CBSE to establish six new regional, sub-regional offices to enhance governance
NEW DELHI: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced the establishment of six new Regional Offices, Centres of Excellence (CoEs), and Sub-Regional Offices to streamline its operations and improve governance of affiliated schools across the country. According to a notification issued by CBSE Secretary Himanshu Gupta, the decision was taken following the approval of the Finance Committee in December 2024, which was later ratified by the Governing Body and cleared by the Ministry of Education. The new offices are being set up in Gurugram, Lucknow, Raipur, Ranchi, Agartala, Itanagar and Gangtok. These will become fully functional between August and September 2025. Gurugram (Haryana) will cover 12 southern districts of Haryana, including Faridabad, Gurugram, Palwal and Sonipat, and is expected to function from 1 September 2025. Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) will oversee 30 districts, including Ayodhya, Etawah, Kanpur, Rae Bareli and Unnao, and will also become functional from 1 September 2025. Raipur (Chhattisgarh) will have jurisdiction across Chhattisgarh and became functional on 22 August 2025. Ranchi (Jharkhand) will cover Jharkhand and also became functional on 22 August 2025. Among the Sub-Regional Offices, Agartala (Tripura) will begin functioning from 15 September 2025. Itanagar (Arunachal Pradesh) became functional on 22 August 2025, along with Gangtok (Sikkim), which also started operations on the same date. The notification stated that all schools affiliated with CBSE will now fall under the jurisdictions of these newly established offices. This move will help strengthen administrative reach, ensure better coordination with schools, and enhance educational support services across these regions, the CBSE said.
APEDA opening new offices at Patna, Raipur, Dehradun to support agri exporters
The official said the new offices would promote shipments by agri exporters
APEDA opening new offices at Patna, Raipur, Dehradun to support agricultural exporters
To bolster agricultural exports, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) will establish three new regional offices in Patna, Dehradun, and Raipur. These offices will aid agri-exporters by facilitating shipments and expanding APEDA's reach. Currently headquartered in Delhi, APEDA operates 16 regional offices across India, focusing on export development, exporter registration, standardization, packaging enhancement, and marketing initiatives.
Women who accompanied Kerala nuns in Chhattisgarh allege harassment by Bajrang Dal, railway cops
RAIPUR: Three women from Bastars Narayanpur district have lodged a complaint with the Chhattisgarh State Womens Commission, alleging physical and mental harassment by Bajrang Dal cadres and Government Railway Police (GRP) at Durg station on July 25, in connection with an alleged human trafficking and forced religious conversion case . Kamleshwari Pradhan, Lalita Usendi and Sukmati Mandavi submitted their grievances to the commission in Raipur, seeking justice. On 2 August, a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Bilaspur granted bail to two Catholic nuns from Kerala, who had been arrested on charges of human trafficking and religious conversion. The women in their complaint against Jyoti Sharma, Ravi Nigam, Ratan Yadav and the GRP Durg incharge alleged they were physically ill-treated, verbally abused and threatened with gang rape in the presence of police personnel, said Kiranmayee Nayak, Chairperson of the Commission. During the hearing, the accused named in the complaint did not appear before the Commission. The complainants have arrived but the respondents have refused to attend. So, according to our laid down procedures, we will inform them through the concerned police station asking them to be present during the next hearing, Nayak said. She added that the GRP Durg incharge will also be summoned to attend the proceedings. Commission members conducted preliminary questioning of the three girls, who said they expected a fair and impartial hearing. The Chairperson has also sought detailed information on the 25 July incident, including CCTV footage, from the Durg district police chief. The women had earlier filed a complaint with the Narayanpur superintendent of police against Bajrang Dal activists. They stated that they were willingly travelling with the nuns to Agra to take up work in a hospital, and that they had converted to Christianity around six years ago. The Bajrang Dal cadres forcibly stopped the girls at Durg station and assaulted them with abusive remarks. All three were very scared and remain in shock after the incident, relatives of the women claimed, demanding an FIR against Jyoti Sharma and other Bajrang Dal members so that such alleged incidents should not happen again. Bail for Kerala nuns a feather in the political cap of BJP and Rajeev?
Chhattisgarh's cabinet gets 14 ministers for first time as 3 MLAs take oath
RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh Governor Ramen Deka administered the oath of office and secrecy to three ministers -- Gajendra Yadav, Rajesh Agrawal and Khushwant Saheb at the swearing-in function in Raj Bhawan, Raipur on Wednesday. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai expanded his ministry almost 20 months after assuming office in December 2023, when the BJP returned to power in Chhattisgarh. With the expansion of the Sai cabinet, the total strength of the state council of ministers rose to 14 for the first time. All three --Yadav (MLA from Durg), Agrawal (MLA-Ambikapur) and Khushwant Saheb (MLA-Arang) are first-term legislators. CM Sai later distributed the portfolios to the new ministers. While Yadav got school education and Gramodyog, Khushwant Saheb was allotted skill development, technical education & employment and Agrawal was given tourism, culture, religious trust and endowment. The CM will proceed on his first scheduled 10-day foreign trip to Japan and South Korea on Thursday. BJP insiders said that the representation following the induction of three new faces will secure caste and regional balance, though several senior BJP MLAs who kept their hopes alive to secure a place in the cabinet felt 'desolate'. In the Sai Cabinet, there are only three ministers who were in the earlier BJP government led by Dr Raman Singh, which was in power for 15 years and the remaining 11 are new faces. Chhattisgarh, in accordance with the provision of the Constitution with maximum of 15 per cent of the strength of the Vidhan Sabha permissible for council of ministers, had continued with only 13 ministers, including the chief minister, ever since the state was created in the year 2000. The Chhattisgarh state has 90 legislators and the new cabinet expansion has apparently followed the model of Haryana which too has the same number of elected assembly members. Former CM Bhupesh Baghel cited the new 14-member cabinet expansion as unconstitutional. If the state government has taken a prior approval from the Centre then that should be made public and if not, then such a 14-member cabinet is unlawful. We had also sought the approval from the Centre for a 14-member cabinet but didn't get any response, claimed Baghel. CM Sai took oath on December 10, 2023, followed by 11 ministers administering oath on December 21, while keeping one post vacant. In June 2024, one more ministerial post fell vacant after a senior BJP leader, Brijmohan Agrawal, an eight-time MLA, was elected as a member of parliament from the Raipur Lok Sabha seat.
Raipur Diary | Chhattisgarh heritage to be showcased at World Expo
The state is all set to showcase its unique identity at the prestigious World Expo 2025 in Osaka (Japan) next week where CM Vishnu Deo Sai has been specially invited to represent the state. The theme of the summit is Designing Future Society for our Lives with sub-themes on Saving Lives, Empowering Lives and Connecting Lives, celebrating global innovations. Over 160 countries and 9 international organisations are participating in the mega event. Chhattisgarh, at its dedicated state stall at the expansive summit venue in Yumeshima Island, will highlight its rich cultural heritage, technological advances, trade and infrastructure. The state looks to place itself on the global map of industrial growth by positing an investment hub image. New Assembly complex all set for inauguration With the construction of the new Chhattisgarh Assembly complex in its final stage, the new premises will be dedicated to the public during the states Rajyotsava celebration on November 1. PM Narendra Modi has been invited to inaugurate the sprawling new structure spread across 52 acres. The new Vidhan Sabha building beautifully blends the states rich cultural heritage and traditional architectural elements with cutting-edge facilities. The Assembly hall, to have seats for 200 MLAs, will include a state-of-the-art auditorium with a 500-person capacity. The complex will also include parking for 700 vehicles and two proposed lakes. State-of-the-art libraries to come up in every dist After encouraging response and favourable results from Raipur-based Nalanda Parisar, the states biggest Central Library, the State is now building 34 new libraries covering almost every district. These will be equipped with quality books for higher education, competitive exams and reference materials besides other modern facilities. The option of both offline and online will be made available. The state capital, besides the Nalanda Parisar complex-cum-reading zone, also has Takshashila Central library-cum-smart reading room and a 500-seater central library. Libraries are also proposed for Maoist-hit districts and hinterlands. Ejaz Kaiser Our correspondent in Chhattisgarh ejaz@newindianexpress.com
RAIPUR: It is often said that the foresters foot is the best manure for the forest. In a remarkable achievement, Chhattisgarh has reclaimed and restored 1,800 acres of encroached forestland in the Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve (USTR), safeguarding biodiversity, preventing further deforestation, reducing wildlife habitat loss and mitigating the risk of increased human-animal conflict. Regaining the vast forest area, progressively occupied over the last 18 years, posed a serious challenge for the Chhattisgarh Forest Department. The department carried out a difficult exercise to clear the encroached designated forestlands, estimated to be worth over Rs 500 crore, said Varun Jain (IFS), Deputy Director of USTR. The IFS officer relied on technological interventions to address patrolling gaps, reduce man-animal conflicts, and strengthen the monitoring of forests and wildlife. As many as seven major habitats and over 300 alleged encroachers settled in the region were evicted amid strong resistance, with reports of attacks on forest staff during the anti-encroachment drive that began two years ago. Jain sought assistance from the National Remote Sensing Centre, one of the key centres of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in Hyderabad, acquiring satellite images from 20082010. He also carried out drone mapping of the encroached area to create an imagery database for 2022. The analysis revealed how forest cover loss began after 2012 and continued until 2020, during which encroachers allegedly cleared vast tracts of dense jungle. Its an exceptional feat for the state. The removal of these encroachments using technology and force has resulted in the creation of inviolate space for herbivores and carnivores, leading to diminishing man-animal conflicts. Besides, the compensation burden of the state exchequer has also reduced, said V. Sreenivasa Rao, PCCF and Head of Forest Force. In 2022, the Chhattisgarh Forest Department built its own Google Earth Engine-powered Remote Sensing Portal to assess forest cover and surface water changes on a weekly basis, as well as to identify hotspots of forest loss over the past 20 years using Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. The USTR spans two districts, Gariaband and Dhamtari, where encroachers have allegedly made systematic attempts for years to capture forestland. The challenge was compounded by the presence of outlawed Maoists in both districts. There are 110 legal villages (revenue villages converted from forest villages) within the tiger reserve. For the Forest Department, the situation was worrying as alleged encroachers and poachers, mostly from outside the state, attempted to hold sway. Continuous monitoring of new and old encroachments and forest loss areas is being carried out using the portal, with regular enforcement actions taken. A month ago we cleared encroachment and restored another 60 hectares of forestland, said Jain. Based on satellite images, the department concluded that all the illegal settlements emerged only after 2008, meaning they were not entitled to any land under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), which applies only to land occupied before December 2005.
Sai Pledges Rural Bus Service, Raipur Police Commissionerate In Independence Day Address
A police Commissionerate system would be introduced in Raipur to handle the growing challenge of law and order in the state capital: Chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai
VHP-Bajrang Dal workers vandalise church in Chhattisgarh over conversion claim
Members from Hindutva organisations, Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal, stormed and vandalised a church in Chhattisgarhs Raipur, alleging that forced religious conversion was taking place. The attack took place on August 10. The Hindutva members attacked the Christians present there and chanted the Hanuman Chalisa, creating a scene. A video of the incident Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Cops Nab Burglars After 300Km Chase, 12-Hour Trap in Raipur
AIIMS exodus: 429 doctors quit 20 institutes in 2 years; 1 of every 3 faculty posts vacant
A significant number of doctors, 429, have resigned from 20 AIIMS institutions across India between 2022 and 2024, according to government data. AIIMS Delhi saw the highest number of resignations, followed by AIIMS Rishikesh and Raipur. These departures exacerbate existing faculty shortages, with nearly one-third of faculty positions vacant across all AIIMS.
All mosques, madrasas in Chhattisgarh must hoist tricolour on I-Day: Waqf Board
Raipur: The Chhattisgarh State Waqf Board has directed all mosques, dargahs and madrasas across the state to hoist the national flag on the occasion of Independence Day on August 15. The State Waqf Board chairman, Dr Salim Raj, said a letter was issued on Monday to all mutawallis (those responsible for managing Waqf properties) in Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Chhattisgarh Waqf Board asks masjids, madrasas, dargahs to hoist national flag on Independence Day
RAIPUR: The Chhattisgarh State Waqf Board, in a first-of-its-kind circular, had announced that the Tricolour will be mandatorily hoisted at every mosque, dargah and madrasa across the state during the 79th Independence Day celebrations. According to the formal directive issued by the Waqf Board, the national flag will be unfurled at the main entrance of all mosques, dargahs and madarsas on August 15, symbolising gesture of patriotism that Indian Muslims strongly nurture with their motherland India, have deep respect for the Tricolour and stand united to mark the celebration of the country's freedom. Independence Day is our national festival and the Muslim minority should be seen to observe it with fervour. Indian Muslims have always been patriots who love their country. Owing to the misdeeds of a few, why should the entire community be subject to suspicion or scrutiny? The initiative will prove beyond doubt the wholehearted loyalty of the Muslim community towards Bharat where we all live in harmony, the Waqf Board chairman Salim Raj told The New Indian Express . Capital turns fortress for Independence Day He said the Imams and the mutavalli (caretaker) of mosques, dargahs and madarsas have been told to upload the images of observing the Independence Day with the hoisted flags from their respective locations on the dedicated portal created by the State Waqf Board. The option of sharing photos on the WhatsApp groups has also been given to them. Several Muslim scholars and intellectuals, however, felt there was no need for such a directive as the practice of hoisting the national flag is always organised during every Independence Day by the community in all their religious and educational institutions with high enthusiasm and national spirit. No one opposes to raise our Tiranga on Independence Day as Muslim community invariably endorses such occasions with pride and impeccable belief in unity and integrity, said Sajid-ul-Kadeer, the administrator of a 100-year-old Madarsa Arabia Islamia in Raipurs Baijnathpara.
