FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms FREE PRESS Vol. 14 No. 34 | BHOPAL | THURSDAY | JULY 18, 2024 | Pages 14 ` 3 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. mpeng/2010/35815 www.freepressjournal.com Sports Messi ruled out indefinitely with ankle ligament injury P.13 fp Briefs HARYANA 10% quota for Agniveers Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Wednesday announced a series of steps for ex-Agniveers, saying they will be provided 10% horizontal reservation in direct recruitment to the posts of Constable, Mining Guard, Forest Guard, Jail Warden and SPO done by the state government. HATHRAS STAMPEDE ‘Bhole Baba is in Kasganj’ Self-styled godman Surajpal alias Narayan Sakar Hari alias Bhole Baba, who held a satsang in Hathras recently where 121 devotees were killed after a stampede, has reached his ashram at Bahadur Nagar village in Kasganj, his lawyer said on Wednesday. ASSAM Flood situation improves The flood situation in Assam continued to improve on Wednesday, even as over 3.5 lakh people continue to be impacted by the deluge in Cachar, Dhemaji, Dhubri, Dibrugarh, Goalpara, Golaghat, Kamrup Metropolitan, Karimganj, Nagaon, Nalbari and Sivasagar districts. NEW DELHI SKM leaders meet MPs Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) leaders met several Parliament members on Wednesday and urged them to raise the demands of farmer outfits in Parliament including Minimum Support Price on "C2 plus 50 per cent formula" with procurement for all crops and farm loan waiver. LUCKNOW ‘Party bigger than govt’ UP Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya on Wednesday said the party is bigger than government, a cryptic remark on X that fuelled speculation over a "rift" in BJP state unit. "The organisation is bigger than the government, the pain of the workers is my pain. No one is bigger than the organisation, the workers are the pride," the post said. ESTD-1983 iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: INDORE UJJAIN PUNE BHOPAL NASHIK MUMBAI E-paper Money India and China to drive new wealth creation globally WORLD King Charles announces nationalisation of railways Nation HC reserves verdict on Kejri's plea seeking bail P.7 WATER WOES| Against average of 291mm, Madhya Pradesh has received only 277mm of rainfall in first half of monsoon Dams struggle to maintain even 50% of filling capacity Dist in-charge mins’ names to be announced soon Rajan Raikwar Though half of monsoon season has passed, dams in Madhya Pradesh are struggling to reach adequate water level. Maximum dams don’t even have 50% of their Full Reservoir Level (FRL). In such a scenario, all hopes are now pinned on future rains. Water resources department sources blame absence of rain in catchment areas for less water in dams. The water table of dams obtained from State Water Data Centre, Water Resources Department indicates that as on Wednesday several dams lacked 50% filling percentage. Filling percentage of Bansagar dam (Shahdol) stands at 31.26 %. Against Full Reservoir Level of 341.64 metres, current level of water is 332.24 metres. Bargi Dam of Jabalpur is one of the biggest dams of the state. Its filling percentage is a meager 33.05%. Its Full Reservoir Level is 422.76 metres and currently it has only 412.95 metres of water. Indira Sagar Dam (Khandwa) has a filling percentage of 15.17% followed by The total number of dams and water reservoirs is 54 in MP. So far, gates of none of the dams have been opened in this monsoon season. 54 Dams in MP File pic of Yeshwant Sagar Only West MP has received above average rainfall Weather department said that rainfall in Madhya Pradesh has been 5% less than the average. Till Wednesday, state received 277 mm rainfall against average rainfall of 291 mm. Eastern Madhya Pradesh has received 18% less rainfall than the average rainfall. However, West Madhya Pradesh received 7% more rain than the average rains. Harsi Dam (Gwalior) 27.82%, Kerwa Dam (Bhopal) 13.19%, Kolar dam (Sehore) 43.64%, Barna Dam (28.78%), Bansujara Major project reservoir (Tikamgarh) 28.66% etc. Almost same situation prevails in other water reservoirs. The filling percentage of Gopi Krishna Sagar dam is 23.24%, Kaketo Dam (Gwalior) 16.15%, Kushalpur water reservoir 16.15%, Madhikheda dam Desire for more makes ex-army man a robber Rs 3L cash, TV set, bike and rifle recovered, accused still at large No dam gates opened so far BHOPAL BANK HEIST Our Staff Reporter INDORE The ministers may soon be allotted districts. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav discussed certain political issues of the state with the party’s central leadership in Delhi on Wednesday. A decision on allotment of districts among the ministers was taken. Yadav may announce the names of district in-charge ministers in a day or two. Ten days have passed since Ramniwas Rawat was sworn in as a minister, but he is yet to be allotted a ministry. Yadav discussed the allotment of a department to Rawat with the Central leadership. The perpetrator of Tuesday’s 6.64 lakh robbery from Punjab National Bank’s Scheme 54 branch in Indore has been identified as an ex-army man. On Wednesday, police officials said that the accused was identified after he removed the mask and raincoat in Shyam Nagar. He committed the crime to pay off his debts. The accused, however, is still at large. Commissioner of Police Rakesh Gupta said that the incident occurred around 4.41 pm on Tuesday and the accused took only four minutes to commit the crime. The accused wearing a mask and raincoat to avoid identification entered the bank and fired to terrify bank employees. Later, he threw his bag and told the cashier to put cash inside it. The accused later fled the scene with cash on his green coloured motorcycle parked outside the bank. 4Continued on | P6 4Continued on | P6 CM Mohan Yadav meets Union home minister Amit Shah in Delhi OUR STAFF REPORTER BHOPAL Shaikha Mahra Bint Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the daughter of Dubai's ruler, has publicly declared “divorce” from her husband, Sheikh Mana Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid bin Mana Al Maktoum, on Instagram. The announcement comes just over two months CCTVs checked centage of 97.25% is of Aoda water reservoir (Morena). Bilgaon Medium project (Dindori) has filling percentage till 57.90% followed by Gandhi Sagar Dam (Mandsaur) 55.05%, Kotwal feeder (Morena) 93%, Mohanpura Multipurpose Project (Rajgarh) 55.55%, Omkareshwar dam (Khandwa) 53.77% and Wainganga (Sanjay Sarovar) of Seoni 50.11%. Amid huge row, K'taka pauses quota bill for pvt sector 12 Naxals killed in encounter on Maha-CG border ‘No need for Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ Final decision after detailed discussion, says CM Siddaramaiah PTI GADCHIROLI Agencies BENGALURU The Karnataka government has paused, and will further study, a bill directing private firms in the state to reserve jobs for Kannadigas. The bill, cleared Monday, requires firms in India's IT capital to prioritise local hires for 70% of non-management roles and 50% of management-level jobs. "The bill intended to implement reservation for Kannadigas in private sector institutions, industries and enterprises is still in the preparation stage. A final decision will be taken after comprehensive discussion in the next cabinet meeting," Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has posted on X. The quota announcement was first made by the Chief Minister Tuesday evening. The Chief Minister said his "pro-Kannada government" would ensure all "Kannadigas (get) an opportunity to lead a comfortable life in the motherland... and avoid being deprived of jobs in the land of Kannada". However, his X post said the bill mandated 100 per cent reservation at certain levels. Fury and outrage followed Siddaramaiah's post, with business leaders like Biocon's Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw and the opposition, led by the BJP, targeting the Congress government. 4Continued on | P6 Relocate to Vizag, says Andhra min Andhra Pradesh Minister and TDP leader Nara Lokesh has offered "bestin-class facilities" to Nasscom members if they decide to relocate to Visakhapatnam, also known as Vizag. "Andhra Pradesh is ready to welcome you," he said. "We understand your disappointment. We welcome you to relocate your businesses to our IT, IT services, AI and data centre cluster at Vizag," he said. At least 12 Naxalites were killed and two security personnel injured in an encounter with police and commandos in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra near the Chhattisgarh border on Wednesday, officials said. The heavy exchange of fire broke out in the afternoon between C60 commandos and Naxals in Wandoli village and continued for six hours, Gadchiroli Superintendent of Police Nilotpal said. Police have recovered 12 bodies of Maoists from the spot besides seven automotive weapons, including 3 AK-47s, 2 INSAS rifles, a carbine and an SLR, he said. One of the slain Naxals was identified as DVCM Laxman Atram alias Vishal Atram, incharge of Tipagad Dalam. Maharashtra Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis has declared a Rs 51 lakh reward for C60 commando teams and Gadchiroli Police, Nilotpal said. Further identification of Maoists and area search is continuing. "The injured persons include a sub-inspector of C 60 and one jawan. They are out of danger, evacuated from the spot, and shifted to Nagpur," the SP added. after the couple welcomed their first child. “Dear Husband,” the Dubai princess began. “As you are occupied with other companions, I hereby declare our divorce. I divorce you, I divorce you, and I divorce you. Take care. Your ex-wife.” The news has sparked a frenzy on social media, with many noticing that the couple unfollowed each other on Instagram and deleted all photos of each other from their profiles. Some speculated the pair had blocked each other, while others wondered if Sheikha Mahra's account had been hacked. 