FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms Vol. XLII No. 108 | INDORE | THURSDAY | SEPTEMBER 25, 2025 | Pages 20 ` 3 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. 38281/83 FREE www.freepressjournal.in iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: INDORE MONEY World 4 MAA CHANDRAGHANTA COLOUR: YELLOW ESTD-1983 RAGASA KILLS 17 IN TAIWAN P.16 UJJAIN PRESS PUNE BHOPAL NASHIK MUMBAI E-paper Edit SRK’s debut in National Awards P.6 India, US trade talks on at different levels: Official Cinema Heavy elegance P.18 Bikers snatch phones of IG (intel), dump iPhone, flee with Android Intelligence officer caught off guard in high-security zone Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL Three greenhorn bikers left senior IPS officer Dr Ashish, IG (Intelligence), red-faced after snatching both his mobile phones during an evening walk in the high-security Char Imli area on Tuesday night. The trio, however, ditched iPhone and fled with Android handset, raising serious concern within the police department, as both devices may contain confidential internal security data of the state. Police launched a massive manhunt soon after the incident. A large team from multiple police stations, including crime branch, has been tasked with locating the culprits and recovering Android phone. The incident occurred around 9.30 pm when the IG was walking with his wife. The bikers approached from behind and snatched his phones before fleeing. Hours later, the iPhone was found abandoned near Kolar Guest House and returned to the officer. Habibganj police station in-charge Sanjeev Choukse said CCTV footage captured bikers fleeing towards Chunabhatti and Kolar. The last traced location of the Android phone was also in that area, after which the device was switched off.Based on CCTV and local intel, two suspects from Durga Nagar have been rounded up for questioning. Police commissioner Harinarayanchari Mishra said a case has been registered under Section 304 (snatching) of the BNS. He said that intensive search operations are underway to track down remaining suspects and secure any leaked data. VIOLENCE, ARSON & STREET CLASHES | Curfew imposed in Leh; LG claims conspiracy, warns of stern action against culprits Ladakh burns in statehood clash 4 DEAD 70 HURT Agencies LEH People gather outside the burning Council Secretariat building after it was set ablaze by protesters in Leh The statehood for Ladakh movement descended into violence, arson and street clashes here on Wednesday, killing four people and injuring at least 70, including 22 police personnel, officials said. As the sun set on what is arguably the worst day of violence in recent memory in the cold desert region, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk called off his fortnight-long hunger strike to press for statehood and extension of the Sixth Schedule to Ladakh. With several of those injured in a critical condition, there are fears the death toll could go up. The morning began with a complete shutdown in the Ladakh capital. Hundreds of people took to the streets. The BJP office was vandalised and set on fire as were several vehicles. Police resort to firing and teargas shelling to bring the situation under control As the day progressed, flames and dark smoke clouds could be seen from afar. Police resorted to firing and teargas shelling to bring the situation under control after the protesters indulged in widespread violence, officials said. The administration imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the BNSS to ban the assembly of five or more people, they said. Besides, Congress leader and councillor Phuntsog Stanzin Tsepag was booked for allegedly making a provocative speech at the hunger strike venue on Tuesday. 4Continued on | P8 REASON BEHIND THE YOUTH-LED PROTESTS Protests centre on a four-point agenda that locals say is essential for safeguarding Ladakh’s interests following its separation from Jammu and Kashmir in 2019: STATEHOOD FOR LADAKH: Campaigners argue that full statehood is necessary to ensure political autonomy beyond its current centrally administered union territory status. INCLUSION IN THE SIXTH SCHEDULE: Protesters want Ladakh brought under Article 244, which ‘Fake conversion? Marriage invalid’ Biswajeet Banerjee LUCKNOW The Allahabad HC has ruled that marriages conducted on the basis of fake religious conversion certificates are legally invalid. The judgment comes at a time when cases are increasing of couples presenting forged documents from organizations such as Arya Samaj to legitimize interfaith marriages without actual conversion. The court made it clear that a marriage between people of different religions cannot be recognized