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Communal clashes erupts in Madhya Pradesh during ‘vjiay juloos’

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vjiay juloos

Indore: An indefinite curfew has been clamped in Madhya Pradesh’s Khargone city after overnight clashes between two communities during a religious procession injured over two dozen people including police personnel.

 

Police lobbed tear gas shells and canned rioters after several houses and vehicles were set ablaze during the violence on Thursday night during the ‘vijay juloos’ (victory procession) which followed the Dussehra celebrations.

The Hindu festivities coincided with the Muharram procession of the Muslims this year.

Sources said differences over the same route taken by members of the two communities triggered the clashes, shattering a fragile peace in the midst of a surcharged atmosphere in many parts of the country.

The Khargone additional superintend of police (ASP) and three other security personnel were injured when rioters pelted stones during the clashes which spread to several localities of the city.

“Extra police forces have been deployed to prevent any untoward incident in the future,” said Dilip Arya, the Khargone deputy inspector general of police.

Police said that the clashes started when some people allegedly pelted stones on the ‘victory procession’ near a popular cinema hall in the heart of the city. This turned into full-fledged clashes as the other group retaliated.

The violence spread to several other localities — Sanjay Nagar, Tevedi, Goshala Marg, Talaab Chauk – where houses and vehicles were set ablaze.  Police said that several families of a community fled their homes as the arson spread.

(Agencies)

Vyapam scam: CBI conducts raids in 40 premises across UP, MP

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Vyapam

Bhopal: After taking over investigations into the Vyapam scam CBI has for the first time on Thursday raided 40 premises across Madhya Pradesh including that of former technical education minister Laxmikant Sharma.

Searches are being carried out at Indore, Bhopal, Jabalpur , Ujjain, Rewa, Lucknow and Allahabad.

Investigation into Vyapam scam has turned out to be a Herculean task for the CBI, which had recently proposed setting up a “special Vyapam scam zone” and manpower of 500 people’ for investigations and trial of the mammoth scam.

This is presumed to be the first such scam, in which agency has mooted proposal for setting up of special zone.

“The colossal task of investigating 107 cases pertaining to alleged corruption and nearly 50 cases pertaining to the suspected deaths related to Vyapam scam having more than 2,000 accused cannot be met with the existing man power and infrastructure of CBI,” said the agency, in its status report, submitted before the Supreme Court recently.

It further said, “As prescribed by the report of the staff inspection unit on norms-cum-staffing study of CBI dated October 12, 1998 of the department of expenditure, ministry of finance, GoI, it is proposed to set up a separate zone headed by joint director with manpower of 496 people.”

The agency said the proposed zone may be named as “AC HQ-II Zone” of CBI and be provided with supporting infrastructure such as buildings, furniture, vehicles, and computers with necessary accessories and stationery as per norms. The new zone, agency said, will not only cater to corruption cases, but cases pertaining to deaths in connection with Vyapam scam.

CBI has sought sanction of 496 posts, including 108 constables, 36 head constables, 18 assistant sub-inspectors, 36 inspectors, 63 inspectors, 18 DSPs, 9 ASPs, 9 SPs and three DIGs. This would entail recurring expenditure of Rs 24,07,11,156 (around Rs 24.07 crores) and non-recurring Rs 5,05,73,000 (around Rs 55 crore).

As on date, CBI has taken over 106 FIRs, out of 107 Vyapam scam cases being investigated by the special task force (STF) of Madhya Pradesh and have collected documents in 105 case.

In one case, which is yet to be taken over, the matter is under scrutiny as trial of some of the accused person has ended in acquittal and the state of Madhya Pradesh has gone in appeal against the acquittals before the Gwalior bench of high court of Madhya Pradesh.

(Agencies)

Jhabua blast aftermath: 69 detonators, gelatin sticks seized

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The blast site at Petlwad town in Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh on Saturday

The blast site at Petlwad town in Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh on Saturday

Jhabua: Two days after an explosion claimed 89 lives in Petlawad town in tribal Jhabua district, police today recovered 69 detonators and large number of gelatin sticks from the residence of the brother of the main accused in the incident.

Rajendra Kasawa, the main accused in connection with the incident, is absconding since the explosion occurred on Saturday, a police official said. Police recovered 69 detonators and two batteries from the Mahavir Colony residence of Narendra Kasawa, Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) Virendra Singh Bais said.

