FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms FREE PRESS Vol. 14 No. 317 | BHOPAL | THURSDAY | MAY 1, 2025 | Pages 14 ` 3 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. mpeng/2010/35815 www.freepressjournal.in Sports From Borivali to Bharat’s beating heart ROHIT@38 P.12 fp Briefs JAMSHEDPUR Jamshedpur girl tops ICSE Shambhavi Jaiswal, a student of Loyola School, Jamshedpur, has made the city proud by securing a perfect 100 per cent in the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) Class 10 examinations, emerging as the all-India topper. Girls outshone boys yet again. In the class 10 exams, the pass percentage of girls stood at 99.45 per cent while that of boys was marginally lower at 98.64 per cent. Similarly, girls performed better than boys in class 12 too, with girls' pass percentage at 99.45 per cent and boys' pass percentage at 98.64 per cent. IMPHAL MLAs seek 'popular govt' Twenty-one Manipur MLAs have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah separately, urging them to form a "popular government" in the northeastern state, which is now under the President's rule, to ensure peace and normalcy. The Centre had on February 13 imposed the President's rule in Manipur, where more than 250 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic violence between Meiteis and Kuki-Zo groups since May 2023. CHANDIGARH 5 operatives of BKI arrested Punjab Police on Wednesday claimed to have thwarted a potential grenade attack at a police establishment with the arrest of five members of Pakistan's ISI-backed Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terror module, which allegedly had links with foreignbased gangster Jiwan Fauji. Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said those arrested have been identified as Naresh Kumar alias Babbu of Haripura, Abhinav Bhagat alias Abhi, Ajay Kumar alias Ajju and Sunny Kumar, all residents of Haripura in Amritsar and a 17-year-old juvenile. Police teams also recovered a hand grenade and a countrymade .32 pistol, along with five live cartridges. ESTD-1983 iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: BHOPAL MONEY Restaurant sector has potential to offer 1.5 cr jobs by 2028:NRAI UJJAIN PUNE INDORE NASHIK Cinema Triptii’s style diaries P.14 CASTE ENUMERATION TO BE PART OF NEXT CENSUS NEW DELHI The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs on Wednesday decided to include caste enumeration in the upcoming census, thereby meeting a demand which was being vociferously raised by some of the Opposition parties, including the Congress. Conveying the decision of the Cabinet in the matter, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said it demonstrates that the present government is committed to the holistic interests and values of the nation and society. Meanwhile, several Congress leaders credited their leader Rahul Gandhi for the move. Party’s media and publicity department chairman Pawan Khera said the timing Diwali for 140 crore Indians: BJP Rahul welcomes govt's 'sudden' decision he BJP has welcomed the Centre’s decision to conduct a caste census along with the next population census. The move was approved on Wednesday during a high-level meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Reacting to the development, Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Keshav Prasad Maurya, said, “This decision brings joy to Dalits, tribals, backward and deprived classes, and the poor. It feels like Diwali for 140 crore Indians.” He added that India has seen the impossible become possible under the leadership of PM Modi. F T of the announcement was interesting and hoped that the intention behind it was genuine. Recalling the party’s fight for a caste census, he said, “We cannot forget Rahul Gandhi’s famous words — ‘Jaati janganna hokar rahegi’ ormer Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said he welcomes the government's "sudden" decision to include caste enumeration in the forthcoming census after "11 years of opposing it" but it should give a timeline for its implementation. His comments came within hours of the government announcing that caste enumeration would be included in the forthcoming census exercise in a "transparent" manner. Addressing a press conference here, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said, "We support this (government's decision) completely but we want a timeline. We want to know by when it will be done." (The caste census will happen).” Former MP and prominent Dalit leader of the Congress Udit Raj termed it a victory for his party. He posted on “X” that: “The Modi government has been com- pelled to conduct a caste census. This is a victory for Congress. The Bahujan community thanks Rahul Gandhi ji, his persistent efforts have borne fruit.” 4Continued on | P8 Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL Police probing the rape and blackmail racket have uncovered chilling details about Sahil Khan, one of the key accused. Sahil, a native of Panna district who ran a dance class in the Ashoka Garden area, not only raped and blackmailed many girls but also trafficked some of them to other men for money, officials said. Sahil was arrested from Panna, and obscene videos of several girls were recovered from his mobile phone. Investigators said he targeted girls enrolled in his dance class, raped them, filmed the assaults, and used the videos to blackmail them into silence. Later, he sent some victims to guidelines for disabled RAPE, BLACKMAIL RACKET Restaurant sealed Police on Wednesday sealed a restaurant where the accused used to come with the victims. The restaurant is close to the private college in Bag Sewania area where the accused and the victims studied. Investigations revealed that the accused sexually exploited the victims at the restaurant. Police is questioning the restaurant owners and is scanning the CCTV footages to get more clues other men in return for cash — though the victims were unaware they were being exploited for money. 