under personal laws unless a genuine religious conversion has taken place. Judges stressed that certificates obtained through provides greater autonomy to tribal areas through Autonomous District Councils. They argue this will preserve local land rights, customs and governance structures. SEPARATE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION: With unemployment among Ladakhi graduates at 26.5%, the second highest in the country, CBSE BOARD EXAMS FROM FEB 17, 2026 fraudulent means do not make such unions lawful and that such acts amount to violations of the state’s laws on conversions. The bench directed the state home secretary to carry out a detailed investigation into institutions involved in issuing such certificates. Authorities have been asked to review cases where organizations are accused of providing forged documents and functioning outside legal standards. The matter will be heard again on August 29. At the same time, the court underlined that there is a legitimate path available for interfaith couples. 4Continued on | P8 PTI NEW DELHI The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will conduct Class 10 and 12 board exams from February 17 next year, officials announced on Wednesday. The board announced a tentative datesheet for the crucial exams. This is the first time that board exams for Class 10 will be conducted twice in an academic session. "While the first edition will be conducted from February 17 to March 6, 2026, the second edition is scheduled from May 15 to June 1," CBSE Examination Controller Sanyam Bhardwaj said. 4Continued on | P8 residents are demanding their own service commission to speed up recruitment. TWO PARLIAMENTARY SEATS: Currently allocated only one Lok Sabha constituency, Ladakhis want representation through two seats to reflect the region’s size and diversity. SC pulls up govt, nodal counsel over 27% OBC quota delay Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday reprimanded Madhya Pradesh government and nodal counsel for seeking more time on the 27% OBC reservation case. Next hearing is scheduled for October 8. Nodal counsel representing the general category opposing the reservation argued that 15,000 pages of documents provided by the government just a day before the hearing need time to be reviewed. SC expressed frustration over stakeholders’ lack of seriousness despite its emphasis on day-to-day hearings. SC directed the government and nodal counsel to prepare a strict timeline and be ready for daily hearings. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta successfully argued to separate the Chhattisgarh reservation issue from Madhya Pradesh, with SC agreeing to the request. Senior advocate Tarun Thakur, representing OBC Mahasabha, told Free Press that SC was clear about proceeding, but government and counsel demanded delays. 4Continued on | P8 rodent menace Now, rat bite incident at Indore Airport Our Staff Reporter INDORE Just days after the ‘rat bite’ incident in MY Hospital, a similar shocking incident took place at the city’s  Devi Ahilyabai Holkar (DABH) Airport  on Tuesday afternoon when a rat bit a passenger there , tarnishing the reputation of what was once ranked Asia-Pacific’s No.1 airport for passenger satisfaction. The episode also exposed glaring lapses in the airport’s medical preparedness. The victim,  Arun Modi, a software engineer from Bhopal, was waiting to board IndiGo flight 6E-6739 to Bengaluru, scheduled to depart at 3:05 PM. With time to spare, he reclined on a seat in the lounge area when he suddenly felt something un- usual inside his trousers. To his horror, he discovered that a rat had crawled into his pants. He tried to catch the rat from outside but was unsuccessful in his attempt and the rodent bit him behind the knee. Modi quickly removed his trousers and was shocked to find a bleeding injury where the rat had bitten him. 4Continued on | P8 We conducted pest control just eight days ago, on September 15. I have spoken to the victim and our staff. We are imposing a penalty on the pest control agency and will conduct another round of treatment. We've also received complaints about the conduct of the duty doctor, and he is being replaced -Vipin Kant Sheth, Director, DABH Airport Goyal sees key US role in energy security Yoshita Singh NEW YORK India expects to increase its trade with the US in energy products in the years to come, and the country's energy security goals will have a significant element of US involvement, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has said. "Clearly, the world recognizes that (energy security) is one area where we all have to work together. India is a big player in the energy field... we are big importers of energy from across the world, including from the US," Goyal said on Tuesday, PTI reports. Goyal delivered the keynote address at an event hosted by India’s Consulate General in New York, US-India Strategic Partnership Forum, and India's leading decarbonisation solutions provider, ReNew. Goyal is leading a delegation for meetings in New York with the US side to achieve an early conclusion of a bilateral trade agreement. 