FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms Vol. 15 No. 169 | BHOPAL | MONDAY | DECEMBER 1, 2025 | Pages 14 ` 3 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. mpeng/2010/35815 FREE www.freepressjournal.in Nation Delhi MCD Bypolls: Voting smooth P.7 ESTD-1983 iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: BHOPAL WORLD SIR schedule extended by a week; final roll on Feb 14 PTI fp Briefs NEW DELHI Terror module busted, 3 held The Delhi Police's Special Cell has busted a Pakistan-backed international and interstate terror module allegedly operated by gangster-turned-terrorist Shahzad Bhatti, leading to the arrest of three key operatives involved in the grenade attack outside City Police Station in Punjab's Gurdaspur, on November 25. DANTEWADA 37 Naxalites surrender Thirty-seven Naxalites, 27 of them collectively carrying a reward of Rs 65 lakh, surrendered in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district on Sunday, police said. The cadres, including 12 women, turned themselves in before senior police and CRPF officials here as part of the "Poona Margem" (from rehabilitation to social reintegration) initiative, Dantewada Superintendent of Police Gaurav Rai said. All of them carried a reward of Rs 8 lakh each, the official said. PUNE INDORE NASHIK Brand Sutra Digital Devotion P.12 SIR shadow looms over Winter Session as govt seeks Oppn’s support PTI jarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. Among these, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala, and West Bengal will go to the polls in 2026. In Assam, where also polls are due in 2026, the revision of electoral rolls was announced separately. It is being called 'Special Revision'. Most states had the last SIR of the voter list between 2002 and 2004, and they have nearly completed the mapping of current electors according to the last SIR held in their respective states. The Winter Session of Parliament begins on Monday under the shadow of SIR with several parties uniting against it and threatening to stall proceedings in both houses if a discussion is not allowed on it. At an all-party meeting convened by the government to seek the Opposition's support for smooth functioning of Parliament, several parties raised the demand for a discussion on special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls together with issues of national security in the wake of the Delhi blast and air pollution in the national capital. Issues like foreign policy, price rise, unemployment, new labour codes and federalism amid charges that governors sitting on bills passed by state legislatures and funds of oppositionruled states being held up were also raised and would come up during the session beginning December 1. 4Continued on | P8 4Continued on | P8 Delhi Police has filed an FIR against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi and other accused in the National Herald case on a complaint by the ED as part of the agency's money laundering probe into the high-profile case that alleges that the first family of the party "abused" their position for personal gains. Official sources and documents said the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Delhi Police filed a complaint against the Gandhis and seven others on October 3. The police has pressed charges under sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 403 (dishonest misappropriation of property), 406 (punishment for criminal breach of trust) and 420 (cheating) of the IPC in the FIR that names the Gandhis, Congress leaders Suman Dubey and Sam Pitroda, entities like the Young Indian (YI) and Dotex Merchandise Ltd, Dotex promoter Sunil Bhandari, Associated Journals Ltd. (AJL) and unknown others. These entities are also liament beginning Monday. The last session was a virtual washout over demands by the opposition for a debate on the SIR, then being held in Bihar. Opposition leaders, while emerging from an all-party meeting, on smooth functioning of the session, said they will press for a debate on SIR. The EC had announced SIR in these states and UTs on October 27. Nearly 51 crore electors will be covered in the massive voters' list cleanup exercise. The states and Union Territories are: the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gu- Assembly winter session from today PM calls Gen-Z ‘greatest strength of Viksit Bharat’ IANS Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL The five-day winter session of State Assembly will begin on Monday and end on December 5. On Sunday, Speaker Narendra Singh Tomar visited Vidhan Sabha and viewed the arrangements. The session will not be held on December 3 because of Bhopal Gas Tragedy anniversary. After the notification was issued, the Assembly secretariat received 746-unstarred questions, 751-starred questions, 194-call-attention motions, 6-adjournment motions, 14-private member's resolutions, 52-zero hour notices, 2-Rule 129 mentions, 15petitions and 2-government bills. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the determination of the country's Gen-Z is the greatest strength of 'Viksit Bharat'. Addressing the 128th episode of his monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat', PM Modi said, "If there is determination in the heart, faith in the collective strength to work as a team, if there is the courage to fall and then rise again, then success is guaranteed even in the difficult times." "Imagine that era when there were no satellites, GPS or navigation facilities, even then our sailors would take large ships into the ocean and reach their destinations. Now, going beyond the seas, countries of the world are measur- FIR against Rahul, Sonia in National Herald case NEW DELHI ercise is underway. Alleging at least 40 deaths of booth-level officers (BLOs) during the SIR, largely by suicides due to "stress of meeting tight deadlines", the opposition parties have questioned the timing of the voters' list revision. The EC has junked these charges, saying the exercise is going on smoothly. Reacting to the EC's decision to revise the SIR schedule, Congress leader Pramod Tiwari said it was an indication that the poll panel knew the timelines were not "practical". The decision to tweak the SIR schedule comes on the eve of the Winter Session of Par- NEW DELHI E-paper PTI The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Sunday reported significant progress in Phase II of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) 2025 of electoral rolls, with 99.65 per cent of Enumeration Forms (EFs) already distributed across 12 states and Union Territories. According to the Daily Bulletin, the nationwide EF distribution has reached 99.65 per cent, reflecting strong field mobilisation by BLOs and participation from Booth Level Agents (BLAs). Speaker views arrangements MUMBAI NEW DELHI Digitisation stands at 84.30% The Election Commission on Sunday extended by one week the entire schedule of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in nine states and three Union Territories amid allegations by opposition parties that the "tight timelines" were creating problems for people and ground-level poll officials. In a statement, the poll authority said the enumeration form distribution will now continue till December 11 instead of December 4. The draft electoral rolls will now be published on December 16 in place of December 9, while the final voters' list will be out on February 14, 2026 in place of February 7. Officials said the commission took the decision to extend the timeline for all phases of the SIR based on internal discussions with chief electoral officers of states and UTs where the ex- PRESS Edit Temporary truce in K’taka P.6 Trump ignites fireworks over Venezuela airspace POLL ROLL CLEANUP | Enumeration form distribution will now continue till December 11 instead of December 4 NEW DELHI UJJAIN Calls for embracing AI, data for ‘Future-Ready’ police force The 60th All India Conference of Directors General of Police (DGPs) and Inspectors General of Police (IGPs) concluded on Sunday here, marking a pivotal moment for India's internal security framework. In his address during the valedictory session, PM Modi highlighted the evolving role of policing in a digital age, calling for a paradigm shift from traditional methods to technology-centric approaches. "The police must rework a new strategy to earn faith and trust from the public in general and youth in particular," he stated, drawing applause from the assembled officers Police have pressed charges under sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 403 (dishonest misappropriation of property), 406 (punishment for criminal breach of trust) and 420 (cheating) of the IPC named as an accused (except unknown others) in the ED chargesheet filed before a Delhi court in April. The court is yet to take its cognisance with the next date of hearing scheduled for December 16. Slamming the move to file the FIR, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh charged on X, "The Modi-Shah duo is continuing with its mischiev- 4 killed as SUVs collide head-on Our Staff Reporter Four men died and two were seriously injured in a head-on collision between two SUVs under Berasia police limits late Saturday night. The victims were returning to Sheopur after attending a religious gathering addressed by Maulana Mahmood Madni in Bhopal. Police said five people were travelling in an SUV when a speeding vehicle from the opposite direction rammed them. The impact completely mangled the front portion of the SUV. Four occupants died on the spot, while the injured were rushed to a nearby hospital. The deceased were identified as Maulana Anees Sahab, Khalid, Sajid, and Naved, all residents of Sheopur district. Netanyahu seeks pardon in corruption trial CM’s SON TIES KNOT IN MASS WEDDING Rafaqat Gauri, alias King, the lone survivor from their vehicle, is receiving treatment at a Berasia hospital. 4Continued on | P8 TEL AVIV India beat South Africa India beat South Africa by 17 runs in the first ODI at Ranchi, take 1-0 lead in 3-match series on Sunday. Indian batter Virat Kolhi celebrates after hitting his 52nd ODI ton. He scored 135 off 120 balls in the high scoring match. Class 8 boy dies after neck slashed by Chinese Manjha; three injured INDORE Prime Minister said that he saw a viral video on social media from ISRO's drone competition, where Gen-Z showcased their skills. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday asked the country's president to grant him a pardon from corruption charges - seeking to end a long-running trial that has bitterly divided the nation. Netanyahu, who has been at war against the country's legal system over the charges, said the request would help unify the country at a time of momentous changes in the region. But it immediately triggered denunciations from his opponents, who said it would weaken Israel's democratic institutions and send a dangerous message that he is above the rule of law. See world 4Continued on | P8 Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL ing the infinite expanse of space. The challenge remains the same -- no GPS or any communication, then how would we move forward?" he said. Recalling an instance, the 4Continued on | P8 ous politics of harassment, intimidation, and vendetta against the top leadership of the INC. Those who threaten are themselves insecure and afraid." "The National Herald matter is a completely bogus case. Justice will ultimately triumph. Satyameva Jayate," he said. Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said in a post on X that the FIR was "neither wine new nor bottle new nor glasses new". "One trick wonder of a case where no money moved, where no immovable property transferred yet money laundering invented...," Singhvi posted. The ED, according to the sources, used powers available to it under section 66(2) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to get the police FIR registered. This section allows the federal agency to share evidence for registration of a criminal predicate offence by a law enforcement agency so that it can subsequently book a money laundering case to take forward the investigation. CM Mohan Yadav’s younger son, Dr Abhimanyu, tied the knot during a mass marriage ceremony in Ujjain on Sunday. Yoga guru Swami Ramdev conducted marriage rites of 21 couples. Pt Dhirendra Shastri of Bageshwar Dham urged wider adoption of mass marriages. The ceremony was attended by Governor Mangubhai Patel, Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot, union ministers Jyotiraditya Scindia and Durga Das Uikey, Assembly Speaker Narendra Singh Tomar, MPs, MLAs and BJP leaders. See pg 2 A fun outing on a new bike ended in tragedy when a 16year-old boy, a student of Class 8, died after his neck was slashed by Chinese manja (kite string) on Sunday afternoon on the Bypass road. The victim Gulshan was returning from an outing at Ralamandal with his cousin and two friends when the deadly sharp string got entangled around his neck at Nemawar Bridge around 1 pm. Police recovered a piece of Chinese string from the spot. Tejaji Nagar police station in-charge Devendra Markram said that preliminary investigation suggested that one end of the Chinese string might have been stuck in something while its other end was snagged by a moving vehicle making it tight and the biker might have hit it due to the motion. Gulshan (16), son of Ramkishan, a resident of Omaxe City-2, was riding the bike, while his cousin, Arun, and friends, Krishna and Vishal Chauhan alias Nandu, were the pillion riders. The four had gone for a picnic at Ralamandal and were returning via the D-Mart route towards Nemawar Road. While going downhill on the Nemawar bridge, the sharp string suddenly wrapped around Gulshan s neck, cutting deeply into his throat. 4Continued on | P8 offgrid US benefited from Indians: Musk on H-1B visa row 12 dead, 40 hurt as 2 buses collide Online Report Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, said that the US has benefitted immensely by hiring talented Indians over the years, as he appeared on Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath’s People by WTF podcast on Sunday. During the conversation, the SpaceX and Tesla chief also noted that some of the country’s anti-immigration sentiment stems from past abuses of the H-1B visa pro- IANS gramme and what he described as an overly lenient approach under earlier administrations. He made the remarks at a time when the long-cherished American dream— promising top-tier education, high-paying jobs, improved living standards and upward mobility—is increasingly fading for thousands of Indians due to tightening visa norms and unpredictable policy shifts. "I think America has benefited immensely from talented Indians that have come to America," Musk as- serted as Kamath remembered skilled and qualified Indians, like Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Sundar Pichai, heading Google operations, who have been contributing to US economic progress over the years. "That seems to be changing now though," Kamath cut the billionaire short in an apparent reference to the H1B visa rules recently curtailed by the Trump administration and their impact on Indian jobseekers, as the two erupted in laughter. "Under the Biden administration, it was basically a total free-for-all with no border controls. You know, unless you've got border controls, you're not a country. So, you had massive amounts of illegal immigration under Biden. It actually had somewhat of a negative selection effect," Musk, who headed the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), said. CHENNAI At least 12 people were killed and more than 40 injured in a devastating road accident near Kummangudi, close to Kundrakkudi in Sivaganga district, when two Tamil Nadu government buses collided head-on on Sunday evening, an official said. The impact was so severe that several passengers died on the spot, while many others were trapped inside the mangled buses. Local residents rushed to the scene, helping police pull out the injured as rescue operations continued late into the evening. According to initial information, both buses were travelling in opposite direc- tions when they collided on a narrow stretch of road. Police officials said they are examining whether overspeeding, poor visibility or driver fatigue contributed to the crash. The injured have been shifted to hospitals in Sivaganga and Karaikudi, where emergency teams are attending to multiple cases of fractures, head injuries and trauma.Several passengers remain in critical condition. 4Continued on | P8