Gelatin sticks too were recovered from the place, but their exact number is not yet known, he said. Narendra is also absconding along with his family from Petlawad, he said. An intensive search operation was launched following reports of large number of persons storing gelatin sticks in an illegal manner for carrying out mining and blasting rocks for construction work, he said.

A reward of Rs one lakh was earlier announced by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan for information leading to the arrest of Rajendra Kasawa, as his administration came under scanner over allowing storage of explosives in a crowded residential area.

Meanwhile, Chouhan, who had visited the blast site yesterday and also gone door-to-door meeting the affected families, reached Petlawad again today to meet the victims. The state government had yesterday announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the kin of those killed in the explosion.

At least 89 people were killed and nearly 100 injured after a massive blast caused by mining explosives stored in a building ripped through a crowded area in Petlawad town.

The blast completely destroyed at least two buildings –one in which explosive material for digging wells was stored and an adjacent restaurant, and damaging several houses.

The explosion took place in the building of Kasawa who had a licence to use explosive material for digging wells. He stored the explosive material, including gelatin sticks in huge quantity, in the residential building having two shops in it and situated close to the busy Sethia Restaurant in new bus stand area, a police official said.

(Agencies)

Explosion kills 82 at Petlwad town in Madhya Pradesh

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Blast took place around 8.30 a.m. at a store where huge piles of explosive material used for mines were kept.

The blast site at Petlwad town in Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh on Saturday

The blast site at Petlwad town in Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh on Saturday

Jhabua: Eighty-two people were killed and many injured when explosives kept inside a building went off at Petlwad town in Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh on Saturday.

Earlier, police said the explosion was caused by a cooking gas cylinder kept in the adjacent three-storeyed building housing a hotel.

Both the buildings were extensively damaged in the high-impact explosion compounding the tragedy.

According to Sub Divisional Officer of Police (SDOP), Petlawad, A.R. Khan, the explosion took place around 8.30 a.m. at a store in the building where huge piles of explosive material used for mines were kept.

Also, 35 people have been pulled out of the debris and referred to a nearby hospital, Ms. Gupta said.

Many others are suspected to be trapped in the debris, she said, adding that the exact number of casualties will be known once the rescue operations are over.

Senior officials from Jhabua including Superintendent of Police G.G. Pandey besides State Tribal Welfare Minister Antar Singh Arya have rushed to the spot.

State Home Minister Babulal Gaur said a high-level inquiry has been ordered into the incident.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh each to kin of the deceased and Rs. 50,000 for those injured.

Meanwhile, a team of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been dispatched to Jhabua to help in the salvage operations of the collapsed building.

“A team equipped with gadgets to operate in collapsed structures has been sent to the accident site in Jhabua from Vadodara in Gujarat.The team will assist local administration in retrieval operations,” NDRF director-general O.P. Singh told PTI in Delhi.

(PTI)

At least 28 dead, several injured as two trains derail in MP, rescue ops on

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trains derail MP

Bhopal: At least 28 persons were killed and 25 others injured after the seven coaches of Kamayani Express and five bogies of Janata Express derailed while crossing a swollen Machak river near Harda late last night.

Twenty four bodies, including nine men, 10 women and five kids, have been recovered so far from the mishap site between Khirkiya and Harda stations , Madhya Pradesh Public Relation Department Commissioner Anupam Rajan told PTI today.

The toll could further go up, he said. According to West Central Railway PRO Piyush Mathur seven coaches of Kamayani Express and five bogies plus the engine of Janata Express were derailed late last night as the base material on the tracks got washed away.

“Seven bogies of Kamayani Express and engine plus three coaches of Janata Express were derailed between Khirkiya and Bhirangi stations near Harda,” Mathur said. “The mishap took place around 11.30 PM on Tuesday as base material of the tracks got washed away in heavy rains.

“Nearly 25 passengers suffered injuries,” the PRO said. Divisional Commercial Railway Manager (DCRM) Brajendra Kumar said that search operation has been launched in nearby areas to find people who might have got washed away in heavy floods.

Bhopal Railway PRO said that over 250 passengers were rescued so far. A passenger of Kamayni Express, Akhilesh Pratap Singh told PTI that he along with over 150 passengers, travelling in the general class coach, were stranded on a hilltop to save themselves.

The accident relief train has reached the spot and several passengers have been brought to a nearby station. Kamayani Express enroute to Varanasi from Mumbai derailed near Harda, about 160 kms from Bhopal, and the Mumbai-Jabalpur Janata Express derailed around 11.30 late last night.

