FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms Vol. 15 No. 105 | BHOPAL | SUNDAY | SEPTEMBER 28, 2025 | Pages 16 ` 4 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. mpeng/2010/35815 FREE www.freepressjournal.in Sports Mishra declares ‘India miles ahead of Pak’ ahead of final P.16 FREE ESTD-1983 iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: BHOPAL WORLD IANS KARUR Briefs JHARSUGUDA Swadeshi 4G launched In a major boost to telecommunication infrastructure, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated BSNL's 'Swadeshi' 4G stack, marking India's entry into a coveted league of nations that manufacture telecom equipment. Modi, who launched the facility on the occasion of the BSNL's silver jubilee, also commissioned more than 97,500 mobile 4G towers, including 92,600 4G technology sites of the telecom service provider. PUNE INDORE NASHIK MUMBAI E-paper Cinema Rani: Just the beginning P.14 PRESS 36 killed in stampede at TVK chief Vijay’s rally fp PRESS Readers’ Corner Biological Age vs.... P.6 UNSC fails to adopt resolution on Iran nuclear deal extension TRAGIC | Eyewitnesses say panic swept through tightly packed venue when crowd surged forward, leading to people fainting A large turnout at the Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) leader and actor Vijay's campaign rally in Tamil Nadu's Karur, on Saturday, turned into a devastating tragedy after a sudden crowd surge and chaos claimed at least 36 lives and left dozens injured, many of them critical. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin will visit Karur on Sunday to meet the injured victims and review the relief efforts.The rally at Velusamipuram began around 7:20 p.m. and initially drew a celebratory atmosphere, with thousands gathering to hear Vijay speak.But panic erupted when a sudden power outage plunged the UJJAIN venue into near darkness. The tightly packed crowd swayed and surged forward, triggering a stampede-like situation.Before the stampede incident, Vijay had been addressing local grievances, including illegal sand mining, mineral theft, and other issues affecting Karur. He criticised the state government sharply and predicted a change of power within the next six months.But the festive mood quickly turned into chaos as people struggled to NEW YORK Agencies NEW DELHI External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has urged BRICS to stand united in defending the multilateral trading system as the world faces rising protectionism, tariff volatility, and non-tariff barriers. Addressing a meeting of BRICS foreign ministers on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session, Jaishankar said the grouping must reinforce the values of dialogue, diplomacy, peacebuilding, and adherence to international law. "When multilateralism is under stress, BRICS has stood firm as a strong voice of reason and constructive change," Jaishankar posted on social media. His remarks come weeks after the US imposed 50 per cent tariffs on India, along with an additional 25 per cent penalty for its purchase of Russian oil — among the steepest tariffs in the world. 4Continued on | P8 The Supreme Court on Friday pulled up authorities over their failure to comply with its decade-old directions regarding the medical care of Bhopal gas tragedy survivors. Issuing notice to the Union Health Ministry, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the Chief Secretary of Madhya Pradesh, and the Principal Sec- PTI NEW DELHI move out of the packed ground in darkness. Prime Minister Modi expressed his grief over the tragedy, saying, "My thoughts are with the families who have lost their loved ones. Wishing strength to them in this difficult time and praying for a swift recovery to all those injured." Witnesses said the overcrowding and lack of ventilation caused many people, including children and elderly women, to faint. Parents were seen desperately carrying unconscious children through the crowd while volunteers tried to create space for ambulances and the police. 4Continued on | P8 4Continued on | P8 tion Department, the apex court sought responses in a contempt petition that highlights “almost total noncompliance” with its 2012 orders, according to a report by LiveLaw. A bench of Justice PS Narasimha and Justice AS Chandurkar acted on the contempt plea filed by survivors’ groups in Bhopal Gas Peedith Mahila Udyog Sangathan v Union of India. 4Continued on | P8 Wangchuk’s B’desh, Pak trail ‘unearthed’ Arrested Pak intel operative linked to Sonam: DGP Agencies Oil India Ltd has discovered natural gas reserves off the Andaman Islands, the stateowned firm said without putting an estimate of the size of the find. In a statement, OIL said "occurrence of natural gas" was reported in the second exploratory well Vijayapuram-2 drilled in the Offshore Andaman Block AN-OSHP-2018/1, which the company had won under the Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP). "The preliminary analysis of gas samples, collected during intermittent inflow of gas as part of initial production testing, has confirmed the presence of natural gas. Further gas isotope studies are being undertaken so as to understand the genesis of the gas," the statement said. Defend global SC notice over non-compliance trading system: in victims' medical care retary of the Bhopal Gas TraEAM to BRICS BHOPAL GAS TRAGEDY gedy Relief and Rehabilita- PTI Natural gas discovered in Andaman LEH Ladakh’s Director General of Police (DGP) S D Singh Jamwal on Saturday alleged that climate activist Sonam