Two DRG jawans injured in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur following encounter with Maoists
RAIPUR: Two personnel of District Reserve Guard (DRG) were injured in an encounter with the Maoists at Gangalur forest area in strife-torn Bijapur district, about 420 km south of Raipur,on Tuesday, the Bastar police said. Acting on specific intelligence inputs about the presence of cadres of the banned outfit near the Gangalur area of Bijapur, a team of DRG left for a search operation on Monday, said a senior police officer. Two jawans sustained injuries in the gunfight today and, after preliminary treatment, will be air-lifted to Raipur for immediate medical attention. The conditions of both are stable and out of danger, said a senior police officer. The intermittent firing continues between the troops and the Maoists since morning. There is also a possibility that several Maoists would be injured in the ongoing operation, as further details are awaited. In the last 18 months, as many as 425 Maoist cadres have been killed in various encounters in the Bastar Range. Bijapur, among the seven Maoist-affected districts in Bastar division, is cited as an epicentre of Red rebels in south Chhattisgarh. Union Home minister Amit Shah has declared that the country will be Maoist-free by March 31, 2026. In this context, the series of encounters against the left-wing extremists remains a part of the renewed strategy to free the Chhattisgarh state from the influence of the left-wing extremists.
Chhattisgarh police officer faces social boycott over marriage, HC reprimands community
RAIPUR: A distressed Chhattisgarh Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Mekhlendra Pratap Singh facing social boycott from his own community for marrying a woman of his choice, lodged an FIR in his home town Bilaspur claiming that his marriage was performed as per the social tradition. Singh, 35, who hailed from Satgarh Tanwar community (Scheduled Tribe), is posted in Kanker district where he is engaged in the ongoing anti-Maoist operations. He claimed his wife too is from the same tribal caste. The community leaders however got further antagonised after the case was registered against them and approached the high court filing a petition that the FIR was lodged on baseless ground. They also alleged before the court of being harassed by the police with repeated notices served to them. Chhattisgarh high court has rebuked the community leaders warning them not to act like a Khap panchayat and dismissed their petition. But the community leaders remain adamant to continue their diktat and my entire family is socially ostracised. They are now threatening us to impose heavy punitive fine, the DSP told TNIE while sharing his mental agony. The police officer also wrote to the school education department seeking appropriate action against the two senior community leaders presently posted as a principal and a senior teacher in different schools citing that their behaviour is akin to serious social crime and against the Chhattisgarh Civil Services (Conduct) Rules 1965. The police officer married Amisha Singh, who is from north Chhattisgarhs Sarguja district. The boycott apparently has more to do with the animosity between the communities living in two different regions rather than the caste. We both are from the same tribal community then where does such an issue of inter-caste marriage arise? said DSP Singh. The family of the officer's wife stated that they never had any problem with the marriage and were taken aback with the social boycott decree imposed on the police officer by his community. Rationalists cited that the DySP being an adult is well within his right to marry the woman. Such imposed exclusion from society or community on trivial reasons causes deeper and invisible pain. But sadly there is no effective law to combat the ever increasing menace. Over 25000 individuals or families are bearing the brunt of social boycott in Chhattisgarh alone, said Dr Dinesh Mishra, Raipur-based ophthalmologist and recipient of the union governments national award for promoting scientific temper. Officials told TNIE that there are already provisions under the protection of civil rights act that can offer relief to the victims.
Rs 25,000 Monthly 'Job' For Mobile Snatching: Raipur Police Busts Shocking Theft Racket
The gang, led by Deva, alias Dev Kumar Mahato (28) from Jharkhand, trained unemployed youth and offered them a salary of Rs 25,000 per month to carry out mobile thefts.
Chhattisgarh HC asks government to reply on migrant return to Bengal
RAIPUR: The Chhattisgarh HC on Thursday issued notice to the state government on a plea of 12 migrant workers from West Bengal seeking quashing of illegal criminal proceedings against them, and compensation for illegal detention and confinement in jail by accusing them of being Bangladeshi immigrants. Mehmoob Sheikh and 11 others, residents of Krishna Nagar and Murshidabad in West Bengal, in the petitions also alleged they were ill-treated in custody, threatened by the police in Kondagaon and forced to leave Chhattisgarh, following which they lost their livelihood and returned to their home state. The petitioners were released from jail after the West Bengal police submitted a report confirming their Indian citizenship. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice B D Guru, hearing the plea, had directed the state to respond within two weeks, following which the petitioners have been asked to give a counter reply. The 12 workers were taken into custody on July 12, allegedly mercilessly treated by Kondagaon police without any cognizable offence and subsequently sent to Central jail in Jagdalpur, the petitioners stated. Advocates Sudeep Srivastava and Rajni Soren filed a habeas corpus plea in the high court, but before it came for a hearing, all 12 were released on July 14 by the order of SDM Kondagaon. All 12 were kept in jail for 2 days, but neither produced before any magistrate or court of law nor served any detention order. They had come to work at a construction site in Kondagaon through a contractor to build a school, stated the petition. The petitioners claimed that they were working at the school construction site from June 30, residing in the same premises with proper verification and didnt hide their identity. They had produced their Aadhar cards and other documents on demand to the Kondagaon police.
Someone Adopt Him: Child Found Inside Parked Car With Heartbreaking Note In Raipur
Local women were shocked to find a child in a parked car near Vyas Talab in Birgaon, Raipur, holding a note. They quickly alerted the police, who began an investigation
Man gets 30 stitches after Chinese Manja slits throat
Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Aug 6: A 35-year-old man suffered severe injuries after his throat was slit by the banned nylon thread near Fortune Hotel here today. The incident happened on Wednesday evening when the Chinese Manja entangled around the throat of a carpenter, identified as Ashwani alias Ashu (35) son of Prem Chand of Kandwal, Raipur Satwari, at Qasim Nagar near Fortune Hotel, a police official said. According to him, the injured individual was taken to Government Medical College by [] The post Man gets 30 stitches after Chinese Manja slits throat appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Strategic mineral zone emerges as major potential NiCuPGE belt in Chhattisgarh
RAIPUR: In a significant development, a potential NickelCopperPlatinum Group Elements (NiCuPGE) sulphide mineralisation discovery has been reported in the BhalukonaJamnidih block of Mahasamund district in Chhattisgarh. The discovery of NiCuPGE group elements by M/s Deccan Gold Mining Limited (DGML) in its recently acquired composite licence area in the state is being seen as a breakthrough in unlocking the potential of critical and strategic minerals in Chhattisgarh, paving the way for a new era of scientific exploration. The NiCuPGE-associated block spans 3,000 hectares in the district, around 70 km from Raipur. The Geological Survey of India had earlier conducted G4-level exploration of the block and identified promising mineralisation of NiCuPGE. The Directorate of Geology and Mining, Chhattisgarh, validated the geo-scientific data and proceeded with an e-auction process. The block was successfully auctioned on 6 March 2023, with DGML securing it by offering the highest bid of 21 percent, said a government spokesperson. After receiving the requisite clearances for non-destructive exploration in forest zones, DGML quickly initiated fieldwork including geological mapping, rock chip sampling, drone-based magnetic surveys, and Induced Polarisation (IP) surveys to demarcate mineralised zones. Preliminary findings have been encouraging, with a 700-metre-long mineralised zone identified in prospective maficultramafic rock formations. Geophysical data further indicates the presence of sulphide mineralisation up to a depth of 300 metres, suggesting substantial mineral potential in the area. Adjacent to this discovery zone lies the Kelwardabri NiCuPGE block, which was earlier auctioned to the Vedanta Group. The two blocks together are expected to emerge as a high-potential critical mineral hub in Mahasamund, placing Chhattisgarh on the strategic mineral development map of India. This landmark discovery is a crucial step towards securing vital mineral resources for the state and the nation. The government remains fully committed to promoting scientific and sustainable mineral exploration to contribute meaningfully to the countrys growth, said Vishnu Deo Sai, Chief Minister. The discovery comes at a time when the state is actively pursuing an ambitious mineral exploration roadmap for 202425, with over 50 percent of the planned projects dedicated to critical and strategic minerals. So far, Chhattisgarh has successfully auctioned 51 mineral blocks, which includes 10 blocks of key resources such as graphite, nickel, chromium, PGEs, lithium, glauconite, phosphorite, and graphitevanadium. The state has set up a dedicated Critical Mineral Cell aimed at providing expert guidance and promoting collaboration with academic, research, and industry institutions to enable advanced exploration and beneficiation of these resources.
RAIPUR: In the 'red zone' of Chhattisgarh's Bastar, the state has meticulously embarked upon an action plan that reportedly led to a profound transformation in the health care services. Over 130 institutions based in the region across the seven Maoist-affected districts of Bastar got National Quality Certification during the last one and a half years. From national-level quality certifications to recruitment of specialists, bolstering medical staffing and direct health assistance, the numbers hint at development reaching even the remotest corners of the insurgency-hit belt. Between January 1, 2024, to June 16, 2025, as many as 130 health institutions in the Bastar division have been certified under the National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS). These include one district hospital, 16 Primary Health Centres (PHCs), and 113 Sub-Health Centres (SHCs). What remains noteworthy is 14 institutions in the highly sensitive districts of Kanker, Bijapur, Sukma, and Dantewada have achieved certification. An additional 65 facilities are currently undergoing the certification process. NQAS covers various aspects of healthcare, including service provision, patient rights, clinical care, infection control, and quality management. To further expand access, the Vishnu Deo Sai government has accelerated Ayushman card enrolment under the Niyad Nellanar (meaning Your Own Village) scheme. In just one year, 36,231 Ayushman cards have been generated in the division, achieving a 52.6% coverage, giving health assistance of Rs 8.50 crore to 6816 beneficiaries. Bastar has always been a focus area for our government, and we are committed to strengthening the health services further. The phenomenal change ensuring the reach of healthcare services in Bastar became possible with the collective commitment and active involvement of Mitanins, health workers and medical professionals, said Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai. Meanwhile, State Health Minister Shyam Bihari Jaiswal has planned a 3-day visit to Bastar starting Tuesday, with senior health officials to personally review the ground situation. The goal of the state is to ensure sustainable, resilient, quality health services reach across Chhattisgarh. Under NQAS, health institutions, especially in Bastar, have achieved an exceptional recognition of facilities meeting quality standards, the minister said. The transformation stands as testimony to CM Sais vision, strategic focus, and mission-mode execution in the healthcare sector, he added. As Bastar emerges from the shadows of apparent neglect and conflict, a major relief is felt by the tribal communities. We were waiting for several years to have such healthcare facilities and medical treatment, said Lalita Mandvi, a local sarpanch. Quality health service in remote areas is now a reality, said a delighted Ritu Kunjam, community health officer. As many as 33 medical specialists and 118 medical officers were appointed in Bastar in the last 18 months. Besides, 75 state-level, 307 district-level staff and managers were appointed, while recruitment for 291 more posts remains underway.
Fake Patients, Fake Doctors: Raipur Medical College Exposed In CBI Probe
In what is being described as a chilling nexus of deception and greed, a hospital in Chhattisgarh's Raipur has come under the scanner of the CBI for orchestrating a full-scale fraud to obtain recognition from the Medical Council.
Raipur Diary | Regionalism dictates BJP stance on nuns arrest
The discourse around the recent arrest of two Kerala nuns on charges of human trafficking and forced religious conversion, and the subsequent bail granted by court, has revealed the implicit political compulsions of the BJP in the two states Chhattisgarh and Kerala. While experts cited regional political dynamics as a plausible cause of the Chhattisgarh BJP camps defense of the nuns arrest, the partys Kerala unit may have seen it as a chance to mend fences with influential Church leaders. Kerala BJP rushed to intervene, with the state party chief welcoming the nuns as they walked out of Durg jail. The episode sent ripples in Kerala politics, as leaders from every political party was seen rushing to Chhattisgarh last week. Zero defect target in aluminium production A flagship quality transformation initiative titled Quality Sankalp by the Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (Balco) has set a target to achieve zero defect across its diverse product portfolio. The unique monthly initiative engages over 300 employees and business partners across multiple units to foster a culture of shared accountability for quality within the Balco plant in Korba district. From raw material selection to final product inspection, rigorous quality checks are being systematically enforced. Raw materials undergo detailed scrutiny and extensive quality checks at each stage upholds product integrity. Rail network expansion to boost transport infra Chhattisgarh is set for a major boost to its transport infrastructure with construction of key multi-track corridors and new line laying projects already ongoing. The states rail budget has seen a 21-fold rise over the last decade, with `6,900 crore allocated this year alone. These projects are seen as vital in minimising congestion along key railway routes, with increased speed of passenger and goods transport. While offering cost-effective alternative to road transport, these rail projects are projected to save over `2,500 crore annually in logistics costs. Notably, approved railway projects in once-conflict-hit Bastar is expected to facilitate socio-economic growth in the hinterlands. Ejaz Kaiser Our correspondent in Chhattisgarh ejaz@newindianexpress.com
Chhattisgarh liquor scam: Chaitanya Baghel's judicial remand extended till August 18
RAIPUR: The judicial remand of Chaitanya Baghel , son of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, has been extended by another 14 days by the special PMLA court in Raipur in connection with the ongoing probe linked to multi-crore liquor scam case. Chaitanya, arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on July 18 from his Bhilai residence, was produced before the court upon the expiry of his initial 14-day remand. Chaitanya's counsel, Faisal Rizvi, stated,The ED sought another routine 14-day judicial remand, which the court granted, extending custody till August 18. The court also directed the agency to file a charge sheet within seven days. The EDs remand document alleges Chaitanyas key role in laundering over Rs 1,000 crore linked to the excise scam, with a portion allegedly funneled into his real estate project, Vitthal Green , under Baghel Developers. The agency claims investigation reveals Rs 16.70 crore of scam proceeds were laundered through his real-estate ventures Vitthal Green under Baghel Developers. Meanwhile, Bhupesh Baghel, now an MLA from Patan, accused the Centre of misusing agencies to target opposition leaders. Earlier on Monday, the Supreme Court, hearing a petition by Baghel and his son seeking protection from coercive action in multiple money laundering cases, directed them to approach the Chhattisgarh High Court for interim relief. The cases, involving alleged scams, are being probed by the ED, CBI, and state police.
Python tied to bike dragged for over three kilometres in Chhattisgarh
RAIPUR: In a barbaric act, a person in Chhattisgarhs Kanker district tied a nearly 10-foot-long Python with a rope at the back of his motorcycle and dragged it while riding on the national highway that connects Raipur with Bastar. The atrocious incident had shocked the forest department and the wildlife enthusiasts. The video footage was captured by someone travelling in a car that followed the bike. The incident sparked outrage on social media. Pythons, non-venomous snakes, usually cited to live 25-40 years, are classified as endangered, and listed under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972. The Kanker district police chief, Indira Kalyan Elesela, told that though no one lodged any complaint over it, the concerned officials immediately took cognisance and the efforts carried out to get the python rescued. According to the police, the accused has been identified and is a resident of Atur village in Kanker district. The state forest department has initiated its probe and action. If the eye-witnesses were to be believed, the python was seen dragged for over three kilometres. It was a disturbing visual, a barbaric act against a python, which is classified as an endangered Schedule-1 snake. Pythons are facing threats owing to habitat loss and conflicts with humans due to hunting or unlawful trade. The perpetrator should be booked, said Nitin Singhvi, a wildlife enthusiast.
Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai flags off Raipur-Jabalpur express train
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai inaugurated the Raipur-Jabalpur daily express train from Raipur Railway Station. He expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Modi and Railway Minister Vaishnaw for the new service, which will benefit the people of Chhattisgarh by providing a second train option on this route.
RAIPUR: Kamleshwari Pradhan, 21, one of the three tribal girls spotted at Chhattisgarh's Durg railway station on 25 July, appeared disheartened over the arrest of two Kerala-based Catholic nuns and alleged that they were being framed. She insisted that both the nuns were innocent and should be released. Two nuns, Sister Preethi Marry and Sister Vandana Francis, along with Sukman Mandvi were taken into custody last Friday by the Government Railway Police (GRP) following a strong demonstration and a written complaint by Bajrang Dal activists. The activists had found the nuns accompanying three tribal girls, aged between 18 and 21, at Durg station while en route to Agra. Speaking to this newspaper over the phone, Kamleshwari said that all three girls were going to Agra for training and employment, having obtained prior consent from their parents. The nuns should be released from jail and justice should prevail. No one was taking us forcibly. There was no allurement or temptation given to us, but we were willingly going to get some job, said Kamleshwari, who initially seemed hesitant to speak. She has studied up to Class 10. Kerala nuns arrest casts shadow over BJPs outreach When asked about the issue of forced religious conversion, which is part of the case registered against the three, she said, Our family already embraced Christianity some six years ago, so where does the question of forced religious conversion arise? While we were giving our statement to the police, I saw something different being taken down by the police. When we questioned the statements being altered on record, they (Bajrang Dal activists) asked us to narrate the details as per their line of thoughts, the girl alleged. She further claimed that not only me, but the other two girls were badly treated and slapped by one Jyoti Sharma, who was threatening us that if we dont follow them as dictated, all of us will land in jail. Chhattisgarh Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader and former Bajrang Dal state head Ghanshyam Choudhari told The New Indian Express that their cadres acted only to stave off what they believed was an impending issue of religious conversion and human trafficking involving tribal girls. He said the intervention occurred after noticing one of the girls sitting with the nuns at Durg railway platform was crying and allegedly expressed a desire to return home. Choudhari stated that Jyoti Sharma supports social and welfare causes but is not associated with Bajrang Dal. Responding to Kamleshwari's claim that her family had converted to Christianity years ago, Choudhari said her statement only supported their concern that religious conversions of tribals continue unchecked in the Bastar region. The lower Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) court and later the Sessions Fast Track Special Court Judge denied bail to the two nuns. Their bail plea will now be heard in the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Court at Bilaspur, 110 km east of the capital Raipur. Kerala nuns' arrest: Church heads lead priests, laity in protest march
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RAIPUR: After a lower court rejected their plea, the Sessions Court in Durg, Chhattisgarh, on Wednesday also denied bail to two Catholic nuns, stating that the case falls outside its jurisdiction. Judge Aneesh Dubey determined that the human trafficking case does not fall within the court's authority, as the charges come under the purview of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Court in Bilaspur. The nuns, Sister Preethi Mary and Sister Vandana Francis, both hailing from Kerala, were arrested on charges of alleged human trafficking and religious conversions. They were sent to judicial remand until 8 August. The Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Court had initially rejected their bail application on Tuesday, prompting the accused to approach the higher court. The bail applications will now be filed in the NIA court, said Rajkumar Tiwari, counsel for the nuns. The arrests have drawn widespread political criticism and public attention. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi led a protest on Wednesday in the Parliament premises, demanding the immediate release of the nuns. She alleged that the duo was manhandled and ill-treated while in custody. We are protesting against this kind of attack on the minority, Priyanka said. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai reiterated that the issue remains under judicial process, is being properly investigated, and that the law will take its own course. Families allege foul play, say nuns always cared for underprivileged Veteran CPI (Marxist) leader Brinda Karat visited Durg Central Jail on Wednesday to meet the two nuns. She was accompanied by four Members of Parliament. Karat condemned the arrests and accused the BJP of targeting the Christian community. What we found and heard were deeply disturbing, as two nuns were arrested in a fabricated case. They are in jail owing to the Chhattisgarh government and BJPs narrow agenda. They are not keeping well and are sleeping on the floor. There is lawlessness in Chhattisgarh, where a targeted attack was seen on the Christian community. It is illegal. We demand withdrawal of the FIR and the immediate release of the nuns, Karat said. Delegations from the United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Left Democratic Front (LDF) also met the nuns on Tuesday. They claimed the two women appeared emotionally traumatised. The state BJP government stated that politicising the matter is inappropriate and urged all parties to await the results of the investigation. The Durg Government Railway Police (GRP), following a protest and written complaint by Bajrang Dal activists, took three persons, including the two nuns, into custody. A local court subsequently sent them to judicial remand until 8 August. The incident has sparked political outrage across the country.
ED conducts searches in 500-cr Chhattisgarh medical supply 'scam' case
Premises linked to some government officials, medical suppliers and agents apart from some middlemen are being raided in Raipur, Durg and adjoining places, officials said.
ED raids underway in Rs 550 crore Chhattisgarh medical supply scam; officials, firms under scanner
RAIPUR: The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday launched searches at multiple locations in Chhattisgarh as part of a money laundering investigation into an over Rs 500 crore worth medical supply scam, official sources said. Premises linked to some government officials, medical suppliers and agents apart from some middlemen are being raided in Raipur, Durg and adjoining places, they said. The ED probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) stems from an Anti-Corruption Bureau/Economic Offences Wing (ACB/EOW) chargesheet filed in April against six persons for alleged irregularities in purchase of medical equipment and reagent chemicals in 2023 that caused a loss of Rs 550 crore to the state exchequer. The ACB/EOW, on January 22, lodged a case against officials of the state-run Chhattisgarh Medical Services Corporation Ltd (CGMSCL) in Raipur and Directorate of Health Services department as well as four firms namely Mokshit Corporation (Durg), CB Corporation (Durg), Records and Medicare System HSIIDC (Panchkula, Haryana) and Shri Sharda Industries (Raipur), as well as others. It was alleged that the scam involves purchase of reagents and equipment without checking requirement/availability of these items in health centres. The CGMSCL has made purchases worth billions of rupees between January 2022 to October 31, 2023 in collusion with Mokshit Corporation and its shell company, the ACB/EOW had said.
IED blast injures three jawans during Maoist encounter in Chhattisgarh
RAIPUR: A Maoist cadre was killed in an encounter with security forces in Sukma district, about 500 km south of Raipur, on Tuesday, the Bastar police said. Three personnel of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) also sustained injuries in a pressure Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast during the operation. A gunfight broke out between security forces and Maoists, and the intermittent exchange of fire continued in the forested terrain along the inter-district border region of Sukma-Dantewada. Based on intelligence inputs regarding the presence of Maoists in the given area of Sukma district, a joint team comprising Special Task Force (STF), District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) launched a search operation. So far, a body of a male Maoist has been recovered from the encounter site as the search operation continues. Arms, ammunition, explosive materials and items of daily use were also recovered by the forces, said a senior police officer. All the injured jawans have been safely evacuated and referred to a higher health centre for immediate medical attention, he added. Their conditions were stated to be stable and out of danger. As the search operation remains underway, further operational details were not shared owing to the safety concerns of the personnel engaged in the anti-Maoist campaign on the ground. In the last 18 months, as many as 426 Maoist cadres have allegedly been killed in various encounters in the Bastar Range. Sukma, among the seven Maoist-affected districts in the Bastar zone, is cited as an epicentre of the left-wing extremist group in south Chhattisgarh.
After arrest of nuns, political row in Chhattisgarh
RAIPUR: A case of alleged human trafficking and religious conversion got political colour on Monday following the arrest of three, including two Catholic nunsSisters Preeti Marry and Vandana Francisfrom Kerala in Chhattisgarhs Durg. The trio, taken into custody by Durg Government Railway Police (GRP) on Saturday for human trafficking and coerced religious conversion, were remanded to judicial custody by the JMFC court till August 8. They were booked under BNS Section 143 (trafficking). Citing the incident as a serious concern for womens safety, Chhattisgarh chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Monday wrote on X, Three daughters of Narayanpur were promised nursing training and later jobs. Its an attempt to convert people through human trafficking by allurement. Investigation is going on in this matter. The case is sub-judice and the law will take its own course. Three, including two nuns, held for human trafficking in Chhattisgarh Amid the political outrage and persisting resentment, the Christian organisations seek prompt decisive action to curb alleged religious fanaticism. The Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) claimed that the nuns from the Assisi Sisters of Mary Immaculate were arrested despite possessing written consent letters from the parents of the girls and declared to raise the issue on all appropriate forums. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on X alleged that the nuns were targeted for their faith. CM Sai, portraying Chhattisgarh as a peace-loving state where people of all religious faiths and communities live in harmony, said its unfortunate to politicise the issue related to the safety of daughters in Bastar and the safeguard of religious freedom. There will be zero tolerance for negligence in such cases, he affirmed. The arrested accused were caught while accompanying three young women aged between 18 and 20 years hailing from Narayanpur district in south Bastar, after Bajrang Dal activists spotted them at the Durg railway station. The group was allegedly preparing to travel to Agra for the womens training and employment opportunities. Bajrang Dal members staged demonstrations at the Durg GRP police station demanding strict action against those allegedly involved in human trafficking and forced religious conversion. Meanwhile, members of the Christian community also gathered at the spot to defend the nuns. A police officer in Durg said, The three girls hailed from Narayanpur district (south Bastar)two from Orchha block and one from Narayanpur town. During the preliminary investigation, we found all of them were being taken to Agra. A case has been registered against two nuns and a person from Narayanpur who accompanied them. We have informed the parents of the girls who have been temporarily shifted to Sakhi One Stop Centre in Durg. A preliminary investigation suggests that the women were being trapped in a carefully orchestrated web of deceit, under the guise of career advancement, the officer suspected.
Three, including two nuns, held for human trafficking in Chhattisgarh
RAIPUR: Three persons, including two Catholic nuns who had reportedly come from Agra, were arrested by the Government Railway Police (GRP) in Durg on Friday for alleged human trafficking amid suspicion of coerced religious conversion. They were remanded to 14-day judicial custody, a police officer said. The trio were booked under BNS Section 143 (trafficking of persons). All three were caught accompanying three young women aged between 18 and 20 years, hailing from Narayanpur district in south Bastar, after Bajrang Dal activists spotted them at Durg railway station. The group was allegedly preparing to travel to Agra for training and subsequent employment opportunities. Bajrang Dal members staged demonstrations at the Durg GRP police station demanding strict action against those allegedly involved in human trafficking and forced religious conversion. The nuns had come to Durg merely a day before without any valid reason. They were about to board a train along with the rescued girls to Agra when we spotted them, said Ravi Nigam, a Bajrang Dal leader. Members of the Christian community also gathered at the GRP Durg station and were seen defending the nuns. The two nuns Preeti Marry and Vandana Francis who had come from Agra, along with Sukhman Mandavi from Narayanpur, were produced before a local court in Durg and remanded to 14-day judicial custody. The rescued girls have been sent to the Sakhi One Stop Centre in Durg. Meanwhile, Congress MP K C Venugopal has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai seeking stringent action against the perpetrators. He also urged the government to uphold constitutional rights and religious freedom in the state. The Congress leader alleged that BJP-ruled states are witnessing a rampant rise in attacks on minorities. The latest attacks by Bajrang Dal goons on two Catholic nuns in Durg, Chhattisgarh, point to a tacit support for such hate crimes from the ruling establishment, Venugopal wrote on X.
Chhattisgarhs wild buffalo clone, claimed to be 'first-ever' 11 years back, embroils in scepticism
RAIPUR: The Chhattisgarh forest department made headlines 11 years ago, claiming to have produced the first-ever clone of the wild buffalo, named DeepAsha and is currently embroiled in scepticism. The project was executed by the National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI), Karnal, which claimed to have cloned the wild buffalo for the first time in the country through the Hand-guided Cloning Technique at ICAR-NDRI in December 2014. The clone appears like aMurrah buffalo (domestic) breed, and notably the Wild buffalo is listed under Schedule 1 of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act. Amid the demand by wildlife enthusiasts of DeepAshas DNA report, the state forest department decided to raise a query to the Hyderabad-based Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) asking, Is it technically possible to create xerox copy of wild buffalo in a cloning method where ovaries (that produces oocyte/egg cells) for cloning is sourced from slaughter house? The response given to the department by CCMB in March this year that it was 'not possible', was acquired under the Right to Information. In the case of the wild buffalo clone DeepAsha, it has probably inherited a few mitochondrial DNA (genes found within mitochondria, a powerhouse of cells) from domestic buffalo since the oocytes used for cloning were from a domestic buffalo. At present, with the available technology for endangered species, a complete match of both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA in cloned and free-living wild animal (donor) is not possible, stated a CCMB report. Defending cloning as a promising methodology to maintain the gene pool of dwindling population, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (wildlife management and planning) Prem Kumar told TNIE that the scientific innovative endeavour inherently involves uncertainties that should not discourage efforts to protect nature and wildlife. The CCMB report does not provide an absolute conclusion on the feasibility of creating a replica of a wild buffalo through cloning compared to its wild counterpart, said Kumar. The wildlife enthusiasts nevertheless expressed their resentment against the forest department following the CCMB report. Why DeepAsha, looking like a Murrah buffalo, is kept in captivity for over half her life and not allowed to live in a natural habitat? I had demanded a DNA test of DeepAsha and sought her release. The forest department has spent crores of rupees on the project, asked Nitin Singhvi, a wildlife enthusiast. The forest department said that it sought the opinions of NDRI Karnal and CCMB before execution of the project that was intended to conserve the endangered gene pool of wild buffalo species in Chhattisgarh, cited as innovative and the first of its kind.
Seven Maoists killed in encounters with security forces in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh
RAIPUR/RANCHI: Seven Maoists were killed in separate encounters with security forces in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh on Saturday. At least four Maoist cadres were killed in an exchange of fire in the southwestern region of strife-torn Bijapur district, about 400 km south of Raipur, the Bastar police said on Saturday. An encounter ensued between a team of security forces and the Maoists in the evening hours. The gunbattle continues intermittently in the forested terrain. Based on intelligence inputs regarding the presence of Maoists in the given location of Bijapur district, troops launched a search operation. A gunfight broke out in the evening. So far, four bodies of Maoist have been recovered along with the INSAS assault rifle, self-loading rifle and other weapons besides explosive materials and items of daily use from the encounter scene, said P Sundarraj, IGP, Bastar range. As the search operation remains underway, details were not shared owing to the safety concerns of the personnel engaged in the anti-Maoist campaign on the ground. In the last 18 months, as many as 425 Maoist cadres have been killed in various encounters in the Bastar Range. Bijapur, among the seven Maoist-affected districts in Bastar zone, is cited as an epicentre of the left-wing extremist group in south Chhattisgarh. Meanwhile, three Naxalites were killed in a gunfight with forces in Jharkhands Gumla district on Saturday, police said. Intelligence inputs were received that members of Jharkhand Jan Mukti Parishad, a splinter group of CPI (Maoist), had gathered in Ghaghra police station area, they said. Acting on this tip-off, the operation was carried out by the Jharkhand Jaguar and Gumla Police, they added. Several rounds of bullets were fired from both sides. An AK-47 and two INSAS rifles were recovered from the spot. One of the deceased was identified as Dilip Lohra, 32, of Belagada in Ghaghra. The identification of the other two deceased is still underway, Gumlas SP Haris Bin Zaman said.
RAIPUR: Is saying I Love You to a girl publicly amount to sexual assault? Its not, going by the judgment of the Chhattisgarh High Court. The court pronounced the verdict while considering an appeal against a lower court order on July 24. It dismissed all charges against an accused, who was booked for stalking, insulting the modesty and sexual assault, along with the provisions of SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The court said merely saying I Love You to a girl publicly would not amount to sexual assault. Earlier, a trial court, after examining the prosecutions evidence, held that the accused was not involved in the alleged crime, following which an appeal was filed in the High Court. On October 14, 2019, the accused came across the 15-year-old girl returning home from school with two friends in Kurud, Dhamtari district, about 80 km south of Raipur. He reportedly expressed his fondness by saying, I love you, XXX (with XXX denoting the girl's name). The girl then filed a police complaint and the case was registered against the accused under IPC Sections 354-D (stalking), 509 (insulting the modesty), Section 8 of POCSO Act (sexual assault) and SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The High Court stated that no witness was examined regarding the girls birth certificate, nor were original documents or school records produced. As a result, the accused was not found guilty under the POCSO Act. The court also observed that the accuseds solitary act, described as an expression of love, and a close examination of statements by the girl and her friends, did not amount to sexual assault under the POCSO Act and did not warrant criminal liability. Considering the statements by the two friends with whom the girl was returning home and those by her parents, the court inferred there seems only a single act of expressing love by the accused towards the girl on October 14, so he is acquitted from committing the act of stalking. The court also observed that the essential ingredients to attract the criminal acts under Stalking and insult the modesty' of the girl were not found to be established by convincing reliable evidence to attribute the accused guilty in both offences. The court further maintained that there is no evidence to show that the alleged wrongdoing under SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act was committed only on the ground that the victim was a member of scheduled caste.
Congress won't be scared of BJP's intimidation, says Sachin Pilot after meeting Baghel's jailed son
RAIPUR: The BJP governments at the Centre and in Chhattisgarh are using probe agencies to intimidate the Opposition and supress its voice, senior Congress leader and former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot said on Saturday. He was talking to reporters outside Raipur Central Jail, where former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel's son Chaitanya is lodged following his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate last week in an alleged liquor scam running into several hundred crore rupees. I met Chaitanya Baghel today. We have been repeatedly saying that BJP and its governments at the Centre and the state have been continuously trying to threaten and intimidate opponents. The action against Congress leaders and now against former CM Baghel's son proves Central and state investigative agencies have been trying to suppress the voice of political opponents of the BJP, Pilot alleged. ED raids and investigations in Telangana shake politics, bureaucracy, filmdom We have full faith in the judiciary. The truth will come to the fore. Bhupesh Baghel ji has also said they will fully cooperate in the judicial procedure. But the action shows the ED, CBI and Income Tax etc are being used to target BJP's opponents, particularly Congress. Earlier too, action was taken against our leaders like MLAs Kawasi Lakhma and Devendra Yadav, Pilot added. The BJP is trying to malign the image of Congress leaders, and a failed attempt was made through the ED to harass Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in this manner, he added. It has been proved in Chhattisgarh that at every turn they (BJP) want to divert attention from issues by using agencies. Whoever raises a voice against corruption, misgovernance, and about government filling the pockets of industrialists will have to face this consequence. The Congress is not going to get scared and our political struggle will continue, Pilot asserted. After arresting Chaitanya Baghel, the Enforcement Directorate, in a statement, had said he handled more than Rs 1,000 crore worth of proceeds of crime generated from the alleged liquor scam and had used Rs 16.7 crore from it in his real estate project. The alleged liquor scam, as per the ED, was orchestrated between 2019-22 when Chhattisgarh was under the Bhupesh Baghel-led Congress government, resulting in massive loss to the state exchequer, while beneficiaries of a liquor syndicate pocketed more than Rs 2,100 crore. The ED in January arrested former minister and Congress leader Kawasi Lakhma, besides Anwar Dhebar, former IAS officer Anil Tuteja, Indian Telecom Service (ITS) officer Arunpati Tripathi, among others, for alleged involvement in the scam.
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Chhattisgarhs Tiriya gram sabha recognised globally for community-led forest governance
RAIPUR: Tucked deep inside south Chhattisgarhs Bastar division, Tiriya village has been recognised among the top 15 mentions, out of the 190+ nominated communities, for the 2025 Collective Action Awards by the Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI). Tiriyas model stands as a resilient example on how tribal (Adivasi) communities can lead inclusive, sustainable development rooted in traditional knowledge and collective action in Bastar region. The RRI is a global coalition of grassroots organisations aimed at improving coordination and support for the recognition of land rights for indigenous people across Africa, Asia and Latin America. The global efforts intended to safeguard nature and preserve traditional knowledge for future generations are much appreciated. The achievement of Tiriya has been supported by the Bastar-based team of ATREE, which has facilitated key steps in the community forest rights (CFR) claim-making and community planning processes. The global recognition celebrates Tiriyas exemplary grassroots efforts in securing community forest rights, strengthening collective governance and pioneering a self-sustaining eco-tourism model. Led by the Dhruva tribal community, the Tiriya gram sabha (village council) successfully claimed community rights over 3057 hectares of forest under the Forest Rights Act and established a community-led management system to conserve its forests and livelihoods. The efforts of the tribal community are well acknowledged and its an occasion for them to celebrate. Tiriya was earlier a forest village known not just for rich natural forest resources but also for close bonding existing within the community. Tiriya became a revenue village in 2013. Forest management groups have also been diligently working in Tiriya and such rich forested areas of Bastar, said V Sreenivasa Rao (PCCF & Head of Forest Force) told the TNIE. Through daily forest patrolling and an innovative bamboo rafting enterprise along the Shabari river, the village has generated significant local employment and income while promoting environmental justice and cultural pride.
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RAIPUR: The Chhattisgarh High Court, while hearing a petition concerning the installation of pandals and welcome gates on roads during religious festivals without proper approvals, has sought a response from the state government. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Bibhu Datta Guru heard a public interest litigation (PIL) that pleaded the court to direct the authorities to frame a policy ahead of the festive seasons. The petitioner Nitin Singhvi contended that the pandals are being erected either in the middle or adjacent to the roads, causing obstruction in free movement of traffic and posing threat to the public particularly the senior citizens. The petitioner also claimed that such practice continues as gross violation of the state government directive, given on 22 April 2022. The guidelines were then sent to all district magistrates and police chiefs for strict compliance. The additional chief secretary (Home department) had then specifically instructed to take prior permission from the district administration before organising any such programmereligious, political or social, to ensure routine activities of people, smooth traffic movement and proper public order do not get disturbed, stated the petitioner. Singhvi stated that since 2022 after the governments directive, he acquired details under the Right to Information (RTI) that clearly cited ot a single approval had been given by Raipur district authorities to erect pandals during festival season of Durga puja and Ganesh Utsav but pandals were fix in violation. I am not against pandals erected for various occasions including religious but it should be in accordance with the law and after obtaining due permission from the authorities as mentioned in the official circular dated 22 April 2022, he opined. The state Advocate General submitted before the court that there already exists government guidelines as a directive and the same will be followed till a new policy is formulated on the given issue as raised in the PIL. The state sought six weeks time to frame a policy and an affidavit in this regard has been submitted by the chief secretary. The court has listed the matter to be heard on September 2.
Court sends Chaitanya Baghel, son of ex-Chhattisgarh CM, to judicial custody in liquor 'scam' case
RAIPUR: A special court here on Tuesday remanded Chaitanya Baghel, son of senior Congress leader and former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, in a 14-day judicial custody in a money laundering case linked to the alleged liquor scam. Chaitanya was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on July 18 following a search at his house which he shares with his father in Bhilai town of Durg district in the state. The accused was produced before the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge (VI) Damarudhar Chouhan on Tuesday on expiry of his ED custody, the central probe agency's counsel Saurabh Kumar Pande told reporters. During his custodial remand, Chaitanya was interrogated and confronted with statements and documents during which he conceded at many points. There was not much left for interrogation so the ED requested the court for his judicial custody, he said. The court sent him to jail in judicial custody till August 4, he added. If required, he can be questioned by the agency with the court's permission, he said. The ED claimed in a statement that Chaitanya handled more than Rs 1,000 crore worth of proceeds of crime generated from a liquor scam in the state and used Rs 16.7 crore for the development of his real estate project. Chaitanya was in receipt of proceeds of crime worth Rs 16.70 crore. He had used his real estate firms to intermingle the said funds. It was found that he had utilised the said cash amount (proceeds of crime) in development of his real estate project, it said. His father Bhupesh Baghel has alleged that central agencies were being misused to target the opposition leaders, but stressed that he trusted the judiciary and would cooperate. The former CM has alleged that the ED action against his son was initiated to divert attention from the illegal tree felling for coal mines in the state as the Congress was set to raise the issue in the state assembly last week. Former Chhattisgarh CM Baghel says sons arrest aimed at diverting attention from illegal tree felling The Congress on Tuesday staged chakka jam (road blockade) in different parts of the state to protest against the ED's action. The ED has said that the alleged scam resulted in a massive loss to the state exchequer and filled the pockets of the beneficiaries of a liquor syndicate with over Rs 2,100 crore. The scam in the state, according to the ED, was orchestrated between 2019 and 2022 when Chhattisgarh was governed by the Bhupesh Baghel-led Congress government. In January, the ED arrested former minister and Congress leader Kawasi Lakhma, besides Anwar Dhebar, former IAS officer Anil Tuteja, Indian Telecom Service (ITS) officer Arunpati Tripathi and some others as part of their investigations in the case. The EOW/ACB registered the FIR on January 17 last year, about a month after the BJP defeated the Congress in the 2023 assembly polls, and named 70 individuals and companies, including former excise minister Kawasi Lakhma and former chief secretary Vivek Dhand. According to the ED, the alleged commission generated through the illegal sale of liquor was shared as per the directions from the highest political executives of the state. ED arrests Chaitanya Baghel, son of Bhupesh Baghel, in liquor 'scam' linked money laundering case
Raipur Diary | Outline of vision for Viksit Rajya 2047
Chhattisgarh Anjor 2047 is a concept document that highlights regional development plans, individualised visions aligned with Viksit Bharat 2047. The multidimensional vision document has been prepared with consideration for the needs and future challenges, and incorporating the dreams and pledge of its three crore residents. To prepare the document, the government held direct conversations and engaged citizens through an online portal to garner their suggestions. The states timeline has maintained its short-term targets for 2030, mid-term goals by 2035, and long-term objectives until 2047. Flipkart in the dock for sale of lethal knife Raipur police lodged an FIR against e-commerce store Flipkart, holding it accountable for selling banned (lethal) knives on its platform. The knife was used in a murder and to injure one in the capital. The Raipur police have been repeatedly asking representatives of e-commerce marketplaces not to make various hazardous knives, including button, foldable, designer, or bladed items, available on their platforms for customers. There were looming concerns over the rising incidents of stabbings in the state capital. Despite the alerts, reports indicate that the sale of such prohibited knives continues unabated from online shopping companies. Korbas coal boom costing the Earth In Indias largest coal and power producing Korba district, a recent research study has flagged alarming land degradation and a decline in forest cover. The findings underscore how the relentless expansion of coal mining, particularly open-cast operations, has drastically transformed the regions landscape, triggering severe ecological consequences. The study found that Korbas forest cover had declined dramatically from 35.56 percent in 1995 to 14 percent in 2024. The district currently has 13 operational coal mines, with four more in the pipeline. Coal production in Korba is expected to reach a peak of 180 million tonnes by 2025. Ejaz Kaiser Our correspondent in Chhattisgarh ejaz@newindianexpress.com
Chhattisgarh government enacts Jan Vishwas Bill, amends 163 provisions across eight Acts
RAIPUR: In a resolute move, the BJP-ruled Chhattisgarh passed Jan Vishwas Bill in the Assembly marking a significant step towards ease of living and doing business in the State. With a focus to lessen non-essential legal burdens and encouraging voluntary compliance, Chhattisgarh becomes only the second State in the country to pass the Bill that replaces criminal penalties with fines for minor violations. The new Act will aim to decriminalise minor technical violations by citizens and business owners -- many of which stemmed from outdated British-era laws. Touted as a historic reform, the bill intended towards securing trust-based governance prioritising transparency with accountability between the government and its citizens and trade. In a paradigm shift, the State in one attempt, has eased the burden of the judicial system by cutting down on avoidable litigation, while sparing citizens from facing criminal proceedings for minor lapses. As many as 163 provisions across eight Acts were amended and decriminalised as part of doing away with the colonial legacy. It will also check corruption and needless harassment, a government spokesperson told this newspaper. Some of the Acts to be amended through the bill include Urban Administration Department laws, Nagar Tatha Gram Nivesh Act, Society Registration Act, Chhattisgarh Industrial Relations Act, Chhattisgarh Excise Act, and the Chhattisgarh Cooperative Society Act. On the lines of the Indian Judicial Code brought under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, Chhattisgarh has now become the second state after Madhya Pradesh to pass the Jan Vishwas Bill. Its an important step towards achieving the goals based on the Viksit Rajya for Viksit Bharat theme, said Vishnu Deo Sai, Chhattisgarh chief minister. The government asserted that the focus is to make employment and business easier in the state as well as to protect traders and common citizens from judicial litigation in non-criminal category cases. The initiative will create a smooth business and responsible environment as the new enactment will be helpful in replacing the fear of criminal litigation with fines for minor violations, while the strict penalties for grave violations will still be retained. The State government ahead of the passing of the bill, had secured crucial feedback from legal experts,representatives ofindustrial groups, business houses, officials and other stakeholders.
Ex CMs son arrested in liquor scam
RAIPUR, July 18: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday arrested Chaitnaya Baghel, son of senior Congress leader and former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, in an alleged liquor scam linked money laundering case, official sources said. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp He was taken into custody under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) after fresh raids were carried out at his home in Bhilai town in Durg district. The father-son duo reside at the same place. A [] The post Ex CMs son arrested in liquor scam appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Chhattisgarh ex-CM Bhupesh Baghel's son held by ED in Rs 5000 crore 'liquor scam'
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel, in connection with an alleged liquor scandal. Following a search at his Bhilai residence, he was remanded to five-day ED custody by a Raipur court.
DC Edit | Cleanliness Lesson For Metros
While the survey has undoubtedly highlighted the poor state of affairs in Indian metros, the Central government must be conscious of the fact that it cannot club cities like Raipur, Jabalpur, Gwalior, or even Visakhapatnam, with the six major metropolitan cities
Six Maoists killed in encounter with forces in Chhattisgarhs Narayanpur
RAIPUR: At least six cadres of banned outfit CPI (Maoist) were killed in an exchange of fire with security forces in the hilly forested terrain of Abujhmad in Narayanpur district, about 400 km south of Raipur, the Bastar police said on Friday. A search operation was launched by a joint team of security forces in the Abujhmad region based on intelligence inputs about the presence of Maoist cadres. An exchange of fire ensued on Friday afternoon and continued intermittently in the forest. Six bodies have been recovered so far from the encounter scene, said the police in an issued statement. There was however no report of any injury sustained by the forces. As the search operation remains underway, further operational details were not shared owing to the safety concerns of the personnel engaged in anti-Maoist campaign on the ground. The forces also recovered one AK-47, a Self Loading rifle, other weapons besides explosives materials and items of daily use from the location. In the last 18 months, as many as 421 Maoist cadres have been killed in various encounters in the Bastar Range. Shah has declared that the country will be Maoist-free by March 31, 2026. In this context, the series of encounters against the left-wing extremists remains a part of the renewed strategy to free the Chhattisgarh state from the influence of Maoist. Abujhmad region in Narayanpur, among the seven Maoist-affected districts in Bastar zone, is cited as an epicentre of Red rebels in south Chhattisgarh
ED arrests ex-Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghels son in liquor scam case
Raipur, Jul 18 (PTI) The ED (Enforcement Directorate) on Friday arrested Chaitnaya Baghel, son of former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, in an alleged liquor scam linked money laundering case, official sources said. He was taken into custody under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) after fresh raids were carried out at his home in Bhilai town in Durg district. The father-son duo reside at the same place. The sources said that Chaitnaya Baghel was arrested under section 19 of the anti-money laundering as he was allegedly not cooperating during the searches that came about following receipt of fresh
ED raids ex-Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel's home in connection with case against son
RAIPUR: The Enforcement Directorate on Friday launched fresh raids at the premises of former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel's son Chaitanya Baghel in connection with a money laundering probe against him linked to an alleged liquor scam, officials said. Chaitanya Baghel's house in Bhilai town, which he shares with his father, is being searched by the ED under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) based on receipt of fresh evidence in the case, they said. The federal probe agency conducted similar raids against Chaitanya Baghel in March this year. Bhupesh Baghel, a senior Congress leader, also posted a message on X saying the ED has reached his Bhilai residence on the last day of the assembly session. ED . . . ED . (- ) Bhupesh Baghel (@bhupeshbaghel) July 18, 2025 The ED earlier said Chaitanya Baghel was suspected to be the ecipient of the proceeds of crime of the alleged liquor scam. It has said the Chhattisgarh liquor scam resulted in a massive loss to the state exchequer and filled the pockets of the beneficiaries of a liquor syndicate with more than Rs 2,100 crore of proceeds of crime.
Visakhapatnam, Ranchi, Vijayawada, Nashik and Raipur emerge as career hubs in LinkedIn study
A list put out by LinkedIn highlights tier-2 and tier-3 growth pockets for professionals looking to relocate, tap into new industries or grow their careers locally
Hyderabad, Secunderabad make Swachh list in different categories
Hyderabad: Hyderabad has ranked 6th on the list of cleanest cities in the country, while Secunderabad Cantonment Board has topped cantonments in the Swachh Survekshan Awards on Thursday, July 17. Hyderabad was ranked in the Million Plus category, containing all cities with a population over 10 lakh. Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Lucknow, Raipur and Jabalpur took the Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
RAIPUR: A new research study has revealed alarming levels of land degradation and a sharp decline in forest cover in Chhattisgarhs Korba district, Indias largest coal and power-producing region. The findings underscore how the relentless expansion of coal mining, particularly open-cast operations, has drastically transformed the regions landscape, triggering severe ecological consequences. The scientists behind the study acknowledged that coal mining is critical to meeting India's rising energy needs, but stressed that this industrial growth has come at an enormous environmental cost in Korba. The district currently has 13 operational coal mines, with four more in the pipeline. Coal production in Korba is expected to peak at 180 million tonnes by 2025. Our study addressed the lack of comprehensive understanding regarding the scale of LULC (Land Use and Land Cover) changes caused by coal mining in the Korba region from 1995 to 2024. Simultaneously, an enduring existence of insufficient reclamation strategies remains in restoring degraded landscapes, said Dr Joystu Dutta, Assistant Professor, Department of Environmental Science, Sant Gahira Guru University, Ambikapur. The study found that forest cover in Korba had declined dramatically. from 35.56 per cent in 1995 to just 14 per cent in 2024, alongside a significant increase in coal mining zones and wastelands. Prof Tarun Thakur from Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Amarkantak, said: The transformation of natural landscapes has led to severe implications for ecological services, reduced water retention, increased soil erosion and depleting biodiversity. The researchers documented widespread land degradation and habitat destruction, as forested and agricultural lands were converted into mining sites and urban settlements. Using remote sensing data and geospatial analysis, the study precisely quantified the scale of land degradation and evaluated environmental vulnerability through the Land Degradation Vulnerability Index (LDVI). Although reclamation activities such as plantations have been undertaken, the study revealed that these efforts have not been adequate to reverse the overall trend of environmental degradation. The researchers also highlighted the social impacts, stating that the negative effects of mining are particularly visible in the lives of those residing near mining zones in Korba, one of NITI Aayogs Aspirational Districts, with a tribal population exceeding 40 per cent. The study pointed out that globally, 23 per cent of land resources are affected by degradation. In India, this figure stands at 44 per cent, largely due to deforestation, excessive mining, rapid industrialisation, and unsustainable land use practices. The findings called for stronger environmental policies, more sustainable mining methods, and real action to strike a balance between Indias energy requirements and the preservation of its ecosystems. The multi-institutional study was carried out by researchers and scientists from the Department of Environmental Science, Indira Gandhi National Tribal University (Madhya Pradesh), Government Gramya Bharti College (Korba), Biodiversity Research Centre Taipei, National Taiwan Normal University, Sant Gahira Guru Sarguja Vishwavidyalaya (Chhattisgarh), and the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, HNB Garhwal University (Uttarakhand).
Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada Among Fastest-growing Non-metro Hubs
Healthcare and pharma companies like Dr Reddy's Laboratories, Laurus Labs Ltd, Alembic Pharmaceuticals Ltd and Sun Pharma are creating opportunities in Vishakhapatnam and Vadodara, while HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank are accelerating the growth of financial services in Raipur, Agra and Jodhpur.
RAIPUR: A day after nine detained migrant labourers from West Bengal set free by the police in Kondagaon district of Chhattisgarh, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra claimed that they were now being forcibly pushed into buses and sent to West Bengal. Moitra who questioned the state police on Monday for detaining nine migrants whom she cited as residents of her Krishnanagar constituency in West Bengal, again came up with her strongly worded statements alleging that the workers are now shoved into buses by Chhattisgarh police to put them back to Bengal. The nine men were detained by the Kondagaon police on July 12 under preventive restrictions. You have no right to stop free movement of people. This is completely illegal. I urged Chhattisgarh DGP to get aware of what the state police are doing. The police had (earlier) put them in illegal detention. They (labourers) are not criminals and have every right to be in any state they want to be, she asserted in her video posted on X and tagged Chhattisgarh chief minister office and Chhattisgarh police. Attention @ChhattisgarhCMO @KondagaonDist @CG_Police you are physically pushing my workers into buses forcibly to send them back! You have NO right to stop free movement of people - Fundamental rights Articles 19 (1) (d) & (g) . STOP pic.twitter.com/G3GOeMhRYn Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) July 15, 2025 In a forewarning note, the TMC MP said that the Chhattisgarh police have no right to throw these labourers outside the territory of Chhattisgarh. If you dont realise it, I will take you to the court, she said. On the fresh allegations, Kondagaon district police chief Akshay Kumar told The New Indian Express that the workers are still there in his district. Who said these labourers are being forcibly sent back? How can they be stopped from working anywhere after their documents are verified? I havent seen her (Moitra's) arguments or videos on X-post. Anyone can speak to the contractor who brought the labourers to work for some project in Kondagaon and get their locations, the SP said. In her video on X-handle, the TMC leader stated that these nine labourers had gone to Kondagaon with a contractor with proper verification and documentation.
Chhattisgarh deports 30 undocumented Bangladeshi immigrants
RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh on Tuesday deported 30 Bangladeshi nationals following an ongoing verification exercise in the state, with the individuals being sent back to their homeland. The undocumented Bangladeshi migrants were taken by flight to Guwahati, where they will be handed over to the Border Security Force (BSF), a police officer said. After initiating the necessary action and completing the process of deportation, all illegal immigrants will be sent across the border into the neighbouring country. The thirty immigrants found staying without valid documents were traced from the districts of Raipur, Durg, Rajnandgaon and Raigarh. They were apprehended following intelligence inputs and some complaints received from local inhabitants about the foreigners staying illegally. According to a senior intelligence officer, some Bangladeshis had even procured Indian passports in Chhattisgarh, travelled to their country, and returned to the state. On Tuesday, the issue of Bangladeshi and Rohingya undocumented immigrants was raised by senior BJP MLA Ajay Chandrakar in the House, claiming that their strength is consistently on the rise in different districts of the state. Chandrakar claimed that illegal immigrants are accessing the benefits of government schemes after they secured documents illegally on the basis of false documentation and the official machinery failing to enforce stringent regulations. Chandrakar claimed that illegal immigrants are availing benefits of government schemes by obtaining documents through false documentation, alleging the official machinery failing to enforce stringent regulations. The state home minister Vijay Sharma responded that efforts have been intensified to identify illegal immigrants staying without valid documents and, so far, 19 criminal cases have been registered, and forty persons (infiltrators) arrested under the Foreigners Act. After arrest, they all will be kept in a holding (deport) centre before initiating the deportation process, the home minister said. Chhattisgarh has given a strong push to intensify surveillance, identity, and initiative action against Bangladeshi infiltrators, immigrants staying in the state illegally. A Special Task Force has been constituted around mid-May this year in every district of the state as part of the special campaign intended to keep the national security in perspective. The contractors, businessmen of tents or scrap dealers who hire people or labourers from outside without valid documents will also face actions. They have been asked to mandatorily ensure document verification of their labour force.
Job Market Momentum Growing In Non-Metro Tier-2 And Tier-3 Cities: Report
The Cities on the Rise report, by professional network platform LinkedIn, identifies Visakhapatnam, Ranchi, Vijayawada, Nashik, and Raipur as the fastest-growing non-metro hubs where professional opportunities are accelerating.
IIM Raipurs MBA 202527 batch brings together students from 21 states, varied academic backgrounds
Chhattisgarh assembly monsoon session begins today; congress gears up to corner BJP govt
RAIPUR: A 5-day monsoon session of the Chhattisgarh Assembly begins on Monday and is likely to be stormy as the opposition Congress has geared up to launch an onslaught on the ruling BJP government led by Vishnu Deo Sai. Around 1000 questions have been listed for the Question Hour in the upcoming session. According to official sources, the BJP government is likely to introduce some key bills besides a supplementary budget during the session. The leader of the opposition, Charandas Mahant, who chaired a meeting of his party MLAs ahead of the session at Rajiv Bhawan, conveyed that every important issue related to public interest should be raised with an aggressive stance to corner the government. The Congress legislators have been instructed to attend the monsoon session with their full preparation, supported with facts and reasoning on various key issues that are to come up for discussions in the House. According to the Congress sources, the party MLAs had discussed multiple issues, including farmers, fertiliser shortage, alleged deteriorating law and order situation, liquor, paddy procurement, school education, elephant menace, poor governance among others. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai affirmed that his party is fully prepared to aptly respond and arguably counter the opposition while replying to any issue or false narrative they raise in the Assembly. The BJP legislative party also sharpened its strategy to expose the opposition
23 Maoist cadres surrender in Chhattisgarhs Sukma
RAIPUR: Twenty three senior Maoist cadres, including nine women, carrying a collective reward of Rs 1.18 crore renounced the banned outfit and surrendered in strife-torn Sukma, south Bastar on Saturday. Those surrendered included eleven hardcore members who were cited to have been active in the military wing Peoples' Liberation Guerrilla Army battalion no.1 of the CPI (Maoist), a senior police officer said. The cadres who left the banned outfit stated that they realised the hollow, anti-development ideology of the Maoist organisation and expressed disenchantment over the growing differences within the outfit. The Sukma district police have released the list of the cadres who surrendered. Ramesh alias Kalmu Kesa, Lokesh alias Podiam Bhima, Madkam Hunga, Kawasi Masa, Punem Deve, Nuppo Gangi, Paraski Pandey, Madvi Joga, Nuppo Lachchu, Dudhi Bheema and Podiam Sukhram carried a reward of Rs 8 lakh each, a senior police official said. Four other cadres carried a bounty of Rs 5 lakh each, one cadre Rs 3 lakh and seven cadres Rs 1 lakh each, he said. On Friday, 22 Red rebels engaged in the Abhujmad area of Sukma's adjoining district Narayanpur and carried a cumulative bounty of Rs 37.5 lakh have surrendered. Chief minister Vishu Deo Sai reiterated that the Maoist rebels now choose the path of development over the barrel of a gun as a total of 1,499 have so far surrendered under the current government. The surrendered Maoists will get the initial financial incentive of Rs 50,000 each. Besides, if the surrendered cadres wish to undergo skill training or set up a small business, they will receive further financial support, will be provided with free housing and healthcare, farm land among other amenities under the new Maoist Surrender Rehabilitation Policy.
NGH-o Skill Development-ni bidingo Workshop-ko ongata
RESUBELPARA: Sericulture & Livelihood Improvement in Meghalaya ine pangchakaniko donenba, Skill Development-ni bidingo dingtangmancha workshop-ko, North Garo Hills ajani Resubelpara-o donggipa DSO Conference Hall-o ongatangaha. Ia workshop-ko NEHU Tura Campus-ni ningo donggipa Incubation Centre (MSME Incubator), North Garo Hills ajani Textiles department aro Chattisgarh adokni Raipur-o donggipa ICAR National Institute of Biotic Stress Management (ICAR-NIBSM) [] The post NGH-o Skill Development-ni bidingo Workshop-ko ongata appeared first on The Shillong Times .
Chhattisgarh liquor scam: Charge-sheet filed against 29 excise officials; 22 suspended
RAIPUR: The Chhattisgarh government suspended 22 excise officials on Thursday after the state Bureau for Investigation of Economic Offences (EOW) filed a chargesheet against them in the alleged liquor scam before a special court on July 7. The EOW named 29 excise officials as accused, seven of whom have retired. The suspended officials are stated to have secured commission of over Rs 88 crore during 2019 to 2023, when Chhattisgarh was ruled by the Bhupesh Bagehl-led Congress government. The charge-sheet stated that on the basis of previous calculations, this liquor scam was believed to be around Rs 2,161 crore, including all types of commissions and sale of additional country liquor without duty paid in the shops. The fresh investigation however revealed the alleged scam was worth over Rs 3,200 crore, it added. The officials implicated in the scam include district and assistant district excise officers, assistant commissioners and deputy commissioners of excise, who were posted between 2019 and 2023, in 15 districts where unaccounted liquor was sold in government liquor shops, the EOW said. Chhattisgarh liquor scam: 1200-page supplementary charge-sheet filed against arrested Congress MLA The state agency in its probe found that the additional consignment of liquor was manufactured in distilleries, loaded in trucks and sent directly to these government run country made liquor shops as per the instructions of the 'Excise Syndicate. The 'duty-free' liquor alongside legal liquor. To carry out the scam, the districts of the state were divided into 8 zones and the liquor supplied to the targeted 15 districts from distilleries. The salesmen, supervisors, lower level excise officials, shop in-charge officials and district in-charge excise officials were involved in the entire process, it said, adding this kind of liquor was called 'B-part liquor for which the separately collected sale amount was handed over to the syndicate via the district in-charge excise official, the EOW mentioned. The state's agency has so far filed five chargesheets and arrested 13 persons in the scam. The Enforcement Directorate has been probing the money laundering part in the alleged liquor scam.
Ministry of Mines honours Chhattisgarh; presented as model state, for commendable works under DMF
RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh has earned accolades from the Ministry of Mines for its commendable, result-oriented performance in implementing District Mineral Foundation (DMF) trust fund projects in mining-affected areas. Union Coal and Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy presented a citation to Chhattisgarh, which was received by the states mining secretary P Dayanand at the National DMF workshop. The award recognised the state's good initiatives taken for development and welfare programmes with transparency. Chhattisgarhs efforts were showcased as a model for other states, which were urged to emulate its achievements in data uploading, transparency, and on-ground implementation, a state government spokesperson said. The recognition brings a measure of solace to Chhattisgarh, where a multi-crore DMF scam had rocked the previous Congress regime. The Ministry of Mines maintains a DMF database for all states on the National DMF Portal under the Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana. Chhattisgarh was specifically honoured for nearly 90% database uploading of its DMF audit reports on both the state and national DMF portals. The National DMF workshop, held in Delhi, aimed to enhance the effectiveness of the Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana and DMF while promoting sustainable and inclusive development in mining-affected regions. Under the DMF, the Chhattisgarh government continues to work towards inclusive development in key sectors such as education, health, drinking water, infrastructure, and livelihood in mining-affected areas, the spokesperson added. So far, 1,01,313 development projects have been approved in the state at an estimated cost of Rs 16,506 crore, of which 70,318 have been successfully completed. The state claims to have adopted a transparent and public welfare-centric approach in DMF implementation, with planning and monitoring tailored to each district's local needs. Officials said the current regime in Chhattisgarh targets not just physical development but also social empowerment. Secretaries, directors, and district collectors from mining-affected regions across the country attended the national workshop in Delhi. Notably, on May 27 this year, Chhattisgarhs Bureau for Investigation of Economic Offences (EOW) filed a 6,000-page chargesheet in a special Raipur court against Saumya Chaurasia, former deputy secretary to ex-CM Bhupesh Baghel, then Korba collector Ranu Sahu, and others in connection with the DMF scam.
Delhi-bound IndiGo flight returns to Patna after takeoff due to technical snag
PATNA: A Delhi-bound IndiGo flight carrying around 175 passengers returned to Jayaprakash Narayan International Airport in Patna after takeoff on Wednesday morning as one of its engines developed a technical snag due to a bird hit, airport officials said. All the 175 passengers and crew were safe, they said. IGO5009 Patna to Delhi reported bird hit after takeoff at 0842 IST, one dead bird in pieces found on runway during inspection. The same was advised to the aircraft through the Approach Control Unit. Message received from the approach control unit that aircraft requested to come back to Patna due to vibration in one engine. Local stand-by declared and aircraft landed safely at 0903 IST on runway 7. All passengers are safe, a statement issued by Patna airport said. The flight will undergo inspection. The airlines will make alternate arrangements for the passengers to send them to their destination, officials said. Raipur-bound IndiGo flight returns to Indore due to technical fault
Raipur Diary | Investment in aerospace, defence and space
Mineral and agriculture-rich Chhattisgarh looks to be the new bastion of technological innovation and strategic industries. Under its new industrial development policy for 2024-30, the state has taken momentous decisions to attract investment in strategic sectors, including defence, aerospace, and space technology. These decisions include state GST reimbursement of up to 100%, as well as substantial subsidies and other facilities. The Cabinet has announced a separate industrial incentive package for these advanced technologies, cited as a decisive step towards encouraging the establishment and expansion of cutting-edge industries. MoU on multiple projects to boost growth In an MoU with the government, Jindal Steel Chhattisgarh Ltd proposes to invest Rs 1,05,358 crore for multiple projects in Raigarh. The projects aim to drive economic growth, generating employment and fostering sustainable industrial development. They include a 500-MW solar power plant, a 2,400-MW thermal power plant, and a steel plant with an annual capacity of 7.5 million tons. These are vital for manufacturing, infrastructure, and energy generation, driving the states economic growth. The new industrial policy has attracted encouraging investment proposals from several key conglomerates across diverse sectors. Sarguja Collector bans alcohol for BJP session The Sarguja collector does not wish to take chances on the matter of law and order during the BJPs ongoing three-day training session, from July 7, for its elected MPs and MLAs at Mainpat in his district. So, he issued a strict order to ban the sale, transport and serving of liquor in Mainpat, which is 350 km north of Raipur, for three days. Collector Vilas Bhoskar stated he took the decision given the arrival of high-profile visitors and dignitaries from the Centre and the state to the town, which is known as the Shimla of Chhattisgarh. There will be 12 sessions during the three-day event, which party chief JP Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah will also attend. Ejaz Kaiser Our correspondent in Chhattisgarh ejaz@newindianexpress.com
'Objectionable': BJP slams Kharge for remarks on President Murmu, predecessor Kovind
The BJP on Tuesday trained its guns on Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, slamming his recent remarks on President Droupadi Murmu and her predecessor Ram Nath Kovind as objectionable and demanding his apology for the same. Kharge, while speaking at a public rally in Chhattisgarh's Raipur on Monday, had mispronounced the names of President Murmu and her predecessor Kovind but quickly corrected himself. The BJP always speaks about making (Droupadi) Murmu ji and (Ram Nath) Kovind ji presidents of the country but did the party do all this to snatch our assets, forests, water and land, the Congress President said. Slamming his remarks as objectionable BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia alleged the Congress president's statements reflect the party's anti-Dalit, anti-Adivasi and anti-Constitution mindset. You (Kharge) talk big - you called Ram Nath Kovind ji 'covid'...You call 'Murma ji' and then called her (President Droupadi Murmu) a land mafia, alleging that she has become President to snatch away assets, forests, he charged. Bhatia demanded that Kharge apologise for making distasteful and derogatory remarks against Murmu and Kovind, alleging the Congress president did not only insult them but also hurt the sentiments of Adivasi and Dalit community members with his comments. He also demanded a public apology from the Congress for Kharge's remarks and asked the Congress workers to make him resign from the post of party president . If the Congress and Mallikarjun Kharge do not apologise, you will see every citizen (of the country) expressing their anger. This mistake will cost Congress dearly, Bhatia said. Calling Kharge a emote-controlled national president of the Congress, the BJP spokesperson alleged that he made objectionable comments at the behest of party leader Rahul Gandhi. Entire India, Adivasi society, Dalit society and women are condemning Mallikarjun Kharge and the Congress, he added. Responding to the allegations, Congress leader Pawan Khera said it reflected the egressive mindset of the BJP and accused it of hypocrisy and exploiting the land and resources of the tribal population. This reflects BJP's deeply regressive mindset... Similarly, they present the President as a symbol, while on the ground, they exploit tribal communities, cutting thousands of trees in Chhattisgarh, and taking away their land, forests, and water, he told IANS. BJPs ideology is riddled with hypocrisy. On one hand, they claim to champion the rights of tribal communities, but on the other, they exploit their land and resources without hesitation. They cut down forests, displace indigenous people, and rob them of their jal, jungle, and zameen. And when questioned, they deflect by pointing to the symbolic elevation of a Tribal individual as President, as if tokenism can erase systemic exploitation, the Congress leader said in a post on X. (With inputs from PTI, IANS)
IndiGo Indore-Raipur Flight Makes Emergency Landing After Mid-Air False Alarm
The IndiGo flight, which took off at 6:30 am, was forced to return to Indore reportedly after a technical fault triggered a false alarm around 6:50 am.
