dishes, organic vegetables and fruits during the ride. Each Shikara Boat can accommodate four to six passengers. Each Shikara ride will be 20 minutes long. While four passengers will have to pay Rs 300 for the 20-minute ride, six passengers will have to pay Rs 450 for the same ride. The service will be operational from 9 am till sunset. Importantly, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had reportedlybanned all motorized boats, including diesel and petrol-powered ones, in Bhopal's Upper Lake in September 2023 to protect the wetland. The order had come in response to a petition highlighting the environmental damage caused by these activities, which includes emissions from the boats. The ban applies to cruise boats and other motor-propelled vessels operating on the Upper Lake and other designated wetlands in the state. Later, in March 2024, the Supreme Court dismissed an appeal by the MP Tourism Development Corporation, which challenged the NGT order.

CM Mohan Yadav releases South African cheetah Veera, twin cubs into wild at Kuno National Park

BHOPAL: A South African female cheetah, Veera, and her ten-month-old twin cubs were released into the free-ranging forests of Madhya Pradeshs Kuno National Park (KNP) on Thursday. The release by Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav, marked International Cheetah Day at KNP, the first Indian home to African (Namibian and South African) cheetahs since September 2022. The mother and cubs, born in India in February, were released in the Parond forest area, a designated tourism zone. Their presence is expected to boost ecotourism and public engagement with Project Cheetah. Post-release monitoring will continue through advanced radio-tracking and field teams to ensure the animals safety and successful integration into the landscape. Veera, known for her adventurous behaviour, previously strayed out of Kuno during the summer of 2024, travelling through villages and jungles of Morena district into neighbouring Gwalior. In May 2024, she attacked a herd of goats, killing three in front of a shepherd. The latest release comes two weeks after a landmark development at Kuno, the birth of five cubs to 33-month-old Mukhi, the first Indian-born female cheetah to an African mother. The six-year-old Veera and her cubs now join 16 other cheetahs and cubs already living and hunting independently in the parks forests, often dispersing into adjacent districts of Gwalior and Morena, as well as parts of Rajasthan. These include two females, Jwala and Asha, and their six cubs each. Namibian female Jwala and her four cubs were released into the forest in February 2025. One of her cubs, a 20-month-old female, died reportedly after a fight with a leopard on September 15. Kuno currently hosts eight adult cheetahs and 21 cubs. Meanwhile, Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary in Mandsaur and Neemuch districts is home to three South African cheetahs, a male coalition and a female. On Thursday, the Chief Minister also released Kunos 2026 calendar and the newly developed Field Manual for Clinical Management of Free-Ranging Cheetahs in Kuno National Park. He further inaugurated the parks new souvenir shop, aimed at enriching visitor experience and promoting conservation awareness.

ICAR data: Madhya Pradesh leads parali burning with 52% of fire events among six states

BHOPAL: Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhans home state, Madhya Pradesh, is contributing the maximum to parali burning (paddy residue/stubble burning) in the country, data showed. As per the recent statistics pertaining to monitoring paddy residue burning in the country via satellite remote sensing, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) said as many as 33,028 active burning events in six study states. The six study states included Punjab, Haryana, UP, Delhi, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh. As per the recent report, out of the 33,028 active fire events detected across the six states, a maximum 17,067 or 52% events were detected in MP. Importantly, these 17,067 active burning events detected in MP, between September 15 and November 30, 2025, were more than the collective 15,961 similar active events reported in the same period in the five other states. Among the five other states, 5,114 burning events were detected in Punjab, 662 in Haryana, 7,290 in UP, 2, 890 in Rajasthan and just five in Delhi. A similar picture was revealed when it came to 292 crop residue active burning events detected in the six study states on November 30. MP again attained the top position with 160 burning events, which was more than the total 132 burning events in the five other states. Burning events detected in the five other states on November 30, included two in Punjab, three in Punjab, 125 in UP, zero in Delhi and just two in Rajasthan. Further analysis of the crop residue burning events detected through the satellite remote sensing technology revealed that the Gwalior-Chambal region contributed the maximum to stubble burning in the forest-rich central Indian state. 'Incorrect to pass burden onto farmers': SC questions blaming stubble burning for Delhi pollution Out of the 17,067 active burning events between September 15 and November 30, a maximum of 2,643 were reported in Sheopur district, which borders Rajasthan. As many as 1,930 events were detected in Gwalior district of the same Gwalior-Chambal region, followed by 1,797 such events in the adjoining Datia district. The other districts of the same region where significant active burning events were detected included Ashoknagar (506) and Morena district (64). Even when it came to the 160 active burning events detected on November 30 in the state, Gwalior district contributed the maximum at 62. At least 98 or 61% of the total 160 active burning events in MP as on November 30 were detected in districts of Gwalior-Chambal region. Jabalpur district in Mahakoshal region, adjoining Hoshangabad district of central MP and Satna district in Vindhya region were close behind the districts of Gwalior-Chambal region. According to informed sources, MP having the dubious distinction of being the leader in paddy stubble burning isnt a new phenomenon, but has been happening at least since the last two years. The state government tabled figures related to cases registered against those indulging in Parali burning since April 2020 in the Vidhan Sabha on Tuesday. A total of 546 such cases were registered against offenders in various parts of the state in little less than five years. Out of those 546 cases, as many as 506 cases were registered between December 2023 and November 2025. According to Gwalior district collector Ruchika Chauhan, the Parali burning incidents have declined significantly this year compared to last two years, due to multi-pronged efforts by authorities, including imposing penalties ranging between Rs 5,000 and Rs 15,000 based on area of cultivation, use of harvesters having machines to ensure that crop residue is negligible and sustained awareness campaigns.

Organisers of Bhopal gas tragedy anniversary rally booked as effigy resembles RSS worker

Two effigies were seen in the rally one portraying the U.S.-based Dow Chemical, and other of a man in white shirt and khaki half-pants

BJP, activists clash at Bhopal gas tragedy commemoration

Bhopal: A rally organised on Wednesday to mark the 41st anniversary of the Bhopal gas tragedy took a political turn when BJP supporters created a ruckus, alleging protesters were preparing to set fire to an RSS effigy alongside that of current Union Carbide owner Dow Chemical. The rally, organised by four non-governmental groups representing survivors Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Bhopal Looks to Shake Off Gas Tragedy Tag

Bhopal marks 41 years since gas tragedy as city hopes to shed toxic legacy after waste removal

Confrontation mars Bhopal Gas Tragedy anniversary march over effigy resembling RSS worker

BHOPAL: A peaceful march marking the 41st anniversary of the 1984 Bhopal Gas Tragedy on Wednesday was marred by a noisy confrontation between the RSS-BJP workers and members of organisations working for the survivors of the worst industrial tragedy. The noisy encounter was triggered by an effigy, which the BJP and RSS workers claimed portrayed a RSS Swayamsevak, and consequently hurt the religious and organisational sentiments. The representatives of the organisations working for the gas tragedy survivors, however, rejected the RSS-BJP workers allegations, stating that the effigy represented those responsible for the tragedy and was not aimed at targeting any particular outfit or organisation. Just like the previous anniversaries, the organisations working for the gas tragedy survivors took out the remembrance march from the Bharat Talkies underbridge to JP Nagar Gas Memorial in the Madhya Pradesh capital. As the march began, one of the two symbolic effigies carried by the survivors enraged local BJP and RSS workers, who claimed the procession hurt their sentiments. The ruling party and its parent organisations workers, while accusing the organisers of deliberately getting an effigy which was portrayed as an RSS worker, confronted the marchs organisers, demanding that the concerned effigy be removed immediately. A local BJP leader, Ashish Thakur, who was among those who protested the inclusion of the concerned effigy in the march, accused the marchs organisers of vitiating the atmosphere by intentionally carrying the concerned effigy, which resembled an RSS Swayamsevak. The march organisers, however, denied the BJP-RSS workers allegations. The effigy represented the companies responsible for the tragedy and those who aligned with them and didnt target any particular outfit, said Bhopal Group for Information and Action representative Rachna Dhingra. The 1984 tragedy survivors, who formed part of the march, carried banners which blamed the ruling BJP of betraying the cause of the survivors, colluding with those who caused the tragedy and neglecting the interests of the thousands of survivors of the worst industrial tragedy. With the noisy confrontation on the brink of snowballing into a major incident, the police stepped in and seized the effigy. The police officers, however, remained tight-lipped about the entire development. Angered over the effigy, the RSS-BJP workers demanded that a case be registered against those responsible for getting the concerned effigy in the march.

Air fares surge after IndiGo cancellations; 1.03 lakh for HyderabadBhopal ticket

On Bhopal gas tragedy eve, survivors groups slam BJP over denial of justice

Bhopal: On the eve of the 41st anniversary of the Bhopal gas tragedy, four organisations representing survivors on Monday accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of denying them justice and prolonging their suffering, a charge stoutly denied by the saffron party. At least 5,479 people died and thousands were maimed for life after the Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Clashes Break Out At Rally Marking 41 Years of Bhopal Gas Tragedy

The rally to mark the 41st anniversary of the Bhopal gas tragedy turned into a heated political confrontation after RSS and BJP workers clashed with gas victims' organisations over an effigy carried during the march.

HSBC INDIA Expands its Presence in Gujarat with a New Branch in Vadodara

HSBC India on Saturday unveiled its new branch in Vadodara, Gujarat, marking a significant step in its strategic expansion across the country. This launch signifies the banks 27th branch in India and its second in Gujarat, following Reserve Bank of Indias approval earlier this year to open 20 new bank branches in key cities. Chef Ranveer Brar, Her Highness Radhikaraje Gaekwad, Maharani of Baroda & Sandeep Batra, Head, International Wealth & Premier Banking, HSBC India, at the branch inauguration Vadodara, known for its rapid economic growth and industrial prowess, is emerging as a significant hub for wealth creation. The city is home to a burgeoning population of affluent, High Net Worth (HNW), Ultra High Net Worth (UHNW), and non-resident clients in one of Indias rapidly growing wealth and industrial hubs. HSBCs new branch is strategically positioned to meet the financial and wealth needs of this customer segment. The expansion reinforces HSBCs focus on the wealth opportunity in India, where it is the leading international bank offering a full spectrum of solutions and services to clients across International Wealth and Premier Banking, and Corporate and Institutional Banking. Commenting on the launch, Sandeep Batra, Head of International Wealth and Premier Banking, HSBC India , said, As entrepreneurial spirit and innovation continue to drive economic growth and personal wealth, affluent customers are increasingly adopting a global outlook. They are seeking a trusted partner who is able to consistently serve them across jurisdictions. Our new branch in Vadodara reflects our commitment to being closer to our customers and delivering world-class banking solutions tailored to their unique needs. As the leading international bank in India, we remain focused on enabling our clients to unlock opportunities and achieve their aspirations, both in India and internationally . With this addition, HSBC now has a network of 27 branches across 15 cities in India. HSBC has maintained a strong presence in India for over 170 years, supporting customers in their financial journeys both locally and globally. Further HSBC India will open branches in Amritsar, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Dehradun, Faridabad, Indore, Jalandhar, Kanpur, Ludhiana, Lucknow, Mysuru, Nagpur, Nashik, Navi Mumbai, Patna, Rajkot, Surat, Thiruvananthapuram and Vishakhapatnam. About HSBC India HSBC India offers a full range of banking and financial services through 27 branches across 15 cities. HSBC is one of India's leading financial services groups, with around 44,000 employees in its banking, investment banking and capital markets, asset management, insurance, software development and global resourcing operations in the country. It is a leading custodian in India. The Bank is at the forefront in arranging deals for Indian companies investing overseas and foreign investments into the country. About HSBC Holdings plc HSBC Holdings plc, the parent company of HSBC, is headquartered in London. HSBC serves customers worldwide from offices in 60 countries and territories. With assets of US$3,099bn at 30 September 2024, HSBC is one of the worlds largest banking and financial services organisations.

47% rise in child marriages since 20, Bundelkhands Damoh dist hotspot

BHOPAL: Marriages of girls aged below 18 years continue to increase in Madhya Pradesh, despite the government claims of working against it in a focussed manner, especially through public awareness campaigns. Statistics tabled by Mohan Yadav government in the Assembly on Tuesday revealed a 47% increase in such cases in 2025, compared to corresponding figures from 2020. So far, this year, 538 child marriages have been reported across the state, a big rise from 366 in 2020. There were 366 such marriages reported in 2020, which increased by 19% to 436 in 2021, 519 marriages in 2022, 528 in 2023, and 529 in 2024. While Bundelkhand, central MP, Gwalior-Chambal region, besides some tribal dominated districts have reported the maximum number of such weddings, Damoh district of Bundelkhand region has emerged as the prime hotspot with maximum 115 such marriages in 2025. With 115 marriages, Damoh contributed 21% of the total 538 such marriages so far this year. The same district had reported 69 such marriages in 2021, 64 in 2022, 39 in 2023 and 33 in 2024. The other districts which reported significant number of such marriages this year, included Rajgarh with 44 marriages, 35 in Bundelkhands Chhatarpur, 28 in Gwalior-Chambal regions Guna, 24 each in Sagar & Dewas, and 23 in Narsinghpur district. A maximum of 115 weddings in Damoh this year is the first time in five years that any district has reported in 100 or more marriages annually. Concern raised The incidence of marriages involving girls below 18 years has risen from 366 in 2020 to 538 in 2025 Damoh dist in Bundelkhand has recorded 115 child marriages this year This is the first time in five years that a dist has seen over 100 cases in a year

Sustainable Management of Urban Pollution

Dr. Banarsi Lal Every year 2nd of December is observed as the National Pollution Control Day in India.This day is observed in the memory of people who lost their lives in Bhopal gas calamity.Bhopal gas tragedy occurred in the year 1984 on the night of 2-3 December.Many people died due to harmful gas Methyl Isocyanate also known as MIC.Bhopal Gas Tragedy is considered as one of the biggest industrial pollution disasters.On the night of December 2-3,1984, a toxic gas leak [] The post Sustainable Management of Urban Pollution appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

MP dissolved nine caste-based welfare boards without spending allocated funds, state tells assembly

BHOPAL: As many as nine caste/community-specific social welfare boards, which were formed by the Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led government just a month before the 2023 Vidhan Sabha polls in Madhya Pradesh, were dissolved on September 17, 2025, without receiving even a single rupee during their 23 months of existence. The disclosure was made in the state governments reply to a question by Congress MLA Pratap Grewal during the ongoing winter session of the Vidhan Sabha in Bhopal. A total of 12 boards were created in April and October 2023 by the then Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led BJP regime. These included the MP Kush Kalyan Board for the welfare of the Kushwaha community, Swarnakala Board for the Soni community, Telghani Board for the Sahu caste, Maa Puri Vayee Keer Board for the Keer community, Jai Minesh Board for the Meena community, Vishwakarma Board for the Vishwakarma community and Veer Tejaji Board for the Jats. They also included the Rajak Samaj Kalyan Board and Maa Ahilya Devi Board for the Pal community, the Devnarayan Board for the Gurjar community, the Maharana Pratap Kalyan Board and the Jain Samaj Kalyan Board. Out of these, nine boards formed in October 2023 were allotted Rs 8.34 crore in 2023, but not even a single rupee of those funds was released until the boards were dissolved in September 2025. The information shared by Minister of State for Skill Development and Employment Gautam Tetwal in a written reply revealed that there was no information about any beneficiary being identified, selected or provided aid under any welfare scheme of the nine boards. While not a single district-level meeting was held by any of the nine boards during the 23 months, three boards held state-level meetings on September 9, 2024, and three others conducted similar meetings in February to March 2025. Three other boards, including the Maharana Pratap Board, Rajak Samaj Kalyan Board and the Telghani Board, did not hold even a single meeting during their entire existence. Among the nine boards, the Maharana Pratap Board failed to appoint its head and secretary in 23 months, while no members were appointed in the Telghani and Jai Minesh Boards. The Rajak Kalyan and Veer Tejaji Kalyan Boards had just one member each instead of the required four. Further, outsourced staff were hired 18 months after formation in November 2024 and then relieved of duties within a few months, between April and August 2025. Importantly, a majority of the boards operated from the AVN Tower in MP Nagar, Bhopal, which houses the headquarters of the Skill Development Directorate. Two boards functioned from privately rented buildings, despite having no operational activity. Congress MLA Pratap Grewal, who shared with journalists the details of the reply given by Minister Gautam Tetwal, said the reply makes it clear that the caste- and community-specific welfare boards were formed solely to secure votes in the 2023 Assembly polls. The specific caste-communities were cheated just for political gain. BJP people were appointed as chairman and members of the board and were given facilities like vehicles, honorarium allowance, telephone, etc., and their work was done through them. In the name of welfare of the board, the amount of Rs 8.34 crore received by the concerned department was not deposited in the board, due to which not a single person from the societies benefited. Now after two years, the dissolution of the boards makes it clear that BJP has done the condemnable act of insulting the societies in the name of the board, he said.

900 tonnes of toxic ash post-incineration of Union Carbide waste causes unease in MP town

INDORE: About 900 tonnes of toxic ash generated in the process of incinerating waste from the Union Carbide plant in Bhopal five months ago is still lying around in Pithampur industrial hub in Madhya Pradesh, anxiety in the area mounting with each passing day. Nearly five months ago, the toxic waste, soil and packaging material brought from the Bhopal unit, the site of the 1984 gas tragedy, was incinerated at a plant in Pithampur, an industrial town in adjoining Dhar district. The incineration of entire 358 tonnes of matter -- 337 tonnes of toxic waste, 19 tonnes of contaminated soil and 2.2 tonnes of packaging material -- from the defunct Union Carbide factory had concluded in the beginning of July, over six months after the consignment was transported from Bhopal. The waste was burned in an incinerator using a scientific process, mixing lime and other materials, producing approximately 900 tonnes of ash, officials said. They said the state government had planned to bury the generated ash in a landfill cell under construction on the premises of the Pithampur plant, located near Tarpura, a village with a population of about 20,000, in Dhar district. However, nearly two months back , the Madhya Pradesh High Court directed the state government to find an alternative site to dispose of the ash, saying its disposal near human habitation is unacceptable. According to officials, the ash is currently safely stored in the plant's leak-proof storage shed. At least 5,479 people were killed and thousands were maimed after the highly toxic methyl isocyanate gas leaked from the Union Carbide's pesticide factory in Bhopal on the intervening night of December 2-3, 1984, making it one of the biggest industrial disasters in the world. The Jabalpur bench of the high court on October 8 this year rejected a proposal to bury the ash of the toxic waste in a landfill cell being constructed on the Pithampur plant's premises, stating that the facility was too close to human habitation. The present containment site for the toxic ash in proximity to human habitation is unacceptable to this court, the HC said. In its order, the court referred to an interim application filed by an intervener, which stated that tests had found mercury levels in the toxic ash to be above the permissible limit. The application has been filed by the intervener, which discloses that the tests conducted on the toxic ash still reveal the presence of mercury, which is higher than the permissible limits as disclosed in the Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board's report dated August 12, 2025, the HC said. It also directed the state government to file a report citing alternative sites for containment of this ash. Under the circumstances, the state is directed to file a report citing alternative sites for containment and also inform the court whether a global tender was floated in order to obtain the best technical expertise of companies/agencies, which may have unimpeachable technical prowess in executing a work of this nature and have dealt with similar cases of containment of toxic chemical waste, it said. The government officials refuse to comment on the disposal plan, saying the matter was sub judice. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, an official, however, told PTI on Tuesday that the contract awarded to a private company for the disposal of Union Carbide waste includes burying the ash in a dedicated landfill cell within the Pithampur plant premises, and that all safety standards are being observed during this construction. The construction of this landfill cell is in its final stages, he said. Pithampur, about 30 km from Indore, is a major industrial area in the state. This industrial area houses approximately 1,250 units, employing thousands of workers, including migrant workers from various states across the country. Social activists in Pithampur are not in favour of burying the ash in a landfill cell at a waste disposal unit adjacent to human habitation. Hemant Kumar Hirole, head of local organisation 'Pithampur Bachao Samiti', said the toxic ash should be disposed of in a secluded area, because in the event of an accident, a malfunction in the landfill cell could cause serious harm to the human population and the environment. Hirole's petition is among five petitions being heard simultaneously by the HC regarding the Union Carbide waste. He said, At present, we have no information on whether the state government has selected an alternative site for the disposal of the toxic ash. The state government should clarify the status soon. Over the past four decades, several plans to dispose of the toxic waste at plants in India and abroad were made and cancelled amid protests. However, it was finally incinerated and reduced to ashes this year at a waste disposal plant operated by a private company in Pithampur. The State Pollution Control Board officials claimed that emissions of particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen fluoride, and nitrogen oxides, as well as mercury, cadmium, and other heavy metals, were found to be within standard limits during the incineration of the factory waste. They also said the incineration of Union Carbide factory waste at the Pithampur plant did not cause any adverse health effects to plant workers or residents of the surrounding areas. The waste was transported to the Pithampur plant, about 250 km from Bhopal, on January 2 this year. This led to several protests in Pithampur. Protesters expressed concerns about the potential harm to human populations and the environment from the disposal of this waste, a claim the state government flatly dismissed.

Bhopal Gas: Months After Incineration Of Union Carbide Toxic Waste, Disposal Of It's Ash Awaited

Tests conducted on the toxic ash still reveal the presence of mercury, which is higher than the permissible limits

VIT Bhopal violence: M.P. govt. says management's bid to cover up jaundice outbreak, insensitive attitude triggered violence

Acting on findings of a three-member panels report, the Madhya Pradesh Higher Education Department issued a show-cause notice to the institutions chancellor, demanding an explanation within seven days

One dead, three injured as major portion of over 50-year-old bridge collapses in MPs Raisen

BHOPAL: A major portion of a more than 50-year-old bridge collapsed in Madhya Pradeshs Raisen district on Monday, killing a 35-year-old man and injuring at least three others. While a three-member enquiry committee has been constituted to probe the matter, AA Khan, who is a manager of the MP Road Development Corporation (MPRDC) has been suspended. The portion of the bridge in Nayagaon area on the Bareli-Pipariya State Highway in Raisen district collapsed while a motorcycle and scooter were passing over it. At least four persons, all of them riding the two-wheelers, sustained serious injuries in the mishap. They were first rushed to Bareli Civil Hospital from where doctors referred some of them to AIIMS-Bhopal. One of the injured, identified as Devendra Dhakad (35), succumbed to wounds during the course of treatment at AIIMS-Bhopal. As per informed sources in Raisen district, Dhakad was returning to his village in Raisen after the Bidai ceremony of his sister, who was married on Sunday. The bridge, built in 1980, was under repair and maintenance work by the MPRDC, when its portion collapsed. The labourers working under the bridge, however, had a close shave. A sum of Rs 98 lakh was sanctioned for the repair and maintenance of the bridge, due to rusting of reinforcement slabs. Owing to the incident, the road traffic on the concerned route has been diverted through the old culvert in the Nayagaon Kalan village. The Raisen district collector Arun Kumar Vishwakarma and district police superintendent Ashutosh went to the spot and later took stock of the condition of the injured at the hospital. Subsequently, the state government suspended AA Khan, a manager at the MPRDC, and issued show-cause notices to the current and former divisional managers and assistant managers, official sources in Bhopal, said. Also, a three-member inquiry committee headed by chief engineer Gopal Singh has been constituted and given a weeks time to submit its fact-finding report.

On Bhopal gas tragedy eve, survivors' groups slam BJP over 'denial' of justice

One of the groups alleged that American multinational Dow Chemical, which bought Union Carbide in 1999, continues to expand its business in India

MP CM Mohan Yadavs son marries in mass ceremony, marking departure from lavish political weddings

BHOPAL: In a significant departure from the extravagant five-star and destination weddings often associated with the families of political heavyweights, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadavs son, Dr Abhimanyu Yadav, married his bride, Dr Ishita Yadav, at a mass marriage ceremony in the familys home city of Ujjain on Sunday. Abhimanyu and Ishita were among 21 couples from various Hindu communities who tied the knot at the vibrant ceremony held in Sawarakhedi, Ujjain. The newly married couples, including the CMs son and daughter-in-law, received blessings from prominent Hindu seers and religious leaders. Among them were Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev, Hindu Rashtra proponent and religious preacher Pandit Dhirendra Krishna Shastri Bageshwar Dham Sarkar, and Akhara Parishad head Mahant Ravindra Puri Maharaj. The event was also graced by several distinguished guests, including Union ministers Jyotiraditya Scindia and D.D. Uikey, Madhya Pradesh Governor Mangubhai Patel, Karnataka Governor Thawarchand Gehlot, and MP Vidhan Sabha Speaker Narendra Singh Tomar. While congratulating all the newly married couples, Governor Mangubhai Patel praised Chief Minister Mohan Yadav for setting a fine example of social harmony by arranging his younger sons marriage at a mass wedding ceremony. Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev, who chanted Vedic mantras to solemnise the 21 weddings under a single sprawling mandap, said the gesture offered an inspiring model for influential, political and affluent families in the country. This model can help reduce extravagance in weddings and motivate middle- and lower-middle-class families. The CMs gesture reflects the true spirit of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas , he stated. Religious preacher Pandit Dhirendra Krishna Shastri Bageshwar Dham Sarkar said that collective, low-cost weddings should be encouraged across all sections of society. He asserted that the country now needs innovative ways of thinking, and that through this mass ceremony, the message of the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita is being realised, with social harmony rising above all discrimination. The ceremony also witnessed Akhara Parishad general secretary Swami Hari Giri Maharaj announcing a contribution of 1 lakh for each of the 21 newly married couples.