Wangchuk has links with Pakistan and Bangladesh and accused him of instigating the violent protests in Leh on September 24.Addressing a press conference, DGP Jamwal said a Pakistan PIO (Person of Indian Origin) arrested recently was in contact with Wangchuk. “We arrested a Pakistan PIO who was reporting back across. We have records of this. He (Wangchuk) had attended a Dawn event in Pakistan and also visited Bangladesh. So, there is a big question mark on him. Investigation is being done,” he said. Jamwal accused Wangchuk of a “history of instigating,” citing his references to the Arab SHIFTED TO JODHPUR JAIL Ladakhi climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was arrested in Leh on Friday and moved under tight security to Jodhpur Central Jail. Sources said he was first flown to Delhi, then to Jodhpur via Air Force Station, with a heavy convoy escorting him directly to jail, where special arrangements awaited. Spring, Nepal and Bangladesh. He further said a probe into Wangchuk’s funding for possible Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) violations was underway.The DGP claimed Wangchuk’s role derailed dialogue with the Centre, alleging provocative speeches by “so-called environmental activists” had inflamed the situation. “An unfortunate incident occurred on September 24. Four lives were lost, and many civilians, police and paramilitary officers were injured. There were attempts to sab- otage the ongoing process of talks with the Centre. The prime name here is Sonam Wangchuk,” he said. On possible foreign hand in the unrest, Jamwal confirmed two more arrests but said their role was still under investigation. He noted that the region’s history of Nepali labourers also warranted inquiry. The protests in Leh turned violent, with the BJP office torched. Two days later, Wangchuk was detained under the National Security Act (NSA) and shifted to Jodhpur Central Jail. Lavish Chaudhary’s agent held Hear petitions in recruitment case: SC to HC OUR STAFF REPORTER BHOPAL The Delhi unit of Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Nawab Hasan, agent of Lavish Chaudhary, mastermind behind a Rs 3,200 crore investment fraud, officials said. Hasan is part of a large investment scam involving schemes such as Botbro, BotAlpha, QFX, YFX and Mine Crypto, which promised investors 5 to 6 percent monthly returns, but never paid out. At Lavish’s behest, Hasan lured innocent people to invest online in these schemes. RS 3,200 CR INVESTMENT FRAUD LAVISH IN DUBAI `641CR FROZEN MP-STF and ED investigations revealed Lavish Chaudhary, alias Nawab, is currently hiding in Dubai, operating under multiple aliases. Proceeds from the Rs 3,200 crore fraud have been spent on properties and hobbies across Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi Last week, ED arrested agent, Harinder Pal Singh, who led to Nawab Hasan’s detention. Earlier, ED uncovered 185 shell companies and froze Rs 391 crore in bank accounts. MP-STF uncovered transactions worth Rs 3,200 cr across various gang accounts and froze Rs 250 crore. MP Special Task Force (STF) AIG Naveen Choudhary said MP STF has sought information about two arrested agents from ED and issued a lookout circular against Lavish. holidays under the Negotiable Instruments Act, which are applicable to the bank and treasury employees. The committee will review all these holidays. There are some holidays which should come under the general holidays, but they are included in optional holidays or local holidays. The Supreme Court (SC) has directed the Madhya Pradesh high court to hear petitions of the candidates selected on 87% posts of the recruitments held by the forest and jail departments. The MP HC had refused to hear the petitions as the Advocate General (AG) office had said that the petitioners were selected against 13% posts which were on hold. A special leave petition (SLP) was filed in the Supreme Court against the HC order dated June 20 this year. Senior advocate Rameshwar Thakur, who appeared on behalf of the petitioners, said that due to irregularities in the direct recruitment examination for the posts of forest department and assistant jail superintendent etc. in 202223, the results of the candidates were withheld. Out of these, more than 24 candidates from Backward Class and General Category filed a petition with the division bench of the MP HC, he said. 4Continued on | P8 4Continued on | P8 4Continued on | P8 offgrid State forms panel to rework holiday calendar 4 IAS officers to mull over matter OUR STAFF REPORTER BHOPAL The state government has set up a committee to review general, public and optional holidays. The committee will examine the holidays and rearrange them. The committee, set up in coordination with the Additional Chief Secretary (GAD), consists of ACS (Finance) and Home and the Principal Secretary (Revenue). When Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced Ganesh Chaturthi as the state holiday, he said the holidays would be reviewed. Earlier, Ganesh Chaturthi was a local holi- CM HAS CHANGED NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has also changed the New Year holidays. Earlier, it was from December 25 to 31. Yadav has changed it from December 31 to January 4. Instead of Christmas holidays, it is called New Year holidays day. There are 26 general holidays in the state besides optional holidays. The collectors have the power to declare three local holidays on the basis of the importance of any festival. There are some general Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL