FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms Vol. 14 No. 221 | BHOPAL | THURSDAY | JANUARY 23, 2025 | Pages 14 ` 3 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. mpeng/2010/35815 FREE www.freepressjournal.in Sports SWIATEK SOARS TO SEMIS P.14 ESTD-1983 iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: BHOPAL WORLD UJJAIN PRESS PUNE INDORE 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.12 JALGAON TRAIN MISHAP | Passengers of Pushpak Express step down due to rumour of fire, run over by Karnataka Express 12 killed as people jump off train, hit by another PTI 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 At least 12 passengers were killed on Wednesday evening when they jumped from their train in panic due to a `fire incident', only to be run over by another train on the adjacent tracks in North Maharashtra's Jalgaon district, officials said. Twelve bodies were sent to the nearby civil hospital while six to seven persons were injured, special Inspector General of Police Dattatraya Karale told PTI. The accident took place between Maheji and Pardhade stations near Pachora, more than 400 km from Mumbai, where the 12533 LucknowMumbai Pushpak Express had halted after someone pulled the chain around 5 pm, Central Railway officials said, without confirming the death toll. Some passengers of the Pushpak Express jumped off, and were hit by the oncoming Karnataka Express heading from Bengaluru to Delhi, said Central Railway's chief spokesperson Swapnil Nila. IG Karale told PTI that a "fire incident" occurred on 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. BHOPAL The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has initiated a preliminary enquiry (PE) against Sahara Real Estate Corporation and Sahara Housing Investment Group for allegedly Pushpak Express, at km 372/07 between Maheji and Pardhade stations. The train stopped at the location, and some passengers disembarked. Train No. 12627, Bengaluru-New Delhi Karnataka Express hit people standing on the railway tracks, he added. "Six to seven people have been injured. All injured passengers are being treated at the hospital, none of their injuries are serious. Both trains have reached their respective next stations and the accident 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 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 I like competent people coming to US: Trump SC notice to state on CBI probe into deaths of 3 Dalits PTI Our Staff Reporter WASHINGTON BHOPAL US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he likes both sides of the argument on H1B foreign guest workers' visa, noting that he likes "very competent people" coming into the country and that he has used the programme. "I like both sides of the argument, but I also like very competent people coming into our country, even if that involves them training and helping other people that may not have the qualifications they do. The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the state government to respond to a petition seeking a CBI investigation into the alleged murder of three members of a Dalit family in Sagar district. The incident, which took place in the village of BarodiaNainagir in the Khurai constituency, has sparked concern over police bias and political influence in the case. A bench of Justices J K Maheshwari and Aravind Kumar agreed to hear the matter and issued notices to both the state government and the CBI. The petition, filed by a woman 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 whose son, daughter, and brother-in-law were allegedly killed, claims that a former state home minister—now an MLA—has been threatening witnesses and influencing the investigation. The plea contends that the killings of three family members were linked to the alleged involvement of the former home minister's group. The petition states that police inaction and bias have prevented proper prosecution, with the accused receiving support from influential political figures. The case dates back to January 2019, when an FIR was filed after the complainant's 15-year-old daughter was al- legedly beaten and molested by local residents. However, the petition claims that the police failed to invoke appropriate sections of the law, such as those under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The allegations include killing of the complainant's brother by the same group, and the murder of her uncle—an eyewitness—last year. The petition also claims that the complainant herself was killed while travelling in an ambulance with her uncle's body in May 2024, allegedly by the police. Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves and advocate Meenesh Dubey are representing the petitioner in the Supreme Court. 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- 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 crore fake bitumen bills Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL 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 RG Kar case: SC defers suo-motu hearing to Jan 29 PTI EOW registers PE against Sahara firms for cheating investors Our Staff Reporter 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 Two more students kill self in Kota 4Continued on | P6 Group sold 310 acres for just Rs 90 crore ‘Passengers tried to cross in wrong manner or were standing on tracks’ site has been cleared," the senior police official added. Pushpak Express departed from the spot in just 15 minutes, while the Karnataka Express was removed within 20 minutes after the accident, a railway official said. Maharashtra minister Girish Mahajan also reached the spot. The injured are being treated in a hospital in Pachora and most of them were out of danger, he said. Visuals from the accident spot showed a few bodies and severed body parts. "Our preliminary information is that there were sparks and smoke inside one of the general coaches of Pushpak Express due to either `hot axle' or `brake-binding' (jamming), and some passengers panicked. They pulled the chain, and some of them jumped down. At the same time, Karnataka Express was passing," a senior railway official had told PTI earlier. An Accident Relief Train has been dispatched to the spot from Bhusaval, and Central Railway is making all efforts to provide medical aid to the injured passengers, an official statement said. NEW DELHI 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. 4Continued on | P6 4Continued on | P6 India will adhere to ICC dress code: BCCI PTI NEW DELHI The Supreme Court on Wednesday cited paucity of time and deferred to January 29 the hearing on the suo-motu case over the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. On January 20, a Kolkata trial court awarded convict Sanjay Roy "life term imprisonment till death" in the case. The suo-motu (on its own) plea was set to be heard by the top court for the first time after the sentencing in the doctor's rape and murder which took place on August 9 last year. 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. Vashnaiv Associates, owned by Dharmendra Pratap Singh, submitted fake bills totalling Rs 23.57 crore for 12 projects. The Indian cricket team will adhere to the dress code set by the ICC during the upcoming Champions Trophy, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia told PTI on Wednesday, rejecting speculation that the Board had objected to host Pakistan's name on the side's official jersey. The Champions Trophy will be held from February 19 and India will play its share of matches in Dubai after citing security concerns as the reason for refusing to travel to Pakistan. "BCCI will follow every uniform-related ICC rule during CHAMPIONS TROPHY Champions Trophy," Saikia told PTI. "Whatever the other teams will do regarding the logo and dress code, we are going to follow in true letter and spirit," he added. However, Saikia said that whether national captain Rohit Sharma participates in the ICC's pre-tournament engagements, including a press conference and an official photo shoot in Lahore, is something that is still being discussed. 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