Autonomy debate rages after IIM director quits
RAIPUR: The resignation of IIM Raipur Director, Prof. Ram Kumar Kakani, highlights the inconsistencies between the IIM Act and the institutes HR policies, which some academics acknowledge have persisted for years and are seen as a key reason behind his decision to step down. Prof. Kakani said the contradiction between the institutes HR policies and the spirit of the IIM Act of 2017 was limiting his professional scope, thereby hindering his work and decision-making. He resigned abruptly on July 22, well before his tenure was scheduled to end in March 2027. For more than two months, Prof. Sanjeev Parashar has served as Director in charge. He could not be reached for comment. Prof. Kakani is the third director of a premier IIM in the past five years to resign, reportedly due to differences with the Board of Governors. Two former directors of IIM KolkataAnju Seth (2021) and Uttam Kumar Sarkar (2023)resigned over disputes with their boards. A respected academic, Prof. Kakani has previously taught at IIM Kozhikode, XLRI Jamshedpur, and LLBSNAA Mussoorie. He is now the vice-chancellor of RV University, Bengaluru. Faculty and senior students at IIM Raipur said disputes over administrative authority between directors and board chairpersons have increased since the IIM Act, 2017. They said these differences affected the institutes administrative autonomy and functioning. Prof. Kanai had reportedly raised these concerns during his tenure. A source explained the probable circumstance behind Prof. Kakanis resignation. A grave academic integrity issue involving the institutes faculty member allegedly implicated in a forgery acted as a primary catalyst for the sudden exit of Kakani. The fraud specifically related to a doctoral students signature to reorder the co-authorship of a research article accepted in an A-star journal, the source said. 3rd head in five yrs to quit over rift with board Prof Ram Kumar Kakani resigned abruptly as the IIM Raipur Director on July 22 this year, well before his tenure was scheduled to end in March 2027. Prof. Kakani is the third director of a premier IIM in the past five years to resign, reportedly due to differences with the Board of Governors.
Chhattisgarh Police arrest IIIT student for creating obscene images of 36 female students
RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh police on Thursday arrested a student of the International Institute of Information Technology in Nava Raipur, accused of using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to create morphed obscene photos of around 36 girl students of the institute. A police team was sent to the IIIT on Wednesday after some inputs about the shocking incident were received, but were told by the institute management that an internal inquiry was being conducted by a three-member women's staff committee. We later received a written complaint from the IIIT management and registered an FIR. The accused Syed Rahim Adnan Ali, 20, has been arrested, and a formal investigation has begun, Vivek Shukla, additional SP (Nava Raipur) told TNIE . A case has been registered under Section 66 B of India's Information Technology Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 352 (intentionally insults to provoke breach of peace). The accused male student is in his second year of electronic and communication engineering degree. He had used photos posted on social media platforms to AI-generate pornographic images of the 36 female students. He kept all these obscene photos in his laptop and mobile phone which were seized by the police, the ASP added.
Student Used AI To Create Pornographic Images Of Classmates, Arrested
A 20-year-old student from the International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) in Naya Raipur was arrested Wednesday for allegedly creating obscene images of female classmates using AI tools, said the police.
Raipur Diary | Centre rules out peace talks with Maoists
In the absence of clarity in the demands put forth by Maoists to facilitate peace talks with temporary ceasefire, the Centre has ruled out possibility of any peace talk for the time being. According to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, nothing remains to talk about (with Maoists) when the Centre and state government are seen committed to ensuring development and peace in the disturbed areas. So far, the banned outfit has released six letters, laying down conditional peace talk proposals. The ongoing decisive offensive against the Red ultras indicates there are no strong reasons to hold conditional dialogues with CPI (Maoist). 1st National Highway tunnel in the state Chhattisgarh gets its first National Highway2.79 km long completed in just 12 months by National Highways Authority of India. The tunnel is a part of the Raipur-Visakhapatnam Economic corridor. The twin-tube tunnel will substantially reduce the travel time between Raipur and Visakhapatnam. The accomplishment is expected to augment the regional trade and industry, opening up new scope for tourism and socio-economic integration. Vishnu Deo Sai government citing the tunnel as a historic step is optimistic that it will build a prosperous and empowered Chhattisgarh. Raipur tops in water conservation efforts The Raipur Municipal Corporation (RMC) has secured the No.1 spot across India under the Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari (JSJB) 1.0 programme, completing 33,082 structures. RMC cited the award as a recognition of peoples power through the collective efforts intended to conserve water. Hyderabad (14,363) and Gorakhpur (14,331) followed in second and third place. At the state level, Chhattisgarh finished second with 4,05,563 structures, behind Telangana (5,20,362). RMC will receive `2 crore for surpassing the 10,000-structure milestone. A total of 67 districts nationwide have been recognised under three categories `2 crore, `1 crore and `25 lakh. Ejaz Kaiser Our correspondent in Chhattisgarh ejaz@newindianexpress.com
IIM Raipur recently hosted a two-day AACSB workshop to understand accreditation and implement Assurance of Learning. Faculty members engaged in exercises to create rubrics and design feedback loops, aiming to continuously improve curriculum and pedagogy. This initiative marks a significant step for IIM Raipur towards achieving global recognition and aligning with top-tier management schools worldwide.
Amit Shah sets March 2026 deadline to wipe out Bastar Maoists
RAIPUR: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday ruled out any possibility of dialogue with Maoists and said they will have to lay down weapons and accept the governments lucrative surrender and rehabilitation policy. Addressing the Bastar Dussehra Lokotsav and Swadeshi Mela in Jagdalpur, the headquarter of Chhattisgarhs Bastar district, he asserted that March 31, 2026, has been set as the deadline to bid farewell to the menace of Naxalism. I want to tell all my tribal brothers and sisters to persuade the youth of their villages to lay down their arms. They should shun violence, join the mainstream and become part of the development of Bastar, he said. Some people have called for talks (with Naxals). Let me make it clear again that both the Chhattisgarh and Central governments are committed to development across Bastar and all Naxal-affected areas. What is there to talk about? A lucrative surrender-and-rehabilitation policy has been put in place. Come forward and lay down your weapons, Shah said. He lauded Chhattisgarhs surrender and rehabilitation policy, which he described as the best in the country. The Chhattisgarh government has made the best surrender policy in the country. More than 500 people have surrendered in a single month. Everyone should surrender. As soon as a village becomes Naxalite-free, the state government will give it Rs 1 crore for development. Naxalism will not benefit anyone, he said. Security forces, including the CRPF and Chhattisgarh police, will give a befitting reply if ultras disrupt peace in Bastar, Shah warned. Some people in Delhi used to spread misinformation for years that the birth of Naxalism was for the fight for development. But I have come to tell my tribal brothers that the entire Bastar has been deprived of development. The root cause of this is Naxalism, he added. Notably, anti-Naxalite operations intensified in Chhattisgarh after the BJP came to power in 2023. Security forces have gunned down over 450 Naxalites in a string of encounters, mostly centred in the Bastar region, since January last year. Shah also attended the Muria Darbar celebrations, part of the renowned Bastar Dussehra festival, where tribal leaders discussed their issues with him. He praised the event for reflecting tribal culture, democratic values and community participation. On the same occasion, Shah launched the Chief Minister Rural Bus Service Scheme, aimed at improving connectivity in the tribal areas of Bastar and Sarguja. Additionally, he transferred the 20th monthly instalment of Rs 1,000 to the bank accounts of women beneficiaries under the governments Mahtari Vandan scheme.
NIA chargesheets four more for funding Maoist activities in Chhattisgarh
RAIPUR: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday filed a supplementary chargesheet against four more accused for alleged promotion of activities of the banned outfit CPI (Maoist) in Chhattisgarh. The NIA in its statement stated that the four accused against whom the supplementary chargesheet was produced, the three identified as Sunita Potam, Shankar Muchaki and Dashrath alias Dasru Modiyam, were office bearers of Moolwasi Bachao Manch (MBM), a frontal organisation of the CPI (Maoist), and arrested in the past. Mallesh Kunjam, the fourth accused named in the chargesheet, was an armed Maoist cadre and is still absconding, the agency said. Till now, seven accused have been charge-sheeted in the case. In October 2024, the MBM was banned by the state government under provisions of the Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act, 2005. The NIA stated that all four accused named in the chargesheet were involved in activities like collection, storage and disbursal of funds for left-wing extremist groups. The outlawed CPI (Maoist) used these funds for staging protests against the democratically elected government and the development activities that are being carried out in the state. These illicit funds were being channelised through the frontal organisation like MBM, it added. The NIA, continuing with its probe into the case, is pursuing an action carried out by the Bijapur police in May 2023, when Gajendra Madvi and Laxman Kunjam, both workers of MBM, were arrested and seized Rs 6 lakh cash in junked Rs 2000 notes belonging to Naxalites.
India's first smart registration office unveiled in Chhattisgarh's Nava Raipur
RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh has inaugurated the countrys first state-of-the-art Smart Registration Office in the new capital city of Nava Raipur, marking a major step towards modernising citizen services. Developed under a public-private partnership (PPP) model, the new facility is designed to deliver faster, more transparent, and citizen-friendly services, in line with global standards. Registering a house, shop, or land will no longer mean standing in long queues at crowded government offices. The entire process can now be completed in just 12 to 15 minutes, in a setting comparable to passport or airport service centres, a government spokesperson told TNIE. The facility was inaugurated on Tuesday by Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao, in the presence of Finance Minister O P Choudhary. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai described the initiative as a milestone in citizen-centric governance. This initiative strengthens Chhattisgarhs identity as a welfare-oriented state. Citizen convenience remains the foundation of good governance, he stated. Encouraged by the model's potential, the central government is reportedly exploring similar upgrades nationwide. This modern facility, built on the PPP model, ensures speed, transparency, and convenience, enhancing the overall citizen experience, added an official. In the first phase, 10 registration offices are being upgraded, with the Nava Raipur unit now fully operational. The state government has set a target to modernise all 117 registration offices across Chhattisgarh within the next year. The smart office features a queue management system and digital display boards that eliminate long waits and provide real-time updates on documentation and fees. A trained helpdesk staff is also on hand to assist citizens at every stage of the process.
Chhattisgarh To Host First-Ever DGP-IGP Meet, PM Modi Likely To Attend
The three-day event is scheduled from 28 to 30 November at the newly developed Marine Drive complex in Nava Raipur.
Top Maoist leaders remain prime targets for forces in Chhattisgarh; nine leaders eliminated in 2025
RAIPUR: The ongoing anti-Maoist operation after the monsoon has been intensified with a renewed warning conveyed to the top Maoist leaders, asking them to give up arms and surrender, or else be prepared to be eliminated. The Chhattisgarh police and the Central forces affirmed that the sustained offensive against the left-wing extremists inflicted massive setback to the banned outfit, owing to which the Maoist leaders evidently remain fully aware that there is no safe place for them anywhere in the affected Bastar region. Bastar Inspector General of police, Sundarraj P, claimed that they consistently get solid information about the locations of top Maoist leaders, and they can be eliminated anytime by security forces. They can either surrender and join the mainstream or get killed in the ongoing decisive operations by the troops, the IG told TNIE . Despite adverse weather and tough geographical conditions besides other challenges, the forces are vigorously engaged in strategically planned anti-Maoist campaigns, keeping in mind the March 31, 2026, deadline set by the Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Most of the Central Committee (CC) members, who are only next to the Politburo of CPI (Maoist) in hierarchy, remained active in the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee during the last three decades, during which they waged a war against the state and the forces. Many of these CC members were cited to be the masterminds of numerous violent incidents, even leading to casualties of several jawans and the killing of innocent civilians. 71 Maoists surrender in Chhattisgarhs Dantewada in a single day following 'Lon Varratu' campaign appeal Police believe the remaining top 10 Maoist leaders are active in Bastar and adjoining border states. The CC members carry huge bounty on their heads in various states of the country.In the year 2025, the forces eliminated the general secretary of CPI Maoist Basava Raju alias Nambala Keshav Rao and eight CC members. The Bastar police also shared the names of the remaining top 10 Maoist leaders who the police believe are active in Bastar and adjoining border states. They includefour Polit Bureau membersGanpathi alias Mupalla Laxman Rao alias Ramanna, Malojula Venugopal Rao alias Bhupathi, Devji alias Devanna alias Sudarshan, and Mishir Besra alias Bhaskar. Additionally, six CC members are Ganesh Uike, Anal Da alias Marandi, Malla Raji Reddy alias Murli, Ramder alias Majjidev, Madvi Hidma alias Deva alias Sainath, and Pullari Prasad Rao alias Malkapuram alias Bhaskar. The inhospitable rugged terrain of Abujhmad, spread over 4000 sq km in the district of Narayanpur and touching Bijapur, Dantewada, and Kanker was once the common address for most of the top Maoist leaders for decades. The dense forests earlier provided safe havens and hideouts for armed Maoist cadres and their top leadership. During the last three years, the Maoists' strongholds have been significantly weakened due to the establishment of several security camps and ongoing anti-Maoist operations, besides the development initiatives by the government in the region. The forces are swiftly acting on intelligence inputs about the movement of Maoist cadres, even in the dense forested terrain. The polit bureau CC members are bestowed with key responsibilities, different organisational roles, besides military activities in the banned outfit.
Raipur Horror: Pregnant Teen, 16, Slits Boyfriends Throat With Knife He Threatened Her With
The brutal murder has sent shockwaves through Raipur and Bilaspur.
UP CM sends cancer patient for treatment after mothers plea
LUCKNOW, Sept 29: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday arranged for a cancer patient to be immediately sent to a hospital after hearing his distressed mothers plea at a public grievance hearing on Monday. According to an official statement, the 64-year-old woman from Kanpurs Raipurwa spoke to a the chief minister Janata Darshan programme and said, Maharaj, our young son has cancer. We are poor and cannot afford treatment. We do not even have an Ayushman card. Please [] The post UP CM sends cancer patient for treatment after mothers plea appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
RAIPUR: Kondagaon district in Chhattisgarh has recorded the highest production of coconuts in the non-traditional belt of the country. Kondagaon district is among the 11 Demonstrations cum Seed Production (DSP) farms owned and run by the Centre under the ministry of Agriculture. Usually the southern states excel in coconut production and collectively contribute a significant majority of the yields in the country. Spread across 100 acres of land, the farm has over 6000 coconut trees with 18 varieties, among them the tall, dwarf and hybrid ones are most common. Over 3 lakh coconuts are produced annually from Kondagaon DSP farm. Among the 11 DSP farms administered by the Coconut Development Board (CDB) under the ministry of agriculture, the Kopabeda-based in Kondagaon has secured first position in terms of coconut production. The annual income of the Board from this farm is over one crore. Here we also produce around 50 thousand seedlings of coconut every year for sale to farmers and in other adjoining states, I C Katiyar, assistant director (CDB) told TNIE . The quality of cultivation led to phenomenal success, the officer added. Besides the assistant director, there are around 10 staff and the same number of permanent labourers working here. The project started in Kondagaon in 1987 and the headquarters is in Kerala. The other DSP farms are in states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Assam, Tripura, West Bengal. To make the best use of the land, the inter-cropping practices are also undertaken and one will find other trees among the coconut trees like mango, litchi, pine apple, cocoa, chiku, cinnamon among others. On some occasions, the DSP farm also engages actively in seedling distributions and training sessions on coconut cultivation practices on demand.
