No info about family, Muslim man steps in for Hindu womans last rites in Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: T Safeer lost his mother 24 years ago. Not a single day passes without me remembering her. When Rakhi amma passed, it hit me the same way, said Safeer, the ward member of Chittattumukku in Kadinamkulam panchayat. This was why Safeer, a practising Muslim, stepped in last Friday to conduct the last rites of Rakhi, 44, a person with intellectual disabilities, as per the Hindu tradition. There is no need to focus on religion for that, he said. A native of Chhattisgarh, Rakhi had been a resident at the Benedict Menni Psycho Social Rehabilitation Centre in Kadinamkulam for the past two-and-a-half years. She was diagnosed with breast and liver cancer soon after admission. As her health deteriorated, Rakhi made a wish that her last rites be performed as per Hindu customs. However, she had no memory of her family, and the staff at the Christian-run centre could not trace her roots beyond her name and home state. They contacted me soon after her passing. I have always believed that if someone expresses a last wish, especially someone so vulnerable, we must honour it, said Safeer. He has done this before, too. In fact, just two weeks ago, he once again played the role of a son when he performed the final rites of another Hindu woman from the centre, Sudakshina from Nagaroor. We managed to locate her brother and daughter, but both had mental problems and couldnt carry out the rites. I did what I could, said Safeer. In the case of Rakhi, he said. I dont know if I performed the rites exactly as they should. However, I did it with the full knowledge I had and with help from friends. I believe it would be accepted by any god. The person at the Santhi Theeram crematorium guided me. The Imam of the local Jamaath congratulated me. He told me, You did the right thing by considering a dead person as your own, he said. He visits the centre often, speaking to residents, checking in on their health and supporting the staff. I would do this for anyone. Even if no one supports me. My religion has taught me to give utmost respect to a human body, be it of a close relative or a complete stranger, said Safeer. He, however, expressed surprise and concern that his act had become news. Its concerning. When I was young. such gestures were common; none thought these special. Now, when we do something simply human, it gets attention as secularism has become a rare thing, he said. Safeer said if his act sends the message to uphold secularism, he would welcome it. Faith should be in the mind. However, your heart must always be open to people, without separating them into boxes. Every person deserves dignity in death. This is not just about religious harmony, this is about being human. Its the least any of us should do, he said.

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.

4-Year-Old Girl Raped By 53-Year-Old Man In Chhattisgarh, Accused Held

A four-year-old girl in a Chhattisgarh town was allegedly raped by a 53-year-old man

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'

SC refuses to entertain plea by kin of slain Maoist leader Basavaraju

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a plea by the kin of top Maoist leader Nambala Keshav Rao, who was killed in an encounter in Chhattisgarh in May, over the handing over of his body for performing final rites. Rao, widely known as Basavaraju, along with 26 others was killed 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 .

ED Names Bhupesh Baghels Son in Chhattisgarh Liquor Scam

Agency alleges Chaitanya Baghel handled over Rs 1,000 crore proceeds of crime in Rs 2,100-crore scam

Muslim panchayat member in Kerala carries out last rites of Hindu woman from Chhattisgarh

Cancer-stricken 44-year-old inmate of a psycho social rehabilitation centre in his ward had expressed a wish that her last rites be conducted as per the Hindu custom

Massive Clashes In Chhattisgarh's Bilaspur, Durg Over Alleged Conversions

In Bilaspur, nearly 300 people had gathered for a meeting of the Christian community when Hindu organisations staged demonstrations outside, accusing the group of carrying out religious conversions.

Jungle warfare school to come up in Red corridor

NEW DELHI: The government has decided to set up a jungle warfare school at Karreguta Hills in Chattisgarhs Bijapur districtonce a stronghold of Maoiststo give specialised training to the Central Reserve Police Force, Chhattisgarh Police, District Reserve Guard, Commando Battalion for Resolute Action, and other forces. Instructions have been passed and the preparations have already started, sources said. The Centre will construct the training school, while the state government will build the approach road and provide other basic facilities, a Chhattisgarh government official said. Officials said the location is significant as Karregutta Hills was once considered the secure stronghold of Naxals. Karregutta was freed from Naxal control through a CRPF-led operation in April this year. The lessons drawn during the operation will serve to update the operational tactics, sources said. The personnel of the CRPF, Special Task Force, and the DRG carried out cave intervention extensively. So, it will be part of the training at the school, they added. Since the institute is being raised in the actual setting, the forces are expected to have a major positive effect on the training. Karregutta is a strategically unique, tough and inaccessible terrain stretching for over 60 km with widths ranging from 10-20 km across the hilly region. The hills stand at an altitude of 5,000 metres and remain inaccessible even for a majority of the local population. The area is dotted with caves, waterfalls, and narrow valleys at the core of the hills, and have been said to house the camps and arms manufacturing units of the Naxals. The CRPF is the lead force deployed in counter insurgency, counter terrorism, and Leftwing extremism (LWE). Around 100 battalions, including COBRA units, of the 3.25-lakh strong force are currently de ployed for LWE operations.

White-coats walk out in protest: Chhattisgarhs health workers are on strike

For nearly a month, Chhattisgarh health workers have been on strike, demanding permanent employment and better working conditions. This has burdened the already strained healthcare system in the State

Naxal Den Karregutta Hills Set To Host Chhattisgarhs 2nd Jungle Warfare College

In the longest ever anti-Maoist operation that spanned 21 days carried out in the Karregutta hills, 31 Maoists, including top leaders, were killed, 214 bunkers were destroyed and Maoists weapon making units were dismantled

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.

Two new security camps set up in remote areas of Naxal-hit Bijapur

Chhattisgarh police established two new CRPF camps in Bijapur district. These camps aim to address security concerns and boost development. The camps are located in Ullur and Chillamarka villages. Since January, thirty-six security camps were established. Security forces neutralised many Maoists. The camps will improve connectivity and access to essential services for villagers.

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

Wanted Maoist Mukhdev Yadav gunned down in encounter with security forces

RANCHI: Days after the death of its two jawans in a Maoist attack, Jharkhand police have gunned down Mukhdeo Yadav, a member of banned Maoist organisation, Tritiya Sammelan Prastuti Committee (TSPC), during an encounter early in the morning on Sunday. The fierce encounter, which took place between security forces and TSPC in the Manatu jungles of Palamu, lasted for several hours. Palamu SP Rishma Rameshan confirmed the encounter and said that a Maoist, Mukhdev Yadav, carrying a bounty of Rs 5 lakh on his head, was killed in the encounter. According to police sources, his dead body has been recovered along with an INSAS Rifle from the spot. More than 200 soldiers, along with the contingents of Cobra Battalion, Palamu Police and Jharkhand Jaguar, were involved in this operation. Notably, there was an encounter between security forces and TSPC Maoists in the Kedal area of Manatu on September 3, during which, two jawans of Palamu Police were martyred. The police launched a massive operation against the Maoists following the incident and gunned down the wanted Maoist in the encounter on Sunday. Police sources informed that the recent operation is being carried out to eliminate the same squad that had attacked the security forces on September 5. Mukhdev Yadav was also involved in that incident. Two maoists killed in Chhattisgarhs Bijapur gunfight as security forces intensify operations The police and paramilitary forces have surrounded the area from all sides and started a search operation, banning the entry of anyone into the forest. According to the information received from the local police, the security forces have launched a special operation to nab TSPC Chief Shashikant Ganjhu, who has a reward of Rs 10 lakh on his head. As soon as the jawans entered the dense forests of Manatu, the Maoists started firing on them, following which, the security forces also opened fire in retaliation killing Mukhdeo Yadav. The firing from both sides continued for several hours. According to police, Shashikant Ganjhu has been under surveillance for a long time and it is difficult for him to get out of that area. Along with Shashikant Ganjhu, about 8 to 10 Maoists are said to be active in his region, including the wanted Maoist Nageena. Security forces are considering this as the one of the biggest operations till date. The operation will continue until the entire squad is wiped out, they said. Meanwhile, continuous search operations are being carried out in the area and the police have also appealed to the villagers to remain alert.

BJP resumes minority outreach initiatives in Kerala

KOTTAYAM: After the setback suffered due to the arrest of two Keralite nuns in Chhattisgarh, the state unit of the BJP has resumed efforts to reach out to the minority communities, especially Christians, ahead of the upcoming local body and Assembly elections. As part of the massive social outreach programme of various feeder organisations of BJP, including Minority Morcha, the party will specifically focus on rebuilding trust with the minority communities through various initiatives. In connection with the Christian outreach initiatives, BJP convened a meeting of its Christian members in Kottayam a few days ago in the presence of party state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar. In the meeting, CBCI Laity Council secretary and a member of Kanjrappally diocese pastoral council V C Sebastian led a class for the participants from across the state on issues being faced by Christians. The party also plans to constitute various committees from panchayat to state level to strengthen its relations with the Christian community. The state-level committee will be led by BJP vice-president Shone George and general secretary Anoop Antony. As a continuation of the efforts, the party will also convene a meeting in Kozhikode on September 16 and 17 for Muslim leaders. Jamal Siddiqui, the national president of BJP Minority Morcha will participate in this meeting. This is for the first time that the BJP is organising meetings on religious basis. Party leaders said these efforts are part of strengthening its relations with all minority communities and allaying their concerns about BJP, which is not intended for Christians only. Minority and majority communities should move together. The discussions focus on raising awareness about their Constitutional rights and the partys position on these issues. These meetings are intended to address the minorities individually, said Sumeet George, president of the Minority Morcha.

Maoist Balkrishna, Involved in Killing of Former AP Home Minister, Slain in Encounter

Three top Maoist leaders including CPI (Maoist) general secretary Basavaraju were killed in separate encounters in Chhattisgarh in the last nine months.

Chhattisgarh : Nude Party Invitation On Social Media Triggers Outrage, 2 Detained

A poster inviting youths to attend a Nude Party has gone viral on social media sparking outrage here.

Chhattisgarh: Naxalite killed in Bijapur encounter; weapons, explosives seized

In Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district, a Naxalite was killed during a clash with security forces on Saturday. The gunfight erupted in a forest during an anti-Naxal operation. Following the exchange, authorities recovered the Naxalite's body, along with a 12-bore gun, a Barrel Grenade Launcher, explosives, and Maoist-related supplies.

2 Naxalites With Rs 16 Lakh Bounty Killed In Chhattisgarh's Bijapur

Two CPI Maoists with a Rs 16 lakh bounty, were killed in Bijapur. In 2025, over 240 Naxalites have been killed in separate encounters in Chhattisgarh.

Two Maoists killed in Chhattisgarhs Bijapur carried Rs 16 lakh bounty

Bijapur: The two Maoists killed in an encounter with security personnel in Chhattisgarhs Bijapur district a day ago carried a cumulative bounty of Rs 16 lakh, police said on Saturday. Hidma Podiyam (34) and Munna Madkam (25), members of military platoon no. 1 of the outlawed CPI (Maoists), were neutralised in a gunfight with a 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 .

2 Naxalites killed in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur carried Rs 16 lakh bounty

In Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district, security forces neutralized two Naxalites, Hidma Podiyam and Munna Madkam, carrying a combined bounty of Rs 16 lakh. The operation in the south-west forests yielded weapons and Maoist materials. This year, 243 Naxalites have been killed in Chhattisgarh, with a significant number eliminated in the Bastar division, marking a major blow to the outlawed CPI (Maoists).

Meet Salonee Dangore - From Track And Field To Playing In The Women's Caribbean Premier League

Ramesh Bhatia Cricket Foundation: Securing a spot in an overseas T20 league is a rare feat for an uncapped player, particularly for someone whos yet to feature in their own countrys premier franchise T20 competition. When such selections happen, they highlight a players exceptional potential and mark a significant leap in their professional trajectory. Salonee Dangores ongoing debut stint in the ongoing Womens Caribbean Premier League (WCPL) has been just that. The little-known leg-spinner, being the third player from India to play the WCPL this year after Shreyanka Patil and Shikha Pandey, brought a lot of attention and intrigue in equal measure. Though Salonee is yet to register herself in wicket-taking charts for the Trinbago Knight Riders, shes relishing the chance of being in the Caribbean and knowing more about it. It's going really well. I'm feeling really good here. Honestly, I was a little nervous. But I converted it into excitement and it felt really good as soon as I went to the Caribbean. Now it's going really well. We talk a lot with local Caribbean players. We get to know their stories, culture and it feels really good, said Salonee in a conversation with IANS, facilitated by FanCode, the official broadcaster of the WCPL. Shes also found good guidance from team mentor, legendary India fast bowler Jhulan Goswami and being in TKRs playing eleven with Shikha and Jess Jonassen, the players she closely observed as a net bowler stint with Delhi Capitals in the Womens Premier League (WPL). Jhulan di is also here and gives us a lot of inputs whenever we have practice sessions. Her experiences and Shikha di's experience has helped a lot. It feels amazingly good to be playing alongside them. In 2 years for DC as a net bowler, I had a lot of interactions with Shikha and Jess. Now I'm playing with them in the same eleven, so it feels really good. They take care of me and we talk a lot about cricket, so it feels really good. The learnings I took from DC was in tactical parts and their work ethics and seeing the things that make them legends of the games. I got to see and learn a lot from that stint. When there were games in WPL, we used to sit in the room and discuss about the matches like if I was playing, how I could have done things in this or that way. Same thing happened when I played my first match here. After a game was over, they gave me inputs on what I could have done and the things I can work on. So I applied all of that in the nets and that played a very important role in my time around them, she elaborated. The importance of power hitting in T20s during WPL gave Salonee a realisation about working hard on her batting skills. I started working on that and I have come here, so I want to bring the impact of my power hitting skills to the team. In Guyana, where the pitches are expected to be slow and turning, Dangore sees an opportunity to make a mark. That favours my bowling style. I have also thought that I want to be amongst the top wicket takers and somehow help my team to win the title, she said. Growing up in Indore, Salonee was immersed in athletics, competing in the 100m and 200m sprints and long jump. Her father works as a Telecom District Manager with BSNL, while her mother, Vibha, who had a passion for basketball, played a pivotal role in her sporting journey, as her won sporting ambitions never took off. Until 2015, Salonee had little interest in cricket and did not even know what leg-spin was till her mothers coach, Jose Chacko, a Sports and Youth Welfare Officer in Bhopal, suggested that she might find better prospects in cricket than athletics. At 16, Salonee made the switch from athletics to cricket, thus paving the way for a remarkable journey. My mothers coach said she is very active and if you put her in cricket, she will pick up the game quickly. So my mom thought let's switch her to cricket and so that's how it started, she recalls. When Salonee got the call for WCPL selection, it came as pleasant surprise to her family. Everyone was very happy because there was no hope and this opportunity came out of nowhere. My mother was very happy and a little emotional on hearing this, recalls Salonee. She was first enrolled at academy of former Ranji Trophy player Sunil Lahore, who spotted her potential to be a leg-spinner instead of a medium pacer. Further refining of her bowling came at the Ramesh Bhatia Cricket Foundation (RBCF), under coaches Sanjay Choubey and Himanshu Vairagi. In the beginning I wanted to become a medium pacer. But my coach told me to become a leg spinner. Then I joined RBCF academy and worked hard on my leg-spin and that's how it started. In the beginning, Salonee used to watch the legendary Shane Warnes videos in slow motion, so that she could copy his action. But Salonee considers herself very fortunate on getting guidance from former India spinner Narendra Hirwani for the last three years. I first met him three years ago because I used to play at MPCA, where he had come as a spin coach. So he saw my bowling and that's how we interacted. He has not only worked on my skills, but also worked on my mindset a lot. So I can say that I feel more confident while bowling and all these changes have happened because of him, she said. In search of better opportunities after not getting much game time in Madhya Pradesh in U16, U19 and senior levels, Salonee moved to Chhattisgarh before the 2024-25 domestic season (though she will be turning out for a new team in the upcoming season). Getting consistent game time with bat and ball there for Chhattisgarh meant she caught the attention of eagle-eyed WPL scouts and was then called upon as a net bowler for DC. It wont come as a surprise if the DC net bowling stint was a catalyst to Salonee getting WCPL deal. It has been a very good exposure because when you come to another country and play with top players, you get a lot of learnings in terms of how much advancements have happened in the game and how to prepare for matching up to that level. So it has been a very good experience so far. It has been a very good exposure because when you come to another country and play with top players, you get a lot of learnings in terms of how much advancements have happened in the game and how to prepare for matching up to that level, she said. Before coming to the Caribbean, Salonee had wise words of advice from Hirwani. He said You need to play fearless cricket and we don't want to prove anything. You are already there. Just express yourself freely while playing and enjoy. So it has been a very good experience so far. It has been a very good exposure because when you come to another country and play with top players, you get a lot of learnings in terms of how much advancements have happened in the game and how to prepare for matching up to that level, she said. Also Read: LIVE Cricket Score From there, she became the leading wicket-taker in RCBs WPL 2024 win and played for India in both white-ball formats. Yes I saw her matches at that time. She hadnt represented India by then and because of her WCPL performance, she represented India. So to a very large extent, even I have some similar expectations. So this WCPL is a stepping stone towards my ultimate dream, concluded Salonee. Article Source: IANS