(PTI)

Take over all Vyapam cases, SC tells CBI

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Supreme Court

New Delhi: The Supreme Court directed the CBI to inform it in three weeks about taking over the probe of most of the 185 cases related to the Vyapam scam on Friday

A Bench, led by Chief Justice of India H.L. Dattu, asked the Department of Personnel and Training to inform it by the next hearing on August 7 about filling of vacancies in the CBI as the agency had complained that a shortage of manpower was hindering the probe.

The task of appointing lawyers to prosecute the cases in various special CBI courts in Madhya Pradesh should be completed within six weeks, the Bench told the CBI. “We have so much of faith in you. You take up the cases. Whether it is in Bhopal, Jabhalpur or any other place, you will have your own counsel for prosecution,” the Bench said.

(Agencies)

Vyapam probe will join CBI’s 6,562 pending corruption trials

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cbi

New Delhi: Madhya Pradesh’s embattled Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has welcomed the Supreme Court’s move to order a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into what has come to be called the Vyapam scam, but with 6,562 corruption cases pending trial, justice through the overstretched agency is unlikely to be quick.

The CBI must first investigate the Vyapam case, which will mean tracking down thousands of of suspects and witnesses and following a complex eight-year trail (the scandal first came to light in 2007). After investigation, it must file a charge-sheet. Only then will the case go to trial.

Chouhan was under pressure to accede to a CBI inquiry because as many as 35 people have died since an investigation began in 2013 into allegations of bribes paid for medical college admissions to the Madhya Pradesh Vyavsayik Pareesksha Mandal (Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board), or Vyapam.

With 2,500 people already named as accused and 1,900 in prison pending investigation, which until July 9, 2015, was monitored by the Madhya Pradesh High Court, the new inquiry by the CBI is likely to challenge the agency, already struggling to cope with a rising number of pending investigations and trials in CBI courts.

Over the past four years, the CBI has brought down its case-load by no more than 9 percent, from 7,178 in 2011 to 6,562 in 2014, according to the latest government data available on March 31, 2014.

Delhi tops the list with 765 corruption cases pending before the courts. Maharashtra is next with 691 cases followed by West Bengal (646), Uttar Pradesh (596) and Tamil Nadu (474).

Over the past four years, the CBI registered 2,220 cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The agency has completed investigations in 1,512 cases, while 708 cases are pending investigation.

During 2013, the conviction rate for corruption cases tried in CBI courts was 69 percent, according to latest data available with the National Crime Records Bureau.

Slow progress in high-profile cases

The Vyapam inquiry is likely to be a high-profile probe, involving top government officials and ministers.

Madhya Pradesh Governor Ram Naresh Yadav is also alleged to be involved. A notice has now been issued against the governor by the Supreme Court. One of the accused in the scam has also filed a police complaint against union minister Uma Bharati.

Over the past four years, the CBI has registered a total of 45 cases against central government ministers, members of parliament and ex-ministers of state and central governments.

While 25 cases are under trial, 12 cases are under investigation. Five cases have been closed by CBI. In one case, the agency has appealed against the order of the court, according to government data.

The Supreme Court steps in

On July 9, 2015, the Supreme Court ordered that all criminal cases and deaths connected with the Vyapam scandal be transferred to the CBI.

On July 24, the Supreme Court will decide if it will monitor the CBI inquiry. Criticising the Madhya Pradesh High Court for postponing a state government request to hand over the case to the CBI, Chief Justice Dattu said the High Court will not “touch the Vyapam case” now.

Vyapam is a self-financed, autonomous body of the Madhya Pradesh state government, organising competitive entrance tests to professional courses. Its website says it is the only institute of its kind in India.

More than 7 million candidates have appeared for the exams conducted by Vyapam over the past six years.

The first death related to the bribery scandal was reported in 2009, when a medical student accused of being a middleman by the police died of an illness and adverse drug reaction. About 500 people connected to the case are missing.

(IANS)

SC orders CBI probe into Vyapam, as more skeletons tumble out

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Supreme Court

New Delhi/Bhopal: The Supreme Court today ordered a CBI probe into the massive admission and recruitment scam in Madhya Pradesh as more skeletons tumbled out of the Vyapam cupboard with the death of yet another witness coming to light.