3 Naxalites carrying total bounty of Rs 14 lakh gunned down in Chhattisgarh
KANKER: Three Naxalites carrying a cumulative bounty of Rs 14 lakh were killed in an encounter with security personnel in Chhattisgarh's Kanker district on Sunday, a senior police official said. The gun battle took place on a forested hill near Chhindkhadak village along the border of Kanker and Gariaband districts, where a joint team of security personnel was out on an anti-Naxal operation in the morning, Kanker Superintendent of Police Indira Kalyan Elesela told PTI. Personnel belonging to the District Reserve Guard (DRG), a unit of the state police, from Kanker and Gariaband, and the Border Security Force (BSF) were involved in the operation, he said. Bodies of three Naxalites, including a woman cadre, were recovered from the site, along with a self-loading rifle (SLR), a .303 rifle, a 12-bore gun and other Naxalite-related materials, the SP said. Prima facie, the deceased were identified as Sarvan Madkam alias Vishwanath, the secretary of Sitanadi/Ravas area committee of Maoists, Rajesh alias Rakesh Hemla, an area committee member of Nagari area committee, and Basanti Kunkjam alias Hidme, a member of the protection team Mainpur-Nuapada, he said. The official said that Madkam and Hemla carried a bounty of Rs 8 lakh and Rs 5 lakh respectively, while Kunjam had a reward of Rs 1 lakh. Inspector General of Police, Bastar Range, Sundarraj P, said that despite the challenging geographical conditions and harsh weather, the police and security forces deployed in the region have been working with complete dedication to protect life and property, in accordance with the wishes of the government and people. He appealed to Maoist cadres to accept the reality that Maoism was on the verge of extinction. Now is the time for them to abandon the path of violence and join the mainstream by taking advantage of the government's rehabilitation policy, the senior official said. If they continue illegal and violent activities, they will face severe consequences, he added. With the latest action, 252 Naxalites have been gunned down in separate encounters in Chhattisgarh so far this year. Of them, 223 were eliminated in the Bastar division, comprising seven districts, including Kanker, while 27 were killed in Gariaband, which falls in the Raipur division. Two other Naxalites were killed in Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki district in Durg division. On September 22, top cadres, Raju Dada alias Katta Ramachandra Reddy (63) and Kosa Dada alias Kadari Satyanarayana Reddy (67), both Central Committee members of the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoists), were killed in an encounter in Narayanpur district, police said.
Maoist Couple With Rs 13 Lakh Bounty Arrested In Raipur, Exposing Urban Hideout Network
A Maoist couple with a Rs 13 lakh bounty, were arrested in Raipur after years undercover as labourers, exposing a hidden Naxal network in the city.
6 dead, several injured in Chhattisgarh factory collapse
RAIPUR, Sep 26 : Six factory workers were killed and several others injured when an under-construction structure collapsed at the Godavari Ispat plant in Chhattisgarhs Silatra industrial area today. Officials fear the toll could rise further as rescue teams continue to search for labourers trapped under the debris. Eyewitnesses said over a dozen workers were on duty when the steel and concrete framework suddenly gave way, burying many beneath the rubble. Panic gripped the site as fellow workers raised an [] The post 6 dead, several injured in Chhattisgarh factory collapse appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Six dead, six injured in furnace accident at Chhattisgarh steel plant
RAIPUR: Four officials and two workers were killed in an accident inside a furnace at a private steel plant in Chhattisgarh's capital Raipur on Friday, while six others, including a general manager, sustained injuries, police said. The incident took place at the plant of Godawari Power and Ispat Limited in Siltara area on the outskirts of the capital, Raipur Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Lal Umed Singh told PTI . After being alerted about the incident at around 4:30 pm, a police team was sent to the spot and a rescue operation was launched, he said. The furnace was shut for the last few days. On Friday, cleaning work was underway using high-pressure water to remove the thick layer of slag deposited on the wall and roof of the furnace. Suddenly, the thick deposit of slag collapsed, trapping those present underneath, Raipur Additional Superintendent of Police Lakhan Patle said. During the rescue operation, bodies of six workers were retrieved from the debris, while six others were rescued in injured condition. They have been hospitalised, he added. A plant management official said the incident took place at around 3 pm, and the injured were immediately shifted to the occupational health centre inside the plant, following which they were referred to the hospital. The deceased have been identified as managers GL Prasanna Kumar and Kaligotla Prasanna Kumar, assistant managers Ghanshyam Ghomare and Nirakar Mallick and helpers Tulsi Ram Bhatt and Narayan Sahu, he said. General manager A Chakradhar Rao, senior technician Dipendra Mahato, junior technician Chandra Prakash Patel and three workers were injured, the official from the plant added. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, in an official statement, expressed deep grief over the incident and directed officials to ensure the best possible medical treatment for the injured. Terming the incident as an extremely painful and unfortunate tragedy, Sai conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for peace to the departed souls and strength to the grieving kin.
Chhattisgarh HC orders CBI probe into Rs 1000-crore NGO scam in social welfare department
RAIPUR: The Chhattisgarh High Court has directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to investigate an alleged Rs 1000-crore NGO scam involving large-scale irregularities such as fake salaries and fictitious facilities linked to the state social welfare department. A division bench comprising Justice Parth Pratim Sahu and Justice Sanjay Kumar Jaiswal, while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) pending since 2018, described the issue as a case of organised corruption rather than mere administrative lapses. The court expressed doubts over the capability of local probe agencies or the state police to conduct an impartial investigation. The case concerns the State Resource Centre (SRC) for disabled persons, which received substantial government funding intended for welfare schemes. Public funds meant for vulnerable sections were allegedly siphoned off through fictitious non-government organisations (NGOs). The irregularities came to light after contractual employee Kundan Singh Thakur exposed large-scale wrongdoing. He lodged complaints at various levels and subsequently filed the PIL in 2018, alleging that salaries were withdrawn in his name without his knowledge. He reportedly received threats and was later dismissed. Special scrutiny revealed 31 financial irregularities, including unauthorised cash withdrawals, unjustified fund transfers, purchases of non-existent medical equipment, missing vouchers and cash-books, and staff employed only on paper. Salaries were withdrawn in the names of non-existent employees. The institutions, SRC and Physical Referral Rehabilitation Centre (PRC), linked to the social welfare department, reportedly existed only on paper. The SRC, established in 2004, was meant to provide technical and training assistance to the differently-abled, while the PRC, set up in 2012, was intended to supply artificial limbs and other medical aids. According to information obtained under the Right to Information Act, both institutions remained largely inactive while allegedly misusing substantial public funds. The scam reportedly implicates two former chief secretaries, around half a dozen bureaucrats, several state service officials, and a couple of former state ministers. Officials named in connection with the case include bureaucrats Alok Shukla, Vivek Dhand, MK Raut, Sunil Kujur, B L Agrawal, and PP Soti, as well as state service officials Satish Pandey, Ashok Tiwari, Herman Khalkho, Rajesh Tiwari, and Pankaj Verma. Several accused officials previously approached the Supreme Court via a Special Leave Petition filed on 5 February 2020, but the apex court remitted the matter back to the High Court. The High Court has directed notices to be served on all accused officials and has ordered the CBI to confiscate all relevant original documents from the concerned departments and offices within the next 15 days.
Six workers killed, 5 injured as structure collapses at Raipur Steel Plant, more feared trapped
At least six workers were killed and five others injured after a structure collapsed at a private steel plant in Chhattisgarh's Raipur on Friday, i.e., September 26, said the police.
5 Killed, Several Injured After Structure At Raipur Steel Plant Collapses
According to a preliminary investigation, five workers were killed and five others sustained injuries in the incident.
NIA invokes UAPA against father-son Maoist duo in BJP leader murder case
Raipur: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a supplementary chargesheet against two Maoist operatives in the 2023 murder case of BJP leader Ratan Dubey, in which it has invoked charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The supplementary chargesheet was filed before the special NIA court at Jagdalpur in the state on Thursday, 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 .
Vikas Sheel apointed as Chhattisgarhs 13th Chief Secretary
Vkas Sheel, a 1994-batch IAS officer, has been appointed as Chhattisgarh's new chief secretary, succeeding Amitabh Jain. The Chhattisgarh government issued the order on Thursday. Sheel, currently an advisor at the Asian Development Bank, previously served as Collector of Raipur and Bilaspur and held key positions in central government, including Additional Secretary for Health and Jal Jeevan Mission.
RAIPUR: Seventy-one cadres of outlawed CPI (Maoist) renounced the banned outfit and surrendered in an edgy district of Dantewada, south Bastar, on Wednesday. Of them, thirty carry a collective reward of Rs 64 lakh. In an ongoing campaign appeal Lon Varratu (return to your home/village)by Chhattisgarh police intended for the Maoist cadres, Dantewada is consistently yielding results ever since the campaign was launched in 2020 by the then district police chief Abhishek Pallava. Dantewada district superintendent of police Gaurav Rai said that the total number of Maoists who have so far surrendered under the Lon Varratu is 1113, of which 297 people carried rewards on their heads. Among the 71 who surrendered on Wednesday were 21 females. Besides the operations under the ongoing anti-Maoist campaign, we are simultaneously carrying out a community outreach programme attempting to impress upon the misled cadres of Red rebels about the benefits of the States surrender and rehabilitation policy, the SP added. On various occasions, its usually the individual approach by security personnel to use various means or channels to convey the message to the cadres of the banned outfit, and try to convince them of the rationality of returning to the mainstream. Such moves were also jointly carried out in association with the central paramilitary forces in Dantewada and other naxal-affected districts of Bastar division. The Maoists, after surrender, get the initial financial incentive of Rs 50,000 each. Besides, if such cadres wish to undergo skill training or set up a small business, they also receive further financial support, provided with free housing and healthcare, farm land, among other amenities under the new surrender rehabilitation policy. Lon Varratu is often seen striking an emotional chord with the regional cadres of Maoists, re-educate them on returning to their roots. Several cadres who left the banned outfit later stated that they realised the hollow, anti-development ideology of the Maoist organisation.
Raipur Diary | Chhattisgarh prodigy shines in equestrian event
Vedika Sharan, a young equestrian from Chhattisgarh, has made her mark at the prestigious FEI Childrens Classics 2025. The event, held at Embassy International Riding School in Bangalore, brought together riders aged 10 to 14 from across the country. Competing against 50 participants, Vedika displayed remarkable skill, precision, and composure, earning a silver medal. The FEI Bronze Tour tests both the rider and the horse on agility, strategy, and teamwork, making her achievement even more special. Representing India, Vedikas performance impressed judges and spectators alike. Police commissioner system in Raipur Chhattisgarh is set to introduce police commissioner system in Raipur, likely from November 1. With this change, Raipur will become the 73rd city in India to adopt the system aiming to make policing more efficient and responsive as the city grows into a metropolitan area. State DGP AD Gautam has directed preparations for the transition from the traditional system to a commissionerate structure. A seven-member panel, led by an ADG-rank officer, is studying existing models and preparing a draft proposal. Once ready, the proposal will be submitted to the Home Department for approval, paving the way for smoother law enforcement. Faculty shortage hits medical colleges Medical colleges in Chhattisgarh are facing a severe shortage of faculty. Out of 644 approved posts for assistant professors across 10 colleges, 332 remain vacant. Professors and associate professors are also in short supply, with 117 out of 241 professor posts and around 200 out of 399 associate professor posts empty. Usually, professor and associate professor positions are filled through promotions from assistant professors, as there is no direct recruitment. The state has proposed filling 125 assistant professor posts through the State Public Service Commission. The shortage affects teaching quality and student guidance. Ejaz Kaiser Our correspondent in Chhattisgarh ejaz@newindianexpress.com
After 39 years, 83-year-old Jageshwar Prasad Awadhiya of Raipur has been acquitted in a false ?100 bribery case. His struggle cost him his wife, childrens future, and a lifetime of dignity.
Chhattisgarh CM agrees to grant NOC to Sammakka Sagar Project
The decision comes after Minister for Irrigation N. Uttam Kumar Reddy meets CM Vishnu Deo in Raipur
Naxalite killed in encounter in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur
NARAYANPUR: A Naxalite was killed in an encounter with security personnel in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur district on Monday, police said. The gun battle broke out in the morning at a forest in the Abhujmaad area, adjoining Maharashtra, when a team of security forces was out on a search operation, a police official said. The operation was launched based on inputs about the presence of Naxalites in the area. So far, the body of a male Naxalite was recovered from the spot, and the intermittent exchange of fire was still underway, he said. Modi government moving forward with ruthless approach against Naxalites: Amit Shah With the latest action, 248 Naxalites have been killed in separate encounters in Chhattisgarh so far this year. Of them, 219 were eliminated in the Bastar division, comprising seven districts, while 27 others were gunned down in the Gariaband district, which falls in the Raipur division. Two other Naxalites were killed in Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki district in Durg division. On September 11, ten Naxalites, including a central committee member of the outlawed CPI (Maoist), Modem Balakrishna, were killed in an encounter in the state's Gariaband district, according to police. At least 30 Maoists, one security personnel killed in separate encounters in Chhattisgarh
Volleyball tournament concludes
Excelsior Sports Correspondent SAMBA, Sept 21: Youth Raipur Camp organized a three-day Volleyball Tournament from September 19 to 21, paying tribute to the legendary Sher-e-Punjab Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The event drew enthusiastic participation from local youth, who showcased commendable talent, passion, and sportsmanship throughout the tournament. The closing ceremony was graced by Dr. Devinder Kumar Manyal, MLA Ramgarh and Former Minister for Health and Medical Education, J&K, as the chief guest. Dr. Manyal praised the organizers for fostering youth engagement [] The post Volleyball tournament concludes appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Chhattisgarh sees rise in church shutdown amid pressure from police, Hindutva orgs
A new, unofficial order passed in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, has left the Christian community in distress. In the past few months, the state has seen a sharp rise in church shutdowns either due to fears of attacks by Hindutva mobs or because of complaints alleging forced conversions. Under the Chhattisgarh Sarvajanik Dharmik Bhawan Tatha Sthan Viniyaman 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 .
Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai condemns Manipur ambush, extends condolences to bereaved families
RAIPUR: Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Saturday condemned the ambush in Manipur's Bishnupur district a day earlier which killed two Assam Rifles personnel, including one from Chhattisgarh. The attack on the Assam Rifles in Manipur is condemnable. Two jawans, including Rifleman Ranjit Kashyap, a brave son of Chhattisgarh, made the supreme sacrifice. I pay my deepest respects to the martyrs and extend my condolences to their bereaved families. Their sacrifice strengthens our resolve to defend and unite the nation, Sai said in a post on X. People stage protests against ambush on Assam Rifles in Manipur, search underway for attackers Two Assam Rifles personnel killed, five injured in terrorist ambush in Manipurs Bishnupur district - Vishnu Deo Sai (@vishnudsai) September 20, 2025 Two jawans of the Assam Rifles were killed and five others were injured when armed men ambushed the force's vehicle in Nambol Sabal Leikai area in Manipur on Friday evening. The attack took place when the troopers were travelling towards Bishnupur district from Imphal. Authorities identified the deceased troopers as Naib Subedar Shyam Gurung and Rifleman Ranjit Singh Kashyap, who hailed from Bastar district.