4Continued on | P8 PTI NEW DELHI The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed changes in digital know your customer (KYC) guidelines for persons with disability and acid attack survivors, saying the right to digital access is an intrinsic component of the right to life A seven-month-old female tiger cub was found dead in the Bison beat area of the Karmajhiri range of Madhya Pradesh's Pench Tiger Reserve, officials said. The cub was found unconscious by the elephant patrol team of the reserve, accompanied by her fiercely protective mother, on Sunday and succumbed on Monday India warns Pak against unprovoked ceasefire violations PTI NEW DELHI PTI NEW DELHI Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will represent India at Russia's Victory Day parade on May 9 that will mark the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Germany in the Second World War, official sources said on Wednesday. Russia invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the grand parade to be held in Moscow but India conveyed to Russia that Singh will attend it. "An invitation was extended to the prime minister to attend the Victory Day Parade at Moscow. The Russian side was informed earlier that India would be represented by Defence Minister Singh," said a source. Russia has invited leaders of several friendly nations to attend this year's Victory Day parade. KOLKATA A massive fire that tore through a budget hotel in the congested Mechuapatti area of Burrabazar in central Kolkata on Tuesday night claimed at least 14 lives and left 13 injured, triggering a political blame game and calls for accountability. The fire broke out around 7:30 PM in the six-storey Rituraj Hotel and quickly engulfed the building, trapping several of the 88 guests staying in 42 rooms at the time, officials said. "Most of those who died were trapped inside and could not escape the thick smoke," a senior officer of the Fire and Emergency Services Department said. The majority of the victims evening, as per the officials. The team’s inability to approach the cub immediately, owing to the tigress’s defensive behaviour, prompted the Forest Department to deploy an elephant team to keep the tigress at bay. Despite every effort to revive the cub, including summoning veterinarians, the cub did not survive. "The cub was located by our elephant patrolling party on Sunday morning. It was shivering and displayed signs of paralysis in its hind limbs only... the front limbs avail facilities like opening bank accounts and take benefit of welfare schemes. The court also noted the inability of such people to conduct the KYC process, which requires them to perform visual tasks such as moving their head and positioning their faces -- tasks which they are unable to perform due to facial impairment and disfigurement. 4Continued on | P8 India has warned Pakistan against its unprovoked firings along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir as the directors general of military operations of the two armies spoke on the hotline amid the escalating tensions over the Pahalgam terror attack. Pakistan has been resorting to firings on the Indian side of the LoC since Friday night in violation of a ceasefire understanding and the Indian Army responded to them "appropriately", according to military sources. The directors general of military operations (DGMOs) held the conversation on Tuesday. It came as India mulls its options to respond to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people. The Pakistan military has been warned against the unprovoked firings, people familiar with the DGMO talks said. The sources, however, described the exchanges over the hotline as "routine", saying it was a weekly conversation between the DGMOs that is held every Tuesday. The Indian DGMO strongly took up the matter of ceasefire violations by the Pakistan military, the sources said. 4Continued on | P8 INDIA CLOSES AIRSPACE FOR ALL PAK FLIGHTS Six days after Pakistan decided to shut its airspace to all flights owned and operated by Indian carriers, New Delhi has announced a reciprocal move by shutting down its airspace to all Pakistan owned and operated planes. Flights from Pakistan, which are scheduled for destinations in southeast Asia and Oceania will now have to circumnavigate India. Pak national carrier cancels all flights in Gilgit, other PoK areas Pakistan's national carrier on Wednesday cancelled all flights to and from Gilgit, Skardu and other northern areas in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir due to security reasons, local media reports said, amid rising tensions with India following the Pahalgam terror attack. Citing the flight schedule, Urdu daily Jang reported that the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) cancelled two flights each from Karachi and Lahore to Skardu. Parashuram Dham will be built in Janapav: CM Bangladesh Agencies INDORE Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Wednesday participated in the 'Parashuram Janmotsav' celebrations at Janapav, the birthplace of Lord Parashuram, in Indore's Mhow. On the occasion of Parashuram Jayanti, CM Yadav announced the construction of a 14 dead in Kolkata hotel blaze PTI under Article 21 of the Constitution. A bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan said the changes in digital KYC guidelines for people with disability, including blindness, and acid attack survivors are necessary as they are unable to complete the KYC process and died due to suffocation, while a few reportedly jumped off upper floors in panic. The deceased included 11 men, a woman and two children. All 14 bodies have been identified, Mayor Firhad Hakim said after visiting the injured on Wednesday. He said arrangements were being made to hand over the bodies to the victims' families. Police Commissioner Manoj Verma and State Fire and Emergency Services Minister Sujit Bose initially confirmed 15 fatalities, but later revised the toll to 14 after cross-verification with hospitals and rescue agencies. 