After Delhi blast connection, Nuh linked to MP cybercrimes

BHOPAL: Haryanas Nuh district, which is under glare as an operational base of the white-collar terror module linked to 10/11 Delhi blast case, has also come out as the nucleus of Madhya Pradeshs biggest-ever inter-state cybercrime ring. MP polices cybercrime unit has traced masterminds of the racket to Nuh. The cyber fraud ring involved over 1000 bank accounts of people in Vindhya and Mahakoshal region of MP, being used as mule accounts to park and circulate fraud money. More than 25 people from MP, Haryana and Bihar have been arrested and charge-sheeted. As the investigations progress, its becoming clear that operatives based in Nuh are the masterminds of the racket. They sourced SIM cards and mule accounts mostly from MP and used them for their inter-state racket, said a MP police involved in the probe. The men in Nuh operated an illegal call centre at a flat in Gurugram, which was used to make calls to people for duping them. The SIM cards, sourced by operatives in MP and other states, reached the kingpins through middlemen based in Patna. The mule bank accounts served as the pipeline through which more than Rs 3,000 crore was routed. The funds were actually proceeds of cybercrimes committed in various parts of the country, religious charity money as well as money from unknown sources suspected to have been used possibly for terror funding. Large sum of money was routed through mule accounts to the Middle East, the officer added. The fraudsters also operated shell companies in Hyderabad and parts of Maharashtra. The 25-plus men arrested over the last 11 months have been charge-sheeted. Now we are going to zero in on the racket masterminds in Nuh, he said. Years back it was Jamtara in Jharkhand, but crackdown saw newer hotspots in West Bengal. Over last couple of years Nuh and adjoining Rajasthan districts have emerged as the cybercrime hub, SP (cybercrime cell) Pranay Nagwanshi said.

Land dispute turns killer in MPs Tikamgarh, three middle-aged siblings murdered

BHOPAL:Three brothers aged between 35 and 44 years were reportedly killed when a dispute pertaining to ownership of an agricultural land turned violent in Simara Khurd village of Madhya Pradeshs Tikamgarh district on Sunday. The three brothers, identified as Chaturbhuj (35), Paramlal (37) and Balram Lodhi (44), were killed after a group of men and women armed with sharp-edged weapons attacked them in Simara Khurd village under Jatara police station area. Four more members of the Lodhi community family, including Chaturbhujs wife Rekha Lodhi, their 17-year-old son Karan, Paramlals wife Chunnibai and 7-year-old daughter Sneha were injured while trying to save the three siblings during the attack. The condition of all four injured is stated critical at the Tikamgarh district hospital. A case has been registered under BNS Sections against seven persons, including two women. As per Tikamgarh police sources, at least two suspects have been detained for questioning. The incident happened when the three brothers tried to stop the rival group from cultivating on the disputed six bighas of agricultural land. According to Laxmi Prasad Lodhi, the brother of the three deceased siblings, the concerned land was originally owned by their uncle Ghanshyam, who had no kids. After Ghanshyams death, his nephews inherited the land, but the other group got the land fraudulently transferred in their name.

Jamiat chief Madanis jihad remark draws sharp criticism from Pasmanda Muslims

Barabanki/Bareilly: A section of Muslim leaders condemned Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind (MM) chief Maulana Mahmood Madanis recent remarks against the states bulldozer action and the use of word jihad, saying they could incite unrest among the community. Ulema-e-Hind (MM) chief Maulana Mahmood Madani, during a meeting of Jamiat (MM) in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, on Saturday, accused certain Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Haryanas Nuh emerges as key operational base in white-collar terror module

BHOPAL:The Nuh district of Haryana has emerged as an alleged hideout, operational base for sourcing materials and recruitment ground for the white collar modules operatives. This comes against the investigations' progress into the white-collar terror module and the 10/11 Delhi blast case. The same southeastern Haryana district has also turned out to be the nucleus of Madhya Pradeshs biggest-ever inter-state cyber crime ring, which was busted by the police in early 2025. As the MP polices cyber crime unit accelerates its probe into the inter-state racket, men operating from Nuh (Haryana) have emerged as the kingpins and masterminds, which is believed to be worth more than Rs 3000 crore. Anatomy of a white collar terror module The cyber fraud ring involved more than 1000 bank accounts of people in the Vindhya and Mahakoshal region of MP, being used as mule accounts to park and circulate fraud money and hundreds of SIM cards sourced from MP were used by cyber fraudsters for committing crimes across the country. More than 25 persons, hailing from MP, Haryana and Bihar, have so far been arrested and charge-sheeted in the court in MP. The men in Nuh (mostly school dropouts) operated an illegal call centre at a flat in Gurugram, which was used to make calls to people for duping them via various kinds of cyber-crimes, including job offers, gaming and cryptocurrency investment frauds, etc. The SIM cards, which were sourced by the rackets kingpins from their operatives in MP and other states, reached through middlemen based in the Bihar capital Patna. Cybercrime police bust ATM card cloning racket, nab onefrom Haryana The bank accounts, which were used as mule accounts (around 70 per cent of them were originally held by low-income people in MPs Vindhya and Mahakoshal regions), served as the pipeline through which more than Rs 3,000 crore was routed to various destinations. The funds which were rotated through these accounts were actually proceeds of cybercrime committed in various parts of the country, religious charity money, as well as money from unknown sources suspected to have been used possibly for terror funding. A large sum of money was actually routed through the mule accounts to the Middle East, a MP police officer added. The men operating from Nuh even operated shell companies/firms in Hyderabad and parts of Maharashtra. These shell firms/companies were particularly used for cyber fraud and the transfer of illicit money. The 25-plus men who have been arrested in the case over the last 11 months have already been charge-sheeted in the court. Now we are going to zero in upon the real kingpins/masterminds of the racket in Nuh, the officer maintained. As per MP police sources, its not the first time that Nuhs name has cropped up in a major cybercrime case. Nuh has gradually emerged as a prime cybercrime hotspot in the country. Years back, it was Jamtara in Jharkhand, but a sustained crackdown witnessed newer hotspots emerge in West Bengal, adjoining parts of Odisha and later some parts of western UP. But over the last couple of years, Nuh in Haryana and adjoining districts of Rajasthan have come out as the prime cyber-crime hub of India, Madhya Pradesh polices SP (state cyber crime cell) Pranay Nagwanshi said. Children are linked to cybercrime in at least three of every 3,000 cases, say experts

Jamiat-Ulama-Hind chief Maulana Madanis remarks on judiciary and SC trigger political storm

BHOPAL: A major political storm has erupted after Jamiat Ulama-Hind president Maulana Mahmood Asad Madani, accused the Supreme Court of functioning under government pressure and added that it didnt deserve to be called as Supreme, if it failed to enforce the Constitution fully. Addressing the national governing body meeting of the Deobandi body, Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind, in Bhopal on Saturday, he said, Supreme Court is entitled to be called as Supreme only until it upholds the Constitution and the rights enshrined in the law. The court verdicts in the last few years, including those on the Babri Mosque and Triple Talaq, have led to a common belief that the judiciary is working under government pressure. It has put a question mark on the role of the judiciary in the country, Madani said. While claiming that attempts aimed at igniting and spreading hatred against Islam and Muslims have intensified, he said that the sacred Islamic concept of Jihad was being intentionally distorted and equated with terrorism. Muslims are being defamed with terms like Love Jihad, Land Jihad and Spit Jihad. In Islam, the term Jihad implies struggle against injustice and oppression; whenever oppression happens, there will be Jihad. Hindu neighbour gifts land after Muslim journalist's house demolished by authorities in Jammu Madani also opposed government attempts to regulate Waqf properties. Waqf is a trust created by Muslims. Interference in it will not be tolerated. While maintaining that the countrys present situation is concerning, particularly as Muslims are being made to feel insecure. They are being deliberately targeted through economic boycott, bulldozer action, mob lynching and hate campaign. Full freedom, on the other hand, is being given to certain groups who are indulgent in Ghar Vapasi activities. None is questioning them, nor is any action being initiated against them. While referring to the ongoing process of Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls, Madani said, Apni hi basti mein apni hi basti ke log pochote hain kaun si basti ke ho, kya naam hai. Voh SIR bhi chalaya hua hai. (People from the same locality are questioning From which locality are you from? What is your name? The SIR process is also underway. He also reiterated the minority communitys opposition to singing the national song Vande Mataram. Madanis speech drew a sharp reaction from the ruling BJP. Maulana Madani has said that the Supreme Court has no right to be called Supreme. The apex court should take suo motu cognisance of this statement by Maulana Madani and conduct a hearing on it, BJPs national spokesperson Sambit Patra said. In Madhya Pradesh, the minister for cooperation, sports and youth welfare, Vishwas Sarang, while condemning Madanis remarks, said, Disrespecting the Constitution and attacking the Supreme Court is unfortunate. If you are living in India, you need to abide by the Constitution. You eat from this land but sing for someone else, will not be tolerated. NC defends admission of Muslim students to Vaishno Devi Medical College, cites govt funding

Video: Kicks, Punches Rained On Man Inside Bhopal Pharmacy Council Premises

The victim, identified as Tushar Sunar,had been visiting the Council office for over a month to obtain a digital signature on his certificate.

