FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms Vol. XLI No. 227 | INDORE | THURSDAY | JANUARY 23, 2025 | Pages 14 ` 3 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. 38281/83 FREE www.freepressjournal.in Sports SWIATEK SOARS TO SEMIS P.13 ESTD-1983 iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: INDORE WORLD UJJAIN PRESS PUNE BHOPAL NASHIK MUMBAI E-paper Edit Trump and the new world disorder P.8 Hamas still in control of Gaza Cinema Breaking ageism, embracing joy P.14 JALGAON TRAIN TRAGEDY | Passengers of Pushpak Express step down due to rumour of fire, run over by Karnataka Express 13 killed as people jump off train, hit by another FP News Service CM meets investors in Pune, many MoUs inked Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL The state is set for substantial economic growth, as Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced receipt of investment proposals worth thousands of crores during an interactive session with investors in Pune on Wednesday. The event, which attracted over 300 investors from multiple industries, has already resulted in several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) being signed, giving a majorboostto state’s pursuit of becoming a leading investment hub. Speaking at a press conference in Pune, CM Yadav detailed his one-on-one meetings with investors, which lasted for more than two hours. The discussions covered diverse sectors, including automobiles, dairy, horticulture, renewable energy, IT, engineering, and gaming. Investors expressed keen interest in bringing their fp Briefs YELLAPURA/RAICHUR 14 die in two accidents As many as fourteen people were killed and scores sustained injuries in two separate road accidents occurred in Uttara Kannada and Raichur districts on Friday. In Yellapura incident, a truck carrying 29 fruit sellers fell into a 50-metre-deep Valley near here in the wee hours of Wednesday. BOKARO 2 Maoists killed in J’khand Two Maoists, including a woman, were killed in a gunfight with security forces in Jharkhand's Bokaro district on Wednesday, police said. A red rebel, who was carrying a bounty of Rs 15 lakh on his head, was also arrested. The gunfight took place under the Penk Narayanpur Police Station. CM meets industry captains During his one-on-one meetings, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav apprised investors about the numerous opportunities Madhya Pradesh offers. He met Rakesh Nivani, Joint Managing Director of Jetline Private Limited, who expressed strong interest in investing in the gaming sector. Tarun Sinha, President of Deepak Fertilisers and Petrochemicals Corporation Limited, showed keen interest in the state's mining sector. Hiroshi Yoshijana, Managing Director of Bridgestone India Private Limited, also praised the state's investment policy. projects to Madhya Pradesh, citing the state's favourable business climate and growth potential. 4Continued on | P6 JALGAON A tragic train accident claimed 13 lives and left several others injured on Wednesday evening in Jalgaon district. The incident occurred when passengers aboard the Lucknow-Mumbai Pushpak Express, spooked by rumors of a fire, jumped onto an adjacent railway track. The chain of events began around 5 PM between Maheji and Pardhade stations, near Pachora, about 400 km from Mumbai. The LucknowMumbai Pushpak Express came to an abrupt halt after someone activated the emergency chain. The emergency stop was reportedly triggered by panic in a general coach, where sparks and smoke were spotted. Railway officials later attributed this to mechanical issues such as a “hot axle” or “brake-binding.” However, rumors of a fire spread rapidly, intensifying the chaos. Fearful for their safety, several passengers disembarked Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has initiated a preliminary enquiry (PE) against Sahara Real Estate Corporation and Sahara Housing Investment Group for allegedly The Executive Director of the Information & Publicity Department of Railway Board, Dilip Kumar said that few people pulled the alarm chain and then tried to cross the rail track in a wrong manner or were standing on the tracks. Kumar said, "A few passengers pulled the alarm chain on Pushpak Express and deboarded the train. Bengaluru-New Delhi Karnataka Express was coming from the other side from the stationary train and jumped onto the adjacent tracks, unaware that the Bengaluru-Delhi Karnataka Express was approaching at speed. Tragically, the oncoming train struck the passengers, killing 12 on the spot. Officials confirmed that 12 bodies were retrieved and sent to the civil hospital in Jalgaon. Six to seven passengers sustained injuries, though their condition was reported as non-critical. The injured were rushed to a hospital in Pachora Two more students kill self in Kota Six suicides in this month FP News Service JAIPUR The year 2025 has come as a shocker to the coaching city of Kota as two more cases of student suicides have occurred on Wednesday. A NEET UG aspirant from Gujarat and a JEE aspirant from Asaam died by suicide on Wednesday, taking toll to six in January itself. The deceased were identified as Afsha Sheikh and INCIDENTS Jan 7 Jan 8 Jan 16 Jan 17 Jan 22 Jan 22 Neeraj Abhishek Abhijeet