FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms Vol. 14 No. 121 | BHOPAL | MONDAY | OCTOBER 14, 2024 | Pages 12 ` 3 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. mpeng/2010/35815 FREE www.freepressjournal.in Sports Sachin to inspire young athletes, sports fans in Texas P.10 fp Briefs BHOPAL Shah, Yadav appointed observers BJP Parliamentary Board has appointed Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister Mohan Yadav as the observer for the election of Leader of party legislature squad on Sunday. Notably, CM Yadav had done a whirlwind tour of Haryana during assembly election and BJP had won election on most of the seats where he had done canvassing. NEW DELHI IMA’s 24-hr hunger strike The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has announced a 24-hour nationwide hunger strike on October 15 to support doctors in West Bengal, seeking justice for the young doctor who was raped and murdered at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. GUWAHATI Drugs worth `4.5 cr seized Drugs worth nearly Rs 4.5 crore have been seized and four persons were arrested from Karimganj district of Assam on Sunday, a senior official said. According to Karimganj Superintendent of Police Partha Protim Das, who led the operation, a vehicle coming from Mizoram was intercepted at the Chewali Beel area after getting a tip-off from a source. CHENNAI Orange alert for TN dists The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) has issued an orange alert in many districts of Tamil Nadu till October 18. The RMC in a statement on Sunday has forecast 204 mm of rainfall in the state during this period. The Tamil Nadu Disaster Management Authority has geared up for any eventuality and has already put 65,000 volunteers on alert, who will be available for rescue and relief operations along with state government agencies. UDHAM SINGH NAGAR ‘UCC not to harass anyone’ Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday reiterated that the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) will be implemented soon and the law is not meant to harass anyone. Addressing the Civil Felicitation Ceremony organized at Indira Gandhi Sports Ground in the Kichha area of Udham Singh Nagar district, CM Dhami said, "The Uniform Civil Code law will be implemented soon. This law is not meant to harass anyone.” ESTD-1983 iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: INDORE UJJAIN PRESS PUNE BHOPAL NASHIK MONEY MUMBAI E-paper Edit India can count on high growth P.8 Avg airfares around Diwali drop 20-25% on many routes Brand Sutra Brands Get Cracking This Festive Season P.12 Nine of family rescued as bldg goes up in flames KHAN LINKS | Gang member said they targeted Siddique because of his close ties with Bollywood actor Salman Khan Bishnoi gang claims Baba Siddique murder ‘WHOEVER HELPS SALMAN...’ he post by gang member Shubuu Lonkar Maharashtra wrote, "Salman Khan, we did not want this war but you made our brother lose his life. The reason for his death was he 66-year-old NCP leader Siddique was waylaid by three persons at Kher Nagar in Mumbai's Bandra area just outside his MLA son Zeeshan Siddique's office and shot at on Saturday night. He was rushed to the Lilavati Hospital where he was declared dead. SHOCKING: OPPN T NEW DELHI 4Continued on | P6 or the Dawood gang should be prepared. If anyone gets any of our brothers killed, we will definitely respond. We never strike first. Jai Shri Ram, Jai Bharat, salute to the martyrs." T IANS / PTI The Lawrence Bishnoi gang has claimed responsibility for the murder of NCP leader and former Maharashtra Minister Baba Siddique. One police constable was guarding Siddique when he was fatally shot the day before, a Mumbai Police officer said on Sunday, adding that two pistols and 28 live cartridges were recovered from the two accused. Police are also verifying a social media post in which an alleged member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang has taken up the responsibility for murder. his linking of Dawood and Anuj Thapan to Bollywood, politics, and property dealings." The writer goes on to say in the post, "We have no enmity with anyone. However, anyone who helps Salman Khan THE KILLING DETAILS days, for ₹ 14,000 per month. n The shooters were paid ₹ 50,000 each. n The three accused arrived at the shooting spot in an auto rickshaw and waited for a while before the shooting took place Online report n The three accused received their weapons 15 days before the shooting through a human courier, according to sources. n The shooters were staying in a rented house in Kurla for the past 25-30 The opposition parties in Maharashtra on Sunday said the murder of NCP leader and former minister Baba Siddique was shocking and shameful for the state and claimed there was anarchy in Mumbai. If a leader from the ruling alliance is not safe, how can the government keep the common man safe? NCP (SP) state president Jayant Patil questioned. The Congress demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde over Siddique's murder. 