Chhattisgarh family socially boycotted, house demolished allegedly due to 'not voting' for Sarpanch
RAIPUR: In Chhattisgarh's Bemetara district, a family has been socially boycotted and their house demolished, allegedly based on a directive from the sarpanch for 'not voting for him' during the panchayat polls held this year. Both the victim's family and the sarpanch belong to the Satnami (Scheduled Caste) community in Gadamod gram panchayat, Navagarh tehsil of Bemetara, about 80 km from Raipur. We are a family of 10 members, living in fear. Our house where we lived for 25 years has been razed to the ground using a bulldozer on the instruction of the sarpanch Mahajan Manhare and in the presence of the tehsildar and local police station incharge. We were not given any opportunity to challenge the order of the sarpanch, said Vijay Laxmi Manhare, who lodged a complaint to the sub-divisional magistrate, district police chief, tehsildar seeking justice and compensation. The sarpanch had earlier served a notice on vacating the allegedly illegally occupied land where the house was built several years ago but the distressed family refused to accept 'advance warning', questioning the authority of the sarpanch on issuing such a command to remove the unproven 'encroachment'. We have earlier lodged written complaints to Navagarh tehsildar and the police station incharge but they didn't receive it and instead told us to follow the dictates of the sarpanch, the woman added. The family alleged that Mahajan Manhare is nurturing strong grudges against them for not extending support during the panchayat elections and was warned of dire consequences for reportedly not voting for him. The family said that their children are not getting meals under the Mid-Day Meal Scheme (MDMS) in school and are not allowed to play with other kids in the village. Bemetara collector Ranveer Sharma said that the gram sabha has the authority to get the illegal encroachment removed following a due course of law in their jurisdiction area. I am not aware of the incident. But we will take action if the affected family is socially ostracised and ensure they are not deprived of the entitled social welfare schemes, the collector told TNIE . Lawyer J P Shukla, counsel for the aggrieved party, said that the family members were dislodged from their house in an inhuman way. The sarpanch can only make reference on the issue of encroachment and the executive power on removing it lies only with the tehsildar. The vengeful sarpanch seemingly has colluded with the local authorities in demolishing the house and boycotting the family, Shukla claimed.
Kanker police launch poster campaign to track Wanted Naxals; urge locals to aid surrender drive
RAIPUR: The Kanker police in Chhattisgarh, amid the ongoing offensive against Maoists, have heightened a parallel search campaign, putting up posters and banners carrying the identity of Wanted Naxals across sensitive villages and interior locations of the district. The police have also appealed to locals for support, asking them to provide alerts about the whereabouts of senior Maoists carrying rewards on their heads. The strategically placed posters display coloured images and names of top Maoist leaders, ranging from a bounty of Rs 1 crore to others carrying rewards of Rs 1 lakh. Most of the Wanted Naxals fall into Rs 40 lakh and Rs 25 lakh award categories. Alongside urging Maoists to give up violence and join the mainstream, the banners also inform villagers that anyone providing information about the ultras will be rewarded, with strict confidentiality assured. The initiative aims to strengthen the tactical fight against left-wing extremists whose senior cadres, often in civilian dress, continue to visit villages and tribal hamlets unnoticed by locals. Usually people are unaware of who the Maoist leaders are, particularly the top naxals. They need to stay informed. Now they can recognise and inform the police. However, the intended reason behind this campaign is also to induce the senior Maoists to surrender. The state governments main focus is to ensure their surrender, facilitate rehabilitation and join the mainstream of society, Indira Kalyan Elesela, Kanker district police chief, told TNIE. The 'Wanted Naxal' poster post information of the naxalites and promise rewards for informants. The posters promise rewards for informants. It was in the inhospitable Kalpad forested hilly terrain of Kanker last year that 29 Maoists were killed by security forces in the biggest offensive against the banned outfit, just days ahead of the Lok Sabha polling. The impact of the onslaught in Kanker later reverberated across other districts of the Bastar range, prompting similar offensive actions. For the first time, Wanted Naxals posters in remote areas are grabbing public attention. Many villagers were seen keenly observing, discussing, and reading the printed details on the banners. The Kanker police believe that with the local population content with the development works in their regions, they will extend support to this campaign as well. Kanker is among the seven Maoist-affected districts in the Bastar zone of south Chhattisgarh.
Two Maoists killed in encounter with security personnel in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur
RAIPUR: Two cadres of the outlawed CPI (Maoist) were killed in an exchange of fire with security forces in the south-western region of strife-torn Bijapur district on Wednesday, police said. According to a senior police officer, Based on the specific inputs regarding the presence of Maoists in the given location of Bijapur district, a joint team of security forces launched a search operation. A gunfight broke out between the security forces and the Maoists on Wednesday afternoon. The exchange of fire continues intermittently. Two bodies of Maoists have been recovered from the encounter site. The troops out on operation in Bijapur on Wednesday comprised District Reserve Guard (DRG), Special Task Force (STF) and CRPFs elite unit Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA). There was however, no report of any injury sustained by the forces. The forces also recovered weapons, explosive materials and items of daily use from the location. As the search operation also remains underway alongside the gun-battle, further operational details were not shared owing to the safety concerns of the personnel engaged in the anti-Maoist campaign on the ground, the officer said. Central Committee member likely among 10 Maoists killed in encounter in Chhattisgarhs Gariaband On Tuesday, a two-page purported press release by the banned outfit surfaced in Chhattisgarh. The spokesperson of the Central Committee of CPI (Maoist) Abhay has announced a temporary suspension of its armed struggle to facilitate peace talks, but has requested the government to declare a one-month ceasefire and halt security operations to initiate the process. In response, the state government said it was verifying the authenticity of the letter. This year 245 Maoists have been neutralised in separate encounters in Chhattisgarh so far. Of them, in the Bastar division alone, the forces gunned down 216, while 27 were eliminated in Gariaband district adjoining the Odisha border. Two other naxalites were killed in Durg division. Bijapur, among the seven Maoist-affected districts in Bastar zone, is cited as an epicentre of the left-wing extremist group in south Chhattisgarh. Union Home Minister Amit Shah had in August last year declared that the country will be Maoist-free by March 31, 2026. No talks with Maoists as long as they carry arms: Union Minister Amit Shah
72-year-old Indian-origin US citizen murdered in Punjab; UK-based NRI prime suspect
CHANDIGARH: A 72-year-old Indian-origin US citizen, Rupinder Kaur Pandher, was allegedly murdered in Kila Raipur village near Ludhiana after traveling from Seattle to Punjab in July to marry a 75-year-old UK-based Non-Resident Indian (NRI), Charanjit Singh Grewal. According to police, Grewal lured her to India under the pretext of marriage and then orchestrated her brutal murder through a contract killer. The Punjab Police have identified the main suspect as Sukhjeet Singh alias Sonu, who has allegedly confessed to killing Rupinder on the night of July 1213, acting on instructions from Grewal. Investigators claim that financial gain was the primary motive for the murder. Police sources revealed that Charanjit Singh Grewal, originally from Mehma Singh Wala village, now residing in the United Kingdom, had allegedly plotted the murder and promised Rs 50 lakh to Sonu to carry out the killing. In a gruesome attempt to destroy evidence, Sonu reportedly burned Rupinders body with diesel in a storeroom at his residence, cooled the remains with water, and disposed of the ashes in a nearby drain in Lehra village. The police have since recovered partial skeletal remains and sent them for forensic analysis. While Grewal has been named as the prime suspect, efforts are ongoing to gather further evidence and secure his arrest. His brother and other associates have also been named in the FIR and are currently absconding. The case came to light when Rupinders sister, Kamal Kaur Khaizah, who resides in the US contacted the US Embassy in India on July 28 after failing to reach her sister for four consecutive days. Rupinder's phone had been switched off shortly after she traveled to Kila Raipur on Grewals invitation. Following Kamals persistent efforts, the US Embassy took up the matter with the Punjab Police. It was only last week that the family received a call from a friend who informed them of Rupinders suspected murder and Sonus arrest, which proved to be the breakthrough in the case. A case has been registered, and investigations are ongoing. Assistant Commissioner of Police Harjinder Singh Gill confirmed that Sukhjeet Singh alias Sonu, a resident of Malha Patti in Kila Raipur, admitted to the murder and the attempt to dispose of the body by setting it ablaze in a storeroom on the night of July 1213.
Maoists announces temporary suspension of armed struggle, ask govt to declare 'ceasefire'
RAIPUR: The outlawed CPI (Maoist), in a purported statement, has announced a temporary suspension of its armed struggle to facilitate peace talks, but has asked the government to declare a one-month 'ceasefire' and halt security operations to initiate the process. Reacting to the development, the Chhattisgarh government said it was verifying the authenticity of the statement, which surfaced on social media on Tuesday. In the purported statement issued by Maoists, the rebels have appealed to the government to share their decision on the issue via the Internet and government news media, including radio. The two-page statement, dated August 15, was issued in the name of Abhay, a spokesperson of the central committee of Maoists, and came nearly four months after the killing of Nambala Keshav Rao alias Basavaraju , general secretary of the Communist Party of India (Maoist), in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh's Bastar region. Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma, who holds the home portfolio, told reporters on Tuesday that the authenticity of the statement was being verified and the best way for Maoists is to surrender and avail rehabilitation benefits. The term 'ceasefire' is highly objectionable as there is no war-like situation that requires one. In a democracy, talks cannot be conditional, yet once again, they have set preconditions. However, after verifying the statement, discussions will be held within the government, he said. INTERVIEW | Basavaraju killing a success, but gun cant kill ideology The Maoists, in the statement, said they had proposed a ceasefire to the government earlier, asking for one month to consult with the highest leadership comrades of the outfit. But unfortunately, the central government did not express its favourable stand on it. Rather, it has further intensified its operations, the statement said. To take forward the process of peace talks that was started on the initiative of the party's general secretary (late Basavaraju), we are making it clear that in view of the changed global and national circumstances, as well as the continuous requests being made by the country's Prime Minister, Home Minister and senior police officers to give up arms and join the mainstream, we have decided to shun arms, it said. We have decided to declare a temporary halt to the armed struggle. We are making it clear that in the future, we will fight shoulder to shoulder with all political parties and organisations fighting for the public cause as far as possible, the statement added. The CPI (Maoist) offered direct talks with the Centre. We are ready to talk to the Union Home Minister or persons appointed by him or a delegation on this issue. But we will have to inform the party about our changed opinion. Therefore, our request to the Central Government is to give us one month to consult with our comrades working in different states across the country and those imprisoned, it said. We are also ready to exchange views with the government on this subject, primarily through video call. Therefore, we are making it clear once again that (the government should) immediately declare a formal ceasefire for a month, stop search operations and take forward the peace process, it said. The statement also carried a note, saying it was issued late due to several reasons. Reacting to the statement, Inspector General of Police, Bastar Range Sundarraj P told PTI that police have taken note of the press release issued in the name of the CPI (Maoist) Central Committee regarding the laying down of arms and the prospect of peace talks. The authenticity of the release is being verified and its contents are under careful examination, he added. It is reiterated that any decision on engagement or dialogue with the CPI (Maoist) lies solely with the government, which will take an appropriate call after due consideration and assessment of the situation and circumstances, the IPS officer added. 'Surrender or get eliminated like Basavaraju': Bastar top cop's warning to Maoist leaders
CPI (Maoist) Announces Month-Long Ceasefire, Opens Door for Peace Talks
Raipur, Sep 17: In a dramatic shift, the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoist) has announced a one-month suspension of its armed struggle, declaring readiness for conditional peace talks with the central government. A statement issued by party spokesperson Abhay, dated August 15 but released Tuesday in Bastar, said the group would now focus [] The post CPI (Maoist) Announces Month-Long Ceasefire, Opens Door for Peace Talks appeared first on Northlines .
RAIPUR: The opposition Congress on Tuesday launched a three-day Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod Abhiyan (thief of votes, give up the seat) padyatra campaign from Raigarh to highlight the alleged irregularities in the voter lists among the masses in Chhattisgarh. The programme commenced with a public rally addressed by the party state in-charge Sachin Pilot and the signature campaign. While blaming the BJP for alleged vote theft and claiming that the Election Commission (EC) took no notice of evidence of electoral wrongdoing, Pilot said, The time has come for all to get aware, understand and fight for the right as a voter. Rahulji has given evidence on vote theft. Everyone respects and submits before the might of democracy but we will never tolerate any conspiracy intended to plunder the democracy. The party leaders stated that the evidence presented by the Leader of Opposition Rajul Gandhi about the 'irregularities' in the countrys electoral system, particularly the voters list, is serious and raises questions over the fairness of recent elections. The Chhattisgarh home minister Vijay Sharma said that the Congress should not spread confusion and mislead the people in the name of voter theft. From Raigarh, the three-day padyatra will pass through Korba, Takhatpur, Mungeli, Bemetara, Rajnandgaon, Durg and culminate at Bhilai on September 18 covering a distance of over 530 km in the state. The Congress during the programme has planned to organise foot-march, signature campaigns, torch processions, motorcycle rallies and public meetings, said Sushil Anand Shukla, chairman Congress media cell. The functioning of the Election Commission has been under suspicion for the last few years. Why EC is denying digital voter lists to political parties. The elections of the country were being rigged and votes stolen, alleged Deepak Baij, state Congress president. The leader of opposition Charandas Mahant, former CM Bhupesh Baghel, former deputy CM T S Singhdeo, party secretaries S Sampat, Jarita Laitphlang, Vijay Jangid, along with senior leaders, office bearers, workers and supporters will attend the padyatra campaign.
Punjab panchayats pass resolutions asking migrant labourers without documents to leave
CHANDIGARH: Following in the footsteps of Maharashtrawhich has often been in the spotlight for targeting outsiders amid the Maha Marathi rowseveral panchayats in Punjab are now passing resolutions directing migrant labourers to leave their villages. Around 27 villages in Hoshiarpur district have passed such resolutions, announcing that they will no longer issue residence verification (residence certificates) to migrant labourers in their respective areas. Migrants without valid documents issued in Punjab are being asked to leave within a week. According to the resolutions, those without proper paperwork will not be allowed to reside in these villages. These decisions come in the wake of the gruesome murder of a five-year-old boy in Hoshiarpur on September 9, allegedly by a migrant worker. The incident has triggered growing resentment against migrant populations across various parts of the state. The Chabbewal Panchayat passed its resolution on Sunday. Charanjit Singh, a panchayat member and husband of sarpanch Reena Sidhu, confirmed that many other villages in the region have either passed similar resolutions or are in the process of doing so. There is unity among villages across communities and castes on this issue, he added. On September 13, a meeting was held in Bajwara village, attended by sarpanches from around 27 hamlets, including Chak Sadhu, Nandan, Singhpur, Bassi Bahian, Dada, Kila Baroon, Allahabad, Bilaspur, and Anandgarh. A joint resolution was passed stating that panchayats would no longer attest any official documents of migrant workers lacking valid identity proof issued by the Punjab government. It was also resolved that such migrants would not be allowed to stay in the villages. A formal request was submitted to Hoshiarpur Deputy Commissioner Aashika Jain for administrative support in implementing these resolutions. Similar decisions were also reported from Jaja and Zahura villages in the Tanda sub-division. Bajwara sarpanch Rajesh Kumar alias Bobby Mahe said: Migrants without valid identity documents have been asked to vacate the villages. Those already living here with documents such as Aadhaar or PAN have been informed that their relatives arriving from outside will not be eligible for any verification by the panchayat. He further stated that migrant workers residing on rent would only be allowed to do so if their landlords submit a written undertaking to the panchayat, taking full responsibility for them. Mahe claimed that around 200-250 migrant labourers currently live in Bajwara. He alleged that many of them have illegally encroached upon panchayat land, building permanent houses with electricity meters and water connections without paying rent or obtaining legal permission. A complaint regarding these encroachments was reportedly submitted to the Deputy Commissioner on September 8. He added that approximately 25 panchayats in the district have passed resolutions to withhold document verification for migrants since the September 9 incident. The Baddla Panchayat's resolution specifically mentioned members of the Gujjar community, who are also migrants. It instructed that any migrant with criminal records must report to sarpanch Kamlesh Rani. The resolution further stated that individuals with Aadhaar cards showing Baddla village as their address must submit photocopies of their documents to the sarpanch. Additionally, farmers employing such workers are required to provide written details about them. In Purhiran village, which also has a significant migrant population, a similar resolution was passed. Elsewhere, two village panchayats in Bathinda districtDeepes and Gehari Bhagipassed comparable resolutions. The Deepes village panchayat even held a protest, declaring that outsiders will not be permitted in the village. Labourers were instructed to stay near tube well motors rather than inside the village. Farmers hiring migrants must also ensure that their police verification is completed. In Gehari Bhagi, the diktat was even more extreme. The resolution stated: Migrants cannot purchase property or homes in the village. They are prohibited from registering voter IDs or Aadhaar cards with village addresses. They may only reside in tube wells or farm huts, not within village residential limits. Farmers employing them will be held entirely responsible and must ensure police verification. Even Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) Sidhu Pur backed the resolutions, claiming that migrants, particularly from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, are disrupting the social fabric of the region. Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann responded to the village panchayats' stance by cautioning against any form of discrimination. He said, Tomorrow, Punjabis with businesses in Raipur (Chhattisgarh) or Kolkata could be targeted the same way. There cannot be such discrimination. Earlier this year, in July, the Lakhanpur Garcha Patti village panchayat in Fatehgarh Sahib district ordered all illegally residing migrants to vacate within a week. The resolution cited harassment of women and children by migrants loitering in the area. Sarpanch Barinder Singh Binda said that while migrants initially came to work in fields, many had permanently settled near canal banks in unauthorized shanties. Last year, similar controversial measures were adopted by Jandpur and Mundo Sangtia village panchayats in SAS Nagar district. On November 24, the Jawaharke village panchayat in Mansa district went even further by passing a resolution that prohibited residents from marrying migrants. The panchayat warned that any resident violating the order would be expelled from the village.