An engineering marvel: Newly built Bairabi-Sairang railway line set to become Mizoram's gateway to growth

AIZAWL: When a two-coach special train carrying railway officials arrived at the newly built platform near Sairang, 85-year-old Satwna stood motionless with his eyes fixed on the gleaming train that had just rolled in. His wrinkled hands trembled in excitement as he touched the metallic surface of the vistadome coach. For the first time in his life, the octogenarian from nearby Darlawng village who spent his entire lifetime in the hills of Mizoram had a glimpse of a train. I had heard about trains, but never thought that I would be able to see one rolling on my land. My dream came true, he said in the local Lushai language softly. Satwna has never been to any place outside Mizoram. He hoped people of his area could now easily move out of the hill state for jobs, education and advanced healthcare. With green hills sweeping into the misty air, buildings dotting the slopes and miles of bamboo and banana forests, Mizoram is considered one of the most beautiful yet remote states in India. But for the people of the hilly land, the dream of railway connectivity remained elusive for decades. The state had just 5 km of metre-gauge line from the Assam border to Bairabi in Kolasib district until the Bairabi-Sairang project was sanctioned in 2008-09. The Indian Railways has recently completed the 51.38 km new line connecting Bairabi with Sairang, about 17 km from capital city Aizawl and 15 km from Lengpui airport, linking Mizoram to the countrys rail network for the first time. Sairang railway station The project suffered delays due to numerous challenges, including landslide-prone difficult terrain, inclement weather, and lack of construction materials and workforce. Despite challenges, the project was fast-tracked with an eco-sensitive approach by constructing more tunnels and elevated viaducts to minimise on-site deforestation and destruction of habitats. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had laid the foundation stone in 2014, is scheduled to inaugurate the newly built railway line on Saturday. Once the trains are flagged off, Mizoram will be the fourth northeastern state to have its capital linked to the national railway grid. Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw said it is a historic moment for Mizoram as the state gets connected to the railway network. The Prime Minister will also flag off three trains, including a Rajdhani Express to Delhi, tri-weekly to Kolkata and a daily Mizoram Express to Guwahati, he said. Engineering marvel Built at a cost of around Rs 8,000 crore, the railway line is not just historic, but also an engineering marvel after the Chenab rail section in the Kashmir valley and Pamban bridge in Tamil Nadu. The line snakes through 45 tunnels covering a distance of nearly 12.85 km, besides 55 major bridges, 87 minor bridges, five road overbridges and six road underbridges, a feat achieved in one of the most challenging terrains in the Northeast. One of the most iconic structures is the bridge No. 196, towering at 114 metres, taller than Delhis iconic Qutub Minar by 42 metres. Rising from the deep green valleys near Sairang station, it is now a signature symbol of the project. The longest tunnel (No. 40) stretches for more than 1.37 km. For railway engineers, the entire period of construction was a battle with nature. Even though the railways built over 200 km of road to carry construction materials to different locations for the 51.38 km new railway line, the construction team faced immense difficulties in getting materials transported. The tragic bridge collapse that killed 26 workers in 2023 also failed to dampen the spirit. One of the 45 tunnels along the railway line Principal chief engineer Vinod Kumar said the project was a challenging task in every aspect. The men and materials were sourced from various states. While crushed stones were brought from Assam, West Bengal and Jharkhand, sand was procured from Assam. The reinforcement rods were brought from Kolkata and the steel girders from Chhattisgarh, West Bengal and Maharashtra. Labourers were from West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh, he said. Carrying girders to the construction site was such a huge logistical challenge that, Kumar said, they had to carry them up to Bairabi using the rail network and then to different sites by making special transportation arrangements. Sometimes it took more than a month to complete a day's work due to the logistic issues, he said. Gateway to growth The Bairabi-Sairang railway line is expected to reshape the states economy by lowering transport costs, creating jobs and boosting tourism. The cost of commodities is estimated to fall by at least 20 per cent, making life in the state more affordable to the more than 12 lakh people of Mizoram. As per estimates, Mizorams Gross State Domestic Product will grow at an annual rate of Rs 500 crore to Rs 700 crore due to the railway connectivity. A village head C Zonunsanga said construction materials, vegetables, rice, and even petrol become costlier every time the highway gets blocked due to landslides. The railway connectivity is a major gift to the people of the region after Independence. We hope it will help our state and its citizens prosper, he said. Farmers also expect opportunities. Mizoram grows orange, guava and pineapple in abundance along with ginger and turmeric, but struggles to sell the produce outside the state. Currently, post-harvest losses due to poor transport in the Northeast average around 25 to 30 per cent. We often sell at throwaway prices because transport is costly and roads are unreliable. The income will definitely increase as the railway will extend direct access to other city markets, said Lalranthara Rama, a local. A view of the city of Aizawl Apart from the logistics, the new railway line is set to give a much needed boost to the states tourism sector. The state government estimates that tourist arrivals would increase by 50 per cent within the next five years, an influx that would drive up sales in hotels, homestays, handicraft markets and transport services. The new line will bring in more visitors as travel to Aizawl has always been expensive and tiring. With trains, tourists can reach faster through Assam. It will help local youths get jobs, said Amuana Tlau, a car driver. While many welcomed the economic opportunities the new rail link promises, sections of the population expressed fears about cultural dilution and demographic changes. Some also flagged concerns over the social impact due to the increased migration. We have been waiting for better connectivity for decades. It will make goods cheaper, travel easier and transcend business. Simultaneously, we are worried about the influx of outsiders. We want development without affecting our Mizo identity, said VT Muani, a waiter. Officials, however, stressed that improved connectivity will help create jobs and boost the states economy. General manager of North East Frontier Railway Chetan Shrivastava said the rain line will ease passenger movement, cut freight costs and lessen the states reliance on fragile road links. It has been planned to flag off at least three trains on the day of inauguration. The number of trains will increase depending on the volume of traffic. There are plans to expand the line further up to the Myanmar border for which a survey is underway, Shrivastava 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.