4Continued on | P6 SIX ROUNDS OF BULLETS FIRED Salman Khan cancels Bigg Boss shoot n a latest development in the case of the killing of Baba Siddique, Mumbai Crime Branch on Sunday said that a total of six round of bullets were fired at Sid- ollywood superstar Salman Khan cancelled his shoot for Bigg Boss 18 on Saturday night after hearing the news of the NCP leader I Cancer can be cured by...UP min’s startling claims dique, out of which three hit him. Meanwhile, Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde announced that Siddique would be cremated with full state honours. B MUDA SCAM Kharge returns land allotted by Karnataka and his close friend Baba Siddique's tragic death. arrived at the house of the slain politician Baba Siddique on Sunday amid heavy security. Drug factory uncovered in Meghnagar: DRI seizes drugs worth Rs 168 cr Online Report A minister from Uttar Pradesh said that cancer patients can cure themselves by cleaning cowsheds and lying in them, and the dosage of blood pressure medicines can be cut in half within 10 days by petting cows and serving them. He also urged people to celebrate their marriage anniversaries and their children's birthdays in cow shelters. Sanjay Singh Gangwar, the junior minister for sugarcane development, made the remarks while addressing the inauguration of a cow shelter in Pakadia Naugawan in his constituency of Pilibhit on Sunday. Online Report C ongress President Mallikarjun Kharge and his family have decided to return the five-acre land allotted to the Siddhartha Vihar Trust, which is owned by the Kharge family, in the midst of an ongoing probe into the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) site scam. The land in question had been allotted to Mallikarjun Kharge’s son, Rahul M Kharge, in the Hardware Sector of the Hi-Tech Defence and Aerospace Park in Bagalur by the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB). Rahul withdraws request for civic amenity site Our Staff Reporter MEGHNAGAR/INDORE Punjab farmers on Sunday blocked roads & squatted on rail tracks at many places in state as part of their protest against the alleged tardy procurement of paddy in ongoing Kharif marketing season. In a significant operation, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) Indore Zonal Unit uncovered an illegal mephedrone manufacturing unit in the Industrial Area of Meghnagar, Jhabua district. Acting on specific intelligence, DRI officials launched a search at the premises early on October 12 and discovered the factory engaged in the production of the psychotropic substance. A total of 36.1 kg of dry mephedrone and 76 kg in liquid form were seized during the operation. The estimated international market value of the confiscated drugs is approximately Rs168.15 crore. Representative samples from the seized material were sent to the Directorate of Forensic Science Laboratory in Gandhinagar, where tests confirmed the presence of mephedrone. In addition to the drugs, raw material and equipment used for production were also confiscated. 4Continued on | P6 4Continued on | P6 PTI BENGALURU The chairperson of Siddhartha Vihar Trust, Rahul M Kharge, has withdrawn his request for the allotment of five acres of civic amenity site in Bengaluru to set up a 'MultiSkill Development Centre, Training Institutes and Research Centre'. 4Continued on | P6 Farmers block roads, squat on rail tracks PTI LUDHIANA/HOSHIARPUR/AMRITSAR Farmers from Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) sit on railway tracks during a protest in Patiala on Sunday SpaceX successfully catches first-stage booster of its Starship megarocket on Sunday SpaceX catches giant booster with ‘Chopstick arms’ AP WASHINGTON SpaceX pulled off the boldest test flight yet of its enormous Starship rocket on Sunday, catching the returning booster back at the launch pad with mechanical arms. A jubilant Elon Musk called it "science fiction without the fiction part". Towering almost 400 feet (121 metres), the empty Starship blasted off at sunrise from the southern tip of Texas near the Mexican border. 4Continued on | P6 BHOPAL Film director Rajkumar Hirani was feted with the ‘Rashtriya Kishore Kumar Samman’ for the year 2023 for screenwriting on Sunday.  