Manan Parag Afsha Parag. Ashfa was living in Kota for the past five months and was preparing for NEET UG, while Parag was preparing for JEE Mains and was about to appear in the exam after four days. Afsha was found dead when the mess keeper of the PG reached her room at around 10 in the morning. Parag's mother had reached Kota from Assam on Wednesday itself but could not meet her son. The incident came to light after the student failed to respond to his mother. The student was scheduled to appear for the JEE Main exam on January 24. When his mother arrived at the hostel and knocked on his door, Parag did not respond. The police said that the CHAMPIONS TROPHY: BCCI yields on Pak designs on jersey FP News Service MUMBAI The Indian cricket team will comply with the ICC's dress code for the upcoming Champions Trophy, BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed on Wednesday, dismissing speculation about objections to Pakistan's name appearing on India’s official jersey. The tournament, scheduled to begin on February 19, will see India play its matches in Dubai, citing security concerns as the reason for not traveling to Pakistan. “BCCI will adhere to all ICC uniform-related rules during the Champions Trophy,” Saikia told PTI. “We will follow the logo and dress code guidelines in both letter and spirit,” he added. Saikia also noted that a decision is yet to be made on whether Indian captain Rohit Sharma will participate in ICC’s pre-tournament events, including a press conference and an official photo shoot in Lahore. “Whether Rohit Sharma travels to Pakistan for these media engagements is still under discussion,” Saikia stated. Media reports had speculated that the BCCI objected to Pakistan's name on the Indian jersey, citing strained EOW registers PE against Sahara firms for cheating investors Group sold 310 acres for just Rs 90 crore ‘Passengers tried to cross in wrong manner or were standing on tracks’ cheating investors and engaging in irregular land transactions. Officials revealed this development on Wednesday, following a raid by the Income Tax Department a month ago. During the raid, papers related to Sahara Group’s land were discovered in the possession of Rajesh Sharma and other builders. It was uncovered that one of the companies involved, owned by a former minister and his family, had purchased land from the Sahara Group. According to EOW DG Upendra Jain, the Sahara Group had collected funds from investors to purchase land for the development of Sahara City. In 2014, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) had permitted the group to return the invested amounts to investors. 4Continued on | P6 political relations between the two nations. However, the BCCI has not raised any such concerns with the ICC. In 2023, when Pakistan participated in the ICC ODI World Cup held in India, Babar Azam’s team wore jerseys featuring the host nation's name, adhering to ICC protocols. This year’s Champions Trophy will operate under a hybrid model, with India playing all its matches in Dubai. Should India progress to the semi-finals or finals, those games will also be held in Dubai. 4Continued on | P6 hostel operator and other residents were called to open the door, where the student was found dead. He was rushed to a private hospital but was declared dead. Incidentally, both the suicides pertains to the Jawhar Nagar police station of Kota. The police said the reasons behind the suicides are not known and an investigation was underway. Four other student suicides have been reported in Kota this month. 4Continued on | P6 MEA will help facilitate return of immigrants FP News Service WASHINGTON External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, during a press briefing in Washington DC on Wednesday, addressed the issue of illegal immigrants and affirmed India’s willingness to facilitate their legitimate return. The minister underscored the Trump administration's emphasis on fostering closer ties with India. He highlighted the State Department’s keenness on including India in pivotal moments, such as the administration’s inaugural event, signifying their prioritization of the bilateral relationship. for immediate medical attention. Grim visuals from the site showed bodies and severed limbs scattered across the tracks. Rescue workers struggled to identify victims amid the wreckage. The Karnataka Express resumed its journey within 20 minutes after the tracks were cleared, while the Pushpak Express departed 15 minutes later. A preliminary investigation by Central Railway officials revealed that the panic stemmed from sparks and smoke in one of the Pushpak Express’s general compartments, likely due to mechanical issues. Railway spokesperson Swapnil Nila clarified, “Our initial findings suggest there was no fire. The panic was fueled by sparks and smoke from a technical fault. Sadly, this led to a chain reaction of events culminating in the tragedy.” Misinformation and a lack of clear communication exacerbated the situation. Passengers, assuming the worst, hastily jumped off the train and inadvertently stepped onto the adjacent tracks. 