Top naxal leader Manoj among 10 killed in Chhattisgarh, carried Rs 1 crore bounty, CM lauds forces

Madhya Pradesh villagers biometric data misused to issue fake SIMs for national, international cyber frauds

BHOPAL: Villagers in Madhya Pradesh are increasingly falling prey to multi-layered rackets that misuse their identification details to source fake SIM cards, fueling inter-state and international cyber frauds run from countries like Cambodia and Thailand. Ongoing crackdown by the MP Police against rackets sourcing fake SIM cards to be used for cyber crimes across the country and abroad have stumbled upon an increasingly prevalent modus operandi of some SIM card point-of-sale (PoS) who are using identification details, particularly biometric data (especially thumb impression/fingerprint details) to issue SIM cards in bulk for use by the cyber fraud rackets. Our detailed investigations and analysis has revealed that in around 60% cases of fake SIM cards, the thumb impression/fingerprints of people aged particularly between 18 and 45 years, especially those from rural areas, have been used to supply SIM cards for use by cyber fraud rackets operating from Indian states, like Jharkhand, West Bengal, Rajasthan, UP and Delhi, besides international cyber crime syndicates operating from South East Asian nations, particularly Cambodia and Thailand, superintendent of police (SP-Cyber Cell Bhopal) Pranay Nagwanshi told the TNIE on Friday. As per sources connected with the ongoing crackdown against the PoS indulgent in issuing fake SIM cards to cyber fraudsters, Villagers going to such PoS to get new SIM cards are often asked deliberately to give their thumb impressions on the thumb impression machines on the pretext that their thumb impressions arent getting properly scanned for verification purposes. While the impression is used just once to issue a SIM card to the concerned villager, the same impression, which was taken multiple times by the SIM card PoS, is then used to generate more SIM cards, which are handed over subsequently to local facilitators who supply them to cyber fraud rackets. The other most prevalent modus operandi is that many SIM card PoS are actually using men in rural areas, who in the lure of quick money are bringing their relatives and friends to the such PoS in the name of getting them registered for benefits under various government schemes and using their identification details, including fingerprints to generate fake SIM cards for cyber fraud syndicates. According to Nagwanshi, everyone who is giving fingerprint/thumb impressions on devices at SIM cards PoS, should be alert and question why the staff at the PoS is asking for the thumb impression/fingerprint scanning multiple times, to prevent their genuine ID details from being used to generate SIM cards for use by cyber fraudsters, including those indulging in Digital Arrests. These alarming revelations have been made during the ongoing Operation FAST (Forged-Activated-SIM-Termination) of the MP Police, which is being carried out across the state jointly by the state polices cyber cell and district police forces. The basis of Operation FAST is the detailed info provided to the MP Police by the Ministry of Home Affairs I4C (Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre). As per the data, as many as 6200 complaints from various states on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal were related to 7500 fake SIM cards issued by 3824 PoS across MP. Under the first phase of the Operation, which began 15 days back, the police have registered 50 FIRs against 94 SIM Card PoS and agents in 20 districts and 44 people have been arrested so far. As many as 100 fake SIM cards and seven thumb impression machines have also been seized. Similar operations are underway in the 35 remaining districts of the state based on the information given by the I4C. Were also working on regularly carrying out similar operations based on cyber fraud complaints being made directly to us in the state about mobile phone numbers being frequently used by cyber thugs, Nagwanshi added. In the next phase, we will probe the backward and forwards linkages of these notorious SIM card PoS, including the possibility of the cellular service providers staffs collusion with the tainted PoS and the facilitators getting bulk SIM cards for cyber fraud rackets from such point-of-sale contacts, he maintained. The hotspot districts so far The ongoing Operation FAST which, has so far covered 20 of the 55 districts in the state, has revealed that five districts, including Sidhi, Chhatarpur, Datia, Dindori and Shivpuri, have emerged as the prime hotspots of such SIM Card PoS, which are supplying fake SIM cards to cyber fraudsters. In each of these districts, more than 100 such SIM cards have been issued by the dubious PoS. Sidhi, which is located in the Vindhya region and is neighboured by Eastern UP, has emerged as the biggest such hotspot, with around 1000 such SIM cards having been issued by the dubious SIM Card PoS there, Nagwanshi said. This latest revelation means that the Vindhya region (which is neighboured by UP and Chhattisgarh both) is not just a fertile land of mule accounts (bank accounts used by criminals to receive, transfer or launder illegal money with or without the knowledge/complicity of the actual account holders), but also a hub for supply of fake SIM cards to cyber fraud rackets. In the past, there have been multiple cases of suspected hawala money, money meant for suspected terrorist and spying activities and money generated from cyber fraud, having been parked in mule accounts of people living in various parts of MPs Vindhya region, particularly Satna, Rewa, Maihar, Katni and Umaria districts. The second set of fake SIM cards hotspot districts, includes Gwalior, Indore, Damoh, Morena and Jabalpur districts.

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.

Naxal-hit Bastar region attracts Rs 967 cr investments

The BJP-led Chhattisgarh government's investor meet in Naxal-affected Bastar attracted Rs 967 crore in investments across sectors like tourism, healthcare, and warehousing. Thirty-three investors proposed projects with the potential to generate 2,200 jobs, signaling a return to normalcy. This includes significant investments in hospitals, hotels, and manufacturing facilities across various districts, aiming to boost employment alongside security operations against Naxals.

Raipur Diary: Surging ahead on clean energy targets

Surging ahead on clean energy targets Efforts have intensified in Chhattisgarh to raise citizens awareness about the benefits of solar energy and the governments initiatives and subsidy provisions. Surya Rath was flagged off by the chief minister to give a push to the ambitious initiative similar to the PM Surya Ghar Free Electricity Schemeas the state moves towards fulfilling its commitment to clean energy targets. A positive sign is that solar power consumers are now emerging not just as energy producers but also as contributors to the energy sector. Citizens are being encouraged to meet clean energy goals and achieve the target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2070. State scores well in attaining SDG goals The recently unveiled Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) State and District Progress Report 2024 by CM Vishnu Deo Sai revealed progress in the improved states composite score. The report, prepared by the states planning commission, provides a clear picture of the work being carried out at the district levels. Education, health, nutrition, sanitation, energy, and logistics are given special attention to accelerate progress and achieve the SDGs. At the state level, 275 indicators in 16 SDGs were evaluated, of which 40 indicators had already achieved their targets. It is estimated that 83 more indicators will meet their targets in the next couple of years. Raipur jails turn into centres of mental bliss Prisons in Raipur, well-illuminated and ventilated, resemble typical government school classrooms during yoga and Sudarshan Kriya practicesthanks to innovative prison reforms introduced by the government in all district jails, with support from the Art of Living Foundation. Yoga, meditation and Sudarshan Kriya are taught to inmates under the Prison Course, which reportedly helps prisoners attain mental peace and inner strength, along with a decline in stress levels, improved sleep and a boost in self-confidence. The session is held daily from 7:30 to 9:30 am. The philosophy behind is that prison is an institutions of reform. Ejaz Kaiser Our correspondent in Chhattisgarh ejaz@newindianexpress.com

