FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms Vol. 14 No. 33 | BHOPAL | WEDNESDAY | JULY 17, 2024 | Pages 14 ` 3 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. mpeng/2010/35815 FREE www.freepressjournal.com Sports Harman climbs to 12th, Shafali rises to 15th P.14 fp ESTD-1983 iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: INDORE UJJAIN PRESS PUNE BHOPAL NASHIK MONEY BHOPAL Rs 2 hike in Sanchi milk Sanchi milk federation has increased milk price Rs 2 per litre for all variants from July 17. Last time, price was hiked on December 2022. RPS Tiwari, CEO Milk Federation, said, “ we have increased Rs 2 per liter for all variants from July 17 in Madhya Pradesh.” Cinema Kim deletes photo with Lord Ganesha MUMBAI 5 pilgrims dead in mishap At least five persons were killed and 42 injured when a bus carrying `warkaris' or pilgrims headed for Pandharpur hit a tractor on Mumbai-Pune Expressway, police said on Tuesday. The bus was ferrying 54 warkaris, devotees of Lord Vitthal, on their way to Pandharpur in Solapur district for Ashadhi Ekadashi celebrations from Dombivli near Mumbai. Notably, tractors are not allowed on the expressway. DARBHANGA/PATNA Ex-Bihar min’s dad stabbed In a ghastly incident that has sent shock waves across Bihar, former state minister Mukesh Sahni's 70-year-old father was found stabbed to death at his native home in Darbhanga district, a top police officer said. According to Jitendra Singh Gangwar, ADG (Headquarters), two persons have been taken into custody for questioning, on the basis of CCTV footage obtained from cameras installed in the vicinity of the site of the crime. SRINAGAR 3 tourists killed in J&K Three tourists, including two women, died in a road accident on Zojila axis on Srinagar-Kargil Highway in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, police said. "A vehicle fell into a gorge on Zojila Axis resulting in the death of three tourists and injuries to one," a police official said. The deceased include two women while the injured -- a minor girl -- has been rushed to a hospital here in critical condition. Called back to academy, training put on hold PTI Accuses Pune collector MUMBAI The government on Tuesday put on hold the `district training program' of controversial IAS officer Puja Khedkar as she was summoned back to the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration for "necessary action". While Khedkar, whose disability as well as OBC certificates are under the scanner, maintained that she was a victim of misinformation and "fake news", Pune Police said they would check the authenticity of the disability certificates she had submitted to the UPSC. A letter by Maharashtra additional chief secretary Nitin Gadre said the Mussooriebased Lal Bahadur Shastri academy had decided to put her district training pro- Trainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar has accused Pune Collector Suhas Divase of harassment, police sources said. Khedkar is being investigated over allegations she lied about visual and mental disabilities. Someone must have doubted rainee IAS officer Puja Khedkar - under scrutiny over claims about disabilities to clear the Civil Services exam - was sent for a medical check-up because "someone must have doubted" her claim of infirmities, a senior AIIMS doctor told media. gramme on hold, and immediately recalled her. "You are hereby relieved from the district training programme of the state government of Maharashtra. You are instructed to join the academy at the earliest but not later than 23rd July 2024 under any circumstance," the letter addressed to Khedkar said. When contacted, Washim collector Bhuvaneshwari S said Khedkar was immediately relieved as `supernumerary' assistant collector. Khedkar, 34, came under the spotlight after reports about her alleged demands for a separate office and official car and unauthorised use of a beacon on her private car emerged. She was subsequently transferred to Washim from Pune. Earlier in the day, a senior government doctor said she had obtained a "locomotor disability" certificate in August 2022. "She applied for disability certification about her left limb knee joint back in 2022. She visited here for medical examinations and was assessed by multiple departments," said Dr Rajendra Wable, dean of the government-run Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial Hospital at Pimpri near Pune. In a commendable testament to global collaboration and local enterprise, the Russian Army is now marching on boots manufactured in the heart of Bihar. Hajipur-based Competence Exports Pvt. Ltd. has successfully established itself as a significant player FP News Service DHAR Three children lost their lives, and one was critically injured when lightning struck a neem tree under which they had taken shelter from the rain, in Dhar on Tuesday afternoon. Kotwali police station incharge Sameer Patidar said the incident took place at around 4.30 pm. The victims, Pankaj (15), Ganesh (10), and Vijay (10), along with