ED Files 7,000-Page Chargesheet Against Ex-CM Baghel's Son In Chhattisgarh Liquor Scam
The 7,039-page complaint (chargesheet) was filed in the court in Raipur, naming Chaitanya Baghel, a businessman, as an accused.
Liquor scam: ED files charge-sheet against former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghels son
RAIPUR: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday filed a 7,000-page charge-sheet (prosecution complaint) against Chaitanya Baghel , son of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, before the special court at Raipur in connection with the ongoing probe linked to the multi-crore liquor scam case . Chaitanya was arrested by ED on July 18 at his Bhilai residence. The ED had cited Chaitanyas alleged key involvement in laundering over Rs 1000 crore in the excise scam case and a portion of the massive scandal channelised into his real estate project Vitthal Green under Baghel Developers. ED has earlier claimed that the investigation has divulged on how Rs 16.70 crore in liquor scam proceeds were seemingly laundered via Baghels real estate ventures, besides in such entities like Dhillon City Mall, Dillon Drinks. Chaitanya, according to the probe agency, emerged as a key beneficiary of the illegal revenue contributed from the alleged liquor syndicate coordinated through businessmen and political individuals. The Central probe agency estimated that Proceeds of Crime of around Rs 2,161 crore have been generated by the suspects in the liquor scam. The Chhattisgarh state Bureau for Investigation of Economic Offences (EOW) has also presented a production warrant before the special court on Monday, seeking the custody of Chaitanya for interrogation into the liquor scam. Besides the ED, the EOW has registered a case in the liquor scam and is probing into it. The state investigating agency has earlier this year filed charge-sheet against 22 excise officials and a six-time Congress MLA, Kawasi Lakhma, in the given case. 'This is a pattern': SC chides ED in Chhattisgarh liquor scam case for 'making allegations without evidence'
A heated argument erupted at Kempegowda International Airport when an IndiGo passenger was denied boarding on flight 6E 405 to Raipur, allegedly arriving six minutes after the airline's boarding cut-off time. The passenger accused a crew member of verbal abuse, which she denied, leading to a viral video and social media debate.
After Arrests Over Raipur 'Nude Party', Women's Commission Seeks Report
Police have arrested several suspected organisers after posters for an alleged ude party scheduled on 21 September in Chhattisgarh's Raipur went viral on social media.
Controversy, shock over publicised Nude Party planned in Chhattisgarh capital, six detained
RAIPUR: An invitation poster of a Nude party luring young men and women to present themselves undressed at a high-profile gathering in Chhattisgarh capital generated much disquiet and controversy over promoting obscenity, leading the Raipur police to detain six for interrogation. The detained youths, including the organisers of the event, associated with Hyper Club and SS Farm, were questioned by a team of crime branch police. The party planned in a private farmhouse now stands cancelled. The police have not ruled out the possibility of arrests of the duo, besides the others, if found involved in illicit activities. Two FIRs have been lodged against the organisers. The event was also nicknamed the stranger party. Besides the evident forbidden activities, everything, right from liquor, illegal drugs, was presumed accessible to those attending the Nude party on September 21. The police swung into action following a viral poster grabbing attention to Nude Party, creating controversy. The preliminary examination of mobile phones of the two detained showed the artists from Mumbai and Bangalore were also lined up for the party. Many cited the move as an attempt to start in Raipur an indecent get-together culture commonly seen in places in Europe and the US. Criticism began pouring in from the politicians too, who sought an immediate ban on any such emerging bad party plan and a stringent action against the organisers. The upcoming party, according to sources, is to be held privately with entry given only to a limited people. The entire programme was kept so confidential that information about the venue got shared only in private with registered members barely a few hours before. Outsiders are strictly prohibited from joining the party once the registration process ends. Mobile phones are not allowed. The organisers are also suspected of being a part of some drug cartel supplying it for flagrant abuse, often seen in high-profile parties. The entry fee for the nude party was fixed at Rs 40,000 with some offers for each individual. Even Rs one lakh was offered by some couples. Raipur police are inquiring into the bizarre lewd invitation shared on some social media. We are investigating in-depth why such a party was planned and the persons behind it. Such parties can never be allowed, said Lal Umed Singh, Raipur senior superintendent of police. Its shocking and shameful, a Nude party as a social gathering organised for the first time in Chhattisgarh under the BJP regime, said Deepak Baij, state Congress president. The state BJP too, expressing concern, condemned the move to organise Nude Party. We are worried about youths planning to be a part of such an event that should not be allowed in future. Congress should avoid doing politics on the sensitive issue, said Shyam Behari Jaiswal, state health minister
NEW DELHI: India accounts for 17% of the worlds population and 20% of the global disease burden, yet fewer than four percent of international clinical trials are conducted in the country. This gap means Indian patients often wait years after global approvals to access breakthrough therapies. Now, a new initiative, aligning it with Central Drugs StandardControl Organisations (CDSCO) priorities to boost participation of government sites in Phase 3 and 4 trials, has trained nearly 400 professionals, including investigators, ethics committee members and support staff to meet the global Good Clinical Practice (GCP) standards. The initiative is aimed at strengthening Indias role in global clinical research and facilitating faster patient access to breakthrough therapies. Launched by Roche Pharma India, the company on Saturday announced the successful completion of its first phase of the Advanced Inclusive Research (AIR) Site Alliance initiative in India, in which it partnered with 10 leading government hospitals from across the country. This milestone marks a significant step forward in strengthening Indias readiness to participate in global and local clinical trials, enabling faster patient access to breakthrough therapies and ensuring Indias diverse population is better represented in clinical research, said the company. Launched in 2023, the initiative focused on streamlining internal processes, building digital readiness for better data capture and monitoring and delivering tailored training programs to enhance operational efficiency. By equipping leading government hospitals with global-standard clinical trial capabilities, we are helping to bring innovations faster to India. This is a crucial step toward building equitable healthcare and shaping treatments that are relevant for India, said Dr Sivabalan Sivanesan, Country Medical Director, Roche Pharma India. Dr Amit Sehrawat, Associate Professor, Medical Oncology and Haematology, AIIMS, Rishikesh, said, This initiative is a strong example of how publicprivate partnerships can accelerate capacity-building and strengthen Indias clinical research ecosystem. India carries a significant burden of cancer, infectious and chronic diseases, yet has historically been underrepresented in global trials. By enabling government hospitals to participate in cutting-edge research, this program ensures Indian patients are part of the evidence generation process helping make treatments safer, more effective and relevant for our population. Dr Vyunkta Raju K N, Professor, Dept of Paediatric Neurology, Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health, said: The AIR Site Alliance program has been transformational. Our investigators and ethics committees are now better equipped to conduct research of global standards. This collaboration has given our institutions new opportunities to bring advanced research directly to our patients. The 10 hospitals, which are part of this initiative are: AIIMS, Rishikesh; Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi; PGIMS, Rohtak; Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital & Research Center, Muzaffarpur; Balco Medical Centre, Raipur; Government Medical College, Aurangabad; Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health, Bengaluru; Dr. Bhubaneswar Borooah Cancer Institute (BBCI), Guwahati; Kalyan Singh Super Speciality Cancer Institute & Hospital, Lucknow and Acharya Harihar Post Graduate Institute of Cancer, Cuttack. The project aligns closely with Indias national priorities, including the CDSCOs encouragement for greater participation of government sites in Phase 3 and 4 trials and the Pharmaceutical Research and Innovation Policy (PRIP) initiative that explicitly encouraged industry-academia partnerships to strengthen R&D capabilities, build clinical trial infrastructure and enhance Indias global competitiveness in innovative research, the company said. This initiative supports the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047 - creating a future-ready, world-class healthcare ecosystem where India emerges as a global hub for clinical research, accelerates access to breakthrough innovations, and delivers equitable health outcomes for every citizen, it added. The AIR Site Alliance is Roches flagship global initiative designed to expand access to clinical trials for underrepresented populations. Already implemented in the US, UK, Canada, and Africa, the AIR Site Alliance is now active in India, helping to close representation gaps, generate more robust scientific evidence and accelerate equitable healthcare outcomes worldwide, the company added.
10 Naxalites killed in Chhattisgarh's Gariaband carried total Rs 5.25 crore bounty
GARIABAND: The 10 Naxalites killed in an encounter with security personnel in Chhattisgarh's Gariaband district a day ago, carried a cumulative bounty of Rs 5.25 crore, police officials said on Friday. In one of the major strikes on Naxalites, security forces gunned down Modem Balakrishna alias Manoj, a Central Committee Member (CCM) of the banned outfit carrying a reward of Rs 1.80 crore, and nine other cadres during a fierce encounter on the hills of Rajadera-Matal under Mainpur police station limits of the state on Thursday. The deceased included four women. One of the killed cadres was identified on Thursday as Modem Balkrishna, who carried a reward of Rs 1 crore. The identity of the remaining others was established on Friday, Gariaband Superintendent of Police Nikhil Rakhecha said. The operation involving personnel of E-30 (a unit of district police), Special Task Force (STF), Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF)- both units of state police and 207th battalion of CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action - an elite unit of the CRPF) was launched on Wednesday (September 10) based on intelligence inputs about the presence of ultras belonging to Dhamtari-Gariaband-Nuapada division under Odisha state committee of Maoists, he said. The exchange of fire broke out between security forces and Naxalites on Thursday and the intermittent firing lasted till 8 am on Friday. After the gunfight stopped, security forces recovered the bodies of 10 Naxalites, including four women, along with weapons, he said. An AK-47 rifle and one Self Loading Rifle (SLR) were among the 10 firearms seized from the encounter site. Besides, a huge cache of Naxal-related materials was also recovered from there, he said. All of them collectively carried a reward of Rs 5.25 crore on their heads in six states - Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, he said. Balakrishna carried a collective reward of Rs 1.80 crore in six states, including Chhattisgarh (Rs 40 lakh), he said. Similarly, two other cadres identified as Pramod alias Pandranna and Vimal alias Manganna -- members of Odisha state committee of Maoists -- carried a cumulative reward of Rs 1.20 crore each across five states, he said. The remaining cadres were identified as Sameer- a member of company no 6, Rajita - a platoon party committee member (PPCM), Vanila - a platoon member, Seema alias Bhime and Vikram- area committee members, Umesh- deputy commander and Bimla- a platoon member, he said. Balakrishna, who hailed from Warangal in Telangana, is also known by his aliases Balanna, Ramachander, and Bhaskar. He was the secretary of the Odisha State Committee (OSC) and had joined the movement in the early 1980s. Since January 2024, security forces have achieved unprecedented success in anti-Naxal operations and eliminated more than 460 cadres, including their general secretary and three central committee members, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Vivekanand Sinha said. Balakrishna was trying to expand Maoist base in Gariaband region bordering Odisha. Security forces have inflicted a major blow to Maoists with his killing, he said. So far this year, 243 Naxalites have been killed in separate encounters in Chhattisgarh. Of them, 214 were eliminated in the Bastar division, comprising seven districts, while 27 others gunned down in Gariaband district which falls in Raipur division. Two other Naxalites were killed in Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki district in Durg division. On Friday, two Naxalites were killed in an encounter with security personnel state's Bijapur district.
Two maoists killed in Chhattisgarhs Bijapur gunfight as security forces intensify operations
RAIPUR: Two cadres of the outlawed CPI (Maoist) were killed in an exchange of fire with security forces in the south-western region of strife-torn Bijapur district, about 400 km south of Raipur, the Bastar police said on Friday. Based on intelligence inputs regarding the presence of Maoists in the given location of Bijapur district, troops launched a search operation. A gunfight broke out between the security forces and the Maoists in the morning. The exchange of fire continues intermittently. Two bodies of Maoists have been recovered from the encounter site, said the police. There was, however, no report of any injury sustained by the forces. The forces also recovered weapons, explosive materials, and items of daily use from the location. As the search operation remains underway alongside the gun battle, further operational details were not shared owing to safety concerns for the personnel engaged in the anti-Maoist campaign on the ground. On Thursday, a joint team of forces gunned down 10 Maoists, including Central Committee member Manoj Balakrishna of the banned outfit, in Gariaband district, about 150 km east of Raipur. Bijapur, one of the seven Maoist-affected districts in the Bastar zone, is cited as an epicentre of the left-wing extremist group in south Chhattisgarh. Union home minister Amit Shah had in August last year declared that the country would be Maoist-free by 31 March 2026.
Central Committee member likely among 10 Maoists killed in encounter in Chhattisgarhs Gariaband
RAIPUR: A Central Committee (CC) member is believed to be among the 10 Maoist cadres gunned down by the security forces in Gariaband district on Thursday. The bodies and weapons will be recovered on Friday morning, as the exchange of firing continues close to Matal forested hilly terrain under Manipur police station limits. It is about 60 km from the district headquarters. It was a planned operation. Based on specific intelligence inputs about the presence of senior cadres of Maoists, a joint team comprising Elite 30 (specially trained Garidaband district police force), CRPFs elite unit Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) and the Special Task Force (STF) left on the operation on Wednesday. The encounter ensued on late Thursday afternoon and continued. Bodies and automatic weapons will be recovered tomorrow morning, Amresh Mishra, Inspector General of Police (Raipur range) told. Two CRPF jawans injured in Maoist IED blast in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada, one critical According to information we received, a Central Committee member of CPI (Maoist) Manoj Balkrishnan is likely among the 10 Maoists killed in the gun battle, the IG added. The CC in hierarchy is only next to the Politburo of CPI (Maoist). Balakrishna, alias Balanna, Ramachander was the secretary of the Odisha State Committee (OSC) and had joined the Maoist movement some three decades ago. There has been no report of any security personnel sustaining injuries in the gun battle. The search operation by the forces has been simultaneously intensified in the region. Gariyaband, adjoining Odisha state, is among the Maoist-affected districts of Chhattisgarh. The series of encounters against the left-wing extremists remains a part of the renewed strategy to free the Chhattisgarh state from the influence of the outlawed Maoists. Union Home Minister Amit Shah declared the country will be free from the Maoist problem by March 2026.