Raipur-bound IndiGo flight returns to Indore due to technical fault
The plane did not make an emergency landing, the airport director claimed, without giving details of the technical fault
BJP trying to intimidate people, Congress leaders; has not fulfilled pre-poll promises: Kharge
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday accused the ruling BJP of reneging on its pre-poll promises and asked people to remain united in the fight to protect their 'jal, jungle and zameen' (water, forest, land). He alleged the BJP was trying to intimidate everyone in the country and misusing central probe agencies against its opponents. Speaking at a public rally titled, 'Jai Jawan-Jai Kisan-Jai Samvidhan' at Science College Ground in Raipur amid heavy rains, the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha claimed the poor are being looted under the Modi government. Hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kharge said he has time to visit foreign nations, but has no time to tour Manipur, which has seen ethnic clashes since May 2023. The BJP has been trying to intimidate our leaders using central agencies like the ED and I-T, but we will never be scared. Our party leaders in Chhattisgarh, including former chief minister (Bhupesh Baghel), are being harassed (using probe agencies), he told the gathering. They (BJP) also tried to implicate (Congress leaders) Sonia Gandhi and Rahul ji in the National Herald case. They always try to defame the Congress, Kharge maintained. The BJP makes lots of promises before polls, but forgets them after coming to power, the Congress president averred. It is their habit to intimidate everyone. You will survive only when you will not be scared. If we want to protect our jal, jungle, zameen (water, forest, land) then you all have to be united in the fight against them (BJP), he insisted. Today, people like Adani and Ambani have been coming here (Chhattisgarh) and occupying land. They are felling lakhs of trees (in forests for mines). Modi ji has been destroying the lives of our tribal brothers and the people of Chhattisgarh, the Congress leader alleged. Why is (Union Home Minister Amit Shah) Shah visiting Chhattisgarh again and again? Is this your in-laws' place? The chief minister of Chhattisgarh follows their instructions (PM and Home Minister). If they say get up, he gets up. If they said sit, he sits. It is a big betrayal for the self-respect of Chhattisgarh. It is a big insult, he said. Lots of industrialists are coming only to loot coal and other mineral deposits in the state and they are not concerned about its people, the Congress president emphasised. Modi ji and Shah ji have been supporting them (industrialists). Shah has been visiting here to check out for minerals, he claimed.
BJP trying to intimidate people, Cong leaders; has not fulfilled pre-poll promises: Kharge
RAIPUR, Jul 7: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday accused the ruling BJP of reneging on its pre-poll promises and asked people to remain united in the fight to protect their jal, jungle and zameen (water, forest, land). He alleged the BJP was trying to intimidate everyone in the country and misusing central probe agencies against its opponents. Speaking at a public rally titled, Jai Jawan-Jai Kisan-Jai Samvidhan at Science College Ground in Raipur amid heavy rains, the Leader of [] The post BJP trying to intimidate people, Cong leaders; has not fulfilled pre-poll promises: Kharge appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
RAIPUR: The Sarguja collector in Chhattisgarh has issued an order imposing a total ban on the sale, transport and serving of liquor at Mainpat, about 350 km north of Raipur. A three-day training camp for the state BJPs MPs and MLAs began here on Monday. Collector Vilas Bhoskarkept in mind the issue of law & order and public peace, while placing the directive. The district magistrate stated that the decision has been taken keeping in view the arrival of high-profile visitors, dignitaries from the Centre and the state at Ropakhar in Mainpat, which is also cited as Shimla of Chhattisgarh. Owing to the visit of central and state-level special dignitaries and guests, a dry day will be strictly imposed from July 7 till 2 PM on July 9, considering the preparatory measures on law & order and public peace in the region, the order stated. The structured sessions harmonising the practical strategies with the ideals of the BJP will be addressed by the party president JP Nadda on the opening day. All Members of Parliament, legislators and ministers will attend the party's training camp, where, besides the elected members, the senior leaders will be guided on sharpening strategy politically, digital outreach, an emphasis on achieving good governance among other things, a senior BJP functionary said. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to attend the session on the final day.
Raipur medical college doctor accused of sexual harassment by student
The alleged incident happened in January, police said
RAIPUR: Sharing a personal phone number on social media triggered a political wrangle between the leaders of two rival parties in Chhattisgarh. The state deputy chief minister, Vijay Sharma, when asked by a citizen on social media about the bad marshy road conditions and where to report it, shared the mobile number of former CM Bhupesh Baghel, holding him accountable for such pathetic roads. Sharma, on his microblog X-post, stated that such (faulty) existing roads are his (Baghels) contribution. Baghel retorted, To address the problems of bad roads, you are sharing my (mobile) number with the people. When things are not within your capability to handle, then leave being the deputy chief minister and the home minister. Rather, the entire BJP government should resign. You should go. Congressmen have also been protesting, sitting on the waterlogged roads with potholes in Kawardha, the home district of Sharma. The Congress cadres should not sit but lie down on these roads because the previous Congress regime is responsible for it. They didn't make the roads for years. We got Rs 4 crore approved by our chief minister, the tender process already done, and the work started, Sharma said. The present BJP government is about to complete two years if office but couldn't repair the roads. Owing to the bad road construction, a journalist has been murdered. When you cannot make or repair roads, then you don't have any right to be the minister of the state, said Deepak Baij, state Congress president, countering Sharma. Sharma also shared a toll-free number on social media, asking netizens not just to discuss but also to ensure that to reveal any information if they have about illegal immigrants (in the state). On releasing a toll free number by the home minister, the former CM Baghel criticised saying: Your officials are not able to search/trace the illegal immigrants and you have to reach out to the people (for help). Such works should be done with public participation. But one needs to wear Chhattisgarh eyeglasses to see the infiltrators and not the Italian specs, Sharma replied.
Maoist killed in encounter in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur
RAIPUR: Security forces have neutralised a Maoist cadre during the ongoing search operation in Chhattisgarh's strife-torn Bijapur district, about 400 km south of Raipur, the Bastar police said on Saturday. Acting on specific intelligence inputs about the presence of senior cadres of the banned outfit in the forested terrain of Indravati National Park area of Bijapur, a joint team of security forces left for a search operation on Friday, stated the police. The intermittent firing continues between the troops and the Maoists. So far, a male Maoist body has been recovered by forces along with weapons from the encounter site, the police added. Additional details were not divulged owing to the security concerns for the security personnel engaged in the anti-Maoist campaign in the region, as the search operation is ongoing. In the last 18 months, as many as 415 Maoist cadres have been killed in various encounters in the Bastar Range. 435 Maoists, including 48 women, killed in 18 months of anti-Naxal operations in Chhattisgarh: Official data Shah has declared that the country will be Maoist-free by March 31, 2026 . In this context, the series of encounters against the left-wing extremists remains a part of the renewed strategy to free the Chhattisgarh state from the influence of Maoists. Early this year on 9 February in one of the biggest offensives planned in Chhattisgarh, at least thirty-one Maoists in uniform were killed in the fierce gun battle with the security forces close to the core Indravati National Park region in Bijapur. Bijapur, among the seven Maoist-affected districts in the Bastar zone, is cited as an epicentre of Red rebels in south Chhattisgarh.
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Chhattisgarh forest department withdraws circular on CFR rights after massive tribal protests
RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh forest department on Thursday withdrew its advisory circular issued to its field officers for implementation of Community Forest Resource (CFR) rights following the massive protest in several districts by people, mostly tribals, who alleged the move as states attempt to weaken the Forest Rights Act and undermine the constitutional power of Gram Sabhas. Activists working on forest and tribal rights highlighted that a letter issued by the Chhattisgarh Forest Department on May 15 seeking to designate the department as the nodal agency for implementing the FRAan act that is not only legally untenable but also a direct encroachment on the jurisdiction of the Tribal Development Department. The forest department has invoked the National Working Plan Code 2023 under the guise of scientific forest management to threaten the implementation of Community Forest Resource (CFR) rights, supported by Gram Sabhas and other state institutions. This move jeopardises community control and management over nearly 20,000 sq km of forests in the state, they claimed. The forest department affirmed that its directive was advisory in nature as the field implementation of CFR rights was becoming inconsistent due to the lack of clarity on how to develop and integrate CFR management plans with the National Working Plan Code 2023. Spontaneous and big rallies were taken place as the collective voice across tribal regions during the last couple of days, with memorandums addressed to chief minister Vishnu Deo Sai were submitted, seeking his intervention to refrain the forest department from obstructing the rights of forest-dependent communities and instead support the remaining 8,000 forest-reliant villages in securing their rightful CFR claims. The May 15 directive was apparently seen not just as an alleged violation of the spirit of the FRA but also constitutes a direct breach of constitutional provisions related to Scheduled Areassuch as PESA Act, Fifth Schedule, and supremacy of Gram Sabha decisions. The opposition from some NGOs and Gram Sabhas appear to have emerged from a misunderstanding as the advisory was never intended to restrict community rights but to safeguard against the mismanagement and further ensure that CFR rights management plans are scientifically robust, law compliant and harmonised nationally. On the direction of the state forest minister the May 15 circular has been withdrawn owing to the confusion, V Sreenivasa Rao (PCCF & Head of Forest Force) told this newspaper. The forest department now seeks instructions from the Centre and the state government to issue model CFR management plans in consonance with the National Working Plan Code and provide detailed guidelines for the departments of Tribal Welfare and Forest.
KAPAHI HAWKEYE SECURITY ADDRESS: RAIPUR SATWARI ROAD, LOWER BELICHARANA JAMMU 180003 STAFF REQUIRED * SECURITY GUARDS (MALE & FEMALE) * SECURITY OFFICERS (EX-MAN/CIVIL) * GUNMAN WITH VALID ONLINE LICENCE AREAS WHERE MANPOWER REQUIRED (GANDHI NAGAR, NARWAL, BAHU PLAZA, GREATER KAILASH, JANIPUR, SUNJWAN, BARI-BRAHMANA, SIDHRA, KATHUA, KATRA, GANGYAL, VIJAYPUR, SAMBA, TRIKUTA NAGAR) AGE GROUP: 25-55 YEARS SALARY: HANDSOME FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT ON 8899333701, 8899252992 JOB JOB JOB REQUIRED STAFF 1. SALE EXECUTIVE 2 NOS 2. DATA COLLECTION [] The post EMPLOYMENT (03-07-2025) appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Union minister Athawale bats for caste-based job quota in private sector
RAIPUR: Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale has pitched for caste-based job quota in the private sector, saying several government-run enterprises are being privatised. Talking to reporters in Raipur on Tuesday, the Republican Party of India (A) president, who is aligned with the BJP, hailed the Narendra Modi government's decision to include caste enumeration in the upcoming population census, calling it a historic move. To a query on reservation for the underprivileged and backward communities in the private sector, the minister said he has been demanding such a measure since a long time. It has been our long-standing demand. Ram Vilas Paswan (former Union minister and Dalit leader from Bihar), Udit Raj (Congress leader who was earlier in BJP), and myself had demanded that reservation be given in the private sector, Athawale emphasised. Now government enterprises are being privatised. Balco company in Chhattisgarh was also privatised. There is no reservation in the private sector. We are giving reservation to Scheduled Castes/Tribes, OBC and economically weaker sections (in government jobs). Though I am in the government, my party's demand is that quota be implemented in the private sector as well, he said. Asked about the caste enumeration decision, Athawale noted such an exercise was never undertaken during the long Congress rule. Caste census is a historic decision of (PM) Modi ji. It did not happen during the tenure of Congress. I had demanded many times that OBC census be done. This demand has been raised a lot. When I was aligned with the Congress in the Lok Sabha, I had demanded that census of every caste be done. This will help in knowing percentage of every caste in the population, he averred. How many of them are employed, how many have industries, how much farmland they possess, these things will be known through the census. The caste census will help the government to provide them facilities, the Union minister affirmed. Congress Lok Sabha member Rahul Gandhi has claimed the government's decision on caste enumeration came due to his persistent demand, but that is not the case at all. It was already on the government's mind, he asserted. Gandhi's repeated criticism of PM Modi has not made any difference to the latter or dented his image, the Union minister stated. It seems Rahul Gandhi will never get a chance to become prime minister. Rahul Gandhi keeps attacking Modi ji all the time without any impact. Modi ji has such a strong body that it does not affect him, he said. Congress questions govt's intention on caste census; BJP says Cong carrying out 'false' propaganda out of frustration On Gandhi's remarks that the RSS prefers Manusmriti (an ancient legal text) over the Constitution , the veteran politician emphasised the BJP has always given primacy to the statute book. Manusmriti is a religious subject. The matter of Hinduism is different. The BJP accepts the Constitution first. The Constitution is based on Sarva Dharma Sambhav. Hindus have the largest population in India, followed by Muslims. Then there are Sikhs, Jains, Christians and Buddhists. People of different religions live in our country. There is no truth in Gandhi's allegations, he noted. People from Hindu dharma believe in Manusmriti, but when it comes to the country and its interests, the Constitution comes first, Athawale emphasised. Asked about a top RSS leader's call to review the terms socialist and secular in the Constitution's Preamble, Athawale said, I don't know what he has said. But initially words like socialism and secularism were not there in the Constitution. They were added later. Secularism means one respects Hinduism. I am a Buddhist. I am proud of my religion. But before my religion, I am proud of my country. Baba Saheb (B R Ambedkar) had said religion, language and country are all important, he argued. Babasaheb said the country is more important than caste, religion or language, Athawale pointed out. We should be united for the country. The Congress party keeps talking nonsense and the more they do this, the more it will benefit Modi ji, the Union minister contended. Oppose, defame, then adopt BJP's policy playbook: Congress slams govt over caste census U-turn
RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh, known for its rich forests and mineral resources, professed to make strides towards emerging as one of the fastest-growing industrial hubs with opportunities and innovations. Over the past one and a half years, the state has received investment proposals worth over Rs 6.75 lakh crore, reflecting a convincingly growing confidence among investors. The consistent progress was further reinforced at the 'Industry Dialogue-2' held in Raipur on Tuesday. New investment proposals worth Rs 1.25 lakh crore were finalised on Tuesday in the state, which is no longer limited to traditional mining areas but is focused on future sectors like information technology (IT), semiconductors, healthcare, green energy and logistics, officials said. Even the region like Bastar, once cited as a disturbed area and focused on security, is now turning into hubs of industry, technology, and jobs. The progress is towards realising PM Narendra Modis vision of a Developed India. Chhattisgarh is a land of immense potential, affirmed Vishnu Deo Sai, Chief Minister, while addressing the event. The shift in investor confidence is not restricted to urban centres but is also significantly growing in tribal regions like Bastar (south) and Surguja (the northern part of the state). The recently implemented Industrial Development Policy 2025 has played a crucial role in making Chhattisgarh a natural destination for investors. The state has effectively transitioned from ease to speed of doing business, said a government spokesperson. Key features of the Industrial Policy include the Single Window System 2.0, over 350 reforms, fast-track land allotment, auto-approval mechanisms, and special incentives for women entrepreneurs, SC/STs, third gender individuals, and rehabilitated former Maoists. As part of this policy, Chhattisgarh has also announced its first Special Economic Zone (SEZ) near Raipur, with a focus on IT, pharmaceuticals, and electronics manufacturing. The SEZ will offer plug-and-play infrastructure, subsidised land, and rapid administrative clearancesdesigned to attract significant foreign direct investment and enhance the states export-oriented growth model. To strengthen logistical infrastructure, the state cabinet last Monday approved the Chhattisgarh Logistics Policy 2025, which aims to transform the state into a national logistics hub, with a special focus on tribal areas.
