FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms FREE PRESS Vol. XLII No. 125 | INDORE | SUNDAY | OCTOBER 12, 2025 | Pages 16 ` 4 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. 38281/83 www.freepressjournal.in Sports ESTD-1983 iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: INDORE WORLD Spin twin terror on P.16 UJJAIN PUNE BHOPAL NASHIK MUMBAI E-paper Nation Manjhi toughens stand... P.7 Return to remains Cinema Sonakshi shuts down... P.14 CHHINDWARA TRAGEDY: DEG, EG TESTS NOW MUST FOR SYRUPS Our Staff Reporter TESTING ON BHOPAL The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission has amended its 2022 guidelines to make testing for Diethylene Glycol (DEG) and Ethylene Glycol (EG) mandatory for both finished syrups and raw materials. All Drug Controllers in India have been instructed to strictly follow the new mandate. Earlier, only the components used in syrup manufacturing were tested, but now finished products must also undergo DEG and EG checks. This decision comes in the wake of the Chhindwara cough syrup incident, which claimed at least 22 children’s lives due to renal failure caused by toxic Coldrif syrup containing DEG fp Briefs NEW DELHI India, Canada discuss ties Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday held discussions with his Canadian counterpart Maninder Sidhu on ways to strengthen economic ties between the two countries. "We discussed ways to find mutually beneficial opportunities for our businesses to capitalise on the complementarities offered by our two economies. I emphasised that economic, trade and investment ties between India and Canada should be grounded in the principles of mutual respect, trust and balance," Goyal said in a post on X. RAIPUR Six Maoists arrested In a significant success under the ongoing 'Naxalite Eradication Campaign', security forces in South Bastar Dantewada arrested six Maoists and safely defused a pressure Improvised Explosive Device (IED) near Manganar Road. MUMBAI Haryana shunts SP The Haryana government on Saturday transferred Rohtak Superintendent of Police (SP) Narendra Bijarniya, who is among eight senior officers accused in connection with the alleged suicide of IPS officer Y. Puran Kumar. The transfer came amid growing political and public outrage over the officer’s death and allegations of caste-based harassment within the police force. Officials are currently awaiting results from 242 syrup samples collected across Madhya Pradesh. Testing each sample requires 12 to 24 hours, so reports will be released gradually, starting from Monday. The samples include other suspected drugs following tests on Coldrif and two additional syrups found to be of Not of Standard Quality (NSQ). beyond permissible limits. A senior officer at the Drug Controller’s office said that the new measure ensures safety at the finished product stage and strengthens oversight across pharmaceutical production. CAG also warned govt of medicine scam Drugs banned by Centre were purchased Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL CAG warned the health department of several issues even before the Chhindwara tragedy occurred. One of the cases, about which the CAG warned the health department, was related to the irregularity in the purchase of medicines. The MP Public Health Services Corporation Limited (MP HSCL) purchased a few drugs banned by the Central Government. The CAG indicated it in its report. The MPHSCL entered into a contract from 2016 to 2020 to purchase the drugs which were kept on the list of banned medicines by the Centre. The department also purchased drugs worth Rs 176 crore. The CAG also highlighted that the drugs had been purchased at higher prices than the rates fixed by the government. The CAG also pointed out that medicines worth Rs 55 lakh, kept in the store for a long time, became unusable.   The CAG report also highlighted the delay in the supply of medicines. It also came to light through the CAG report that the same officer had purchased similar medicines at different rates in the same year. 4Continued on | P8 Probe against Coldrif manufacturer exposed lapses by TNFDA he investigation against the Kanchipuram-based manufacturer of Coldrif cough syrup, linked to the deaths of children in Madhya Pradesh, has brought to light lapses by the Tamil Nadu Food and Drug Administration in enforcing basic regulatory norms, CDSCO sources said. T AGRI BOOST | Modi launches twin schemes, projects to boost growth, rural income, self-reliance to make India hallmark of agronomy PM UNVEILS Rs 42K CR AGRICULTURE REFORMS FP News Service ‘NE is pulsating heart of India’s growth story’ MUMBAI Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday unveiled two landmark agricultural schemes, the PM Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana and the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses, with a combined outlay of ₹35,440 crore, forming part of a ₹42,000-crore nationwide initiative to transform India’s agriculture and allied sectors. Addressing the Krishi Samriddhi Mahotsav at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute in New Delhi, coinciding with the birth anniversaries of Bharat Ratna Jayaprakash Narayan and Nanaji Deshmukh, PM Modi said the new schemes would make India not just self-reliant in food production but an exporter of agricultural excellence. “Farmers have a bigger role in making India Viksit Bharat. We must not only feed ourselves but also produce ex- 2 cops accused of BTech student’s murder arrested PM Narendra Modi during an interaction with farmers at Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa, in New Delhi. port-oriented crops for the world,” he said, adding that the reforms would “change the fate of millions of farmers.” The PM Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (₹24,000 crore) aims to enhance productivity, promote sustainable practices, improve irrigation, boost post-harvest storage, and extend credit facilities For the first time, the northeast is not the periphery but the pulsating heart of India’s growth story, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday. The PM Modi shared an article on X, written by Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, that underscores the transformation and growing importance of Arunachal Pradesh in the nation’s development journey across 100 selected districts. The Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses (₹11,440 crore) seeks to expand pulse cultivation, strengthen the value chain, and reduce import dependency to ensure protein security for India’s growing population. PM Modi said India’s farm output and exports had surged remarkably in the past decade. “Grain production has increased by 900 lakh metric tonnes, fruits and vegetables by 640 lakh metric tonnes, and milk production has made India number one globally. Agricultural exports have nearly doubled,” he said. GOR CALLS ON MODI Hamas to skip peace deal signing 4Continued on | P8 FP News Service Agencies MUMBAI GAZA CITY US Ambassador-designate Sergio Gor on Saturday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him a “great and personal friend” of President Donald Trump, and expressed optimism about deepening cooperation despite ongoing strains in India–US trade relations. “I had an incredible meeting with Prime Minister Modi. We discussed trade, critical minerals, and defence,” Gor said after his first official engagement with Indian leadership since his Senate confirmation as the next US envoy to India. Gor, on a six-day visit to New Delhi, was accompanied by US Deputy Secretary for Management and Resources Michael J. Rigas. Before calling on the Prime Minister, he met External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Foreign Secre- Palestinian militant group Hamas will skip the official signing of the Gaza peace deal in Egypt, a senior leader told news agency AFP, citing disagreements with parts of Donald Trump’s plan, leaving the future of the long-awaited agreement in limbo. Hamas leaders dismissed suggestions that its members leave the Gaza Strip under the plan as “absurd,” a Times of Israel report added. The group's political bureau member, Hossam Badran, told reporters that “Talk about expelling Palestinians, whether they’re Hamas members or not, from their land is absurd and nonsense.” He said he expects negotiations over the second phase of the plan to be difficult, because it “contains many complexities and difficulties.” Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL The two constables accused of brutally thrashing a B.Tech student Udit Gayki, allegedly causing his death, were arrested on Saturday night. Police officials said that a murder case was registered against the two constables posted at Piplani police station. According to the FIR, constables Saurabh Arya and Santosh Bamaniya were booked under Sections 115(2) for voluntarily causing injury, 103(1) for murder and 3(5) for common intention, of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The action was a sequel to an inquiry, which found prima facie evidence from witness statements, CCTV camera footage and the post mortem examination report, 4Continued on | P8 The message, “Mr Prime Minister, you are great,” is handwritten and personally signed by the US President himself on the photograph. – @narendramodi X/ANI Photo tary Vikram Misri. In a post on X, PM Modi welcomed the new envoy, saying, “Glad to receive Mr Sergio Gor, Ambassador-designate of the US to India. I’m confident that his tenure will further strengthen the India–US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership.” after 15 years Visually impaired Assam girl reunites with mom Ravishankar Pathak SATNA It is a poignant tale of a 20-year-old Assamese girl, Mona, who has reunited with her mother, Mamuni Das, after 15 years of separation. When it happened, she was just five and left home with her 12-yearold elder brother because of poverty. Then she could speak only Assamese. Today, she is a student of BA third year and has command of both Hindi and English. Visually impaired girl submitting an application at a public hearing in Satna for caste certificate. (A file photo) Mona, a resident of Dhubri village in Assam, reached Satna with her brother by a train. As some people saw the visually challenged Mona sit on the lap of her brother at the bus stand, they informed the police. Because the brother-sister duo only knew Assamese, the police could not locate their parents. A former minister Lalta Khare came to their rescue. He kept Mona and her brother at an old age home in Nimi at Chandrashay. But after some time, her brother left the place without saying any- thing to anyone. As Mona took interest in studies, Khare admitted her to a blind school with boarding facilities in Jabalpur. After passing high school examination when Mona returned to the old age home, Khare had passed away. President of Chandrashay Trust Motilal Goyal and Secretary VD Tripathi took care of her studies and other requirements. With their help, Mona passed the class 12 examination. 4Continued on | P8 Toll up to 25 The toll in the cough syrup tragedy shot up to 25, sources said on Saturday. Two ailing children from Betul were brought to Parasia for treatment, and both died, but the list provided by the Chhindwara administration did not include those names. At present, three children undergoing treatment in Nagpur are five-year-old Kunal Yaduwanshi, a resident of Parasia; fouryear-old Ambika Vishwakarma, a resident of Chorai-Kakai Bohna village; and eight-year-old Karvatya Sahu, a resident of Barangateli village in Parasia Row over all-male Muttaqi Delhi press conference Agencies NEW DELHI The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Saturday clarified that it had no involvement in the press interaction held by Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in New Delhi on Friday, which sparked a major controversy after reports emerged that women journalists were allegedly barred from attending the event. “MEA had no involvement in the press interaction held yesterday by the Afghan FM in Delhi,” the ministry said in a statement. The press conference was organised at the Afghanistan Embassy in New Delhi after bilateral talks between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Muttaqi. 