FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms FREE PRESS Vol. 14 No. 203 | BHOPAL | SUNDAY | JANUARY 5, 2025 | Pages 18 ` 4 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. mpeng/2010/35815 www.freepressjournal.in Sports Saikia set to take over as BCCI secy P.16 ESTD-1983 iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: BHOPAL UJJAIN PUNE INDORE WORLD NASHIK MUMBAI E-paper readers’ corner Time for B’desh to pay for misdeeds P.10 Israel fails to move UN on Gaza hosp raid Cinema Ram Charan talks tough taskmasters P.18 4 bodies found Govt to knock at in septic tank HC door for UC waste disposal PITHAMPUR PROTEST: DAY-3 | Cops resort to lathi-charge, tear gas; prohibitory orders imposed Rumours trigger stone pelting at Ramky unit Bharat Dholi Pithampur is the only place in the state where it can be burnt PITHAMPUR/MHOW Tension escalated at the Ramky Enviro Industries factory near Tarpura village on Saturday as a mob, spooked by rumours, threw stones at the facility, causing significant damage to vehicles. The unrest is linked to ongoing protests against the disposal of Union Carbide Company (UCC) toxic waste. This marks the third consecutive day of protests. The police responded with a lathi charge and tear gas to disperse the crowd, and SDM Pramod Kumar Gurjar clarified that the protests were triggered by rumours that hazardous waste containers from Bhopal were being opened, with workers allegedly harmed in the process. Gurjar, who personally inspected the containers, confirmed that none were opened and no injuries had occurred. In response to the violence, authorities imposed prohibitory orders within a 100meter radius of the factory, warning of strict action against violators. fp Briefs NEW DELHI Ban on Pannun's SFJ extended The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal has confirmed a notification issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) banning pro-Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun-led 'Sikhs for Justice (SFJ)' for a period of five years. VIRUDHUNAGAR 6 die in cracker unit explosion Six workers were killed following an explosion at a firecrackers manufacturing unit near here on Saturday, an official said. The blast occurred in the morning when the workers were engaged in mixing chemical-raw materials, as part of the manufacturing process, leading to the deaths of 6 men and 4 rooms in the factory premises were flattened. Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL 5 cases against protesters olice have registered five cases against the protesters involved in the disturbances, which included a mob of around 500-600 people. The protests, which disrupted public peace, led to the implementation of these orders. Despite the unrest, normal industrial operations resumed in Pithampur. P Commissioner in Pithampur Divisional Commissioner Deepak Singh urged people to verify facts about the UCC waste disposal. He reinforced the government's commitment to public welfare and legal compliance, stressing that the disposal process would be carefully managed under court directives. Report to be submitted in HC on January 6 Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has assured that a detailed report on the waste disposal would be submitted to the Madhya Pradesh High Court by January 6. He emphasised that no incineration would take place until the court provides further guidance, calling for the public not to be swayed by misinformation. People flee rented houses near Ramky Pithampur ward 1 councillor Kiran Chopda's husband Chaman said several people living on rent in Tarpura village near Ramky unit left their homes after the protest for their health and security reasons. IIT student kills self after losing college fee in online gaming Our Staff Reporter INDORE A 17-year-old student of BTech first year in the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Indore was found hanging from a ceiling fan in his hostel room located on the campus on Friday night. According to the police, the deceased was identified as Rohith Kumar, son of Dev Singh Kethavath, a native of Nalgonda district in Telangana. He had moved to Indore for studies. Preliminary investigation revealed that he hanged himself after losing the college fee of Rs 40,000 sent by his par- ents in online betting games. He had three backlogs in his first semester examination which also drove him to take the drastic step. Before committing suicide, he had put a wallpaper on his mobile screen saying the reason behind his suicide was that he was addicted to online betting games. His parents might forgive him but he would do the same thing again as it was like a drug addiction. So he was saying goodbye to all his loved ones. His friend Vishwanath said, "Rohith used to play online games. He had put a wallpaper on his phone in which it was written, 'The reason behind my suicide is that I am addicted to online betting games...'. His room was closed after 9 AM and he did not respond when we knocked in the afternoon. We also called him several times but he did not answer. Last night when we looked under the door, Rohith was not on the bed and we saw a chair kept there. When we broke the door, we came to know about the incident and informed the watchman." ED attaches ex-DIG’s assets worth Rs 4.68 cr Four soldiers die in J&K road accident Umesh Gandhi died of illness Srinagar: Four army soldiers died and and one injured in a road accident in J&K's Bandipora district on Saturday. Initial reports said that Army vehicle veered off the road suddenly and dropped into a deep gorge in Saderkoot Payeen area. Five army soldiers were injured in this accident. They were immediately shifted to a nearby hospital where attending doctors said two soldiers were dead on arrival. Three critically injured soldiers were bring shifted to Srinagar. Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL The Enforcement Directorate has attached properties of the late DIG (Jails) Umesh Kumar Gandhi and his family worth over Rs 4.68 crore which were disproportionate to his known sources of income. Gandhi died of illness a few years ago. The Special Police Establishment (SPE) carried out raids on the residential premises of Gandhi in 2012. ED began an inquiry into the case on the grounds of SPE action. The raids carried out by ED and SPE sleuths revealed that Gandhi had acquired movable and unmovable properties disproportionate to his known sources of income. Apart from Bhopal, the family members of Gandhi have properties in Indore, Sagar, Katni and Sehore. ED attached all the properties. 4Continued on | P8 offgrid Man behind ‘Op Smiling Buddha’ dies PTI NEW DELHI Eminent physicist Rajagopala Chidambaram, who played a key role in the nuclear tests of 1974 and 1998, passed away on Saturday, according to the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE). He was 88. Chidambaram, who was also associated with the nuclear weapons programme, Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL breathed his last at Jaslok Hospital in Mumbai, a DAE official said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was "deeply saddened" by the demise of Chidambaram. "He was one of the key architects of India's nuclear programme and made ground-breaking contributions in strengthening India's scientific and strategic capabilities. He will be remembered with gratitude by the whole nation and his efforts will inspire generations to come," the prime minister said. Science and Technology Min- ister Jitendra Singh extended his condolences to Chidambaram's family. "Saddened to learn about the passing away this morning of eminent nuclear scientist Dr. Rajagopala Chidambaram, who led India's Atomic Energy Commission and played a key role in the development of strategic weapons. 4Continued on | P8 Chief Secretary Anurag Jain has said that the chemical waste of the Union Carbide was shifted from the factory site, but the government will seek time for its disposal. Jain made the statement in an informal interaction with media persons on Saturday. The government will submit an affidavit in the court that 358-tonne UC waste has been transported to Pithampur, Jain said, adding that there are some doubts over the factory leftover. The waste will be burnt only after allaying those doubts and after solving the problems that may come up in the process, he said. Because there are certain misgivings among people about the waste, the government will take any further steps only after dispelling What will happen to UC site yet to be decided hief Secretary Anurag Jain said what would happen to the UC factory premises was not yet decided. The chemical waste of the factory was removed after a court order. It was previously decided that a memorial would be constructed, but no decision was taken on the issue, he said. C There is no waste now hief Secretary Anurag Jain has said that there is no chemical waste at the UC factory site. It was clear after inspection by various organisations that the quantity of the waste was as much as was shifted from the factory site, he said, adding that if any issue crops up it will be examined. C those doubts and it will be done under the court’s guidance, he said. 4Continued on | P8 In a shocking incident, the Singrauli police recovered four decomposed bodies from a septic tank at a house in Badokar village, under the Bargawan police station, on Saturday. The victims are believed to have been killed over a dispute, with the killer(s) possibly fleeing the scene. According to police sources, the bodies were discovered after a call was made to Dial 100 emergency number, alerting authorities about a foul odour emanating from an abandoned house. Upon arrival, officers found the bodies inside the septic tank. Two of the victims have been identified as Suresh Prajapati, a resident of Jayant, and Karan Halwai from Bedan, in the Mada police station area. Efforts are on to identify the other two bodies. The house where the bodies were found belonged to Suresh Prajapati, raising suspicions that he and the other victims might have gathered there for a New Year celebration, during which a violent incident possibly occurred. Moreover, a suspicious car was found parked near the house, and its details are currently being investigated. The police are working to unravel the motive behind the killings and have launched an investigation to identify the accused. Security beefed up in Manipur’s Kangpokpi PTI IMPHAL Security was beefed up in Manipur's Kangpokpi district where the SP was injured in a mob attack for failing to "remove" the central armed forces as per the demands of Kuki groups, officials said on Saturday. A mob on Friday evening attacked the office of Superintendent of Police M Prabhakar, throwing stones and other "projectiles" to vent their anger over the continued deployment of central forces, particularly the BSF and the CRPF, in the Saibol village. 4Continued on | P8