FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms Vol. 15 No. 68 | BHOPAL | MONDAY | AUGUST 25, 2025 | Pages 14 ` 3 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. mpeng/2010/35815 FREE www.freepressjournal.in Sports Pujara bids adieu after repeated snub P.13 fp ESTD-1983 iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: BHOPAL UJJAIN NATION PRESS PUNE INDORE NASHIK NOIDA Dowry murder: Hubby shot As outrage mounted over the alleged killing of 26year-old woman for dowry in Greater Noida, police on Sunday arrested her mother-in-law while her husband was shot in leg as he attempted to flee custody. The family of the victim, Nikki, who was allegedly set ablaze by her husband and in-laws, claimed that she had been tortured since her marriage in 2016 by them for a dowry demand of Rs 36 lakh, even after they had fulfilled their demand for Scorpio vehicle and a motorcycle. Brand Sutra STIRRING THINGS UP P.14 NEW DELHI Dwivedi leaves for Algeria In his first foreign trip following Operation Sindoor, Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi on Sunday left for Algeria on a four-day visit to explore ways to expand bilateral defence and security ties. The visit comes nearly 10 months after India inked a pact on defence cooperation with the North African nation. Gen Dwivedi will hold talks with top defence and military brass of Algeria focusing on ways to enhance bilateral defence cooperation, especially between the two land forces, officials said. CAIRO Israeli strikes hit Sanaa Israeli airstrikes hit Yemen's capital on Sunday, just days after the Houthi rebels fired a missile toward Israel, the rebels said, the latest Israeli attack targeting the Iranian-backed group. The Houthi media office said the strikes hit multiple areas across the capital of Sanaa, including a power planet and a gas station. Residents reported hearing loud sounds of explosions in different areas, including close to the presidential palace. Rain continues to lash MP, dam overflows in Umaria Flash floods likely in Bhind, Gwalior, Morena, Shivpuri & Sheopur  RAIN METER Places Sidhi Devsar Bhitarwar Dabra Chinor Benibari Dindori Mohgaon Barhai Sarai Amarpur Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL Heavy rainfall was recorded in many districts of the state on Sunday, with the Meteorological Department predicting showers for another 24 hours. In Umaria,  which saw a downpour since Saturday night, excess water was released from the Umarar Dam. The district administration has put teams on alert mode, especially in low-lying areas.  ADM Rita Deharia said to the Free Press, “The administration has released excess water from the Umarar Dam. We have deployed rescue teams to monitor the situation, especially in low-lying areas.” According to the Meteorological Department, low to moderate flash floods are likely in Bhind, Gwalior, Morena, Shivpuri, and Sheopur districts. Very heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds at a speed of 30-40 kmph are forecast for isolated places in Guna, Ashoknagar, Shivpuri, Gwalior, Datia, Bhind, Morena, and Sheopur districts. Likewise, isolated places in Singrauli, Sidhi, Rewa, Mauganj, Satna, Panna, Sagar, Chhatarpur, Tikamgarh, Niwari, and Maihar districts are expected to experience very Rahul: EC, BJP in partnership; SIR institutionalised theft of votes PTI NEW DELHI Sambhal row hearing today The Supreme Court is slated to hear the dispute over the Shahi Jama Masjid–Sri Harihar Temple in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal on Monday. As per the computerised case status, a bench of Justices P.S. Narasimha and Atul S. Chandurkar will resume hearing on August 25 the special leave petition (SLP) filed by the mosque committee. 4Continued on | P8 Bihar SIR: Documents of 98% electors received After SBI, Bank of India tags RCom, Anil Ambani as fraud NEW DELHI thief, vacate your seat of power) was now on the lips of "even six-year-old children". The Leader of the Opposi- tion in Lok Sabha wound up the second leg of the yatra, 4Continued on | P8 India tests integrated air defence system PTI After the State Bank of India, Bank of India has classified the loan account of insolvent Reliance Communications as fraudulent and named its former director, tycoon Anil Ambani, citing alleged fund diversion in 2016, according to a regulatory filing. State-owned Bank of India granted a Rs 700 crore loan in August 2016 to Reliance Communications for its ongoing capital and operational expenditure and repayment of existing liabilities. Half of the sanctioned amount disbursed in October 2016 was invested in a fixed deposit, which was not permitted as per the sanction letter, according to the bank's letter that RCom disclosed in a stock exchange filing. Previously, SBI had done the same in June this year, alleging misappropriation of bank funds. The Election Commission on Sunday said documents of 98.2 per cent electors have already been received with eight more days left for people to file claims and objections to the draft electoral roll of Bihar published as part of the intensive revision of voters' list. It underlined that the claims and objections period gives an opportunity to the electors to not only rectify mistakes in the draft