Major success against Naxals, forces killed top leader in Chhattisgarh: Amit Shah

NEW DELHI, Sep 11: Security forces have achieved a major success against Naxals by eliminating 10 ultras, including top leader Modem Balakrishna who carried a bounty of Rs 1 crore on his head, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Thursday. The 10 Naxalites were killed in an encounter with security personnel in Chhattisgarhs Gariaband district. Our security forces have achieved another major success against Naxalites today. In Chhattisgarh, CRPFs Cobra commandos, Chhattisgarh Police and DRG conducted a joint operation [] The post Major success against Naxals, forces killed top leader in Chhattisgarh: Amit Shah appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Basohli Festival to kick off on Sept 28, LG to join concluding function on Oct 2

Religious persons, singers from outside to attend Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Sept 11: Basohli Marathon and Run for Basohli. Daily Ravi Aarti on the banks of Atal Setu and religious performance by different teams of Goa, Ayodhya, Pryagraj and Chhattisgarh are among the highlights of Basohli Festival being organized jointly by the divisional administration, Department of Culture, Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts (IGNCA) and Vishwasthali, a local organization devoted to welfare and development of Basohli, from September 28 to October [] The post Basohli Festival to kick off on Sept 28, LG to join concluding function on Oct 2 appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

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.

Rs 52000 crore worth of development investment projects outlined in Bastar 'Investor Connect' initiative

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.

Bastar Undergoes Transformation, From Epicenter Of Leftwing Extremism To Investment Destination: Sai

We resolved to bring Bastar into the mainstream and make it the Central axis of a developed Chhattisgarh. With courage and determination, our brave security forces and the people of Bastar confronted Maoism, and today Bastar is moving forward to erase its dark history of extremism and script a golden chapter of investment: Vishnu Deo Sai

10 Naxalites killed in encounter with security personnel in Chhattisgarh

Security forces killed at least ten Naxalites in Gariaband district, Chhattisgarh. The encounter occurred during an anti-Naxalite operation. Modem Balakrishna, a senior CPI (Maoist) leader, is likely among the dead. The operation involved STF, CoBRA, and state police units. This year, 241 Naxalites have been killed in Chhattisgarh. Operations were launched based on intelligence about Naxalite movements.

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.

Chhattisgarh: 10 naxals, including CC member Manoj, killed in encounter in Gariaband district

Earlier today, as many as 16 Maoists surrendered in Narayanpur district.

Eight Maoists Killed In Encounter In Chhattisgarh's Gariaband

At least eight Maoists were killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarhs Gariaband district, police confirmed.

10 Maoists Killed In Encounter In Chhattisgarh's Gariaband District

Ten Maoists were killed in an encounter in Chhattisgarh's Gariaband district today.The gunfight broke out in the forest under Mainpur police station limits when security personnel were out on an anti-Maoist operation.

At least 10 Naxals, including senior commander, neutralised in Chhattisgarh

CM asks for safety of Chhattisgarh tourists stuck in Nepal

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has directed officials to ensure the safe return of tourists from the state stranded in Nepal in the wake of violent protests in the Himalayan nation, a government official said on Thursday. Their safety is our top priority, he says

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.

Sixteen Maoists surrender in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur

All of them were lower rung cadres belonging to various units, including the Janatana Sarkar, Chetna Natya Mandli and panchayat militia members of Maoists, an official said

16 Naxalites surrender in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur

Sixteen Naxalites surrendered in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur district, citing disillusionment with Maoist ideology and atrocities against tribals. These lower-rung cadres, from various units, supported the insurgency by supplying resources and assisting in operations. They revealed exploitation by top leaders, who mislead locals with false promises while treating cadres as slaves. Each received Rs 50,000 and will be rehabilitated under government policy.

MP: Tiger Population Doubled To 35 In Chhattisgarh In 3 Years, Sai Credits Conservation Measueres

The tiger population in Chhattisgarh has doubled in the last three years to 35.

Anglo-Indians fight for visibility and voice in 'numbers game' across the country

KOCHI: In what many describe as a perilous umbers game, India's Anglo-Indian communitydescended from European fathers and Indian mothers during colonial timesis grappling with the erosion of its political influence and cultural footprint. The 2011 census officially pegged their numbers at a mere 296, a figure hotly contested by community leaders who insist the true count exceeds 4,00,000. This statistical disparity has fuelled tangible setbacks, including the stripping away of their assured seats in legislative bodies. Compounding the issue, younger generations are increasingly emigrating or intermarrying, threatening the community's distinct identity amid India's fast-evolving society. Dr Charles Dias, a former Member of Parliament and president of the Federation of Anglo-Indian Associations in India, outlined the historical safeguards: Articles 331 and 333 of the Constitution once permitted the nomination of two Anglo-Indian members to the Lok Sabha and one to each of 12 state legislative assemblies. However, in 2020, this provision was revoked through the 104th Constitutional Amendment in a profoundly unjust manner. Dias noted, According to the Union government, the Anglo-Indian population stands at just 296 according to the 2011 census, and they are 'well off'. These claims were rigorously challenged by opposition parties, backed by data. Countering the official narrative, Dias highlighted association-collected data showing a nationwide population of nearly 4,15,000. He further estimated an additional 50,000 individuals dispersed across urban areas, unaffiliated with any associations. Echoing these concerns, Harry Maclure from Chennai, who runs the magazine Anglos in the Wind, challenged the official census figures and called for continued representation. You go to any wedding of our community and you can see 500 people. The census data is wrong. We were a big community and the maximum recorded population is around 7.5-8 lakh, he said. Maclure acknowledged the community's decline but emphasised its relative size: It is true that we are now a dwindling community but we are bigger than the Parsi community and we do need representation. He added that many from the community are marrying outside it, making the preservation of culture and heritage an ongoing struggle. Maclure remains cautiously optimistic, noting that while old settlements are disappearing, the educated youth in the community feel more comfortable in India and could carry forward the community's legacy. Charles Dias emphasised that the Anglo-Indian community's contributions to modern India far outweigh their population size. He highlighted their unparalleled role in nation-building across sectors like education, sports, railways, post and telegraph, health, and especially the armed forces, where eight Anglo-Indians have risen to the rank of Air Vice-Marshal and over 25 have received top gallantry awards such as the Vir Chakra and Maha Vir Chakra. The three service chiefsAdmiral R L Pereira, Air Chief Marshal Denis Anthony La Fontaine, and Air Chief Marshal Norman Anil Kumar Browneexemplify the Anglo-Indian community's unwavering commitment to the nation, he said. Despite these achievements, the community faces significant hurdles. In 2013, the ministry of minority affairs formed a fact-finding team to study the problems and aspirations of the Anglo-Indian community in cities including Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Kochi. The team's report noted that amongst the various challenges and problems being faced by members of the Anglo-Indian community in India, the more significant ones are related to (1) identity crisis, (ii) lack of employment, (iii) educational backwardness, (iv) lack of proper facilities, and (v) cultural erosion. ANGLO-INDIAN POPULATION Assam 4,300 West Bengal 37,500 Bihar - 8,200 Chhattisgarh 7,500 Odisha 4,500 Madhya Pradesh 25,500 Jharkhand 7,500 Uttarakhand 5,500 Uttar Pradesh 18,500 Punjab 2,500 Haryana 3,800 Delhi 4,500 Maharashtra 27,500 Andhra Pradesh 15,500 Telangana 17,500 Goa 1,500 Karnataka 42,500 Tamil Nadu 42,000 Kerala 82,500 Total: 4,15,000 (Source: Federation of Anglo-Indian Associations in India) STATE-WISE ENUMERATION (2011 CENSUS) West Bengal -9 Odisha - 4 Chhattisgarh - 3 Maharashtra - 16 Andhra Pradesh - 62 Karnataka - 9 Kerala - 124 Tamil Nadu - 69 Total: 296

Chhattisgarh: Maoist with Rs 8 lakh bounty killed in encounter

Kanker: A Maoist carrying a reward of Rs 8 lakh on his head was killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarhs Kanker district, a senior police official said on Wednesday. The encounter took place on Tuesday on a forested hill near Gedabeda village under Partapur police station limits when a joint team of 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 .