4Continued on | P8 'Parshuram Dham' at the revered site. Yadav offered prayers at the sacred spot and sought peace, prosperity, and well-being for the people of the state. Addressing the gathering, CM Yadav described Janapav as the holy birth- place of Lord Parashuram-one of the seven immortals of Sanatan culture--and called it a unique site and sacred location in India. "Whenever adharma prevailed, Lord Parashuram stood up to protect Sanatan Dharma, defeating evil forces and inspiring society 7 killed in AP temple wall collapse Ex-Raw chief to head Nat’l Security Advisory Board VISAKHAPATNAM Seven people were killed when a rain-soaked wall collapsed at the Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple in Simhachalam here in the early hours of Wednesday, turning an annual ritual at the famous north Andhra shrine into a scene of both grandeur and grief. The government said seven people died after the wall collapsed on the Rs 300 ticket queue line near the shopping complex on the ghat road from Simhagiri bus stand at around 3 am. See Nation 7-month-old tiger cub dies in Pench IANS Rajnath to attend Victory Day parade in Russia KEY ACCUSED SC says digital access intrinsic SAHIL TRAFFICKED component of right to life VICTIMS FOR CASH Top court directs changes in KYC offgrid BHOPAL E-paper Edit Canada, US rework ties P.6 CABINET DECISION | Ashwini Vaishnaw says it demonstrates that govt is committed to holistic interests and values of nation Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar MUMBAI were trembling like what happens in rigour. Unfortunately, despite all efforts to resuscitate it, the cub succumbed later on Monday evening," Pench Tiger Reserve Deputy Director Rajnish Singh told IANS. The severity of the incident led the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) to act swiftly, ensuring thorough investigation procedures were undertaken. Wildlife veterinarians conducted a post-mortem at the site, collecting samples for scientific analysis to determine the exact cause of death. The remains have since been sent to Nanaji Deshmukh Veterinary Science University in Jabalpur for further investigation to ascertain the exact cause of death, be it injury or any disease, an official said. 4Continued on | P8 Agencies NEW DELHI The Union government has revamped the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB). Alok Joshi, a former Chief of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), has been appointed as the head of the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB). Six more members have also been inducted into the board. The members include Former Western Air Commander Air Marshal P.M. Sinha, former Southern Army Commander Lieutenant General A.K. Singh, and Rear Admiral Monty Khanna, all retired military officers. Rajiv Ranjan Verma and Manmohan Singh are the two retired members of the Indian Police Service. B Venkatesh Varma is a retired IFS officer in the seven-member board. This decision comes in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terrorist attack, which claimed the lives of 26 innocent civilians, including one Nepalese national, and injured many. In the aftermath of the Pahalgam terrorist attack, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting convened by Prime Minister Narendra with courage and righteousness. To honour this legacy, a Parashuram Dham will be developed at Janapav," he said. Recalling his divine legacy, the CM spoke of Lord Parashuram's role across epochs-from breaking the bow in Lord Ram's Swayamvar to gifting the Sudarshan Chakra to Lord Krishna. High Court grants bail to Chinmoy Das 4Continued on | P8 Modi at his residence c o n clu de d this afternoon. A l o n g with the CCS meeting, two additional committee meetings--the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) and the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA)--were convened at the Prime Minister's residence. A cabinet briefing is scheduled for 3:00 PM today. The second CCS meeting discussed security preparedness in the wake of the Pahalgam incident. The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) last met on April 23 and was briefed in detail on the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, in which 25 Indians and one Nepali citizen were killed. In the briefing to the CCS, the cross-border linkages of the terrorist attack were brought out. It was noted that this attack came in the wake of the successful holding of elections in the Union Territory and its steady progress towards economic growth and development. 4Continued on | P8 PTI DHAKA A bench of Bangladesh High Court on Wednesday ordered release of Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das on bail, five months after he was arrested on a charge of defaming the country's national flag, court officials said. "The two-judge bench declared absolute its earlier rule asking authorities why he should not be granted bail," an official of the High Court said. The bench comprising Justice Atoar Rahman and Justice Ali Reza granted the bail after the final hearing on their previous rule. On October 31, a case with Kotwali police station in Chattogram was filed accusing Das and 18 others of disrespecting the Bangladesh national flag. A former ISKCON leader, Das was arrested at Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on November 25 last year. A spokesperson for the Sammilito Sanatani Jagaran Jote, a Hindu organisation, Das was taken to the court at the southeastern port city of Chattogram, which sent him to jail rejecting his bail petition the next day. Das' arrest sparked widespread protests with his followers demonstrating in Dhaka and other places. In the port city, the protest turned violent when assistant government prosecutor Saiful Islam Alif was hacked to death, hours after Das was sent to jail.