4Continued on | P6 Toddler falls into boiling oil, dies Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL In a shocking incident, a twoyear-old boy lost his life after falling into a cauldron of boiling oil during an engagement ceremony at a guest house in Nishatpuralate Tuesday night. The incident, which has left both the family and the neighbourhood in shock, unfolded as the child, Akshat, wandered into the kitchen while his family members were dining. According to reports, Rajesh Sahu, a resident of Chhola Mandir, attended the engage- India Braces for US economic war FP News Service ment ceremony of his brother at the guest house, accompanied by his wife and two children, aged 7 and 2. After the ceremony, the family sat down for dinner while Akshat played nearby. 4Continued on | P6 EOW books 5 contractors for Rs 37 cr fake bills MUMBAI Our Staff Reporter As Donald Trump takes charge of the United States presidency, a new era of global tariff wars is looming large. In his first week in office, Trump has threatened to impose punitive tariffs on key trading partners, vowing to "tax foreign countries to enrich our citizens." His administration’s aggressive trade policies are expected to cause jitters in the global economy, sparking heated responses and strategic recalibrations from nations worldwide. India has already begun strategizing its response to Trump’s proposed tariff measures. According to Reuters, officials in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration are exploring various scenarios to address potential trade disruptions and mitigate economic fallout. 4Continued on | P6 BHOPAL PUTIN WARNED Firing on all cylinders, Trump has further warned Russian President, Vladimir Putin, and directed him to reach a deal to end the grinding war in Ukraine or face tariffs and sanctions. “If we don’t make a ‘deal,’ and soon, I have no other choice but to put high levels of Taxes, Tariffs, and Sanctions on anything being sold by Russia to the United States, and various other participating countries," Trump said on his Truth Social network Don ambivalent on H-1B FP News Service NEW YORK US President Donald Trump took a nuanced stand during a press conference at the White House on Tuesday on the H-1B foreign guest worker visa. Trump said he appreciated "both sides of the argument" but stressed the importance of welcoming “competent people” into the United States. “I like both sides of the argument,” Trump remarked, “but I also like very competent people coming into our country, even if that involves them training and helping others who may not have their qualifications. 4Continued on | P6 The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has registered a case against five contractors linked to the MP Road Development Corporation (MPRDC) for submitting fake bills to withdraw Rs 37 crore for purchasing bitumen. Fraudulent claims expose the quality of road construction in state, as well as the contractors’ alleged collusion with department employees. Bitumen, a crucial material for road construction due to its waterproofing and adhesive properties, must be used in the correct quantity to ensure durable roads. However, the contractors involved in the scam submitted fake bills for bitumen purchased from companies like Indian Oil Corporation, Hindustan Petroleum, Bharat Petroleum, ESSAR, Nayraand others, despite not actually buying the material. DG EOW Upendra Jain said that AD Constructions from Jabalpur had submitted fake bills for Rs 36 lakh related to two projects. Similarly, Vishwakusum Infratech, led by proprietorAkhilesh Mehta, withdrew Rs 12 crore after submitting bills for eight projects. 4Continued on | P6 offgrid Boss Sahab, says Fijian PM in praise of Modi IANS NEW DELHI Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka effusively praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday and called him the real "Boss" of the world. In a meeting with Rajya Sabha member and Indian Minorities Federation (IMF) Convenor Satnam Singh Sandhu and IMF Co- Founder Himani Sood in Fiji, Rebuka said PM Modi is a top global leader. Heaping praise on PM Modi for his mantra of 'Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas' to ensure that everybody develops and prospers together, the Prime Minister of Fiji said, "I believe Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas is a great governance model which PM Modi is practising which ensures inclusive devel- opment for all. I think the world should adopt it to make it a better place to live." Fiji PM further added, "My friend (PM Modi) was re-elected (as PM) after we met (in 2023), so congratulations again and I would like to make sure that he gets the message that Fiji is still here. We are still committed to our journey of peace, on which, PM Modi has been for long. Oneness' in our development, oneness in our progress and all these are great ideals for all world leaders." Fijian PM further said that PM Modi has become an icon for peace and Hindus all over the world. "Having the confidence of those in India is a big number. So, I congratulate him on that. The oneness in that journey of Hindus in the world will eventually translate into oneness in the peoples of the world," he said. Notably, a 21-member delegation comprising representatives from 10 different countries is currently visiting Prayagraj for the Maha Kumbh. 4Continued on | P6