Maoist with 8 lakh bounty killed in encounter in Chhattisgarhs Kanker

Security forces recover rifle and walkie-talkie in anti-Naxal operation along Kanker-Narayanpur border

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.

Cgarh: Unified Command Prepares Counterinsurgency Roadmap For Maoist-Affected Bastar

Chhattisgarh chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai who chaired the UC meeting here said that two issues were deliberated at length in the meeting.

Dalit leader from Telangana appointed as Maoist Partys general secretary

Hyderabad: The Communist Party of India (Maoist) has appointed Thippiri Tirupathi alias Devuji as the general secretary of the banned outfit. The move follows the killing of former chief of the Maoist party Nambala Keshava Rao alias Basavaraj, along with 27 guerrillas in Narayanpur district of Chhattisgarh on May 21. The Maoist party has also 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 woman fights 27 years of legal battle for civil death declaration of her CRPF jawan husband

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.

Ramdevs remarks on allopathy: Chhattisgarh Police has filed closure report, Centre tells SC

NEW DELHI, Sept 9: The Supreme Court was on Tuesday informed that a closure report has been filed by Chhattisgarh Police in a case over yoga guru Ramdevs alleged remarks against the use of allopathic medicines during the Covid pandemic. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta brought the development to the notice of Justices M M Sundresh and Satish Chandra Sharma. Mehta said the complaints against Ramdev appeared to have been sponsored by some interested groups. Senior advocate Siddharth Dave, representing Ramdev, [] The post Ramdevs remarks on allopathy: Chhattisgarh Police has filed closure report, Centre tells SC appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Chhattisgarh Police File Closure Report in Case Against Ramdev Over Covid Remarks

Supreme Court told Bihar yet to file response; matter adjourned to December

Baba Ramdev's remarks on allopathy: Chhattisgarh Police has filed closure report, Centre tells SC

The Supreme Court received information that Chhattisgarh Police filed a closure report in the case against Yoga Guru Ramdev. The case was regarding his remarks against allopathic medicines during the Covid pandemic. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta suggested the complaints were sponsored. The Indian Medical Association had lodged complaints against Ramdev. They alleged his remarks prejudiced Covid control.

The Chola Tigers and their storyteller Amish Tripathi

Author Amish Tripathi is in utter awe of Rajendra Chola the man he was, the conquests he made, and the beautiful temples and city of Gangaikonda Cholapuram he built. What a man he was! he exclaims. This sheer awe of one of the mightiest emperors of India comes across in Amishs latest book The Chola Tigers: Avengers of Somnath, which is a part of his Indic Chronicles. The first in this series was Legend of Suheldev, released in 2020, which recounted the role of a King from Shravasti who mobilised Indians to fight the Turkic army after the destruction of the Somnath temple. The book mentions the Chola general Narasimhan telling King Suheldev that they got vengeance from Mahumd as well. The King then asks to hear that story too to which, General Narasimhan hints that perhaps an author will write about it. Im here. The author is here, laughs Amish. Along with Narasimhan, the other passengers in this journey of revenge sought against Mahumd is a Chalukya king whose father was a rival of the Cholas, a Gujarati merchant, a member of the Vavar community of Kerala whose sole duty is to protect Lord Ayyappa, and a Chola officer. Their story, told in The Chola Tigers is a celebration of a dynasty and a piece of history that hasnt gotten its due. Excerpts follow: Why did you plan on the Indic Chronicle series? The Indic Chronicles is a relook at the narrative of the last 1,300 years. There are various problems in the way history is taught to us. Even if the facts are still the same, the way they are presented to us has a very biased approach. Our history has an excessive focus on Delhi. Most other regions are ignored. If you notice, Eastern India is ignored, Central India, King Bhoj is ignored; Western India is ignored. Most of the history of the last 1,300 years essentially focusses on the region between Khyber and Agra. Delhi is an important area but it is not the only important area of India. This entire story of the last 1,300 years is presented as one of repeated defeats. The subtle or, in fact, not so subtle message given to us was, our ancestors were either cowardly or disunited because they kept losing battles. In summary, they were looking towards Khyber Pass for the next invader to come, and then there would be a battle at Panipat, which we would obviously lose. And then there would be the next oppressor oppressing us. The only difference between the British and the Turks was that the British came from the sea. Why did the British Raj come up with a historical narrative like this? Basically, to tell all of us Indians, It is your job to be slaves. My understanding of it is completely different. The same invaders who came here Arabs, Turks, Persians, Europeans, British, Portuguese went to every other ancient culture in the world. All those other ancient cultures are dead. The Aztecs, the Inca, Central America, Zoroastrianism in Persiaso many across the world, all dead. India is still standing. My interpretation of it is that the last 1,300 years is not a story of repeated defeats, but it is a story of the greatest resistance in human history. No indigenous culture anywhere in the world has fought so hard, and so long, to protect its culture. Only our ancestors did. If there is an interpretation like this, we would feel proud of our ancestors. They werent cowards; they werent disunited, they were actually the toughest people around. That is the real story of the last 1,300 years. Indic Chronicles aims to give that part of the story. Cholas and their contribution are well-known, at least in the south Why are our great ancestors reduced to regional history? Why is Chhatrapati Shivaji reduced just to Maharashtra history? Why are Rajaraja Chola and Rajendra Chola reduced just to Tamil history? Why is Emperor Bhoj reduced just to Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarhs history? Why are the Gurjar Pratiharas reduced just to Western India, Gujarat, and Maharashtra? The Rashtrakuta is reduced to only Karnataka. Why? Emperor Rajendra Chola conquered much of Southeast Asia as well. The Bay of Bengal was essentially Emperor Rajendra Cholas pond. His empire was as big as Akbars. Thats not the impression we get from our history books. In the last 1,300 years, the only national history is our invaders. Why is that? And this needs to be rebalanced. Emperor Rajendra Chola, Rajaraja Chola were not just Tamil kings, they were Indian kings. They were our ancestors too. When Emperor Rajendra Chola conquered up to Eastern India, up to the Ganga, he changed his title. He took the title Gangaikondan. It was clearly an emotional moment for him. He renamed his capital as Gangaikonda Cholapuram. Our nationalism was much more liberal and relaxed. We must celebrate that. Is there an unusual amount of spotlight on the Cholas, and are they being used as a political tool? The spotlight is going on many ignored heroes, not just the Cholas across India. The Marathas, for example. They were ignored for so many decades. The Peshwas, the Rashtrakutas, the Parmars. This is all, I think, a cultural reclaiming of our ancestors. I think its a good thing. Is there some politics with it? Yes. But there is a cultural reawakening. Lachit Borphukans memory is being revived in Assam. So many of our great heroes have been forgotten. Culturally, I think its very good. Isnt it nice if North Indians know about the Cholas, or South Indians get to know King Bhoj? King Bhoj and Emperor Rajendra Chola were allies. But this will be a shock to many. King Bhoj was also a scholar emperor. Hed written 70-80 books. These things arent spoken of in our history books. Where do you draw the line for fiction when you write historical fiction? The reality of writing historical fiction is that therell always be basic facts, and then you have to try and put a story together for two reasons. One, real life usually actually does not make sense. But a story that youre reading, you expect it to make sense. Secondly, real life is usually boring, which is why many pure history books are boring. You have to add the storytelling style to it. Thats the very nature of historical fiction. Some facts are so obviously wrong that you cant use them. But you have to update the story of it. Braveheart or Ponniyin Selvan, a lot of it is fiction. It has to be done that way. Besides your research for your books, what are you reading currently? I read more non-fiction. I just finished a long read, The Singularity is Near, and The Singularity is Nearer by Ray Kurzweil. AI is going to impact everything. If you want to understand AI and how new tech is going to impact our world, you cant do better than Ray Kurzweils books. I am also going through a series of books now by a British historian called David Starkey, who has written magisterial books on how England and the UK were created from King Alfred onwards. Of course, he is a lover of the British Empire. Your mind expands when you are willing to read someone who has a different point of view. These days, we dont do that enough. We want to be in our echo chambers. Its only when you interact with someone who disagrees with you that your mind gets exercised. I always believed that if you want to read someone who has an opposing point of view, there can be two strategies: One, read the idiot, which will make you feel superior, or go to the best thinker on the opposite side, read them and then you are actually forced to think and expand your mind. You canwatch the interview on YouTube @thenewindianxpress