rolls, but also submit their requisite documents which they may not have provided while submitting their enumeration forms. "As per information received from the office of CEO Bihar, till date documents of 98.2 per cent electors have been received," it said. 4Continued on | P8 SRINAGAR Allegations of a paper leak ahead of a recruitment test emerged in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, with political parties criticising the ruling National Conference (NC) for "wrecking the future" of the youth, prompting the cancellation of the examination. The Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) announced the cancellation of the written test and said they would be held afresh. heavy rainfall, thunderstorm, and lightning. Heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and lightning are predicted at isolated places in Vidisha, Raisen, Anuppur, Shahdol, Umaria, Dindori, Katni, Jabalpur, Narsinghpur, and Damoh districts. PTI NEW DELHI J&K SSB exams cancelled Rain (mm) 167.8 138.2 123.2 123.0 114.1 113.4 111.2 105.3 105.0 104.0 102.0 ARARIA Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday charged the Election Commission with having a "partnership" with the ruling BJP at the Centre, and vowed to thwart "institutionalised theft of votes" in the guise of special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Bihar. A week into the fortnightlong 'Voter Adhikar Yatra', Gandhi also seemed delighted at the response, claiming that people were taking part "organically, without being asked to do so", and that the slogan 'vote chor, gaddi chhod' (vote E-paper Edit Sergei Gor: His Master’s Voice P.6 School hostel gutted in fire, 1 dead, 3 hurt WEATHER ALERT | No let-up, rain activity for another 24 hrs Briefs MUMBAI Ukraine drones strike Russian N-power plant AP MOSCOW Russia accused Ukraine Sunday of launching drone attacks that sparked a fire at a nuclear power plant in its western Kursk region overnight, as Ukraine celebrated 34 years since its independence. Russian officials said several power and energy facilities were targeted in the overnight strikes. The fire at the nuclear facility was quickly extinguished with no injuries reported, according to the plant's press service on Telegram. While the attack damaged a transformer, radiation levels remained within normal ranges. The United Nations' nuclear watchdog said it was aware of media reports that a transformer at the plants had caught fire "due to military activity," but hadn't received independent confirmation. It said its director-general, Rafael Mariano Grossi, said that "every nuclear facility must be protected at all times." Ukraine did not immediately comment on the alleged attack. Firefighters also responded to a blaze at the port of UstLuga in Russia's Leningrad region, home to a major fuel export terminal. 7 homoeopathy colleges denied recognition Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL A lack of proper teaching staff and poor strength in both InPatient Department and OutPatient Departments have cost seven homoeopathy colleges in the state, all private, recognition for the 2025-26 academic session. Meanwhile, the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) has given conditional permission to 11 homoeopathy colleges.  The state has 27 homoeopathy colleges, including a government one. The seven colleges denied recognition are: Swami Pranavanand Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Chhatarpur; Aarihant Homoeopathic Medical College at Sendhwa, Barwani district,   Sagar Homoeopathic Medical College & Hospital Research Centre, Sagar; Sheetla Sahai Homoeopathy Medical College & Research Institute Cancer Hospital, Gwalior; Shri Ramnath Singh Siksha Prasar Samiti Homoeopathic Medical College, Gormi, Bhind; Sophia Homoeopathic Medical College (Swastik Educational & Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL Drug smugglers linked to the international hydroponic weed trafficking racket posed as influential or well-off persons while travelling, deliberately using air-conditioned train coaches and avoiding suspicious behaviour, to stay under the radar of security agencies, officials said. The revelation came in the wake of a major pan-India crackdown by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), code-named Operation ‘WeedOut’, which led to the busting of a hydroponic weed smuggling syndicate on August 20. OP WEEDOUT Smugglers received parcels outside rly station just before train departure. Parcels were discreetly hidden in luggage In a coordinated late-evening operation, DRI officers intercepted suspects at KrantiveeraSangolli Rayanna railway station, Bengaluru, and Bhopal Junction, and seized hydroponic weed worth Rs 72 crore. Sources said the smugglers received parcels outside the Agencies NEW DELHI India has "successfully" conducted the maiden flight tests of an integrated air defence weapon system (IADWS) off the coast of Odisha, demonstrating its growing military capabilities in the face of an evolving regional security scenario. The IADWS is a multilayered air defence system consisting of indigenous quick reaction surface-to-air missiles (QRSAM), very short range air defence system 4Continued on | P8 The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully conducted its first Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-01), marking a key milestone in the preparation for India's ambitious Gaganyaan Mission. According to ISRO, the successful trial was a collaborative effort involving multiple defence and research organisations, including the Indian Air Force, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Indian Navy, and Indian Coast Guard. In a post on X, ISRO wrote, "ISRO successfully accomplishes first Integrated Air Drop Test (IADT-01) for endto-end demonstration of parachute-based deceleration system for Gaganyaan missions. 