Class VIII student jumps from third floor of MP's Ratlam school, fearing action over mobile phone

Bhopal: A national-level teen skater and Class VIII student, Rishan Katara, jumped from the third floor of his school building in Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh, moments after his father was called in to discuss the issue of the boy bringing and using a mobile phone on the campus on Friday. The 14-year-old, who suffered multiple fractures in his legs, spine and jaw, was admitted to a private hospital in Ratlam and referred by doctors to Ahmedabad on Saturday for advanced treatment. The incident occurred around ten days before he was scheduled to participate in a national-level skating competition in Visakhapatnam. Angered by the incident, local residents and activists of the tribal outfit Jai Adivasi Yuva Shakti (JAYS) staged a protest outside the private school, demanding an FIR against the principal and action by the school education department. The boy was punished by the school for bringing a mobile phone and using it in the school. Not only was his father called to discuss the issue, but the boy too was mentally tortured by the school staff, including the principal. From what we know, the school administration threatened to take away the medals of the talented skater, a JAYS leader alleged during the protest. Some other protesters, including a woman, alleged that despite the boy apologising multiple times on Thursday to teachers and the principal for bringing and using a mobile phone on the campus, he was still mentally tortured and threatened. According to Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Archana Harit, As per the primary information with us, the teenager had brought a phone to the school, due to which the schools female principal had called his father to the school on Friday. Possibly the teenager panicked due to it and jumped from the third floor. Were further probing the incident. The students arent allowed to bring mobile phones in the school, even the teachers have to deposit their mobile phones before going to classes. The boy is a national-level skater, she said. Sources said the boy had brought a mobile phone to the school on Thursday, shot videos and uploaded them on social media, prompting the administration to summon his father the next day. Just as the father arrived to meet the school staff, the boy jumped from the third floor. According to the boys parents, their son is a promising national-level skater who has won multiple gold medals in state tournaments. He was practising hard for the national-level meet slated in Visakhapatnam ten days later, but this incident has left all his dreams shattered, they said. (If you are having suicidal thoughts, or are worried about a friend or need emotional support, someone is always there to listen. Call Sneha Foundation - 04424640050, Tele Manas - 14416 (available 24x7) or iCall, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences' helpline - 02225521111, which is available Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 10 pm.)

SC seems to be working under govt pressure: Jamiat chief

Bhopal: Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind president Maulana Mahmood Madani sparked a debate after he made remarks suggesting that the Supreme Court seems to be working under government pressure, hence, it does not deserve to be called supreme. Addressing the National Governing Body meeting of their organisation in Bhopal on Saturday, November 29, he also commented on the Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Cyber fraudsters cite terror links to target senior citizens

BHOPAL: Senior citizens in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan are facing a new and highly unsettling cyber-fraud tactic, with criminals impersonating anti-terror investigators, placing victims under a so-called digital arrest, and extorting huge sums by falsely accusing them of involvement in terror funding. In Bhopal, the fear triggered by such calls has already claimed a life. Sixty-eight-year-old advocate Shiv Kumar Verma recently died by suicide at his home. A suicide note, purportedly penned by him, revealed the possibility of him being targeted by cyber fraudsters by threatening stringent action against him for funding the April 22 Pahalgam attack. According to investigators, the note and subsequent probe by Jahangirabad police suggested that fraudsters, possibly posing as anti-terror sleuths, had told him that his HDFC Bank account was being used for terror funding. With no one else at home and terrified of being labelled anti-national, Verma hanged himself. Police say it is the first suicide in Bhopal linked to digital arrest. At least five to seven similar incidents have surfaced in the city involving the elderly over the past 10 days. In Bhopals Kohfiza area, another elderly advocate received calls from men posing as anti-terror cops, but unlike Verma, he realised in time that the callers were fraudsters trying to con him. Others, however, were not so fortunate. A retired bank manager lost `68 lakhhis entire savingsafter being kept under digital arrest by callers who claimed to be investigating terror-related offences. A retired government servant lost around `8 lakh, and an elderly housewife has also reported being targeted in a similar manner. A cyber cell officer confirmed the modus operandi. Earlier, such fraudsters posing as cops or sleuths of investigation agencies extorted money from elderlies by triggering fear of their details having been used for money laundering, narcotics smuggling and human trafficking. But with sustained education and awareness about the menace of digital arrest, the cyber thugs novel modus operandi is creating fear of involvement in terror-related, particularly terror funding cases. Rajasthan has also reported similar incidents. In two to three cases in Jaipur and Udaipur, fraudsters have targeted the elderly by linking them to the Delhi blast case, said Shantanu Singh, SP (State CybercrimeJaipur). In Indore, police say the targeting is systematic. Additional DCP (Crime) Rajesh Dandotiya said, These gangs work in multi layers, one of those layers comprises men and women, who scan the social media activity of senior citizens. The fraudsters zero in on the victims and put them under a digital arrest.

Delhi inflation rate lower than other metros: Government report

NEW DELHI: The inflation rate in Delhi remained substantially lower than in other metro cities and the national average last year, especially in the fuel and light group, according to a government report. The report prepared by the Directorate of Economics and Statistics of the Delhi government, however, showed that the inflation rate rose in the food & beverages and housing sectors. The report assessed the Consumer Price Index (Industrial Workers IW) between Delhi and 14 other metros. These were Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Indore, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Varanasi, Amritsar and Lucknow. The report said that during 2024-25, CPI (IW), Kolkata, recorded the highest increase (3.6 per cent) while it was (3.4 per cent) at the All India level, followed by Mumbai (3.0 per cent), Delhi (1.8 per cent), and no change was observed in the case of Chennai. Among the selected cities assessed by the report, Delhi had the third lowest Consumer Price Index (IW) for the 2024 calendar year and the fifth lowest Consumer Price Index (IW) for the financial year 2024-25 out of the selected 15 major cities, while Lucknow and Chandigarh had the maximum Consumer Price Index (IW). A Consumer Price Index (CPI) is designed to measure changes over time in the general level of retail prices of selected goods and services that households purchase for consumption. In 2020, 2021, 2023, and 2024, Delhi had lower inflation rates than All India. However, in 2022, Delhi had a higher inflation rate than All India. Last year, the inflation rate in Delhi was 1.7 per cent, and at the national level, it was 3.8 per cent. Inflation in Delhi, as measured by the CPI (IW), has ranged from 1.7 per cent to 8 per cent from 2020 to 2024. The price rise was recorded at 1.7 per cent in 2024, compared to 3.7 per cent in 2023. In the food and beverages group, an inflation rate of 5.6 per cent was observed in 2024, compared with 4.6 per cent in 2023. In the paan, supari, tobacco and intoxicant group, no variation was recorded in 2024, whereas the inflation rate was 3.7 per cent in 2023. However, the report observed that the inflation rate stood at 1.3 per cent in 2024, down from 5.1 per cent the previous year. In the housing group, an inflation rate of 3.1 per cent was observed in 2024, compared with 2.2 per cent in 2023. In the fuel and light group, a negative inflation rate of 20.1 per cent was observed in 2024, compared with 3.7 per cent in 2023. The miscellaneous group consists of items falling under the categories of medicines, medical services, education services, stationery, recreation, transport and communication, personal care effects, household requisites and other services -- hair cutting, tailoring, etc. In the miscellaneous group, Delhi recorded an inflation rate of 0.1 per cent, compared with 3.5 per cent in 2023.