The felicitation ceremony was organised by the culture department at the Police Parade Ground in Khandwa to mark the the recipient of several accolades, including four National Film Awards and 11 Filmfare Awards. He is referred to as one of the most successful filmmakers of Indian cinema. His movies are often lighthearted but revolve around significant societal issues with humour and emotional intelligence. 4Continued on | P6 Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL A family trapped in a threestory building that caught fire around 3 am on the night between Saturday and Sunday in the Nishatpura area was safely rescued by the police and firefighters. The rescuers tied a saree to the building’s balcony to bring all nine family members, including five children, safely down. According to the police, ten fire tenders were deployed to douse the blaze, and no fatalities were reported. Nishatpura police station TI Rupesh Dubey told Free Press that the blaze broke out at a building located in the housing board colony of Karond. The blaze first erupted at the go-down owned by Manzoor Khan, and eventually spread to the third floor of the building. A total of nine individuals, including a divyang (speciallyabled man) and five kids were trapped in the building. The police, as well as the fire brigade were informed about the blaze and they rushed to the scene. Mohammad Razi,  resident of the colony, used a staircase provided by one of the fire tenders, and gave a saree to the trapped people in the balcony. The saree was tied to the balcony. The stranded people took turns by tying the saree around their waist, and climbed down to safety.  4Continued on | P6 77 docs at Kalyani JNM Hosp threaten mass resignation PTI KOLKATA Over 75 senior doctors at West Bengal's Kalyani JNM Hospital have threatened a mass resignation, seeking justice for the RG Kar hospital victim, and expressing solidarity with junior medics on a fast-untodeath to press for their demands. A total of 77 doctors of the medical facility have informed the Registrar of West Bengal Health University via email about their decision to stop Bihar: 3 hurt in firing during Durga Puja IANS PATIENT’S KIN THRASHED Aritra Singha KOLKATA Amid continuous protests by the junior doctors and common people over security and safety at the hospitals, a patient's kin on Sunday work, starting October 14. They cited "mental devastation" and "inability to work in the current state of mind" morning was brutally beaten by unknown miscreants at SSKM hospital by hockey sticks and cricket stumps leading to serious injury of that person. 4Continued on | P6 among the reasons behind the move. 4Continued on | P6 Wangchuk’s supporters detained for protesting outside Ladakh Bhawan PATNA Three persons sustained injuries after some individuals opened fire on the devotees during the Durga Puja in Bihar's Arrah City on Sunday. An official said that the incident occurred during the immersion of Goddess Durga emersion in the Maulabagh locality in Arrah City. He said that the injured are in stable condition after receiving treatment at a private hospital. 4Continued on | P6 Kishore Kumar Samman for Hirani death anniversary of legendary singer and actor Kishore Kumar. The Rashtriya Kishore Kumar Samman is given by the Madhya Pradesh government to recognise contributions to Hindi cinema. Minister Vijay Shah felicitated Hirani, who is known for films such as ‘Munna Bhai MBBS’, ‘3 Idiots’ and ‘PK’. His last film was 2023 social drama ‘Dunki’. He is n Five kids, divyang were among those trapped n Rescue team used saree to safely evacuate family RG KAR HORROR screenwriting Our Staff Reporter Pet Care Minister Vijay Shah felicitating Rajkumar Hirani with ‘Rashtriya Kishore Kumar Samman’ in Khandwa A policeman speaks with Sonam Wangchuk staging a protest at Ladakh Bhawan in New Delhi on Sunday Blot on democracy, says climate activist PTI NEW DELHI Delhi Police on Sunday detained several people from outside the Ladakh Bhawan where climate activist Sonam Wangchuk is leading an indefinite hunger strike since October 6 to press for their demand to include Ladakh in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. According to one of the protesters, the detainees have been taken to the Mandir Marg police station. Earlier police said that Sonam Wangchuk was among those detained, but It is really sad that they were detained by Delhi Police. It is sad because in world's largest democracy, we can't even hold a silent protest Sonam Wangchuk Climate Activist later the New Delhi DCP clarified that the climate activist was not among the detainees. 4Continued on | P6