Shubham (10), had been playing in an open field on Phadke Captain, 3 soldiers dead in encounter PTI JAMMU The Neem tree Daylight bank robbery at Vijaynagar, Indore Masked man loots Rs 6.64L at gunpoint from PNB Our Staff Reporter INDORE A single masked man, wearing raincoat committed a robbery at PNB bank in broad daylight, stealing Rs 6.64 lakh at gunpoint under the Vijay Nagar police station's jurisdiction on Tuesday. The incident occurred at 4:40 pm in Scheme No. 54, where the suspect fired a shot at the cashier's window, causing panic among the staff and customers. He then demanded that the cashier fill his bag with money before fleeing the scene. Additional CP Amit Singh said, "The burglar is suspected to be a security guard, carrying a licensed rifle and had worn a raincoat and mask to IMF raises India’s GDP forecast to 7% IANS NEW DELHI The robber conceal his identity. The cashier of the bank was a woman who was using her mobile phone when the accused entered. She saw the gun and ran into the bathroom behind the cashier's cabin. He fired a shot at the cashier's window to terrorize the staff, making everyone sit down. He threw the bag at the bank manager Kalra who filled it with money and the accused fled with Rs 6.64 lakh. The accused was an exserviceman, as he took the cartridge he had fired with him. Ex-servicemen often have this tendency to retrieve the cartridge after firing. There were one or two people standing outside the bank and the police are verifying their roles and identification." CCTV footage from outside the bank showed the suspect parking his bike in front of the bank and entering with a gun at 4:36 pm. 4Continued on | P6 NGT order on Sirpur Lake Chief Minister Mohan Yadav suddenly left for Delhi on Tuesday night. His trip to Delhi was planned at noon. During his stay there, Yadav Focus on devpt To a question about giving a cabinet berth to Kamlesh Shah who has won the assembly by-election from Amarwada, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said the focus would be only on development for two years. 4Continued on | P6 4Continued on | P6 BHOPAL in the international market by producing high-quality safety shoes for the Russian military. Founded in 2018, Competence Exports has grown rapidly, driven by a commitment to quality and a mission to generate local employment. "Our primary goal in setting up the Hajipur facility was to create job opportunities for the local community. Currently, we export all our safety shoes to Russia, but we are also exploring opportunities in Europe and aim to launch in the domestic market soon," said Shib Kumar Roy, Gen- Marg, in front of the CMHO office. The area is a popular playground for local children. As the rain intensified, the children took refuge under a neem tree. Unfortunattely, lightning struck the tree, sending the children sprawling on the ground. The intensity of the strike was so great that the bark of the tree peeled off. 4Continued on | P6 Four army personnel, including a captain, died after being injured in a gunfight with heavily armed terrorists in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Tuesday while reinforcements were rushed in to track and neutralize the militants. Those killed in the encounter have been identified as Captain Brijesh Thapa, Naik D Rajesh, Sepoy Bijendra and Sepoy Ajay, they said. This was the third major encounter between security forces and terrorists in the forests of Doda district in the past three weeks. The latest incident comes a week after a terrorist ambush on an Army patrol in the remote Machedi forest belt in Kathua district claimed the lives of five soldiers and injured as many. Rashtriya Rifles and Special Operations Group of J&K Police joint search operation at Dhari Gote Urarbagi in the Desa forest belt led to encounter. After a brief exchange of fire, the terrorists tried to escape but were chased by the troops led by the captain and this led to another firefight. CUSTODIAL DEATH Khan said, “Our concern is encroachment and permanent construction over the Sirpur Wetland, a Ramsar site, Indore, by the IMC in violation of provisions of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and Wetland (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017.” Advocate Harshwardhan Tiwari, appeared on behalf of applicant. Officers told to submit report on STP location National Green Tribunal (NGT) has asked Indore collector and Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) to submit report regarding location of Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) and nature of constructions for conservation of Sirpur lake in Indore. IMC administration has also been directed to ensure the provisions of Wetland Rules are followed and there is no discharge of sewage or solid waste into the Sripur Lower Lake. The action taken report and the further progress report may be filed within 3 weeks. Applicant Rashid Noor Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL may hold talks with a few Union ministers about certain