Accused in 6-year-old's rape injured in shootout after attempting to escape custody in MP's Raisen

BHOPAL: After six days on the run, 23-year-old Salman, accused of abducting, raping, and critically injuring a six-year-old girl in Gauharganj, Raisen district, was arrested from the outskirts of Bhopal on Thursday night. Just hours after his arrest, while being taken in police custody from Bhopal to Gauharganj, Salman attempted to flee in the early hours of Friday in Obedullaganj, Raisen district. The escape bid ended after a short encounter that left him with a bullet wound in his leg. Tyre of the police vehicle in which Salman was being taken in custody from Bhopal to Gauharganj got punctured while passing through the forest area of Obedullaganj at around 3.15 am. Just when Salman was being shifted to another police vehicle, he snatched the gun from sub-inspector Shyamraj Singh and fired twice at the force. Alert cops subsequently opened fire, hitting his leg, and he fell down. He was taken into custody again and admitted to Hamidia Hospital in Bhopal, a senior police official in central Madhya Pradesh told TNIE on Friday. Earlier on Thursday night, the Gandhinagar police in Bhopal arrested Salman following specific inputs from local residents, after he was found searching for a room on rent. We were seated in a tea shop when he came and enquired about renting a room. When asked for ID, he said he didnt have any. We had seen pictures of the absconding accused on TV and newspapers. Suspecting it was him, we alerted the police, who soon arrived and caught him, local residents Rizwan and Asif told a TV channel. Deputy Inspector General Prashant Khare (DIG-Narmadapuram Range) said the arrest was made based on specific intelligence. VIDEO | Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh: An accused in the Raisen minor assault case arrested after encounter as he tried to escape from the police. The injured accused has been admitted to a hospital. More details are awaited. #BhopalNews #MadhyaPradeshNews (Source: Third Party) pic.twitter.com/OV77WynAc7 Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 28, 2025 A Rs 30,000 bounty had been declared on Salman, who had been on the run since November 21, when he allegedly abducted, raped, and severely injured the six-year-old girl in the jungles near Gauharganj. The victim is currently recuperating at AIIMS-Bhopal. The case had sparked massive protests in Gauharganj since November 21, with a large number of women joining Hindu outfits to demand Salmans arrest. On Wednesday, the protests turned violent when residents and activists tried to enter a Muslim-dominated locality, prompting police to resort to a cane charge. The mob reportedly pelted stones at police officers. Multiple police teams from Raisen and neighbouring Harda and Betul districts were searching for Salman, who has a past record of theft and criminal assault. Teams even extended their search to Gujarat, following continuous intelligence inputs. On Tuesday night, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav expressed strong displeasure over the handling of the case and associated road blockades. The SP of Raisen, Pankaj Pandey, was removed and attached to the state PHQ as an Assistant Inspector General (AIG), while Deputy Commissioner of Police Ashutosh (DCP Bhopal Zone I) was appointed the new SP of Raisen district.

Madhya Pradesh: Labourer Who Lured, Raped Raisens 6-Year-Old Shot During Escape Bid In Bhopal

Raisen rape case accused Salman was injured in a short police encounter after attempting to escape custody during transport to Goharganj. The fugitive, arrested in Bhopal, is now being treated at Hamidia Hospital.

Long wait for fertilizer turns deadly for 58-year-old tribal woman in Madhya Pradeshs Guna district

BHOPAL: A 58-year-old tribal woman, Bhuriya Bai Saharia, sleeping outside a fertilizer distribution centre, after not getting urea fertilizer for two consecutive days, died on the intervening night of Wednesday-Thursday in Guna district of Madhya Pradesh. The tragic incident happened just a few hours after the local MP and union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, had arrived in his constituency. Bhuriya Bai belonged to the Saharia tribe, one of the three particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs) residing in MP. According to her relatives, she had first lined up at the fertilizer distribution centre in Bageri village on Tuesday, but had to return empty handed to her village, located around 20 km away. She reportedly lined up again at the centre on Wednesday, but couldnt get the fertilizer yet again. Instead of returning home, she stayed back like others and slept outside the centre on Wednesday night, hoping that she would be among the first ones on Thursday morning to get the fertilizer from the centre. However, she fell ill while sleeping outside the centre. Her relatives said that they called an ambulance, which never came. Later another farmer rushed her in his private vehicle to the health centre in Bamori. With her condition deteriorating, she was referred by doctors to Guna city, where she died at the hospital in the early hours. According to Guna district collector Kishor Kanyal, She was already ill and didnt know that her blood sugar level was as high as 450. She was admitted to hospital, where she died. Were repeatedly telling people not to panic as there is no need to stay back in the night outside the distribution centres. There is no shortage of urea, since were daily getting 30-35 trucks of urea. In the last 55 days, 30,000 MT urea has been distributed in our district and there is adequate availability of fertilizer presently, Kanyal said. We are likely to get one more rake of urea in the next few days, he added. Scindia also confirmed that there is no shortage of fertilisers. Ive asked the Guna district collector to increase the number of distribution counters in the double lock centres. We still have 15,000 MT fertilizer. There isnt need to panic, as a regular supply of fertilizer is being maintained, he said. Im monitoring from Delhi, the availability of fertilizer for all three districts, Guna, Shivpuri and Ashoknagar. There is also a need to gradually shift from chemical fertilizers to organic farming for sustainable agriculture. The opposition and ruling party MLAs, both questioned the government claims of sufficient fertilizer availability in Guna. If there is sufficient fertilizer available, then why are farmers lining up at the centres and even sleeping outside the centres in the night, Congress MLA from Bamori (Guna) Rishi Agrawal questioned. At a public event in Guna city on Thursday, the second-time BJP MLA Pannalal Shakya raised the issue from the stage of event where Scindia too was present. The woman died while yearning for fertilizer in the night hours. The district collector is sitting here, let him answer me, if your system is functioning properly why are the lines of farmers visible outside the distribution centres., Shakya questioned. We want a reply, if not here, well get it in the coming Vidhan Sabha session, he added.

MP government gets tough with IAS officer Santosh Verma over objectionable remark on Brahmin girls

BHOPAL: A show-cause notice has been issued by the Madhya Pradesh government to senior IAS officer Santosh Verma over his recent controversial remark about Brahmin girls. The show-cause notice served to him on Wednesday evening mentions that his remarks prima facie amounted to a breach of All India Services (Conduct) Rules and invite disciplinary action under provisions of All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules. The notice issued by the state general administration department also mentions that the remarks made by Verma on November 23 were inconsistent with the dignity and conduct expected from officers of the Indian Administrative Service. The governments notice further mentions that Vermas objectionable remark appeared to be an attempt to disturb social harmony and create animosity among groups. He has been given a weeks time to respond to the notice, failing which appropriate disciplinary action will be initiated against him. Addressing the provincial convention of the AJJAKS (association of scheduled caste and scheduled tribe employees) as the associations state president in Bhopal on November 23, Verma, the deputy secretary in the department of agriculture, had made an objectionable remark about Brahmin girls. Major controversy erupts in Madhya Pradesh over IAS officers objectionable remark about Brahmin girls Verma had reportedly said, Reservation should be given to only one person in a family until a Brahmin donates his daughter to my son or has a relationship with her. Though Verma had apologized two days later, claiming that his speech was wrongly reported in the media and also circulated in a distorted manner on social media, he has been facing massive protests, particularly from upper caste and Hindu outfits across the state since then. Many upper caste outfits have submitted complaints in multiple districts, including Gwalior and Singrauli, demanding an FIR against him. Leaders of both the ruling BJP and Congress too have demanded stern action against Verma for his objectionable remark. The Mantralay Officers-Employees Union, led by president Sudhir Nayak, submitted a memorandum to Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla, demanding strict action against the IAS officer. Verma has had a controversial past. In 2021, he was in the news for allegedly forging court orders and faking the signature of a judge to falsely claim relief in cases filed against him. He was arrested in Indore after the judge complained that Verma forged two court documents related to a case of alleged criminal intimidation of a woman. Verma has also faced accusations in two exploitation cases, where women alleged that he promised marriage and later threatened or deceived them.

Violent Protests Rock VIT Bhopal Over Jaundice Outbreak, Vehicles Set Ablaze

Protesters claimed that over two dozen students fell sick with jaundice symptoms in recent weeks.