4Continued on | P8 CISF to have all-women commando team PTI The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has decided to create an all-women commando team for conducting specialised counterterrorist operations, officials said on Sunday. A group of 100 female personnel deployed across the country as part of the aviation security group (ASG) guarding civilian airports are the first to be trained for the task. The about 1.70 lakhstrength CISF is primarily tasked to guard 69 civil airports, the Delhi Metro and a number of other vital installations in the government and private domain. "The training for the first batch of the women personnel in commando skills has been started at a training centre located in Barwaha, Madhya Pradesh. "This eight-week advanced commando course will prepare women person- railway station just before train departure. The parcels were discreetly hidden in their luggage. The smugglers claimed they were unaware of how the drug made its way to Bengaluru. The entire travel and accommodation, whether in Bengaluru or Delhi, was arranged by a kingpin based in Delhi. After arrival in Delhi, the delivery was picked up immediately as the carriers stepped out of railway station. The carriers said they never met the kingpin in person and only interacted via mobile phone. 4Continued on | P8 Nikki urges India to take Trump’s view on Russian oil seriously NEW YORK offgrid NEW DELHI 4Continued on | P8 PTI NEW DELHI (VSHORADS) missiles and a high power laser based directed-energy weapons (DEW) system, according to the defence ministry. The indigenous air defence system was flight-tested 1230 hours off the coast of Odisha on Saturday. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the developer of the platform, and the armed forces on the flight tests. Social Welfare Society’s), Gwalior; and Shivang Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Nayapura, Kolar Road. The 11 colleges that got a conditional permission are: Anushree Homoeopathic Medical College, Jabalpur; R.K.D.F. Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital Research Centre, Hoshangabad Road, Bhopal; District Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Ratlam; Hahnemann Homoeopathic Medical College, Bhopal; Ram Krishna College of Homoeopathy & Medical Sciences, Bhopal; Govt. Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Chuna Bhatti, Bhopal; School of Homoeopathy, Sri Satya Sai University of Technology & Medical Sciences, Bhopal-Indore Road, Sehore; Hydroponic weed smugglers posed as VIPs to dodge cops ISRO completes first integrated air drop test for Gaganyaan PTI National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) has given conditional permission to 11 homoeopathy colleges Training of women commandos at the CISF Regional Training Centre in Barwaha nel for quick reaction team (QRT) and special task force (STF) duties at high-security establishments and plants," a CISF official said. The personnel will be trained in physical fitness and weapons training, livefire drills under stress, endurance-building exercises like running, obstacle courses, rappelling, survival training in forests, and a 48hour confidence-building exercise designed to test decision-making and teamwork under adverse con- ditions, he said. The central armed police force, which functions under the Union home ministry, has 12,491 women (8 per cent of its strength) in its ranks at present. In 2026, 2,400 more women staff will be recruited and in the coming years, recruitment will be structured in such a way that women consistently make up at least 10 per cent of the force as per the directions of the home ministry, the official said. India should take President Donald Trump's concerns over its procurement of Russian crude oil seriously and work with the White House to find a solution to the issue, Republican leader Nikki Haley has said. The Trump administration has been severely critical of India for its procurement of discounted crude oil from Russia. Interestingly, Washington has not been criticising China, the largest importer of Russian crude oil. Defending its purchase of Russian crude oil, India has been maintaining that its energy procurement is driven by national interest and market dynamics. Haley, the Indian-origin Republican leader, on Saturday posted on 'X' a portion of an opinion piece she wrote in the Newsweek four days back. The former South Carolina governor's social media post urging New Delhi to take President Trump's concerns over the Russian crude oil seriously came after she faced criticism within her party following the opinion piece. 4Continued on | P8