RAIPUR: Leading industrialists from across the country came forward with ambitious investment proposals at the Bastar Investor Connect programme held on Thursday. The state government received investment proposals of over Rs 967 crore from industrialists. Chhattisgarhs Bastar region, which once existed under the shadow of Maoist terror, neglect and deprivation, emerged as a new hub of investment, opportunity, and employment, now. The initiative has simultaneously outlined comprehensive development plans worth Rs 52,000 crore on driving transformative change across key sectors like mining, healthcare, education, agriculture, and tourism. The majority of development investments in Bastar are being driven by public sectors. National Mineral Development Corporation Ltd (NMDC) alone is spearheading projects valued at Rs 43,000 crore. The Railways have sanctioned investments worth Rs 5,200 crore, while road infrastructure projects have secured Rs 2,300 crore. Rs 200 crore has been allocated for the establishment of a super-speciality hospital. On the private sector front, around Rs 1,000 crore in investments have been proposed, primarily targeting the service sector and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). Industrialists during the programme submitted investment proposals worth over Rs 967 crore, which will provide employment to more than 2,100 people, said an official spokesperson. Overall, projects worth nearly Rs 52,000 crore have positioned Bastar as a hub for industrial and socio-economic transformation. The proposed rail and road projects in Bastar will not only enhance connectivity in remote and difficult-to-reach areas but also boost industrial opportunities, he added. The new Industrial Policy 202430 has played a key role in Bastars development. It prioritises sectors such as pharma, agro-processing, textiles, tourism, IT, defence, aerospace, and digital technology. During the occasion, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said that Bastars prosperity will script the bright future of Chhattisgarh as a new chapter of investment and growth begins. After a successful visit to Tokyo and Osaka in Japan and Seoul in South Korea, the Chhattisgarh government hosted the next series of Investor Connect programme in Bastar. The State had earlier held investment summits in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru and Nava Raipur. While incentives are available for investments across the state, special provisions have been earmarked for Bastar, entitling investors here to maximum benefits. Based on PM Narendra Modi Jis mantra to Perform, Reform and Transform, we have carried out over 350 reforms in new industrial policy in line with the vision of Ease of Doing Business and Speed of Doing Business, CM Sai said. Bastar has made significant progress in the eradication of Maoists during the past 20 months. As many as 453 Naxals were neutralized, 1611 arrested, and 1636 surrendered. Over 65 new security camps were established, and more than 50 previously closed schools were reopened. Under the state governments Niyad Nellanar scheme, road, education, health, and communication facilities have reached even the remote areas of Bastar.
10 Maoists killed in encounter with security personnel in Chhattisgarh
Raipur: At least 10 Maoists were killed in an encounter with security personnel in Chhattisgarhs Gariaband district on Thursday, a police official said. Police sources said Modem Balakrishna, a senior leader and Central Committee Member (CCM) of the outlawed CPI (Maoist), is among the deceased. The gunfight broke out in the forest under Mainpur police 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 .
At least 8 Naxals killed in encounter in Chhattisgarh's Gariaband
RAIPUR: At least eight Naxalites were killed in an encounter with security personnel in Chhattisgarh's Gariaband district on Thursday, a police official said. The gunfight broke out in the forest under Mainpur police station limits when security personnel were out on an anti-Naxalite operation, Raipur Range Inspector General of Police Amresh Mishra told PTI. Personnel belonging to Special Task Force (STF), CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action - an elite unit of CRPF) and other state police units are involved in the operation. Intermittent exchange of fire is still underway. As per the inputs received from the ground, at least eight Naxalites have been gunned down, the IGP said. Further details are awaited, he added.
Two CRPF jawans injured in Maoist IED blast in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada, one critical
RAIPUR: Two personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were injured, one of them critically, in a pressure improvised explosive device (IED) blast planted by Maoists in Chhattisgarhs Dantewada district, about 450 km south of Raipur, on Thursday. The explosion occurred along the Barsur route, about 40 km from the district headquarters, according to police. A CRPF team was engaged in a demining operation this morning in the region. Two jawans were injured in the pressure blast of an IED planted by Maoists. The condition of one of the jawans is stated to be critical and he is likely to be taken to Raipur for immediate medical attention. The troops continuously carry out demining exercises to track down IEDs and get rid of them, Gaurav Rai, Dantewada district police chief, told TNIE . In guerrilla warfare, an IED is considered the easiest and deadliest weapon for Maoists, who are pushed on the back foot, to target security forces or other vulnerable options. Law enforcement agencies in the conflict-ridden Bastar zone stated that although Maoist-related violence has shown a declining trend, the strenuous challenge of effectively countering IED threats continues to persist in operations across south Chhattisgarh. Even the United Nations has cited IEDs as a grave worldwide threat.
Lightning strike damages navigation system at Raipur airport; flight operations hit
RAIPUR: Flight operations were disrupted after lightning strike damaged an aircraft navigation system at Raipur airport, an official said. As many as five IndiGo flights were diverted to various nearby airports due to the damage to the DVOR (Doppler VHF Omnidirectional Range) system at the Swami Vivekananda Airport on Wednesday evening, he said. All flight landings were suspended due to the DVOR system getting hit by lightning in the evening. As a result, five IndiGo flights that were scheduled to land at the Raipur airport were diverted to nearby airports, including Nagpur and Bhubaneswar, the official said on Wednesday. Repair works are underway, and flight operations from the airport are likely to resume by Thursday, he informed. A ground-based radio navigation system, DVOR helps aircraft determine their position and direction relative to a destination.
Maoist Masa killed in encounter in Chhattisgarh's Kanker district
RAIPUR: Security forces have neutralised a cadre of CPI (Maoist) during the search operation in Chhattisgarh's Kanker district, about 180 km south of Raipur, the police said on Wednesday. Acting on specific inputs, a joint team comprising District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Border Security Force (BSF) left for a search operation along the inter-district border area of Kanker-Narayanpur last Sunday. The exchange of fire occurred at the forested hilly terrain of Gedabeda under the Partapur police station limits, said Indira Kalyan Elesela, Kanker district police chief. The Maoist's body has been recovered by the Forces along with a weapon after the gunfight at the site. The deceased has been identified as Masa, a member of Maoists military wing People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA), the officer added. He was carrying a bounty of Rs 8 lakh. The Maoists now have only one option remaining. Either surrender and join the mainstream under Chhattisgarhs rehabilitation policy or get eliminated in the ongoing decisive operations by the troops. The banned Maoist organisation has already begun crumbling, said Sundarraj P, Bastar range inspector general of police. Kanker is among the seven Maoist-affected districts in the Bastar zone of south Chhattisgarh.
Despite new openings, dilapidated anganwadi centres in Chhattisgarh see sharp drop in attendance
RAIPUR: When a district gets new Anganwadi Centres (AWCs), an increase in enrolment and attendance of children is expected. However, in Ambikapur, northern Chhattisgarh, approximately 300 km from Raipur, the situation paints a far less encouraging picture at several pre-school learning facilities. Over the past three years, as many as 70 new Anganwadi Centres have been established in Ambikapur. Ironically, the region has witnessed a drop in attendance of more than 14,000 children, highlighting a concerning trend. The absenteeism appears to stem from parents concerns over dilapidated infrastructure and poorly sheltered facilities at many AWCs. Described as unsafe, several centres have deterred parents from sending their children. According to staff from the Women and Child Development (WCD) Department in Ambikapur, who are not authorised to speak to the media, there has been a reported decline in attendance of 14,157 children. Despite repeated complaints from local residents and Anganwadi workers, authorities have allegedly failed to take timely action. Local residents have claimed that hundreds of centres suffer from leaking roofs and crumbling wall plaster, creating hazardous conditions for young children. As a result, parents are understandably reluctant to send their wards. AWCs primarily serve children aged 06 years, playing a critical role in early childhood education and healthcare. Yet many continue to operate in visibly poor conditions, reportedly due to negligence by the WCD Department. Despite repeated complaints from local residents and Anganwadi workers, authorities have allegedly failed to take timely action to repair or upgrade the facilities. Some parents have also raised concerns about the substandard quality of construction and repairs carried out at the centres. This situation in Ambikapur comes at a time when the Central Government has introduced guidelines for the co-location of Anganwadi Centres with primary schools, an initiative meant to enhance infrastructure and access. However, the local WCD office appears to lack basic information about the current state of AWC infrastructure in the district. Repeated attempts to contact Ambikapur Collector Vilas Bhoskar for comment proved unsuccessful, as he neither responded to queries nor made himself available for an explanation. According to local media reports, in some areas, AWCs have been forced to operate out of temporary structures like Durga pandals. In one case in Lakhanpur block, a centre was seen functioning from a festive pandal with hardly any children present. Ironically, the attendance register at the site indicated full attendance, raising questions about the accuracy of records.
RAIPUR: Agnesia, 64, wife of a paramilitary jawan, Najariyus Toppo, spared no effort running from pillar to post, from lodging a missing person complaint in a police station to engaging in a legal battle until the court finally declared her husband's death as civil death. Agnesia, a resident of Pidi, in the suburbs of Jashpur district, about 350 km from Raipur, in 1998, received a message from her husband, a CRPF Hawaldar posted in Jammu & Kashmir, conveying that he was availing an official leave and would meet her soon. He then reportedly left for Jashpur but didn't reach home. He was nowhere to be found, later. On a missing person complaint filed by his wife, the local police contacted the CRPF battalion unit in J&K and carried out searches through different sources, but couldn't get any clue about him. The CRPF, after initial scouting around andwaitingseven years for Najariyus, assumed him to be no longer alive and gave the pension benefit to his wife, said Satya Prakash Tiwari, counsel of Agnesia. But she continued to live without any proof that her husband had died. The wife consequently also lost the right to the properties owned by Najariyus, whose relatives planned to deprive her. She presented her application to the Jashpur collector seeking an official certificate but the district magistrate rejected her plea, citing that it is beyond his jurisdiction to declare anyone as civil dead. She didn't have any children. In 2012, she approached the tehsil court with another plea to transfer the ownership of her husbands properties on her name, but didn't get any outcome owing to the lack of a death certificate. She then again approached the Jashpur collector in 2022-23 seeking to inherit the late husbands properties and transfer it to the surviving spouse but was again denied owing to missing legal proof. Agnes moved to the court of Civil Judge Class-1, which declared her as the legal heir of Najariyus Toppo but didn't declare him as dead. Her counsel later filed the case before the Jashpur district and sessions court. District judge Satyendra Kumar Sahu, after considering the circumstances, the earlier judgements given by high courts of Kolkata and Allahabad accepted the presumption of death of the person in the light of the provisions of the Indian Evidence Act. The judge stated that if no decision is taken on declaring the husband's death as civil death then her life will turn woeful at this age, said advocate Tiwari. The judgment finally gave the much-needed relief to the aggrieved woman after 27 years of struggle.
'Investor Connect' to be held in Bastar to drive inclusive growth, empower local communities
RAIPUR: In a significant move to secure regional development, the Vishnu Deo Sai government is set to host the next edition of Chhattisgarh's 'Investor Connect' initiative in Bastar. The States major investment promotion initiative has earlier been successfully held in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Raipur, and abroad at Tokyo, Osaka, and Seoulgarnering investment commitments worth Rs 6.65 lakh crore since November 2024. The Bastar edition of 'Investor Connect' focuses attention on the governments commitment toward balanced regional development under the Chhattisgarh Industrial Development Policy 202430. The policy is designed to generate employment, promote entrepreneurship, and empower local communities while appreciating and preserving Bastars rich tribal heritage and cultural identity. The government looks forward to the participation of over 200 prominent investors, industry leaders, and local entrepreneurs at the 'Bastar Investor Connect', making it a high-profile platform for collaboration and growth. Several high-value Memorandums of Understanding are planned to be signed during the event, marking significant new steps in Bastars development journey, the government spokesperson said. Our government is committed to creating a future where Bastars youth receive the skills and opportunities they deserve, to become active partners in Chhattisgarhs growth story. Every initiative under the Industrial Policy is carefully designed to empower local communities and ensure that prosperity reaches every household, said Vishnu Deo Sai. He further added that with digital technology,Chhattisgarh is becoming a model state of good governance. We have now eliminated the paperwork for investment and committed to creating a thriving industrial environment, he added. The upcoming edition of Chhattisgarh's 'Investor Connect' marks a pivotal step towards realising Bastars full potential as a beacon of sustainable and inclusive development, deeply rooted in the regions social and cultural fabric. It will also ensure that opportunities and benefits flow directly to the people of the region.
Chhattisgarh CM flags off Surya Rath' to raise awareness on solar energy
RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh has intensified efforts to raise awareness among citizens about the benefits of solar energy, the governments' initiatives and the subsidy provisions. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Monday flagged off a Surya Rath to give a push to the ambitious initiative like the PM Surya Ghar Free Electricity Scheme as the state moves towards fulfilling its commitment to clean energy targets. In Chhattisgarh, solar power consumers are now emerging not just as energy producers but also as energy contributors, the CM said. He also transferred a total of Rs 1.85 crore of the state subsidy directly into the bank accounts of 618 consumers, each receiving Rs 30,000 under the scheme. Highlighting the urgency of the global climate crisis, CM Sai said that climate change and rising pollution are matters of grave concern. Chhattisgarh is playing its role with full commitment and capacity to achieve the target of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2070 as set by PM Narendra Modi ji, he noted. He appealed to the public to spread awareness and encourage others to join the initiative, thereby strengthening the states progress towards clean energy goals. Calling it a matter of pride, he said that people of Chhattisgarh are increasingly recognising the importance of the scheme and adopting clean energy. The people of the state are now increasingly accessing the subsidies of Central and State governments besides the easy financial support as loans offered by banks. CM further informed that the PM KUSUM yojana are enabling consumers to generate solar power themselves, sell electricity, and at the same time avail cheaper energy. In the year 2000, when Chhattisgarh came into existence, the power generation capacity was just 1,400 MW and presently the state generates 30,000 MW and is even supplying electricity to neighbouring states. CM Sai during the event on flag off of Surya Rath, reiterated that under the new Industrial Policy, Memorandum of Understanding worth Rs 3.50 lakh crore have been signed in the energy sector, and the states generation capacity will rise further. Expressing confidence, the CM affirmed that under the visionary leadership of PM Modi, Chhattisgarh will emerge as the number one state in power generation in the country.
Raipur to have police commissionerate system from November 1
Chhattisgarh intensifies efforts to eradicate Left-wing extremism ahead of Prime Minister Modi's expected visit on November 1, 2025, for the state's 25th-anniversary celebration. Operations against Maoists have seen significant success, with a large number of extremists killed or arrested.
IIIT-H Played Key Role in Building Adi Vaani
The initiative, launched under Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Birsa Munda, was developed by a consortium led by IIT Delhi, with contributions from IIIT-Hyderabad, BITS Pilani, IIIT Naya Raipur, and several Tribal Research Institutes.