The Supreme Court, while directing CBI to probe all cases of the Vyapam scam and alleged deaths of persons related to it, also and issued notices to the Centre and the state on a plea seeking Governor Ramnaresh Yadav’s removal for his alleged involvement in the scandal. The court also issued a notice to the Governor.

Congress had yesterday claimed 49 people associated with the scam had died so far.

The apex court’s order transferring all Vyapam-related cases to the CBI came after the state government gave its consent to shifting investigation from the Special Investiation Team (SIT) and the Special Task Force (STF).

A bench headed by Chief Justice H L Dattu said all cases will stand transferred to the CBI from Monday and the agency will file its report before it on July 24.

Before handing over the probe to the CBI, the apex court took on record the submission of Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, who on behalf of the MP government, said the state has no objection to transferring the investigation in Vyapam and deaths of people allegedly related to it for a free and fair probe.

“The Attorney General (AG) on instruction states that MP govt has no objection whatsoever for transferring the investigation of criminal cases relating to Vyapam scam to the CBI and the cases related to deaths of those allegedly connected with the scam for free and fair probe.

“We appreciate the stand of the AG. In view of the above we transfer investigation of all criminal cases relating to Vyapam scam and death of people allegedly related to it, to CBI,” the bench, also comprising Justices Arun Mishra and Amitava Roy, said.

The apex court was hearing a batch of petitions including one filed by senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh seeking CBI probe into all cases arising out of the Vyapam scam.

As the Supreme Court ordered an inquiry by the central agency, reports came from Bhopal of a special court being informed about the death of yet another witness in the scam.

The Special Task Force of MP police, which hitherto investigated the scam, told the court that Sanjay Singh Yadav, aged around 35, died from illness at a private hospital in Bhopal on February 8. According to his family, he was suffering from Hepatitis-B.

The Supreme Court, while issuing notices relating to the Governor that are returnable after four weeks, refrained from making any remarks on him when Kapil Sibal, appearing on behalf of petitioners demanded that Yadav demit office to maintain its dignity.

“We are not going to say anything on it,” it said.

The STF had registered a case against Yadav, a former Congressman appointed to the post by the previous UPA government, for favouring some candidates appearing for tests conducted by MP Professional Examination Board (MPPEB), also known as Vyapam. The high court, however, quashed it citing immunity from prosecution he enjoys while in office.

Yadav’s son Shailesh, an accused in the case who was alleged to have accepted bribe for rigging Vyapam examination to favour some candidates, was the most high-profile person linked to the scandal to have died in mysterious circumstances. His body was found at his father’s lucknow residence in March this year.

As soon as Sibal, appearing for Singh, submitted that it is a matter in which who’s who of MP is involved, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi said the state has already moved the high court for a CBI probe and the matter has been deferred to July 20.

Rohatgi’s submission on MP government’s stand evoked a quick response from the bench which said, “The High Court wants to wash off its hand.”

“On CBI enquiry, instead of doing that, they are now saying that ball is in the Supreme Court,” the bench observed.

A beleagured Chouhan, whose credibility has been severely eroded following the scam, hailed the apex court’s order, saying,”I welcome it wholeheartedly. There was a burden on my heart.”

Speaking to journalists in Bhopal, Chouhan said he would request the CBI to begin investigation at the earliest “so the truth comes before the country, the people, and justice is done”.

He rejected Congress’ demand for his resignation. “They ask for it (his resignation) 5-6 times a day. To discredit Shivraj Chouhan, they have discredited the whole state. Probity in public life is my capital,” he said.

Referring to the probe conducted by the STF and SIT so far, Chouhan said,”It was my test by fire. Had I not wanted, investigation would not have happened. I wanted to set the system right.”

Not only Chouhan, political parties of all hues welcomed the decision.

Congress and AAP, while hailing the decision, also demanded that Chouhan step down to facilitate a fair probe.

“The victims have to be given justice. It is very important for the Chief Minister to step down for proper investigation to take place. It would be proper that the Chief Minister resigns as the control of police is with him as of today. If he gets a clean chit, then he can come back,” Congress spokesperson Tom Vadakkan said.

“We welcome the Supreme Court decision. We wanted the Supreme Court to monitor the case and we hope it monitors it,” he said.

AAP Spokesperson Ashish Khetan said by transferring the investigation to CBI, Supreme Court has expressed “dissatisfaction” with the probe conducted by state agencies.

“Now the Chief Minister is left with no moral authority to continue In his post,” he said.

Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh, one of the petitioners in the case, welcomed the apex court’s order.

“With this decision, the faith of the country in judiciary has increased. We are thankful to the Supreme Court,” he told reporters in Delhi soon after the verdict.

The BJP, however, patted Chouhan on the back for the apex court order.

“BJP wanted a CBI probe, BJP approached the court and the court has accepted it. We welcome it,” party spokesman Nalin Kohli said.

Kohli was quick to remind the Congress that an earlier petition filed by Digvijay Singh for a CBI probe had been rejected by the Supreme Court.

(PTI)

Vyapam scam: MBBS student Namrata’s death was homicide, reveals Autopsy

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Namrata Damor

Ujjain: MBBS student Namrata Damor, whose body was found near rail tracks in Ujjain district in 2012 after her name figured in the Vyapam scam, had died a “homicidal” death caused by “violent asphyxia as a result of smothering” and nail injuries were found on her face.

As Madhya Pradesh Police decided to reopen the case of her death, the doctors who conducted the post-mortem said they never mentioned in their report that it was a case of suicide.

Earlier police had registered a “murder” case in this regard and later termed the incident as an “accident” and closed the case, a police official said.

The post-mortem report, a copy of which is with PTI, describes Namrata’s cause of death, as “asphyxia (violent asphyxia)…as a result of smothering.”

The findings were suggestive of the death being “homicidal”, as per the autopsy report issued on January 9, 2012.

The post mortem report was signed by Dr B B Purohit (Forensic Medicine), Dr O P Gupta (Medical Officer) and Dr Anita Joshi (Gynaecologist).

Dr Purohit told PTI that “the panel of doctors that conducted the post-mortem has never mentioned in their short PM report as well as the detailed PM report that it was a case of suicide.”

“We also found nail injuries at three places on her face,” he said.

When the body was brought for postmortem, at that time it was unidentified, Dr Purohit said.

The report also advised for “histopathological examinations to rule out any sexual intercourse prior to death.”

The autopsy was conducted at district hospital in Ujjain.

Namrata’s body was found near railway tracks under Kaytha police station limits in Ujjain.

Her case came back to focus after the sudden death of TV journalist Akshay Singh in Jhabua district’s Meghnagar town recently after he interviewed Namrata’s father.

Ujjain District’s Superintendent of Police Manohar Singh Varma said, “We have ordered a review of the death of Namrata Damor. Sub Divisional Officer of Police (SDOP), Tarana, R K Sharma will reopen the case.”

Namrata was studying at the Government MGM Medical College in Indore and it was suspected that she took admission with the help of the racket involved in the high-profile Vyapam scam that is said to have claimed 45 lives so far.

Sadananda Gowda calls Vyapam scam a ‘silly issue’; says, no need for Modi to answer

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D V Sadananda Gowda

New Delhi: Union Law Minister DV Sadananda Gowda on Tuesday apparently termed Vyapam scam a “silly issue” and slammed the Opposition parties for make it an issue and demanding answer from the Prime Minister.

The shocking statement was given by Mr Gowda in response to the Opposition’s continuous demand that Mr Modi should break his silence on India’s worst ever recruitment scam, which has not only claimed the dozens of lives but also murdered the dreams of a complete generation of youth.

“The state has initiated probe. The deaths are a matter of concern, but law and order is state subject. See, the Prime Minister need not answer on silly issues,” Mr Gowda said.

“The concerned ministers and party president have answered. For each silly issue asking the Prime Minister to answer is not fair,” he added.

The central government had on Monday rejected calls for a CBI probe into this mega scam involving several prominent BJP politicians, bureaucrats and other influential persons.

The Congress, the AAP and the CPI-M, meanwhile, stepped up attacks on the central and Madhya Pradesh governments over the rising number of deaths in the recruitment scandal.

They demanded a CBI probe, but union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said there was no need for a CBI inquiry as the Special Investigation Team probing the scam reported to the Madhya Pradesh High Court, and not the state government.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear on July 9 a petition filed by senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh seeking a court-monitored CBI probe into Madhya Pradesh’s multi-crore Vyapam scam, in which more than two dozen accused and witnesses have died under mysterious circumstances.

Singh had earlier alleged complicity of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in the MPPEB scam.

More than 40 people associated with the admission and recruitment racket in Vyapam have died since 2013 — either in mysterious circumstances or have committed suicide.

(Agencies)

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