Teacher who made girl do 100 squats sacked, booked

In Chhattisgarh's Surguja district, a DAV Public School teacher was fired after severely punishing an eight-year-old student. The teacher forced the class 2 girl to do 100 squats and beat her with a stick, causing serious leg injuries. Police have filed a case against her under BNS and the Juvenile Justice Act.

4 Maoists, including 3 women, held in Bijapur; 10 kg tiffin bomb seized

Bijapur: Four maoist, including three women carrying a cumulative bounty of Rs 5 lakh on their heads were arrested in Chhattisgarhs Bijapur district, while a 10-kg tiffin bomb was recovered in a separate incident, police said on Monday. One of the arrested rebels is aged 19 and carried a reward of Rs 2 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 .

'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.

IMD issues red alert for flash floods in Rajasthan, Gujarat

NEW DELHI: The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert, warning of an imminent threat of flash floods likely to occur in Gujarat and Rajasthan over the next two days due to the influence of a depression. Additionally, a fresh western disturbance is expected to bring rainfall to Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, as well as western and eastern Uttar Pradesh this week. A well-marked low-pressure area over southern Rajasthan has moved westward and intensified into a depression over southwestern Rajasthan, subsequently affecting northern Gujarat. Due to this, the IMD predicts extremely heavy rainfall, exceeding 300 mm, in these regions over the next two days, which increases the risk of flash floods in several watersheds, particularly in the Banaskantha, Patan, and Saurashtra, and Kutch districts. The risk is also heightened in Barmer and Jalore districts in western Rajasthan, and in Sirohi district in eastern Rajasthan. In its bulletin, the IMD explained that the monsoon trough has shifted south of its normal position. Furthermore, a trough extends from the cyclonic circulation associated with the depression over northern Gujarat and adjacent southwestern Rajasthan to Chhattisgarh. In addition to the extremely heavy rainfall predicted for Gujarat and Rajasthan, the Konkan region is also expected to experience heavy rainfall. Under the influence of western disturbances, moderate rainfall is likely over Jammu Division and Himachal Pradesh on September 7; Uttarakhand on September 7, 8, 12, and 13; and western Uttar Pradesh on September 12 and 13, with eastern Uttar Pradesh seeing rainfall between September 11 and 13. In its advisory for fishermen, the IMD has advised them to avoid venturing into the Arabian Sea between September 7 and September 12. In the Bay of Bengal, the IMD has advised fishermen to refrain from venturing out between September 7 and 9, particularly along the Tamil Nadu coast and in many parts of the southwestern Bay of Bengal. In its agricultural advisory, the IMD has suggested draining excess rainwater from crops and vegetable fields in the affected areas of Gujarat, Rajasthan, and parts of Maharashtra. It also recommended providing mechanical support to horticultural crops and ensuring proper staking for vegetables and young fruit-bearing plants to prevent damage from strong winds. So far, India has received 108.7 per cent of normal rainfall this monsoon season, with only the eastern and northeastern regions experiencing a deficiency of around 18 per cent. The cumulative rainfall recorded between June 1 and September 7 is 813.3 mm, compared to the normal of 748.3 mm.

MP: CM Mohan Announces Rs 5 Cr Assistance, Train-Load of Relief for Flood-Hit Chhattisgarh

The chief minister also announced that a train carrying relief materials would soon be sent to the flood-affected areas of Chhattisgarh.

From high alert in Gujarat to Punjab, IMD warns of heavy rainfall across key Indian states; check complete forecast here

Delhi experienced a weekend of humidity and light rain, while Punjab faces severe flooding with significant casualties and displacement. Gujarat's Vadodara is grappling with waterlogging after heavy rainfall. The IMD has issued alerts for heavy showers in East Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Coastal Andhra Pradesh & Yanam, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

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'.

VP election: Opposition MPs to participate in mock poll, Kharge to host dinner on Monday

NEW DELHI: Opposition MPs would be briefed on Monday on the procedure to vote in the September 9 vice presidential polls, and will be hosted for dinner by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge the same evening, sources in the INDIA bloc said on Sunday. They said a 'mock poll' would be conducted in the Central Hall of the Samvidhan Sadan at around 2:30 PM on Monday after the briefing on the procedure to vote in the vice presidential polls. At around 7:30 PM, Congress president Kharge will host a dinner for the opposition MPs at the Parliament annexe, the sources said. It is a direct contest between ruling NDA nominee C P Radhakrishnan and joint opposition candidate B Sudershan Reddy on September 9. Both candidates this time hail from southern India, with Radhakrishnan from Tamil Nadu and Reddy from Telangana. The vice-presidential election has been described by the Opposition as an ideological battle, even as the numbers are stacked in favour of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Rajya Sabha Secretary General P C Mody, who is the returning officer for the vice-presidential election, has said that the polling will take place on Tuesday in Room No.F-101, Vasudha, Parliament House. The polling will commence at 10 AM and close at 5 PM on September 9. The electoral college for election to the Office of the Vice-President of India consists of the Members of both Houses of Parliament. The nominated Members of Rajya Sabha are also eligible to be included in the Electoral College and, therefore, are entitled to participate in the election. The polling arrangements in Parliament House are being made by Shri P. C. Mody, the Returning Officer for the Vice-Presidential Election, 2025, and Secretary-General, Rajya Sabha, the statement from Rajya Sabha secretariat said. The counting of votes will commence at 6 PM on the same day and the result will be declared immediately thereafter, it said. While Radhakrishnan is a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) veteran from Tamil Nadu and the governor of Maharashtra currently, Reddy is a former Supreme Court judge. Reddy (79), who retired from the apex court in July 2011, is a veteran jurist known for several landmark judgments criticising the then Union government for showing slackness in probing black-money cases. He had also declared Salwa Judum, appointed by the Chhattisgarh government to fight Naxals, as unconstitutional. As an apex court judge, Reddy ordered the formation of a special investigation team to take all steps for bringing back unaccounted monies unlawfully kept in bank accounts abroad. For the 17th vice-presidential election, the electoral college consists of 233 elected members of the Rajya Sabha (five seats are currently vacant), 12 nominated members of the Rajya Sabha and 543 elected members of the Lok Sabha (one seat is currently vacant). The electoral college comprises a total of 788 members (781 presently). The Congress-led opposition is projecting Reddy as a consistent and courageous champion of social, economic and political justice. Reddy has had a long and eminent legal career, including as a judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, the chief justice of the Gauhati High Court and a judge of the Supreme Court. He also led the committee that undertook the caste survey in Telangana.