Chhattisgarh government introduces Yoga, Sudarshan Kriya for prisoners as a reform measure
RAIPUR: Prison in Raipur, well illuminated and ventilated, looks no different from a typical government school classroom, during the practice of yoga and Sudarshan Kriya. The Chhattisgarh government, as an innovative prison reform measure, has introduced this practice. It is followed in all district jails of the state with the support of the Art of Living Foundation. Trainers from the foundation are teaching yoga, meditation, and Sudarshan Kriya to inmates under the Prison Course, which has helped prisoners attain mental peace and inner strength, the jail officials said. The Vishnu Deo Sai government believes that prisons should not only be a place of punishment but also institutions of reform and rehabilitation. The yoga and meditation classes in jails are held every day from 7:30 to 9:30 am. The initiative has apparently brought about positive changes in the daily routine of both the prison administration and the inmates. The state government has taken the support of the Art of Living foundation in this campaign. In prisons located in Maoist-affected districts such as Bastar, Dantewada, Bijapur, and Sukma, the programme has particularly yielded significant results. Inmates who once walked the path of violence and used arms are now engaging in yoga as a routine discipline, officials added. Such a transformation in the strife-torn region is sending a strong message to society that it is possible to move away from violence and embrace peace and self-empowerment. The inmates revealed that with regular yoga and meditation, there is a notable decline in their stress level, improved sleep quality and a boost in self-confidence. The incidents of fights and indiscipline among inmates have also reduced after the introduction of the programme, stated the officials. We want inmates, after being out of jail, not to become a burden on society but to contribute to nation-building. Yoga and Sudarshan Kriya will give them a new life, said chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai. Many inmates in their personal feedback to jail officials admitted that the routine practices have helped them 'overcome anger and negativity, giving them the strength to look at the future with positivity'.
Chhattisgarh minister, accused of thrashing circuit house staff, denies charge
RAIPUR: A circuit house staff member lodged a police complaint against Chhattisgarh cabinet minister Kedar Kashyap, accusing him of physical and verbal abuse in Jagdalpur (Bastar) for not opening the lock of rooms for the BJP workers. The minister got his hands on my collar, dragged me into a room, removed his shoes, and thrashed. He used abusive words against my mother and sister. For years, I have been carrying my duty with full dedication despite being paralysed on the right side, said Khitendra Pandey, a daily wage employee, posted in the government guest hose as a chef for years. Kashyap is the forest and transport minister in the Vishnu Deo Sai cabinet. In his written complaint, Pandey also alleged that ministers, leaders and workers of the ruling party often misbehaved with the circuit house staffs deployed to carry out official works. Though there was no eye-witness of the incident of allegedly assaulting the staffer in a closed room, another employee is said to have claimed the minister allegedly ill-treated Pandey. Jagdalpur district police chief Shalabh Sinha confirmed that a complaint against the minister has been received. We are examining it, verifying the facts and based on it further action will be taken, he told TNIE. Kashyap countered the accusation, calling it propaganda against him. The staffer was just scolded and told to carry out his assigned duties properly. Insult to workers is unacceptable to me under any circumstances. No such incident (of assault) has taken place, the minister defended himself. The alleged incident however triggered a political row with the Congress now demanding dismissal of Kashyap. The opposition declared to hold demonstrations against the minister and burn his effigy in every district of the state. The BJP minister termed the Congress move as 'politically motivated'. Former Chhattisgarh chief minister, Bhupesh Baghel, sought the resignation of Kashyap as the Congress general secretary and tagged Prime Minister Narendra Modi on X-post, saying: If you respect all mothers in the country then show the courage to dismiss the galibaaj minister. Does the verbal abuse if said by a BJP minister, is considered a Shlok (Sanskrit verse used in Hindu scriptures)? Baghel asked. Kashyapji, after reaching the circuit house, saw the party workers sitting outside in the lobby and became infuriated. The staffer had earlier refused to open any room for the party workers till the minister arrived. The minister got upset and said that those who do not give due regard to the party workers will face consequences, said Kirti Padhi, a BJP supporter, who was present at the circuit house.
AIIMS Raipur Becomes First Govt Hospital In Central India To Get Robotic Surgery Facility
This is the first robotic surgical system to be installed in any government health institution in central India.
Over 14,000 NHM staff in Chhattisgarh resign after 25 leaders sacked amid ongoing strike
RAIPUR: Over 14,000 striking contractual officers and employees of the National Health Mission in Chhattisgarh have submitted their resignations after the government sacked 25 NHM staffers leading the agitation, one of their representatives said on Friday. The NHM staffers have been agitating since August 18 to press for their demands, including regularisation of services and improved working conditions. Instead of addressing their long-pending demands, the government has chosen to take punitive measures, said an office-bearer of the Chhattisgarh Pradesh NHM Karamchari Sangh. The National Health Mission aims to provide universal access to equitable, affordable and quality health care services. A wide range of health workers, including doctors and nurses, are engaged under this programme. According to government officials, the executive body of the State Health Committee, in its meeting on August 13, accepted four of the 10 demands raised by the contractual NHM employees. A committee has also been formed to examine three more demands, while the remaining three, including regularisation of services, will be decided at the highest level of government, they said. Despite repeated notices, when the protesting employees did not resume duty, 25 of them were dismissed from service, an official said. As per the termination order issued on September 3, the act of defying the notices and continuing with the protest amounts to misconduct as per the Chhattisgarh Civil Services Conduct Rules, 1965 and violation of clause 34.3 of the Human Resource Policy-2018. You were given an opportunity to report under natural justice, which was not followed. Hence, your contractual appointment stands terminated with immediate effect, it added. Among those dismissed are Chhattisgarh Pradesh NHM Karamchari Sangh president Dr Amit Kumar Miri, general secretary Kaushlesh Tiwari, and Pranntiya Sanrakshak Hemant Kumar Sinha. This repressive action (termination order) by the administration is completely unfair and a hindrance to dialogue. Angered by this move, 14,678 officers and employees of NHM across the state have so far submitted their resignations, Sinha told PTI on Friday. He said the strike would continue until their demands were met. Around 16,000 contractual NHM employees are on indefinite strike, and the remaining will also submit their resignations soon, he added. Dr Miri said the NHM employees have been agitating within the ambit of constitutional rights since August 18 over their 10-point demands, which also include the creation of a public health cadre, grade pay, and compassionate appointments. The agitation has become a compulsion after submitting memoranda 160 times without receiving any response from the administration. During the protest, warning letters and dismissal orders are being sent on WhatsApp at great speed. If the same urgency had been shown in resolving our demands, this situation would not have arisen, he alleged. He also claimed that the administration does not want the government to establish dialogue with employees or arrive at a solution. States Managing Director (NHM) Dr Priyanka Shukla told PTI that the August 13 executive committee meeting had already addressed many of the demands. Two demands transparency in confidential report (CR) evaluation and 30 days of paid leave in cases of exigency or health issues have been fulfilled. Two more demands, a 27 per cent salary hike and a minimum of Rs 10 lakh cashless health insurance, have also been accepted and are under process for implementation, she said. Shukla added that a state-level committee headed by the NHM joint director has been formed to examine the demands concerning grade pay, compassionate appointments, and transfer policy. This committee will review HR policies applicable to contractual employees in other departments and present recommendations at the next executive committee meeting, she said. The remaining three demands regularisation, creation of a public health cadre, and reservation in recruitment to regular posts will be taken up at the highest level of government, she said, adding that NHM employees have continued their strike despite their several demands being considered.
Chhattisgarh teacher sets up math lab, park in govt school; attendance, grades improve
RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh school teacher Pragya Singh will receive a prestigious recognition from the President Droupadi Murmu on Friday, for her innovative teaching techniques to help students learn mathematics through hands-on experiments and games. With 17 years of experience in teaching and a PhD in Geology, she has established an advanced mathematics laboratory in her school with her own funds. She has put together over 500 exciting teaching aids that not only enable children to learn difficult concepts through play, but also kindle students' interest in learning and continue attending school. A teacher in the government upper primary school in village Hanoda, Pragya adopted innovative teaching to motivate students to figure out complicated concepts. As a young student I also found math difficult to grasp with ease. Now our students without any aversion are clearing and getting selected in tough examinations like National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Exam (NMMSE), Prayas, Residential Education for Students in High Schools in Targeted Areas (Shreshta). Overcoming fear of mathematics, they are scoring 100 percent marks, Pragya told TNIE . Besides the Maths lab, she has also created a Maths Park where every difficult concept of mathematics elucidated in simplified ways further igniting keenness to learn among the students. She has spent over Rs eight lakh out of her own pocket on such related activities in the school for benefit of students. All children learning with the help of her efforts are securing better academic work outcomes. Mugging-up maths formulas do not help. We need to focus on applying deeper understanding of concepts and line of reasoning. I devised a district level model Ullas Centre having around 100 Teaching Learning Material (TLM) enabled Foundational Literacy and Numeracy as the tool to improve students learning and comprehension, she said. Pragya has been earlier honoured with various awards in Chhattisgarh state. Pragya not just worked hard with imaginative approaches in her school in Hanoda, but also struggled to get the attendance of the students improved. There was no awareness of education in Hanoda where drug addiction was rampant owing to the it being a labour dominated region. No female teacher was interested to work there. I connected mothers with the school and the situation gradually turned better, she said. She also worked as subject expert and resource teacher in State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) and District Institute of Education and Training (DIET).
HC says delivery of prohibited items a crime, takes a jibe at e-com platform
RAIPUR: CHHATTISGARH High Court on Wednesday rejected a petition that sought to dismiss a case registered against employees of e-commerce store Flipkart and the courier company for selling a lethal knife that was used to commit a murder and loot a petrol pump in July. A division bench of the high court observed that online delivery of the prohibited items too comes under the purview of criminal offence. The Raipur police had registered a case against Flipkart on July 19. The case was then registered against a courier agency Elastic Run associated with Flipkart to deliver their products. The petitioners, who delivered the parcel and the owner of the courier agency, approached the court citing that they were innocent, as their role was meant only to provide the services under a contract, deliver packed boxes that cannot be tampered with and, therefore, sought the case registered against them be quashed. The counsel for the petitioners further pleaded that Section 79 of the IT Act, 2000, provides a safeguard to intermediariessuch as social media platforms and e-commerce sitesshielding them from liability for third-party content hosted on their platforms. However, the advocate general on behalf of the government countered that neither anyone can sell or buy prohibited items nor can they be delivered without a license. After hearing the arguments, the court expressed concern that the nature of criminal offence for online delivery of the prohibited products is similar to that of its manufacture or sale. The petition was dismissed by the court. The safeguard behind Section 79 of the IT Act is conditional since the immunity given can be withdrawn if there remains unlawful content and the intermediary gets the knowledge but fails to remove it. The Raipur police arrested manager and employees of Flipkart and the courier company under the BNS section 125-B (endangering human life or personal safety).
RAIPUR: In response to the FIR registered against her in Chhattisgarh's Raipur, for her alleged derogatory remarks against Home Minister Amit Shah , Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra took a sharp jibe at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday and said that idiots don't understand idioms. The TMC MP had sparked a controversy after allegedly saying that if Shah fails to stop infiltration from Bangladesh, he first thing you should do is cutAmit Shah's head and put it on your table. She had allegedly made the remarks in Bengali. A case was registered against Moitra in Raipur's Mana police station under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Sections 196 (promoting enmity between different groups on the grounds of religion, race, etc) and 197 (imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration). Idiots don't understand idioms, so which is where we are. Saying Heads will roll you don't really cut someones head. Its an idiom that metaphorically (phrase not literally applicable) said for seeking accountability, on ones responsibility (over shirking responsibility by union government). When you (Raipur police) use Google translate to file a fake FIR, this is what happens, she said in her released video, declaring she will be going to the court against it. Moitra drew attention of the Raipur SP on how his colleague, Kondagaon district police chief Akshay Kumar picked by 12 migrant workers who all hailed from her Krishna Nagar constituency on July 12, arrested them, lodged an FIR against them and kept them under illegally detention. I went to Chhattisgarh high court that issued a notice to the state government and later had to withdraw the case. In a cutting remark, she took a dig at the Raipur police citing the Kondagaon SP with another idiom tails between your legs' (emphasising feeling defeated and ashamed) after the case was withdrawn by him. Similarly you (Raipur police) have filed a fake FIR against me on Mahua Moitra ne kaha gala kaat diya' after using Google translation from Bengali to English and then to Hindi. This is what happens, she stated. She read out the FIR registered against her and narrated what it signifies I will go to the court (against the FIR) and it will be another slap in the face and then more heads will role, she said. The Raipur police however said that a local resident Gopal Samanto, filed a complaint against Moitras remarks stating that her words were objectionable and unconstitutional, and can arouse outrage from other communities against Bangladeshi refugees settled in Mana Camp area of the capital since 1971.
Taking a leaf out of Raipurs book
It is time for all major cities in India to adopt the Police Commissionerate system
FIR filed against Mahua Moitra in Raipur over objectionable Amit Shah remark
Raipur: In fresh trouble for Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, a police complaint was filed against her under penal provisions for promoting enmity and threat to national integrity for her alleged objectionable remarks against Union Home Minister Amit Shah, an official said on Sunday. The complaint against Moitra was filed by a Chhattisgarh resident, Gopal 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 .
Why Shikshadoot in Chhattisgarh's Bastar becoming soft targets for Maoists, nine killed in one year
RAIPUR: Shikshadoot (young volunteer teacher) deployed in the Maoist-affected districts of conflict-ridden south Bastar zone are becoming the soft targets for red guerrillas who suspect them as informers and supporters of local police or security forces. As many as nine Shikshadoots have been killed by Maoists in Bastar during the last year amid the ongoing aggressive anti-Naxal campaign that has put the rebels on the backfoot. Shikshadoots are locally engaged at a modest monthly emolument of Rs 10,000 to teach in around 250 schools that were earlier shut down in remote villages of the districts of Sukma, Bijapur, Dantewada and Narayanpur, said an official. The police suspected that Shikshadoots were killed without any warning to them but merely on suspicion of being informers in a malicious attempt to spread terror. Owing to the Chhattisgarh governments push for digital infrastructure development, the Bastar region is witnessing a significant increase in installation of mobile towers in recent years. Every Shikshadoot carries mobile phones as a basic need for their professional engagement and there is a strong perception emerging that cellphones are now turning out to be a threat to life for Shikshadoots. The cadres of a banned outfit of CPI (Maoist) nurture fear of being under constant surveillance by the forces. So to do away with any risk of being under watch, tracking or their presence monitored, they had issued diktats to villagers in their areas of influence to avoid using mobile phones, stated a source in the knowhow of the development. And to ensure safeguard, the Maoist rebels are randomly checking the call records and even confiscating the phone handsets. The call records of Kallu Tati, 25, were also examined by Red rebels before he was killed last Saturday, informed the source. Another reason why Sikshadoot becomes Maoists soft target is their easy access and availability for the government officials or the police to verify or get information about various activities in the village. Besides teaching, Shikshadoots being local, often assist as translators and coordinators or provide ground reports about their habitats. As residents of the same village, local Shikshadoots seen interacting with the personnel of District Reserve Guards (DRG) who are routinely engaged in anti-Maoist operations and might look for clues about the left-wing extremists. The Bastar police said that the Maoists are retaliating by turning to soft targets to register their presence. Maoist cadres surrendering, getting caught or killed frustrate them, so they look for soft options. The Naxals targeting civilians is indicative of the fact that the rebels are upset with the forces dominating the region, said Brigadier (rtd) B K Ponwar, Guerrilla Warfare Expert.