4Continued on | P8 ‘Social media regulation must’ K'taka HC rejects Musk-led X Corp's challenge to censorship IANS BENGALURU In a major development, the Karnataka High Court on Wednesday delivered its verdict in the case of Elon Muskled social media platform X Corp, formerly known as Twitter Inc, versus the Union of India, concerning freedom of speech and alleged unchecked censorship. The Bench emphasised that regulation of social media is necessary and upheld the Centre’s authority, through the Sahyog Portal, to block content in this regard. The Bench headed by Justice M. Nagaprasanna passed the order in the case and stated that regulation of social media is must and the challenge by 'X' to onboarding Sahyog portal is without merit. Unregulated speech under guise of liberty results into lawlessness, Bench underlined The High Court also dismissed X Corp's plea which sought a declaration that Section 79 (3)(B) of the Information Technology Act does not confer authority on the Centre to issue information blocking orders. Justice Nagaprasanna while delivering the verdict stated, "The content on social media must be regulated and its regulation is a must, more so in cases of offences against women in particular, 4Continued on | P8 KILLING COW BANNED IN MP, says CM reacting to Cong allegations Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has said cow killing is banned in MP. He made the statement in reply to the Congress’s allegation of a ‘beef tax’. It is impossible to kill a cow in the state, be- Two minor boys die of electric shock at puja pandal FP News Service JABALPUR cause nobody can think of such things about Gaumata, he said. “Forget about killing a cow. If someone teases a cow, he is sent to jail,” Yadav said. Yadav said whenever cow killers were held, the Congress made a hue and cry. The Congress has some relationship with the cow killers, he said, adding that his government has made a rule in which a vehicle of a cow smuggler is confiscated.  A day before, MPCC president Jitu Patwari alleged that a tax on the import of beef was withdrawn under GST 2.0. Patwari cited a notification of September 18 issued by the commercial tax department. The government has been giving explanations after the Congress’s allegation. Bhopal mountaineer 1st in world to reach Everest base camp on bike Our Staff Reporter Two minor boys died a tragic death when they came in contact with a live wire at a Durga pandal in Bargi Hills area of the city on Wednesday night. Like many others, Ayush Jharia (8) and Ved Srivas (10) had come to witness the evening aarti at the pandal, where they were jolted by an electric shock when they came into contact with the electric fixtures that lacked proper wiring. 4Continued on | P8 BHOPAL A mountaineer Bhagwan Singh from Bhopal became the first person in the world to reach Mount Everest base camp on an MTP bicycle. He hoisted the National Flag by reaching the camp located at an altitude of 5364 metres on his MTP bike. According to sports department, Singh became the first person in the world to accept this challenge and reach a height of 5,364 metres on his two-wheeled bike. 4Continued on | P8 Union Cabinet okays `15,000 cr funds for med education expansion Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar NEW DELHI The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the PhaseIll of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for strengthening and upgradation of existing medical colleges and government hospitals through which 5,000 post-graduation PG medical seats and 5,023 MBBS seats would be increased. The Cabinet said an en- The scheme will increase over 10,000 MBBS & PG medical seats hanced cost ceiling of Rs. 1.50 crore per seat has been approved and this initiative would lead to augmentation of undergraduate medical capacity; availability of specialist doctors by creating additional postgraduate seats; and introduction of new specialties across government medical institutions. Stating that the upgradation would increase the overall availability of doctors in the country, the government said the total financial implications of these two schemes would be Rs 15,034.50 crore for a period from 2025-26 to 2028-29. Out of this amount, the Centre’s share would be Rs.10,303.20 crore. 4Continued on | P8