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.

Guest House Staff Says Chhattisgarh Minister Thrashed Him, He Denies Charge

The contractual employee of a government guest house in Chhattisgarh's Bastar alleged that Kedar Kashyap assaulted and abused him, claiming he did not unlock guest rooms in the facility.

Odisha, Chhattisgarh Move Closer to Settlement in Mahanadi Water Dispute

Top officials of both states, including Chief Secretaries and senior water resources department functionaries, held detailed deliberations

'Im Sorry, Papa': Chhattisgarh MBBS Student Dies By Suicide In Hostel Room

A suicide note, found at the spot read, Mujhse nahi ho paya, I am sorry, papa (I couldnt do it, I am sorry, papa)'

'I'm Sorry, Papa': MBBS Student Found Dead In Chhattisgarh Hostel

Himanshu Kashyap, a first-year MBBS student at Government Medical College Korba, was found dead in his hostel. Police recovered a suicide note; investigation is ongoing.

Anti-Naxal operations: 30 new bases to be opened in Chhattisgarh; forces to intensify action

Security forces are set to intensify anti-Naxal operations in Chhattisgarh. Over 30 new forward bases will be established in Bastar region. CRPF and CoBRA units will target Maoist leaders. The goal is to eliminate Naxalism by March 2026. A high-level meeting reviewed deployments and strategies. Security forces aim to meet the deadline, possibly by December 2025.

Sorry Dad: Medical Student Dies By Suicide In Chhattisgarh Hostel: Cops

A first-year MBBS student died by suicide in his hostel room on the premises of the Government Medical College in Chhattisgarh's Korba city on Saturday, the police said.

'Mujhse nahi ho paya, I'm sorry, papa': MBBS student dies by suicide in hostel room in Chhattisgarh

kORBA: A first-year MBBS student died by suicide in his hostel room on the premises of the Government Medical College in Chhattisgarh's Korba city on Saturday, the police said. A suicide note, purportedly written by him, was found at the spot. It read, Mujhse nahi ho paya, I am sorry, papa (I couldn't do it, I am sorry, papa), they said. Himanshu Kashyap, 24, was found dead in his hostel room on the college campus within the jurisdiction of the Civil Lines police station, City Superintendent of Police Bhushan Ekka said. Citing preliminary information, the official said when Kashyap did not show up for his examination in the morning, his classmates went to his room, only to find the door locked from inside. After repeated attempts to open it failed, they broke the door and discovered his body hanging, he said. The police subsequently reached the spot and sent the body for post-mortem. A suicide note was also recovered from the room, he said. The official said an accidental death report has been registered and a probe is underway. Dean of the college Dr KK Sahare said, Kashyap had failed in his 2024 first-year examinations and was reappearing this year. It appears he took the extreme step due to the pressure of not performing well in the exams, he said. (If you are having suicidal thoughts, or are worried about a friend or need emotional support, someone is always there to listen. Call Sneha Foundation - 04424640050 (available 24x7) or iCall, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences helpline - 02225521111, which is available Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 10 pm)

Dress code at Chhattisgarh event irks teachers

RAIPUR: The teachers honoured at the function organised at Raj Bhawan in Raipur on the occasion of Teachers Day felt unhappy owing to the mandatory dress code and other unexpected conduct during the programme. While men were asked to wear navy blue blazers, white shirts and black trousers, women were told to dress up in off-white or beige cream. This year, for the first time, a dress code was imposed, and teachers were honoured in groups of five instead of individually. Simply requesting formal attire would have sufficed, said Virendra Dubey, state president of the Shaley Shikshak Sangh. Teachers were only called in batches for photo sessions with the Governor and CM. If each award had been personally conferred by the Governor, it would have added dignity to the recognition. Even the President of India honours 45 teachers individually. Governor Ramen Deka and CM Vishnu Deo Sai felicitated 64 teachers.

14,000 contractual workers of National Health Mission quit as stir enters 19th day in Chhattisgarh

Protest poses two-pronged challenge to BJP govt., with health services severely hit, Oppn. criticising handling of the issue; four of 10 demands accepted, says govt. official; issue notifications: protesters

Gun Exchange Continues in Dantewada, Body of Naxal Recovered

Maoist was on Friday gunned down in an encounter with security forces in Abujhmad area along the border of Dantewada-Narayanpur districts in south Bastar of Chhattisgarh, police said.

After National Health Commission Sacks 25 Workers, 14,000 Employees Resign

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.

Chhattisgarh: 14,000 contractual staffers of National Health Mission quit as government sacks 25 agitators

10-point demands include the creation of a public health cadre, grade pay, and compassionate appointments

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: Over 14,000 contractual staffers of National Health Mission resign following sacking of 25 officers

In Chhattisgarh, over 14,000 National Health Mission contractual employees have resigned following the dismissal of 25 strike leaders. The employees have been protesting since August 18, demanding regularisation and better conditions. While the government claims to have addressed some demands, the employees are continuing their strike until all their concerns are met.

One Naxalite Killed In Encounter With Security Forces In Chhattisgarh

The move comes at a time when the state is stepping up its crackdown on Naxal groups.

Chhattisgarh Police Seizes 211 Knives Bought Via E-Commerce Sites After HC's Intervention

Chhattisgarh police seized 211 knives from 193 people after the High Court took Suo motu cognizance of rising stabbing cases.

Chhattisgarh HC Refuses to Quash FIR Against Logistic Company Employees for Delivering Prohibited Knives,UsedinMurder

The court saw no ground to invoke its extraordinary jurisdiction to quash the FIR at the Threshold, the bench said while dismissing the petition seeking to quash the FIR.

BJD demands full GST exemption on kendu leaves, handloom sectors

Odisha is the third highest producer of kendu leaves, after Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh

Deputy manager dies in accident at JSW Steel plant in Chhattisgarh's Raigarh district

A deputy manager at JSW Steel Ltd.'s Raigarh plant in Chhattisgarh tragically died in an accident on Thursday morning. The incident occurred at the sinter plant section in Naharpali village. Ravindra Dansena, 43, was immediately taken to Jindal Fortis Hospital, but doctors pronounced him dead.

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).

Bengaluru to receive thundershowers, rain till this weekend

BENGALURU: Bengaluru is in for a week of intermittent rain, thundershowers and cloudy skies. The city and surrounding areas are expected to get light to moderate showers every day until Sunday, with gusty winds likely on some days, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted on Wednesday. In the past 24 hours, Bengaluru Urban recorded a maximum temperature of 26.7 degree Celsius and minimum of 20 degree Celsius. Bengaluru Rural saw a maximum of 27.7 degree Celsius and 2.8mm of rain. Both areas reported drizzle and light rain. As per the IMD, light to moderate rain and thundershowers with gusty winds (40-50 kmph) are likely to occur at a few places, including Ballari, Bengaluru Rural, Bengaluru Urban, Chamarajanagar and Shivamogga, among other districts. Coastal Karnataka will also come under heavy rain at one or two places in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada districts. The rain is due to a well-marked low-pressure system over northwest Bay of Bengal, off the Odisha coast. This system, along with a cyclonic circulation extending up to 7.6km above sea level, is moving inland towards Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. The associated monsoon trough is passing through central India, keeping rainfall active in Karnataka. Forecast for Bengaluru Sept 4: Cloudy skies with light to moderate rain or thundershowers, gusty winds likely Sept 57: Cloudy skies with light to moderate rain; temperatures in 20-29 degrees Celsius range