FIR against TMC MP Moitra for 'objectionable' remarks against Shah
RAIPUR: A first information report (FIR) has been registered against Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra in Chhattisgarh's Raipur for her alleged objectionable remarks against Union Home Minister Amit Shah, police said on Sunday. Based on a complaint lodged by a local resident, a case was registered against Moitra at the Mana police station on Saturday under sections 196 (promoting enmity between different groups on the grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc) and 197 (imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), an official said. Moitra sparked a controversy after allegedly saying that if Amit Shah fails to stop infiltration from Bangladesh, he first thing you should do is cut Amit Shah's head and put it on your table. She allegedly made the statement while speaking to reporters in West Bengal's Nadia district on the sidelines of an event on Thursday. PTI, however, couldn't independently verify the authenticity of the video. The TMC MP alleged that the Union government was shirking its responsibilities on border security. The police official said that the complainant, Gopal Samanto, alleged that Moitra's remarks were objectionable and unconstitutional. The complaint also stated that a large number of Bangladeshi refugees were settled in the Mana Camp area in Raipur in 1971, and Moitra's statement has created fear among them, as such remarks may provoke anger from other communities against them, the official said.
HIV-positive man stole from temple donation boxes for over 12 years, calls it vengeance against god
RAIPUR: For over twelve years, a thief in Durg district, about 40 km west of Raipur, has broken into temples to steal only from donation boxes, leaving other valuables untouched and vanishing without a trace. The accused, 45-year-old Yashwant Upadhya, was arrested after his last theft at a Jain temple on the outskirts of Durg. He described his robberies as an act of vengeance against god, blaming Him for a disease that he claimed had badly ruined his life. Upadhya, who served a jail sentence in 2012 in an assault case, told the police he is HIV-positive and had been persistently praying to god for recovery but saw no sign of improvement. The Durg police told The New Indian Express that the accused have been undergoing treatment for it. He claimed to have contracted the virus while in jail during 2011-12. The accused met other criminals and picked-up burglary tricks in prison. After his release from jail, he began stealing only cash from temples, said a senior police officer. He was resentful towards God, believing he became HIV-positive through no fault of his own. To vent his anger, he decided to target temples and steal money from donation offerings. The accused told the police he would conduct a recce of the temple before committing the theft, travelling only on his scooter, which he parked at a distance before changing his clothes. Inside the temple, he broke open donation boxes, took the cash, and quietly slipped out to his scooter, where he changed clothes again before fleeing home. He carefully chose lanes and narrow streets instead of main roads to avoid CCTV cameras. He told the police he had stolen money from about a dozen temples but later admitted to the media that the number could be higher, as he could not remember all of them. A joint team of Anti-Crime and Cyber Unit and Nevai police station however secured vital clues scanning the CCTV footage while capturing the routes and identified the accused with the help of installed cameras at residences and shops. The accused confessed to the crime during interrogation.
Indian govt to launch AI-powered translator for tribal languages
New Delhi: The Tribal Affairs Ministry will soon launch Adi Vaani, Indias first artificial intelligence (AI)-powered translator for tribal languages, in a move aimed at preserving the countrys rich linguistic diversity and empowering tribal communities. Developed by IIT Delhi, BITS Pilani, IIIT Hyderabad and IIIT Nava Raipur, in collaboration with Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs), 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 .
REQUIRED FIELD STAFF QUALIFICATION: GRADUATE SALARY RS. 12000 +PETROL CANDIDATE SHOULD HAVE OWN VEHICLE WELLWA LIFE INDIA G.NAGAR JAMMU 9070970222 KAPAHI HAWKEYE SECURITY BIG RECRUITMENT DRIVE FRESHERS & EXPERIENCED ALL WELCOME! AGE LIMIT: 20 TO 55 YEARS QUALIFICATION: 10TH /12TH/GRADUATE/EX-SERVICEMEN GENDER: MALE & FEMALE CAN APPLY POSITIONS OPEN FOR IMMEDIATE JOINING: SECURITY GUARDS, SECURITY OFFICERS PSO. FIELD OFFICERTRAINING OFFICER, RECRUITMENT MANAGER, RECEPTIONIST, COMPUTER PANTRY STAFF, OPERATORS, HOUSEKEEPING, HOUSEKEEPING STAFF OFFICE ADDRESS: BELICHARANA, RAIPUR SATWARI, JAMMU NEAR HP PETROL PUMP, [] The post EMPLOYMENT (28-08-2025) appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Air India flight from Delhi to Raipur diverted to Bhubaneswar
NEW DELHI: An Air India flight carrying 161 flyers from Delhi to Raipur in Chhattisgarh was diverted to Bhubaneswar on Wednesday due to poor visibility at Swami Vivekananda Airport in Raipur. Flight AI 2793 departed at 5.37 am from Terminal 3 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport. The flight was about to make its descent at the Raipur airport when the Air Traffic Control asked it not to do so due to poor visibility and to head to Bhubaneswar. It reached Bhubaneswar airport at 8.15 am. It departed at 9.21 am from there after information was received that the weather had improved at Raipur airport, said a source. In a statement, Air India said, Flight AI 2793 from Delhi to Raipur on 27 August was diverted to Bhubaneswar due to poor weather conditions in Raipur. The aircraft subsequently operated to its destination, Raipur, once the weather improved. The statement added, At Air India, the safety of all passengers and crew remains our top priority. No flights for third day at Leh airport Meanwhile, flyers, including a large chunk of those from different parts of the country who had gone to Leh as tourists continued to stay put at hotels in Leh as flights were not operated from the airport for the third consecutive day on Wednesday. A NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) was again issued on Wednesday in connection with closure of the runway at the Kushok Bakula Rinpoche Airport as it was not in a condition to operate flights, said an airline source. Air India had put out a travel advisory in the morning that all its flights were cancelled for the day to and from Leh airport due to adverse weather conditions. A source said that the weather conditions appear to be improving and there was a possibility of operations resuming from Thursday but they need to wait until the morning to finalise it.
Chhattisgarh CM seeks South Korean investment, touts state as emerging global hub
RAIPUR: Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, during his ongoing visit to South Korea, held a crucial meeting with Lee Jae Jeng, Chairman of the Advanced Technology Centre Association (ATCA), along with senior ATCA officials in Seoul on Wednesday. ATCA represents a powerful industrial network of over 60 leading companies spanning information technology (IT), electronics, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, and textiles. In a key interaction session with the ATCA delegation, CM Sai highlighted Chhattisgarhs commitment to providing an investor-friendly environment. He extended an invitation to Lee Jae Jeng and his team to visit Chhattisgarh during their forthcoming trip to India for a first-hand assessment of investment and collaboration opportunities. With Koreas innovations and Chhattisgarhs resources, we will script a new era of growth. IndiaSouth Korea cooperation will scale new heights, the Chief Minister remarked. The ATCA delegation responded positively, expressing interest in building B2B partnerships with firms based in Chhattisgarh. CM Sai emphasised that the state hosts premier institutions such as IIT, IIM, NIT, and AIIMS, which together provide a pool of world-class talent. He added that Chhattisgarhs plug-and-play infrastructure and robust logistics network position it as an ideal location for ATCAs research and development centres, as well as its broader expansion in India. He identified sectors such as IT, electronics, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, and textiles as having immense potential for collaboration. We want ATCA companies to come, invest, and create new milestones of partnership. This will generate large-scale employment for the youth of the state while giving fresh momentum to local industries, CM Sai stated. During his South Korea tour, the Chief Minister also addressed the Chhattisgarh Investor Connect programme in Seoul, organised with the support of the Indian Chamber of Commerce in Korea (ICCK). He described Chhattisgarh as a land of vast possibilities for South Korean enterprises. South Korea is among Indias top three steel export destinations, and as a leading steel producer, Chhattisgarh is keen to deepen this cooperation and offer new avenues for investment. The state has abundant lithium reserves, which can fuel the electric vehicle revolution and power new-age industries. This makes Chhattisgarh a natural hub for the global energy transition, CM Sai affirmed. Chhattisgarh is rich in mineral resources vital for the automobile and electronics industries.
Taking Information Commission lightly turns 'awful' for Chhattisgarh IFS officer
RAIPUR: Despite penalties imposed on Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers, public information officers (PIOs) of the Chhattisgarh forest department are continuing to treat directives from the State Information Commission with disregard. Many officials, after facing penalties, often resort to seeking relief from the High Court, a trend that has drawn concern from the Commission. In a recent case, the Commission expressed its disappointment after finding a Divisional Forest Officer (DFO)-rank IFS official allegedly ignoring its directive and acting negligently. The Commission recommended action against him, following which the state forest department issued a notice initiating disciplinary proceedings under the All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1969. The officer was asked to submit a reply within 15 days. The matter began in January 2020 when an applicant, Nitin Singhvi of Raipur, sought documents from the Mahasamund Forest Division, approximately 80 km from Raipur, regarding loss of lives and property caused by wild elephants. At the time, the PIO-cum-DFO Mayank Pandey responded that the documents were voluminous and Singhvi would need to inspect them personally, after which the required documents would be provided free of cost. Dissatisfied with the response, Singhvi approached the State Information Commission. During a hearing in February 2021, the Commission made it clear that an applicant cannot be compelled to inspect documents in person to receive the information. It directed the PIO to provide the requested documents free of charge. Additionally, it instructed the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests to recover the cost of the documents from the concerned officer and deposit the amount in the government treasury. In 2021, IFS officer Pankaj Rajput replaced Pandey as DFO and informed the Commission that he had sought the forest departments opinion on filing an appeal in the High Court against the Commissions decision, and that 15 days were needed to take further action. The Commission asked the officer to submit a stay order from the High Court if he wished to be exempted from appearing, but he failed to do so in two subsequent hearings held in September 2021 and April 2022. Expressing displeasure, the Commission stated that the failure to submit the stay order had unnecessarily prolonged the case. It recommended that the state government initiate disciplinary action against IFS officer Pankaj Rajput. A show-cause notice was issued to him for negligence in duties in violation of Rule 3 of the All India Services (Conduct) Rules, and he was given 15 days to respond.
Heavy rains lash Bastar region in Chhattisgarh; family of four killed, several villages cut off
BIJAPUR: A couple and their two daughters died after the car they were travelling in got swept away while crossing a flooded culvert in Chhattisgarh's Bastar district, officials said on Wednesday. Another person went missing in an overflowing stream and efforts are being made to trace him, they said. Heavy rains pounded four districts of the Bastar division, where authorities have been instructed to remain alert to deal with flood situations and launch relief measures, officials said. Nearly 70 persons have been evacuated to safer places in the last 36 hours in Bastar, Bijapur and Dantewada districts. Helicopters, boats and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel were involved in the rescue operations, they said. In Bastar district, four members of a family drowned after the car ferrying them was swept away by strong currents while crossing the flooded Kanger Nala culvert in the Kanger Valley National Park on Tuesday evening, a senior police official in Jagdalpur said. The deceased have been identified as Rajesh Kumar G (43), his wife Pavithra (40) and their two daughters Saujainya (7) and Saumaiyya (4). Their driver Lala Yadu, who clung to a tree branch, was rescued later, he said. Rajesh, a native of Tamil Nadu, worked as a contractor in Raipur. The family had gone for an outing to Bastar, he said. The bodies of all four were fished out late Tuesday evening after the water level declined in the stream, he added. In another incident, a man was swept away while crossing the overflowing Cherpal stream in Bijapur district on Tuesday and a search was still on for him, police said. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, who is currently on a visit to Japan, on Wednesday spoke to state officials and reviewed the flood situation in Bastar division, a government statement said. He has instructed officials to intensify rescue and relief operations. Sai held telephonic discussions with Revenue Secretary and Disaster Relief Commissioner Reena Babasaheb Kangale and Bastar Division Commissioner Doman Singh and sought updates on ground operations, the release said. According to officials, flood-like conditions persist in Dantewada, Bijapur and Bastar districts. Relief efforts are underway in Lohandiguda, Darbha and Tokapal development blocks of Bastar district, it said. Twenty-one villagers were rescued from Mandar village in Lohandiguda block, while several others were shifted to safer locations with the help of helicopters and boats. The CM has instructed that the SDRF be kept on high alert and directed the collectors of all districts in Bastar division to alert residents in low-lying areas and shift them to safer places promptly. Bastar division comprises seven districts- Bastar, Kanker, Narayanpur, Kondagaon, Dantewada, Bijapur and Sukma. Sai said the state government is committed to ensuring the safety of every citizen. Public safety is our top priority. I have directed officials and SDRF to remain on high alert and extend timely assistance to the affected people as required, Sai said in the release. The heavy downpour in south Bastar has sent several rivers and rivulets into spate, disrupting normal life. More than 100 villages each in Bijapur, Dantewada and Bastar districts have been cut off from the district headquarters due to the torrential downpour over the past two days. SDRF and police personnel were deployed for timely evacuation of the people stranded amid floods, another government official said. Heavy rains have resulted in flooding of several downstream areas in Sukma, Bijapur and Dantewada, affecting many spots on national highways. The district authority has deployed motor-powered boats and Home Guard personnel to assist people to cross the flooded areas.
Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai puts on display investor-ready state ecosystem at Osaka summit
RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai visited the Chhattisgarh Pavilion, organised at the World Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, on Monday. It elicited an encouraging response on the opening day, with over 22000 visitors experiencing the states unique mix of heritage, culture, and tourism. The event, open till August 30, was put together at the invitation of the Indian Trade Promotion Organisation. Sai attended the exhibition, which highlighted the states singular identity, traditions, and modern progress. The CM said, Our identity is not limited to heritage and folk culture alone, but we are also advancing rapidly in the direction of industry, innovation, and global cooperation. Tribal art, weaving, handicrafts, herbal items, and tourist destinations of Chhattisgarh, exhibited at the Pavilion, fascinated the visitors, said an official attending the event. The special focus remains on the states industrial capacity, investment opportunities, and future potential, creating a reassuring perception about the state among the international audience, he added. Visitors from Japan and other countries lauded the Chhattisgarh Pavilion while appreciating especially the handicrafts, bamboo products, Bastar Art, and performances based on folk music. CM Sai interacted with the guests at the Investor Connect event in Osaka at the Pavilion and conveyed that Chhattisgarh is fully prepared to present itself as an ideal destination for investment and partnerships.
Chhattisgarh CM explores Japan for industrial collaboration, digital innovation opportunities
RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, during his ongoing visit to Japan, met senior representatives of the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) in Tokyo and held key discussions focused on exploring investment and industrial collaboration opportunities. While interacting with senior office bearers of JETRO, Nakajo Kazuya, Ando Yuji, and Hara Harunobu, the Chief Minister highlighted the immense potential that the state holds in sectors such as information technology, textiles, aerospace, automobiles, electronics, and clean energy. He invited the JETRO delegation to explore new avenues of investment in the states rapidly growing economy. CM Sai emphasised that, being located in the heart of India, Chhattisgarh is emerging as an ideal destination for industry and investment, as the government has ensured transparent policies, simplified procedures, and robust industrial infrastructure. We are attracting global investors and the discussions with JETRO representatives would further strengthen the prospects of economic cooperation between Chhattisgarh and Japan, the CM affirmed. Earlier, he met the Chief Executive Officer of NTT Ltd, one of the worlds leading IT infrastructure and digital solutions companies, with annual revenues of USD 90 billion and operations spanning more than 50 countries. The discussions with NTT Ltd centred on technology-driven investments in Chhattisgarh, with an emphasis on strengthening the states digital ecosystem. CM Sai underlined the vast potential for industrial collaboration by leveraging Japans advanced technology and Indias skilled workforce. He also stressed the importance of promoting cultural exchanges and positioning Chhattisgarh as a key tourism destination for Japanese visitors. The visiting Chhattisgarh delegation explored critical opportunities in trade, technology, and diplomacy, with engagements firmly positioning the state as an emerging hub for rapid industrial growth, digital innovation, and global partnerships. On the occasion of National Space Day, the CM visited the Deep SpaceTo the Moon & Beyond exhibition organised in Tokyo. Such an enriching glimpse into space science and innovations will provide direction and inspiration to the upcoming Space Manufacturing Cluster in Rajnandgaon (Chhattisgarh), being developed with the support of the Government of India, he added.