'I Divorce You... Your ExWife': Dubai Princess Dumps Husband In Insta Post. Shaikha Mahra is an advocate for women's em- Accused identified after he removed his raincoat and mask in Shyam Nagar 200 houses checked before cops zeroed in on accused’s house after finding green bike parked outside it BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari proposes ‘Hum unke saath jo humare saath’ PTI In West Bengal, free and fair elections are not possible. The Jihadi goons of the TMC will not allow it KOLKATA Senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday attributed the party's poor performance in Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal to lack of support from the minority community, asserting that 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' was unnecessary and proposing instead 'Hum unke saath jo humare saath' (we are with those who are with us). Addressing the extended session of the BJP's state executive committee, Adhikari dismissed the need for a Minority Morcha of the party. Later, he clarified that his comments had been taken out of context and asserted that he embodies in letter and spirit Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas'. While addressing the session, Adhikari said, "I have Brief exchanges of fire between security forces, terrorists in Doda VDGs have joined efforts to track down ultras in Desa Agencies spoken for nationalist Muslims as well. We all used to say 'Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas', but I would not say this anymore because I think it should be 'Hum unke saath jo humare saath' (we are with those who are with us)... no need for Minority Morcha." The minor ities in West Bengal, constituting nearly 30% of electorate, helped TMC sweep minoritydominated pockets in southern West Bengal. 4Continued on | P6 Police brutality exposed after six months FP News Service JAMMU NEEMUCH Security forces and terrorists exchanged fire twice briefly within a span of four hours in a forest area in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district, officials said on Wednesday. Village Defence Guards (VDGs) also opened fire on observing suspicious movement outside their village, while two explosive shells were recovered from Gandoh area, they said. The exchange of fire was first reported at Kalaan Bhata at 10.45 pm on Tuesday and then near Panchan Bhata at 2 am during the ongoing anti- Soldiers carry ammunitions to encounter site in Desa forest area of Doda on Wednesday terrorist operation in the Desa forest area, where four Army personnel were killed in the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday. There are no reports of any casualties in the latest exchange of fire. 4Continued on | P6 I divorce you...: Dubai princess dumps husband in Insta post Online Report 1172 (Shivpuri) 21.70%, Mahan Dam (Sidhi) 15%, Mahi Main Dam (Jhabua) 20.48%, Pagara dam (Morena) 39.84%, Pagara Feeder (Sagar) 41.96%, Halali dam (Vidisha) 29.45%, Sanjay Sagar Project (Vidisha) 6.30%, Tigara dam (Gwalior) 29.17% and Tawa dam (Narmadapuram) 17.02% etc. Only a handful of dams have filling percentage of around 50%. The higher filling per- offgrid DUBAI Rifle, bag recovered from accused’s house powerment and local designers in the UAE. (File) “Bad news. God bless you,” a user commented under the post. Another wrote, “I am proud. Your Decision.” A user applauded the princess for her “courage and bravery”, saying, “It is just a phase of life and it will continue with good and bitterness and life doesn't stop for anybody.” Meanwhile, someone asked, “But the divorce will occur from Husband's side, right? And Wife has to choose Khul'?" The couple got married in May last year, and they welcomed their daughter 12 months later. Ms Sheikha Mahra had gushed about her "most memorable experience" giving birth, thanking her doctor and hospital staff for their care. In photos, her husband, Sheikh Mana, was seen cradling their little one in his arms. Just weeks ago, the princess had shared a cryptic post on Instagram, cuddling with her baby, writing, "Just the two of us." Was that a possible hint at the trouble brewing beneath the surface? 4Continued on | P6 A six-month-old CCTV footage of Baghana police station, Neemuch has gone viral on social media, showing a police officer brutally beating a youth and his mother. The footage was of January when Rukmini Devi, a resident of Amar Colony, reached the police station with her son to report a family dispute. The video shows Rukmini Devi having an argument with a COLLECTOR'S PUBLIC HEARING police officer, Virendra Singh Bisen, and when her son intervened, he was beaten by him. In the video, a police officer, without a uniform, is seen beating the youth and pushing the woman. During a collector's public hearing on Tuesday, the woman narrated the ordeal and accused Bisen of assault. Neemuch CSP Abhishek Ranjan said that the matter came to light on Tuesday evening and an investigation is already underway. The video would be included in the investigation and further action would be taken. He assured that the incident would be thoroughly probed and action would be taken against the policeman.