4Continued on | P8 Odisha medico gang-raped near college in Bengal Aritra Singha KOLKATA A second-year medical student was allegedly ‘gang-raped’ near a private medical college in West Bengal’s Durgapur. The victim is undergoing treatment. According to the victim’s father, his daughter went out to have a snack with her friend when a few ‘unknown’ men attacked her daughter and allegedly ‘gang-raped’ her. “The unknown miscreants threatened to kill my daughter if she shouted. They snatched her mobile phone and demanded Rs3,000 to return it,” said the victim’s father appealing for justice for his daughter. It is alleged that her friend fled the spot when the miscreants threatened him. The men dragged her to the nearest forest and committed the crime. The student is from Odisha’s Jalsehwar. On X, West Bengal Police said, “We are deeply saddened by the sexual assault on a medical student from Odisha in Durgapur, and wish to assure all that the culprits shall not go unpunished. The pain of the victim is as much ours as it is Odisha's, and we shall leave no stone unturned to bring the perpetrators to book. The victim is recovering well and all assistance is being provided to the family. We urge everyone to refrain from sharing any unverified information. West Bengal Police remain committed to its zero tolerance policy in respect of offences against women.” National Commission for Women’s Archana Majumdar visited the spot and assured of all help. “We are investigating NCW member Archana Majumdar visits the hospital in Durgapur, West Bengal, on Saturday. -PTI the issue and for the investigation the college officials, government and everyone will be questioned,” said Majumdar. Leader of opposition in the assembly Suvendu Adhikari citing RG Kar incident said he assured survivor’s father of help. Trinamool also condemned the act. BJP and CPI(M) staged protests on the campus. Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi expressed deep concern over the incident and reached out to his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee. On X, Majhi: “The unfortunate incident of gang-rape involving an Odia student in Durgapur, West Bengal, is highly condemnable and painful. I am deeply shocked upon hearing this news. In this sensitive matter, I strongly urge the chief minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, to take exemplary action against the accused as per the law.” Notably, a junior medic was raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9, 2024. This year in July, a law student was gangraped inside her South Kolkata Law college in Kolkata, allegedly by a leader of the TMC student wing. MP NETS Rs 3,665 CR INVESTMENT ON FIRST DAY OF TRAVEL MART Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL Madhya Pradesh received investment proposals worth Rs 3,665 crore on the first day of its inaugural Travel Mart on Saturday. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said the state will now host Travel Mart annually on October 11, 12, and 13, joining Kerala and Rajasthan in having fixed dates for the event. The event, held at Kushabhau Thakre International Convention Center, saw participants from 27 countries. Over 4,000 business-to-business meetings are planned under the Travel Mart, aiming to showcase the state’s culture and tourism potential globally. During the conclave, Sitarist television commercial, made by Anushka Shankar, daughter of Pandit Ravi Shankar, was launched. CM also announced new helicopter services across Didn’t say, give it to me: Trump after Nobel snub Agencies CM Mohan Yadav inaugurates MP Travel Mart on Saturday. Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat was also present three sectors to boost tourism. Ekta Kapoor films in MP During one-to-one meetings, Balaji Films’ Ekta Kapoor signed a five-year contract to shoot her projects in Madhya Pradesh, further promoting the state as a filming destination. hawat said the government has identified Madhya Pradesh as one of the best states for tourism, highlighting its vast potential. CM inaugurates Travel Mart Union Minister hails MP tourism Chief Minister Mohan Yadav inaugurated the event, stating that MP has a glorious past and immense potential in religious, wildlife, heritage and health tourism. Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shek- 4Continued on | P8 100 % Trump tariffs on China from Nov 1 FP News Service MUMBAI WASHINGTON, DC US President Donald Trump on Friday (local time) reacted to not winning the Nobel Peace Prize this year, claiming that he had extended assistance to the awardee, Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, on multiple occasions. He said the Venezuelan opposition leader called him and accepted the prize "in honour" of him. "The person who got the Nobel Prize called me today and said, 'I am accepting this in honour of you because you really deserved it'... I didn't say, 'Give it to me', though. I think she might have... I've been helping her along the way. US President Donald Trump on Friday reignited the trade war with China, announcing a sweeping 100 per cent tariff on Chinese imports and threatening to cancel his scheduled summit with President Xi Jinping, accusing Beijing of taking an “extraordinarily aggressive” stance on trade. In a series of posts on Truth Social, Trump said the new levies, along with “large-scale export controls on virtually every product they make” and “all critical software,” would take effect from November 1 — or sooner — in retaliation for China’s latest move to tighten export curbs on rare earth minerals. “It is impossible to believe that China would have taken such an action, but they have, and the rest is history,” he declared. China’s newly announced controls require global companies to seek permission from Beijing to export critical magnets and other products containing even small amounts of Chinese-sourced rare earths. 4Continued on | P8