SP removed as MP CM Mohan Yadav slams police over failure to arrest accused in six-year-olds rape case

BHOPAL: Inability of the police to arrest a 23-year-old youth who abducted a six-year-old girl and raped her before abandoning her in a serious condition in the jungles on November 21, led to the removal of Raisen district police superintendent Pankaj Pandey on Tuesday night. The Madhya Pradesh chief minister, Dr Mohan Yadav, chaired a high-level emergency law and order review meeting at the state Police Headquarters (PHQ) in Bhopal on Tuesday night, where he expressed displeasure with the police action so far in the case pertaining to the rape of the six-year-old girl in Raisen district of central MP. Not only did the CM express displeasure over the manner in which the case of a minors rape was dealt, even four days after the shocking incident, but he was also not satisfied with the police response to the road blockade in Raisens Mandideep area. He ordered the immediate removal of Raisen district police superintendent Pankaj Pandey, who has been attached to the state PHQ as an Assistant IG (AIG). The Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) for Bhopal Zone I, Ashutosh, will be the new SP of Raisen district. The CM further directed the immediate removal of the in-charge of Misrod police station in Bhopal. This action is being seen as the direct result of the Misrod polices failure to deal with cases of crime, particularly the recent vandalisation of property by armed youths at a caf. In connection with the Raisen incident, the CM expressed severe displeasure not only with the police's inability to apprehend the accused who has now remained at large for four days but also with their lax response in handling the massive public protests and road blockades that have affected the central MP district. Importantly, the 23-year-old youth identified as Salman, remains on the run, even four days after allegedly committing the gruesome crime with the six-year-old girl. On November 21, he had allegedly lured the minor (who was playing outside her house) to a nearby jungle with the promise of giving chocolate. Once in the jungle, Salman allegedly raped the minor and abandoned her there. While the minor is slowly recuperating from the mental and physical trauma at the AIIMS-Bhopal, massive protests have been reported by local residents, particularly women, outside the Gauharganj police station in Raisen district. The continued sit-in protests have been followed by violent protests and massive highway blockades. While the police initially used mild force (a baton charge) to clear the highway, the protesters quickly returned, forcing the deployment of personnel from five different police stations. Despite the reward on the absconding rape accused being increased to Rs30,000, he continues to be at large, with around 20 teams comprising 300 police personnel working on the case.

68-year-old Bhopal advocate dies by suicide after cyber fraud threats linked to terror funding

BHOPAL: Forty-one years after he performed the last rites of several people who died in the 1984 Bhopal Gas Tragedy, a 68-year-old advocate, Shiv Kumar Verma, died by suicide at his residence in the Madhya Pradesh capital, due to threats from cyber fraudsters who claimed he would be implicated in the funding of the Pahalgam terror attack. Before hanging himself on Monday late night at his house in the Barkhedi area under Jahangirabad police station limits, Verma left behind a suicide note stating, Im ending my life, as someone has falsely opened an account in the HDFC Bank in my name and funded Pahalgam attack terrorist Asim Joji. I wont be able to bear being branded an anti-national. The same sheet of paper also mentioned that Verma had performed the last rites of several victims of the 1984 Bhopal Gas Tragedy. According to staff at the Jahangirabad police station, who are probing the case, the primary investigation suggests the alleged role of cyber fraudsters who had threatened Verma over the phone and may also have kept him under digital arrest. The incident occurred while Vermas wife was away in Delhi. She had reportedly been calling him since Monday evening, and after receiving no response despite multiple attempts, she contacted the tenant living in the house. It was the tenant who subsequently found Verma hanging in his room. This is perhaps the first incident in Bhopal where fear induced by cyber fraudsters involved in digital arrest has resulted in a death by suicide. A senior officer from the Jahangirabad police station said the suicide note and Vermas mobile phone have been sent for detailed forensic analysis, particularly to trace and apprehend those who threatened him with false terror funding charges. According to Vermas relatives, the advocates son works in Pune, while his wife had travelled to Delhi to visit their daughter, who is married and lives in the national capital. This is the second instance in less than three weeks in Bhopal where cyber fraudsters have targeted an elderly advocate by threatening to frame them in a terror funding case. On 3 November, another aged advocate in the Kohfiza area was targeted by fraudsters who threatened him with severe action for purported involvement in funding the Pulwama attack. He was, however, saved in time from losing lakhs of rupees to those posing as anti-terror officers. On 20 November, cyber fraudsters extorted 68 lakh from a retired bank manager through digital arrest in Bhopals Shahpura area. In the same month, a retired official of a public-sector enterprise and his wife were kept under digital arrest for several days by cyber thugs, who reportedly extorted 65 lakh from them.

Major controversy erupts in Madhya Pradesh over IAS officers objectionable remark about Brahmin girls

BHOPAL: An Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Santosh Verma, having a controversial past, has kicked up a fresh row with an objectionable remark about Brahmin girls in Madhya Pradesh. Addressing the provincial meeting of the Anusuchit Jati Evam Janjati Adhikari Evam Karmachari Sangh (AJAKS), the associations newly elected provincial president Santosh Verma reportedly made an objectionable remark about Brahmin girls. Reservations will continue till a Brahmin donates his daughter to my son or allows her to have a relationship with him, Verma reportedly said at the event held in Bhopals Ambedkar Maidan on Sunday. As the video went viral across social media platforms on Monday, Brahmin organizations, while condemning the IAS officers remark as indecent, casteist and extremely insulting to Brahmin daughters, demanded strict action against the bureaucrat. We demand an immediate FIR against the officer for his highly indecent remarks about Brahmin daughters. If no FIR is registered against him, the entire Brahmin samaj will resort to state-wide protest, Pushpendra Mishra, the state president of All India Brahmin Samaj demanded. Mishra added that the remarks by the IAS officer violate the Civil Service (Conduct) Rules, due to which stern action against him becomes even more important. A leader of the MP Mantralaya Sewa Adhikari-Karamchari Sangh, Er Sudhir Nayak, while terming the remark by the IAS officer, as Highly objectionable and insulting for the general category people, demanded action against Verma under the Civil Service (Conduct) Rules. Controversies arent new to Verma, who was originally an MP State Administrative Service officer. He was in news in 2021-22, allegedly forging court orders and faking signatures of a special court judge, for falsely claiming relief in cases against him. He was arrested after the concerned judge filed a complaint against him for forging court orders, which pertained to alleged criminal intimidation of a woman. He had reportedly used the forged documents to secure promotion from the state administrative cadre to Indian Administrative Service (IAS)

Protests in M.P.s Raisen over rape of 6-year-old girl; accused remains absconding

The girl was taken to a government hospital in neighbouring Obaidullaganj but was immediately referred to AIIMS, Bhopal where she is undergoing treatment

Seven girls rescued in MP as police raid two spa centres for alleged sex rackets

BHOPAL: A surprise police raid at two spa centres in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, revealed sex rackets that were pushing young girls from Delhi and from districts in the GwaliorChambal region into prostitution. The raid, led by additional SP (ASP) Vidita Dagar, was carried out on Sunday at two spa centres located in the upmarket City Centre area of Gwalior. The operation resulted in the busting of the rackets. Total seven young girls were found at the two Spa Centres. The girls were found in objectionable situations with men hailing from Gwalior only. Objectionable material too was seized from both the Spa Centres, Dagar told TNIE on Monday. According to the police, the preliminary investigation revealed that some of the girls hailed from Delhi, while others were from Bhind district in Madhya Pradeshs GwaliorChambal region. Four to five men, including those found with the girls in objectionable positions and the operators of the two centres, have been detained for questioning. There have been specific intelligence inputs with us about some Spa Centres in the city, indulging in immoral business, after which the surprise inspection was carried out by the police at the two Spa Centres in Tulsi Vihar Colony on Sunday, Dagar added. Were now working at how the girls from Delhi and Bhind were brought here and pushed into the immoral activities at the two Spa Centres, she informed.