Three killed, six injured as bus collides with truck in Raipur
RAIPUR : Two men and a woman were killed and six other persons injured after a private bus they were travelling in collided with a truck in Chhattisgarh's capital Raipur on Tuesday, police said. The accident took place in the morning near Kendri village under Abhanpur police station limits, located 25 km from here, when the bus was heading to Raipur from Jagdalpur (Bastar district), Senior Superintendent of Police Lal Umed Singh told PTI. The bus hit the rear end of the truck, which was moving in the same direction, apparently in a bid to overtake it, he said. Three bus passengers, identified as Azhar Ali (30), resident of Kondgaon, Balram Patel (46), from Jagdalpur, and Barkha Thakur (31), from Mahasamund, died on the spot and six others suffered injuries, the official said. After being alerted, an ambulance was rushed to the spot. A police team also reached the accident site, he said. The injured passengers were shifted to a hospital and were later discharged after treatment, the official said. The incident briefly disrupted the movement of vehicles on the route, he said. A case has been registered in connection with the accident, the SP added.
Three killed, six injured as passenger bus rams into truck in Chhattisgarh
RAIPUR: Three people died and at least six others were injured after a passenger bus enroute to Raipur from Jagdalpur (Bastar) rammed with a Hyva truck on a national highway near Kendri, about 30 km from the Chhattisgarh capital on Tuesday. A police team from Abhanpur rushed to the spot, shifted the injured to a local hospital. The bus, moving at high speed while trying to overtake the Hyva lorry, hit the truck from the left side. The bus of Royal Travels was on its way to Raipur. The injured six have been admitted in the local hospital for immediate medical attention, said Siddeshwar Pratap, town inspector, Abhanpur. The bodies have been sent for post-mortem. The lorry skidded off the road after the driver lost control. The front left side of the bus, where all the victims were seated, was completely damaged. The deceased have been identified as Azhar Ali (30), Balram Patel (46) and Barkha Thakur (31) The officials are in touch with the relatives of the injured passengers. The condition of two injured were stated to be critical. Further details awaited.
Chhattisgarh liquor scam: 1200-page supplementary charge-sheet filed against arrested Congress MLA
RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh state Bureau for Investigation of Economic Offences (EOW) on Monday filed a 1200-page supplementary charge-sheet in the special court against the arrested Congress MLA Kawasi Lakhma, in connection with the alleged liquor scam in Chhattisgarh. A six-time Congress legislator Lakhma, who was excise minister in the earlier Congress regime led by Bhupesh Baghel, was arrested on January 15 this year and has been in jail as among the prime accused. Lakhma appeared virtually before the trial court proceeding via video conferencing. He appealed the court to allow him to appear physically instead of virtually before it, saying that he was neither a terrorist nor a Pakistani. In the fourth charge-sheet produced before the special court (Prevention of Corruption Act), around seventy have been named as accused including Lakhma who was found to have grossly disregarded his position as the minister. The probe, examination of evidence gathered including financial analysis indicated an alleged gross misuse of his then constitutional post in manipulating the tender process and interfering in the decisions. And Lakhma got a share of Rs 64 crore from the liquor scam, according to officials. Over a dozen have been arrested so far in connection with the liquor scam case. The ED investigating the fraud in liquor claimed a prevailing criminal syndicate has operated illegal bribe collections by controlling the high-level management of key state departments and state public sector units in Chhattisgarh. The Central probe agency estimated that Proceeds of Crime of around Rs 2,161 crore have been generated by the suspects in the liquor scam. As a commodity, the liquor though often led the Chhattisgarh to secure high revenue collections but it eventually also became an issue of acrimonious tussle in the states political battleground between the Congress and the BJP.
Chhattisgarh Chief Secretary gets last-minute three-month extension minutes before farewell
RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh Chief Secretary Amitabh Jain, who was set to retire on Monday with a formal farewell planned by the cabinet, received a last-minute three-month extension following a phone call from Delhi. The extension came after Governor Ramen Deka had already conveyed his wishes and the state cabinet led by Vishnu Deo Sai had prepared to bid him farewell at the secretariat. The state government in the cabinet meeting, following the approval from the Centre, took the decision to extend the tenure of the CS. This is for the first time any chief secretary rank officer has been given an extension in Chhattisgarh that came into existence in November 2000. Jain got elevated as the CS in November 2020 and is the state's longest-serving officer in that role. The state cabinet was specially called on Monday to bid adieu to the top bureaucrat upon his superannuation. Earlier in the day, Jain visited Rajbhawan where the Governor honoured Jain with a shawl and a shrifal (coconut) expressing admiration for his illustrious services. The CS later went to the secretariat to attend the cabinet meeting. While the meeting was about to conclude, a call from the central government halted the farewell programme where the state ministers and the chief minister were to give speeches to acknowledge the services and contributions of Jain while in office as the CS. Neither the state government nor Jain had any inkling about the Centres decision that came just a couple of hours before the retirement. Officials informed that a customary farewell programme was also to be organised by the officials of the General Administration Department and the staff union in the secretariat hall on Monday evening. The Chhattisgarh government didnt get any response from the Centre till yesterday about its earlier proposal sent to Delhi seeking an approval to grant a 3-month extension to Jain. As the state government kept looking for any indication from the central government, there also arose a possibility of announcing a new CS. However nothing was clear before the Sai cabinet met on Monday, an official in the know-how of the development said.
Amit Shah-Nadda and Kharge to energise party leaders, cadres in Chhattisgarh
RAIPUR: July 7 will be a significant day in Chhattisgarh politics as the national presidents of two rival political parties will be in the State to energise their respective leaders and cadres. The Opposition Congress is organising a mega public rally in the State capital to be addressed by the party chief, Mallikarjun Kharge. He is expected to give a strong message to the party on how to get going aggressively against the ruling regime on issues of public interests. The Opposition has planned a Kisan-Jawan-Samvidhanpublic meetingto strengthen its voice against BJPs double engine government and gear-up the party leaders and cadres. To make the upcoming rally create an expected impact, the Congress state leadership has asked the office bearers of different organisations and fronts of the party, including the MLAs, elected representatives to ensure the people of their respective areas turn up in good numbers. The party has given responsibility to its leaders to cover all districts of the state and hold discussions with the cadres right up to the grassroot level. The BJP government in Chhattisgarh has lost the trust of the public and it looks towards Delhi for directions and decisions for governance in the state. Now its our responsibility to fix the accountability of the government, said Sachin Pilot, state Congress party in-charge. The alleged issues of losing public trust, deteriorating law and order, school education, farmers, misusing agencies, and silencing dissent will be the key focus of the Congress. Meanwhile, the ruling BJP is preparing in a big way to organise a 3-day leadership training session at Mainpat in Ambikapur from July 7. The structured sessions harmonising the practical strategies with the party ideals will be addressed by the party president JP Nadda on the opening day. The union home minister Amit Shah on the concluding day, will guide the party to sharpen strategy politically, reinforce ideological clarity, besides inspiring the party leaders and cadres with a drive for discipline, digital outreach, good governance and effective communication, elucidated the BJP leaders privy to the party's preparation. Both parties will see the occasions as the preparation to give a boost in the functioning of their various organisations, strengthen party base while aligning the cadres to address challenges at different levels ahead of the 2029 general elections and state elections. The BJP stated that the visit of Kharge to Raipur is intended to check the looming faction feud and internal strife within the state Congress.
Yoga Guru ashram linked to foreign funding, running as drug operative centre in Chhattisgarh
RAIPUR: Self-styled yoga guru who returned from Goa a few months ago to establish a sprawling Ashram in Chhattisgarhs Dongargarh in Rajnandgaon district was arrested and remanded to judicial custody for allegedly engaging in a network of drugs and immoral activity in the garb of his spiritual retreat centre. Born and brought up in Dongargarh, about 120 km west of Raipur, Kanti Agarwal alias Yogi Baba has promoted himself as a spiritual guru in Goa and abroad. He left his hometown Dongargarh some two decades ago. The 'yoga guru' claimed to have visited several countries, and for a decade he was operating a Yoga Ashram, which was like a resort in Goa. He shifted to Dongargarh to set up a similar Ashram in a 39-acre farmhouse which was under construction for the last few months. On the basis of intelligence inputs and few complaints, the police raided the farmhouse and seized nearly 1.9 kg of cannabis, sex toys, illegal drugs and other objectionable things. During police interrogation he revealed that the lease for his Goa Ashram was over and so returned to replicate the same practice by creating another Ashram at his home town. He boasts of having visited around 100 countries and projected himself as an eminent yoga guru among his disciples and foreign tourists, the police said. He was reportedly involved in some criminal activities in Goa and we are exploring it. We have been in touch with Goa police to check his antecedents. We are examining the record of his land where the Ashram is coming up. He claimed himself as a director for nearly a dozen NGOs and was also receiving grants from abroad. He is believed to have a good customer base among the foreigners, Mohit Garg, Rajnandgaon district police chief told this newspaper. The yoga guru has been arrested under the narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances (NDPS) Act Section 20 after marijuana was seized from the Ashram and sent to jail under the judicial remand. The police got complaints and intelligence inputs that minors and youths visited his place in the guise of attending peace and meditation training at the farmhouse where they reportedly got engaged in anti-social activities and consumed drugs. After the police raid and the recoveries, yoga teacher Kanti Agarwal was arrested. We are carrying out our extensive probe into his roles and involvement in NGOs, his foreign connections and trying to find out his property source, said Garg, the SP. It was in the initial stage, before he could launch his full-fledged Ashram, the police took swift action. He returned to Dongargarh 3 months back, the police said. Locals informed that he received education till Class12.
Raipur Diary: Solar-powered coal mining gets a push
Solar-powered coal mining gets a push The Parsa East and Kanta Basan (PEKB) coal mine, operated by the Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd in Ambikapur district, about 330 km north of Raipur, has taken a significant step towards sustainable mining with the operationalisation of a 9-MW solar power plant. This is the first direct application of renewable energy in Indias coal mining sector. PEKB is a crucial source of coal for electricity generation for nearly 80 million consumers in Rajasthan. Developed by Mundra Solar PV Limited, the 9-MW solar facility established within the mine premises is expected to reduce nearly 400,000 tonnes of carbon emissions over next 25 years. Bastar to host Central Zonal Council meet The 25th meeting of the Central Zonal Council, held in Varanasi, declared Bastar as the next venue of the panels session. This marks a significant stride in integrating Indias remote and sensitive regions into the national development discourse. Hosting such a high-level policy forum in Bastar stands as a powerful symbol of the inclusive and transformative governance, a government statement said. It is hoped that by the time the next Council convenes, Bastar would have witnessed decisive progress in the ongoing battle against left-wing extremism. The Bastar is set to redefine its identity not as a region of possibilities rather than conflict. Hindi to replace Urdu, Persian in police records Chhattisgarh is set to replace Urdu and Persian words used in official records of the police department with Hindi terms. A list of 109 words have been provided with their Hindi alternatives, suggested to be used in place of the old words with an intent to simplify the vocabulary. The government cited Hindi as a convenient language to understand, saying this will make policing communicative, accessible and transparent. On a directive by the state home department, the DGP has issued a letter to all district police chiefs asking them to change traditional Urdu and Persian words that were in use in police functioning with simpler Hindi words. Ejaz Kaiser Our correspondent in Chhattisgarh ejaz@newindianexpress.com
Raipur police arrested a couple from Delhi airport. The arrest relates to the murder of Kishore Paikra. Paikra's body was found encased in cement inside a suitcase. The suitcase was inside a steel trunk. Aniket Upadhyay and his wife are the suspected masterminds. The motive was a land brokerage dispute. Upadhyay's father is a retired police officer.
Villagers protest against RRVUNL, Adani in Chhattisgarh over unkept promises of development
RAIPUR: Local tribal villagers led by the regional political outfit Gondwana Gantantra party (GGP) blocked the transportation of coal via road-rail route at Ambikapur, 330 km north of Raipur, while registering their symbolic protest against the Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd (RRVUNL) and Adani Group, alleging 'the promised commitments were not being fulfilled'. Besides obstructing the movement of coal supplies on the road, the protestors also placed rocks on railway tracks to block transportation. The Parsa East-Kente Basan coal block at Ambikapur in north Chhattisgarh was awarded to RRVUNL. The Adani Group entered into an agreement as Mine Developer-cum-Operator (MDO) under a contract. Police and administrative officials were deployed during the protest rally and demonstration. Protestors also placed rocks on railway tracks to block transportation. We registered a strong protest with our symbolic demonstration against the administration, besides the arbitrary stance of the RRVUNL and Adani group management for unfulfilled promises after the launch of the project. The transportation of coal, either by road or railway, came to a standstill with our protest. The promises like employment for locals, regional development, CSR-related works, 100-bedded hospital among others proclaimed during the public hearing organised ahead of the execution of the project here, are yet to be attained in the affected villages, claimed Jagannath Singh Keram, GGP national spokesperson, who also alleged that major works of the project are allotted to outsiders and local inhabitants remain ignored. Ambikapur collector Vilas Sandipan Bhoskar confirmed to TNIE that he had received a six-page GGP memorandum highlighting various grievances and elucidating the local people's demands, but he didn't reveal the district administration's next course of action. Ban Singh Netam, sub-divisional magistrate of Udaipur block, where the coal block has been allocated to RRVUNL, said that the protest was organised peacefully and no nuisance reported.