CBSE to establish six new regional, sub-regional offices to enhance governance
NEW DELHI: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced the establishment of six new Regional Offices, Centres of Excellence (CoEs), and Sub-Regional Offices to streamline its operations and improve governance of affiliated schools across the country. According to a notification issued by CBSE Secretary Himanshu Gupta, the decision was taken following the approval of the Finance Committee in December 2024, which was later ratified by the Governing Body and cleared by the Ministry of Education. The new offices are being set up in Gurugram, Lucknow, Raipur, Ranchi, Agartala, Itanagar and Gangtok. These will become fully functional between August and September 2025. Gurugram (Haryana) will cover 12 southern districts of Haryana, including Faridabad, Gurugram, Palwal and Sonipat, and is expected to function from 1 September 2025. Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) will oversee 30 districts, including Ayodhya, Etawah, Kanpur, Rae Bareli and Unnao, and will also become functional from 1 September 2025. Raipur (Chhattisgarh) will have jurisdiction across Chhattisgarh and became functional on 22 August 2025. Ranchi (Jharkhand) will cover Jharkhand and also became functional on 22 August 2025. Among the Sub-Regional Offices, Agartala (Tripura) will begin functioning from 15 September 2025. Itanagar (Arunachal Pradesh) became functional on 22 August 2025, along with Gangtok (Sikkim), which also started operations on the same date. The notification stated that all schools affiliated with CBSE will now fall under the jurisdictions of these newly established offices. This move will help strengthen administrative reach, ensure better coordination with schools, and enhance educational support services across these regions, the CBSE said.
APEDA opening new offices at Patna, Raipur, Dehradun to support agricultural exporters
To bolster agricultural exports, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) will establish three new regional offices in Patna, Dehradun, and Raipur. These offices will aid agri-exporters by facilitating shipments and expanding APEDA's reach. Currently headquartered in Delhi, APEDA operates 16 regional offices across India, focusing on export development, exporter registration, standardization, packaging enhancement, and marketing initiatives.
Women who accompanied Kerala nuns in Chhattisgarh allege harassment by Bajrang Dal, railway cops
RAIPUR: Three women from Bastars Narayanpur district have lodged a complaint with the Chhattisgarh State Womens Commission, alleging physical and mental harassment by Bajrang Dal cadres and Government Railway Police (GRP) at Durg station on July 25, in connection with an alleged human trafficking and forced religious conversion case . Kamleshwari Pradhan, Lalita Usendi and Sukmati Mandavi submitted their grievances to the commission in Raipur, seeking justice. On 2 August, a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Bilaspur granted bail to two Catholic nuns from Kerala, who had been arrested on charges of human trafficking and religious conversion. The women in their complaint against Jyoti Sharma, Ravi Nigam, Ratan Yadav and the GRP Durg incharge alleged they were physically ill-treated, verbally abused and threatened with gang rape in the presence of police personnel, said Kiranmayee Nayak, Chairperson of the Commission. During the hearing, the accused named in the complaint did not appear before the Commission. The complainants have arrived but the respondents have refused to attend. So, according to our laid down procedures, we will inform them through the concerned police station asking them to be present during the next hearing, Nayak said. She added that the GRP Durg incharge will also be summoned to attend the proceedings. Commission members conducted preliminary questioning of the three girls, who said they expected a fair and impartial hearing. The Chairperson has also sought detailed information on the 25 July incident, including CCTV footage, from the Durg district police chief. The women had earlier filed a complaint with the Narayanpur superintendent of police against Bajrang Dal activists. They stated that they were willingly travelling with the nuns to Agra to take up work in a hospital, and that they had converted to Christianity around six years ago. The Bajrang Dal cadres forcibly stopped the girls at Durg station and assaulted them with abusive remarks. All three were very scared and remain in shock after the incident, relatives of the women claimed, demanding an FIR against Jyoti Sharma and other Bajrang Dal members so that such alleged incidents should not happen again. Bail for Kerala nuns a feather in the political cap of BJP and Rajeev?
Chhattisgarh's cabinet gets 14 ministers for first time as 3 MLAs take oath
RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh Governor Ramen Deka administered the oath of office and secrecy to three ministers -- Gajendra Yadav, Rajesh Agrawal and Khushwant Saheb at the swearing-in function in Raj Bhawan, Raipur on Wednesday. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai expanded his ministry almost 20 months after assuming office in December 2023, when the BJP returned to power in Chhattisgarh. With the expansion of the Sai cabinet, the total strength of the state council of ministers rose to 14 for the first time. All three --Yadav (MLA from Durg), Agrawal (MLA-Ambikapur) and Khushwant Saheb (MLA-Arang) are first-term legislators. CM Sai later distributed the portfolios to the new ministers. While Yadav got school education and Gramodyog, Khushwant Saheb was allotted skill development, technical education & employment and Agrawal was given tourism, culture, religious trust and endowment. The CM will proceed on his first scheduled 10-day foreign trip to Japan and South Korea on Thursday. BJP insiders said that the representation following the induction of three new faces will secure caste and regional balance, though several senior BJP MLAs who kept their hopes alive to secure a place in the cabinet felt 'desolate'. In the Sai Cabinet, there are only three ministers who were in the earlier BJP government led by Dr Raman Singh, which was in power for 15 years and the remaining 11 are new faces. Chhattisgarh, in accordance with the provision of the Constitution with maximum of 15 per cent of the strength of the Vidhan Sabha permissible for council of ministers, had continued with only 13 ministers, including the chief minister, ever since the state was created in the year 2000. The Chhattisgarh state has 90 legislators and the new cabinet expansion has apparently followed the model of Haryana which too has the same number of elected assembly members. Former CM Bhupesh Baghel cited the new 14-member cabinet expansion as unconstitutional. If the state government has taken a prior approval from the Centre then that should be made public and if not, then such a 14-member cabinet is unlawful. We had also sought the approval from the Centre for a 14-member cabinet but didn't get any response, claimed Baghel. CM Sai took oath on December 10, 2023, followed by 11 ministers administering oath on December 21, while keeping one post vacant. In June 2024, one more ministerial post fell vacant after a senior BJP leader, Brijmohan Agrawal, an eight-time MLA, was elected as a member of parliament from the Raipur Lok Sabha seat.
Raipur Diary | Chhattisgarh heritage to be showcased at World Expo
The state is all set to showcase its unique identity at the prestigious World Expo 2025 in Osaka (Japan) next week where CM Vishnu Deo Sai has been specially invited to represent the state. The theme of the summit is Designing Future Society for our Lives with sub-themes on Saving Lives, Empowering Lives and Connecting Lives, celebrating global innovations. Over 160 countries and 9 international organisations are participating in the mega event. Chhattisgarh, at its dedicated state stall at the expansive summit venue in Yumeshima Island, will highlight its rich cultural heritage, technological advances, trade and infrastructure. The state looks to place itself on the global map of industrial growth by positing an investment hub image. New Assembly complex all set for inauguration With the construction of the new Chhattisgarh Assembly complex in its final stage, the new premises will be dedicated to the public during the states Rajyotsava celebration on November 1. PM Narendra Modi has been invited to inaugurate the sprawling new structure spread across 52 acres. The new Vidhan Sabha building beautifully blends the states rich cultural heritage and traditional architectural elements with cutting-edge facilities. The Assembly hall, to have seats for 200 MLAs, will include a state-of-the-art auditorium with a 500-person capacity. The complex will also include parking for 700 vehicles and two proposed lakes. State-of-the-art libraries to come up in every dist After encouraging response and favourable results from Raipur-based Nalanda Parisar, the states biggest Central Library, the State is now building 34 new libraries covering almost every district. These will be equipped with quality books for higher education, competitive exams and reference materials besides other modern facilities. The option of both offline and online will be made available. The state capital, besides the Nalanda Parisar complex-cum-reading zone, also has Takshashila Central library-cum-smart reading room and a 500-seater central library. Libraries are also proposed for Maoist-hit districts and hinterlands. Ejaz Kaiser Our correspondent in Chhattisgarh ejaz@newindianexpress.com
Acres of forest lands reclaimed, thanks to tech
RAIPUR: The foresters foot is best manure for the forest, so the saying goes. True to the word, foresters in Chhattisgarh have demonstrated how high-tech surveillance and decisive action can bring a paradigm shift in forest conservation, reclaiming nearly 1,800 acres of forest from the clutches of encroachment in the Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve (USTR). Regaining the vast forest terrain progressively occupied over the past 18 years proved quite a task for the Chhattisgarh forest department as it painstakingly identified and cleared designated forestlands, worth over `500 crore, of illegal occupation, said Varun Jain (IFS) Deputy Director, USTR. Combating biodiversity threats, deforestation, loss of wildlife habitat and increased human-animal conflict, the officer deployed technological interventions to fill up patrolling gaps, reduce man-animal contact and strengthen monitoring of forests and wildlife. As many as seven major human settlements were cleared out and over 300 encroachers illegally occupying the region were evicted amid strong resistance during the anti-encroachment drive that began two years ago. Jain took help of the National Remote Sensing Centre, a key facility of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), and acquired satellite images of the designated forestlands in 2008-2010, besides drone mapping of the encroached area to assess the 2022 situation. Analysis of the images revealed that forest cover loss began after 2012 and continued till 2020, during which the encroachers wiped-off trees from vast stretched of jungle. Its an exceptional feat for the state. Removal of encroachments using technology and force has created inviolate space for herbivores and carnivores, leading to diminishing man-animal conflicts. The compensation burden on the state exchequer has also reduced, said V Sreenivasa Rao (PCCF & Head of Forest Force). In 2022, the Chhattisgarh forest department built its own Google Earth-powered Remote Sensing Portal for assessing changes in forest cover and surface water cover on a weekly basis; Artificial Intelligence tools and machine learning helped identify forest loss over past 20 years. Based on the satellite images, the department arrived at the conclusion that all these illegal settlements had come up after 2008, and therefore, were not entitled to land rights under the Forest Rights Act (FRA) which is applicable on areas occupied before December 2005.
RAIPUR: It is often said that the foresters foot is the best manure for the forest. In a remarkable achievement, Chhattisgarh has reclaimed and restored 1,800 acres of encroached forestland in the Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve (USTR), safeguarding biodiversity, preventing further deforestation, reducing wildlife habitat loss and mitigating the risk of increased human-animal conflict. Regaining the vast forest area, progressively occupied over the last 18 years, posed a serious challenge for the Chhattisgarh Forest Department. The department carried out a difficult exercise to clear the encroached designated forestlands, estimated to be worth over Rs 500 crore, said Varun Jain (IFS), Deputy Director of USTR. The IFS officer relied on technological interventions to address patrolling gaps, reduce man-animal conflicts, and strengthen the monitoring of forests and wildlife. As many as seven major habitats and over 300 alleged encroachers settled in the region were evicted amid strong resistance, with reports of attacks on forest staff during the anti-encroachment drive that began two years ago. Jain sought assistance from the National Remote Sensing Centre, one of the key centres of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in Hyderabad, acquiring satellite images from 20082010. He also carried out drone mapping of the encroached area to create an imagery database for 2022. The analysis revealed how forest cover loss began after 2012 and continued until 2020, during which encroachers allegedly cleared vast tracts of dense jungle. Its an exceptional feat for the state. The removal of these encroachments using technology and force has resulted in the creation of inviolate space for herbivores and carnivores, leading to diminishing man-animal conflicts. Besides, the compensation burden of the state exchequer has also reduced, said V. Sreenivasa Rao, PCCF and Head of Forest Force. In 2022, the Chhattisgarh Forest Department built its own Google Earth Engine-powered Remote Sensing Portal to assess forest cover and surface water changes on a weekly basis, as well as to identify hotspots of forest loss over the past 20 years using Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. The USTR spans two districts, Gariaband and Dhamtari, where encroachers have allegedly made systematic attempts for years to capture forestland. The challenge was compounded by the presence of outlawed Maoists in both districts. There are 110 legal villages (revenue villages converted from forest villages) within the tiger reserve. For the Forest Department, the situation was worrying as alleged encroachers and poachers, mostly from outside the state, attempted to hold sway. Continuous monitoring of new and old encroachments and forest loss areas is being carried out using the portal, with regular enforcement actions taken. A month ago we cleared encroachment and restored another 60 hectares of forestland, said Jain. Based on satellite images, the department concluded that all the illegal settlements emerged only after 2008, meaning they were not entitled to any land under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), which applies only to land occupied before December 2005.
Sai Pledges Rural Bus Service, Raipur Police Commissionerate In Independence Day Address
A police Commissionerate system would be introduced in Raipur to handle the growing challenge of law and order in the state capital: Chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai
VHP-Bajrang Dal workers vandalise church in Chhattisgarh over conversion claim
Members from Hindutva organisations, Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal, stormed and vandalised a church in Chhattisgarhs Raipur, alleging that forced religious conversion was taking place. The attack took place on August 10. The Hindutva members attacked the Christians present there and chanted the Hanuman Chalisa, creating a scene. A video of the incident 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 .
All mosques, madrasas in Chhattisgarh must hoist tricolour on I-Day: Waqf Board
Raipur: The Chhattisgarh State Waqf Board has directed all mosques, dargahs and madrasas across the state to hoist the national flag on the occasion of Independence Day on August 15. The State Waqf Board chairman, Dr Salim Raj, said a letter was issued on Monday to all mutawallis (those responsible for managing Waqf properties) in 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 .
Chhattisgarh Waqf Board asks masjids, madrasas, dargahs to hoist national flag on Independence Day
RAIPUR: The Chhattisgarh State Waqf Board, in a first-of-its-kind circular, had announced that the Tricolour will be mandatorily hoisted at every mosque, dargah and madrasa across the state during the 79th Independence Day celebrations. According to the formal directive issued by the Waqf Board, the national flag will be unfurled at the main entrance of all mosques, dargahs and madarsas on August 15, symbolising gesture of patriotism that Indian Muslims strongly nurture with their motherland India, have deep respect for the Tricolour and stand united to mark the celebration of the country's freedom. Independence Day is our national festival and the Muslim minority should be seen to observe it with fervour. Indian Muslims have always been patriots who love their country. Owing to the misdeeds of a few, why should the entire community be subject to suspicion or scrutiny? The initiative will prove beyond doubt the wholehearted loyalty of the Muslim community towards Bharat where we all live in harmony, the Waqf Board chairman Salim Raj told The New Indian Express . Capital turns fortress for Independence Day He said the Imams and the mutavalli (caretaker) of mosques, dargahs and madarsas have been told to upload the images of observing the Independence Day with the hoisted flags from their respective locations on the dedicated portal created by the State Waqf Board. The option of sharing photos on the WhatsApp groups has also been given to them. Several Muslim scholars and intellectuals, however, felt there was no need for such a directive as the practice of hoisting the national flag is always organised during every Independence Day by the community in all their religious and educational institutions with high enthusiasm and national spirit. No one opposes to raise our Tiranga on Independence Day as Muslim community invariably endorses such occasions with pride and impeccable belief in unity and integrity, said Sajid-ul-Kadeer, the administrator of a 100-year-old Madarsa Arabia Islamia in Raipurs Baijnathpara.