issues related to the state. The CM will meet BJP president J P Nadda and Home minister Amit Shah tomorrow Seven months have passed since the government was formed, but the ministers have yet to get charge of districts. The ministers may be allotted districts after central leadership’s nod. Ramniwas Rawat, who switched over to the BJP from the Congress and was recently sworn in as minister, is yet to get a department. Yadav may also hold discussions with the central leadership over Rawat’s department. He may discuss some political issues of the state with some people associated with the BJP and the RSS. Our Staff Reporter The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Tuesday raised India's GDP growth forecast for 2024-25 to 7 per cent from 6.8 per cent projected earlier on the back of “improving private consumption, particularly in rural India". "The forecast for growth in India has also been revised upward, to 7 per cent, this year”, the IMF said in its World Economic Outlook report. The IMF has left unchanged its estimate for India’s economic growth for 2025-26 at 6.5 per cent. “Growth in India and China will account for almost half of global growth in 2024. CM in Delhi, decision on allotting districts to ministers likely Russian army marches on Bihari boots IANS Lightning kills 3 kids, injures one in Dhar 4Continued on | P6 offgrid HAJIPUR (BIHAR) E-paper World Shooter’s last day of his life P.9 Sebi amends REIT, InvIT rules IAS PROBATIONER CASE: More trouble for Puja Khedkar Briefs MUMBAI eral Manager, Competence Exports. Employment generation is a key focus for Competence Exports. The company employs 300 individuals, 70 per cent of whom are women. "Our Managing Director, Danesh Prasad, envisions a worldclass factory in Bihar that significantly contributes to the state's employment rate," Roy added. Women strip at collectorate to register their protest FP News Service GUNA The death of a groom in police custody in Guna, led to protest by women of the Pardhi community at the collectorate premises on Tuesday. The groom, Deva Pardhi, was taken into police custody a day before his wedding on suspicion of theft and died during interrogation. Following the death of Deva, women from the Pardhi community reached the collectorate for a public hearing. When they were not allowed to meet the collector, the situ- Family members protest at Guna collectorate ation escalated. In their frustration and grief, the women began tearing their clothes. The police tried to intervene, resulting in minor injuries to some of the women. The administrative officials, including the tehsildar, attempted to calm the situation by explaining the protocol and assuring the women that a few representatives could meet the collector to submit their memorandum. Despite this, the women insisted on meeting the collector as a group. After further negotiation, a small delegation of 4 to 5 representatives was finally allowed to meet the collector, which helped to diffuse the tension. 4Continued on | P6 Special wagons used to SC gets 2 new judges, first rescue injured cubs from Manipur Our Staff Reporter PTI BHOPAL/ SEHORE NEW DELHI A special railway wagon was used in rescue operation of two injured cubs at Midghat of Sehore district on Tuesday. It was with the help of special railway wagon that both cubs were brought till Bhopal and were later shifted to another vehicle to take them till Van Vihar National Park for treatment. Sehore Collector Praveen Kumar Adhayach, Chief Conservator of Forest Rajesh Khare, District Forest Officer MS Dawar etc were part of the entire rescue operation. “ The special railway wagon consisted of one engine and one AC coach. The rescue team put both the cubs in the special railway wagon at Mid Ghat and it moved ahead till Budhni and from there it took the U turn to reach at outer of Habibganj railway station. 4Continued on | P6 Speed rules broken The speed of trains passing through the Midghat area is fixed to 20 km so that if any wild animal including tiger are crossing the track gets enough time to go to the other side. “ I myself saw that one train passed at the speed of around 80 km per hour against the fixed 20 km per hour. I will write a letter to Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) to ensure that trains speed is limited till 20 km,” said CCF Rajesh Khare to the Free Press The Supreme Court is all set to attain its full strength with the elevation of Justices N Kotiswar Singh and R Mahadevan. The apex court has a sanctioned strength of 34 judges, including the chief justice, and was functioning with 32 judges. CJI D Y Chandrachud is likely to administer the oath of office to the two judges on Thursday. The Supreme Court will function with 34 judges until Justice Hima Kohli retires on September 1, 2024, followed by CJI Chandrachud, who superannuates on November 10 this year. On July 11, the fivemember collegium presided over by the CJI had recommended to the Centre the names of Singh and Mahadevan for elevation to the apex court.