MP: Hindutva workers take law into their hands, assault two men

Bhopal: Hindutva vigilantes in Madhya Pradesh assaulted two Muslim men in separate incidents on the same day for their alleged crimes. Several Bajrang Dal members stormed a flat in Tanishk Apartments in the Ayodhya Nagar area of Bhopal. After forcing open the doors, they spotted a man and a woman. They reportedly attacked the boy Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Mahindra Logistics, LOreal India launch all-women operated warehouse in Indore

MUMBAI, Nov 24: Mahindra Groups logistics arm MLL on Monday announced the launch of an all-women operated warehousing facility in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, in collaboration with the Indian subsidiary of French multinational firm LOreal. The facility supports distribution across central India, enabling movement of goods to key markets, including Jabalpur, Bhopal, Indore, Singrauli, Sagar, Ratlam, Bina, Satna, Rewa, Shahdol and Shivpuri, among others, Mahindra Logistics Ltd (MLL) said. MLL said the dedicated women-operated warehousing unit strengthens regional outreach through [] The post Mahindra Logistics, LOreal India launch all-women operated warehouse in Indore appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Suspended government doctor, aides involved in inter-state fake currency notes racket, arrested in Bhopal

BHOPAL:After being on the run for more than three weeks, the suspended government doctor, the alleged mastermind of the recently busted inter-state fake Indian currency notes (FICN) racket, has been arrested in Madhya Pradesh's capital, Bhopal. Acting on specific inputs, cops from the special investigation team (SIT) of Khandwa district police, raided a house in Bhopals Bagmugaliya area and arrested Dr Prateek Navlakhe along with his two aides. While the suspended government doctor, 43-year-old Prateek Navlakhe, hails from southwestern MPs Burhanpur district, the two other men arrested from the rented house on Sunday evening have been identified as 35-year-old Gopal alias Rahul (resident of MPs Harda district) and 43-year-old Dinesh Gore (who hails from Amravati-Maharashtra). Suspended MP doctor emerges as mastermind in inter-state fake currency racket busted in Maharashtra Dinesh Gore is the acting principal of a government school in Maharashtra, while Rahul is a property broker. FICN totalling Rs 25,000, nine cell-phones, a laptop, 32 ATM cards, 15 bank cheque books, a dryer machine and other incriminating material have been seized from the arrested trio, Khandwa district police superintendent Manoj Rai said on Monday. With this recent action, FICNs totalling over Rs 30 lakh have so far been seized by the Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh police teams from the possession of the seven arrested members of the inter-state racket and their whereabouts since October 30. Importantly, the alleged inter-state FICN racket was busted in Malegaon town of Maharashtras Nashik district on October 30 following the arrest of a Muslim cleric, Maulana Zuber and his key aide, Nazir. The Malegaon cops had seized from the duo, Rs 10 lakhs FICN, which they were to route to various parts of the western state. With Zubair being the Imam of a mosque located in Pethia village of southwestern MPs Khandwa district, the Khandwa district police raided the room where he stayed in the Imambara in Pethia village and recovered Rs 19.78 lakh FICN on November 2. An SIT was subsequently formed by the Khandwa district police superintendent into the entire case, and the two men, including Maulana Zubair, arrested in Malegaon town on October 30, were later brought to Khandwa (MP) for questioning. It was their questioning that confirmed the direction of the police investigation, about the suspended government doctor Pradeep Navlakhe being the mastermind of the inter-state racket. Navlakhes arrest from Bhopal is a breakthrough for us in the case, as he has emerged as the real mastermind of the racket. The laptop seized from the rented house in Bhopal contains details and designs of the FICNs, SP-Khandwa district Manoj Rai said. As per sources associated with the ongoing police probe, investigations strongly suggest many more Maharashtra links in the racket, including some major links in the Vidarbha region. Probe till now suggests that Dr Navlakhe was into FICNs for 4-5 months. Before that, he had also tried his hand at FICN, but failed to succeed completely. Importantly, back in 2022, Navlakhe (who was posted at the Burhanpur district hospital) was accused of opening an account in a private bank in the name of the hospital's peon and then parked around Rs 24 lakh. The account was closed after withdrawing the money. In 2022, Dr Navlakhe was suspended after he sold the hospitals equipment worth Rs 25 lakh as scrap. He was also suspected to be involved in hawala business, cricket betting and human trafficking. The suspended doctor met Mohd Zubair while being lodged in Khandwa jail. Zubair was lodged there in multiple cases of robbery and investment fraud. The Khandwa polices SIT suspect that it was at the Khandwa jail that Navlakhe convinced Zubair to become part of his network of FICN supply racket. Dr Navlakhe had tried his luck with FICN printing in the past and is accused of two to three cases of counterfeit Indian currency notes in Jalgaon and Bhusawal in Maharashtra. Barring Dr Navlakhe, the six others arrested in the case so far were possibly working as agents who searched prospective buyers of the fake currency notes and then supplied them to the customers. For every Rs one lakh, the racket got Rs 30,000 in authentic currency notes from the customers, then distributed to operatives. Ongoing investigations suggest that the finest quality wire used in the FICNs was sourced from China, while the paper was sourced from Maharashtras Vidarbha region. On October 30, when Maulana Zubair, along with an aide, was arrested with Rs 10 FICN in Malegaon (Maharashtra), Dr Navlakhe was present in Pune. With the help of his girlfriend, Dr Navlakhe first came to Bhopal via Burhanpur and later went into hiding in Haridwar (Uttarakhand), before returning and hiding in the rented flat with Dinesh Gores help. While investigations till now have revealed that the income generated from the FICN business was parked by Dr Navlakhe in his girlfriends bank account, the seizure of 32 ATM cards and 15 bank cheque books strongly suggests that the rackets mastermind was also parking alleged crime money in mule accounts.

JIH MP unit launches neighbours rights campaign

Bhopal: The Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Madhya Pradesh Unit, has launched of a 10-day state-wide campaign on Neighbours Rights with the slogan Ideal Neighbour, Ideal Society. Addressing a joint Press conference Dr. Hamid Beg, president of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Madhya Pradesh Unit, made the announcement about the above campaign. The campaign is being run across the state along Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

India a Hindu nation that follows unity in diversity: Uma Bharti

BHOPAL, Nov 22 : Senior BJP leader Uma Bharti on Saturday said that although India is a Hindu state, it does not follow or work on the basis of a single religion as it believes in unity in diversity. Indias identity as a Hindu nation is what ensures its secularism. Secularism here reflects acceptance of all faiths, rooted in the Hindu tradition of worshipping many gods and many rituals, the former Madhya Pradesh chief minister told reporters here. Long before [] The post India a Hindu nation that follows unity in diversity: Uma Bharti appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Jan Dhan accounts in Madhya Pradesh used to circulate cyber-fraud money; three held

BHOPAL: Once meant to bank the unbanked, zero balance bank accounts in Madhya Pradesh created under the PM Jan Dhan Scheme have now transformed into mule accounts for cyber fraudsters. Three individuals have been arrested so far. As many as seven bank accounts have been misused by fraudsters who have parked funds looted from crimes committed in other states. Five of these bank accounts are Jan Dhan accounts, including one account of a deceased person. How did the fraud surface? Recently, a daily wage labourer Bisram Ivne (40) approached the authorities, stating that transactions of around Rs 2 crore were carried out through his Jan Dhan account since June 2025. He came to know about it when he went to the bank to update his KYC details. We initiated a focussed investigation in the matter by the district polices cyber cell and the subsequent probe revealed transactions of around Rs 1.5 crore in the account since June, Betul district police superintendent Virendra Jain told TNIE on Saturday. Subsequent police probes, particularly based on some similar complaints, led the cops to six more accounts, four of which were Jan Dhan accounts in which transactions spanning between Rs 47.44 lakh and Rs 2.24 crore were detected, which brought the total sum to more than Rs 9.84 crore. Surprisingly, one of the Jan Dhan accounts in which suspicious monetary transactions were detected, was held by one Rajendra Varde, who is no longer alive. Another account with suspicious transactions was a student scholarship account held by 20-year-old college student Narmada Ivne. As the probe progressed it was found that the Rs 9.84 crore plus sum was parked in these accounts, which were being used as mule accounts. The sum actually represented the proceeds of cyber fraud cases done in other states, including Maharashtra, Karnataka, Delhi and Haryana, SP Jain said. The money pertained to proceeds of cyber-crime, including cryptocurrency investment fraud, fake customer service centre related fraud and cyber phishing. Accused so far Further investigations took the Betul district polices multiple teams to two hideouts in Indore, from where three men have so far been arrested in the case. The arrested men include Raja alias Ayush Chauhan (28), who hails from Savligarh (Betul), his brother-in-law Ankit Rajput (32) and Narendra Singh Rajput (42). As many as 15 cell-phones, 21 ATM cards, Rs 28,000 cash and 11 bank passbooks of nationalized and private banks have been seized from the arrested men. The seizure has revealed that more than 20 more bank accounts were being used to park and circulate the cyber fraud money in different parts of Madhya Pradesh. Many of those accounts may well be Jan Dhan accounts, the SP-Betul said. Investigations have revealed the involvement of an ad hoc employee of one of the banks, who helped the inter-state gang in first getting access to the accounts, then changing the registered mobile phone number of each of the accounts, get new ATM cards issued and finally get access to internet-mobile banking for each account, particularly to get control of account whose holder had died. But the arrested trio is just one layer of the multi-layered racket, whose real players (backward and forward linkages of the racket) were operating from other states.