Bhopal:

Work on highway construction has suddenly disrupted the tranquil landscape in Singrauli in Madhya Pradesh, but not in the way you would think. As the Singrauli-Prayagraj highway begins to snake its way through 33 villages in the district, green fields are undergoing a metamorphosis and, in almost no time at all, nearly 2,500 new “houses” have sprung up in the proposed path.

The reason? Having a house built on farmland bumps up the compensation significantly compared to the payout for the land itself. The new structures popping up on farms, however, are often just four-foot high walls – too short even for children – topped with a tin roof.

And, in what is now being called a “compensation industry” locally, these structures are allegedly being built in connivance with local officials and brokers, who will get a lion’s share of the cut, despite a ban on new construction or land deals in the areas earmarked for compensation after a survey in March.  

The administration has now said no compensation will be given for the new houses. 

Huge Surge

Drone footage from the villages in the Chitrangi and Dudhmaniya regions reveals the houses laid out in the path of the highway, 70 km of which will pass through the district. Residents say brokers have orchestrated this surge in construction with the involvement of officials from the local administration. 

Land acquisition began in March and the administration imposed a ban on new constructions and land transactions, but the pace of building only quickened after that. 

“As soon as people got information about compensation, construction of houses started within a month or two. More than 2,500 houses were built here in about a month. Most of these houses have been built with the connivance of government employees like those from the revenue department,” said Sankatha Singh Chauhan, a local resident.

Before the survey for the highway, land in the path of the road was being sold for Rs 8,000 per decimal (435.6 square feet or one-hundredth of an acre), which has now gone up to Rs 80,000.

An official said, “The compensation for the land varies, but if a house is built on the land and someone resides there, a rehabilitation package must be provided. This includes offering a job to a family member and providing a house elsewhere. Additionally, if there is a hand pump, bore well, or trees on the land, separate compensation is given for each of these.”

Villagers claim the brokers have been facilitating agreements between people from other areas – even other states – and local landowners. These agreements, often formalised on stamp paper, stipulate that 80 per cent of the compensation amount will go to those building the house, while only 20 per cent will remain with the original landowners. This “industry” has also expanded to other areas, including the under-construction Singrauli-Lalitpur Railway Line.

‘No Payout For New Structures’

Suresh Jadha, Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Singrauli, said, “The proposed highway, 135 C, will be constructed under the Chitrangi block of the district and 70 km of it will pass through 33 villages of the district. The department’s estimate for this stretch is Rs 759 crore. A joint survey was done and 500 old houses were found. About 3,200 new houses have been constructed and compensation will not be given for those.”

Bhopal:

Madhya Pradesh BJP MLA Ramniwas Rawat – a Congress leader and a recent addition to the ruling party – was inducted into Chief Minister Mohan Yadav’s cabinet this morning. However, what should have been a routine procedure was marked by an unusual, even chaotic, sequence of events.

Mr Rawat was scheduled to be sworn in – at 9 am by Governor Mangubhai C Patel at Raj Bhavan, with the Chief Minister and other dignitaries looking on – as a Cabinet Minister. By 9.03 am he was administered the oath – but that of a Minister of State, a junior post.

Fifteen minutes later Mr Rawat was administered a second oath – as a Cabinet Minister.

The double oath-taking ceremony has led to questions about procedural lapses.

The oath ceremony faux pas underlined the odd nature of Mr Rawat’s induction. He is now the first person to serve as a minister in a BJP government while still being a Congress MLA.

How? Because Mr Rawat has not yet resigned from the Congress, for whom he was also Working President of the party’s state unit and the MLA from the Vijaypur Assembly constituency.

He has, nonetheless, become a member of the BJP and a minister.

Mr Rawat is also in the unprecedented position of being both a MoS and Cabinet Minister.

This happened because he did not formally resign from the former (after being administered the incorrect oath) before taking oath for the latter.

Mr Rawat spoke to NDTV after the chaotic sequence of events and expressed gratitude towards the BJP for making him a minister. He also hit out at his not-yet-former employer.

“Congress has no right to accuse me… there is no resentment (from my side) but what they did not give me, this government respected me…” he declared. Reflecting on his unusual oath, “I missed the word ‘ka’ by mistake. I took oath twice… I am the first minister to take oath twice in half an hour.”

The Congress – which has filed a petition with Speaker Narendra Singh Tomar – to disqualify Mr Rawat and Nirmala Sapre, another now ex-leader to join the BJP – has been quick to react.

Congress spokesperson Avaneesh Bundela has questioned the BJP’s claim of good governance.

“In the government of Dr Mohan Yadav, which claims to be about good governance, today there was such negligence… a mistake like this has probably never been seen before in the country.”

“Now there is confusion,” he said claiming the error had been triggered either by “negligence” from the Governor’s office or “pressure from higher political figures”, referring to former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and ex-Union Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia.

Mr Rawat, a six-time MLA from Sheopur district, joined the BJP in April, He was previously the junior Home Minister in the Congress government led by Digvijaya Singh.

The induction today means the state government has 19 Cabinet Ministers

Mr Rawat’s jump to the BJP will trigger a by-election for his seat.

Jabalpur:

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has quashed a rape case registered on the complaint of a woman against a man, observing that the two were in a relationship for over 10 years out of their “own free will”.

In his order of July 2, Justice Sanjay Dwivedi also observed that the matter appears to be an abuse of process of law.

As per the order, the woman and man are well-educated persons and had physical relations out of their “own free will” for over 10 years. They broke up after the man refused to marry her, it noted. However, it does not mean that a rape case could be registered against the petitioner (man), the court said.

“In my opinion, as per the factual circumstances, as have been narrated by the prosecutrix (woman) in her complaint and also in her statement of 164 CrPC, this case cannot be considered to be a case of rape as defined under Section 375 of IPC (Indian Penal Code) and the prosecution is nothing but appears to be an abuse of process of law,” the court said.

In this matter, the court said, even IPC section 366 (inducing a woman to compel her for marriage) is not made out against the man. “Therefore, the offence under Section 366 of IPC registered against the petitioner at the later point of time is also liable to be quashed,” it said.

The man was booked for rape and other charges by the Police Station Mahila Thana in Katni district in November 2021. He eventually moved the HC for relief. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

In the wake of the arrest of an alleged terrorist affiliated with the Indian Mujahideen in Madhya Pradesh’s Khandwa, BJP MLA Usha Thakur has reignited the debate over the role and regulation of madrasas in the state. Ms Thakur has alleged that madrasas have historically been centres of terrorist connections and has called for their closure. Adding to this discourse, BJP MLA Abhilash Pandey has introduced a non-official resolution in the state assembly demanding the abolition of Article 30 of the Constitution, which grants minorities the right to establish and manage educational institutions based on religious or linguistic lines.

The term ‘madrasa’ originates from the Arabic word for ‘place of study,’ similar to the Hindi term ‘Pathshala’ and the English term ‘school.’ Historically, madrasas have been significant centres of learning. Notable Indian figures like Munshi Premchand and the first President of India, Dr Rajendra Prasad, received education from madrasas. Despite this rich educational heritage, certain BJP MLAs in Madhya Pradesh are pushing for their closure, linking them to terrorist activities.

Former Protem Speaker and BJP MLA Rameshwar Sharma commented that all educational institutions, including madrasas, should align with the national educational standards stipulated by the Constitution. He said that if institutions like madrasas are fostering anti-national sentiments, they should be dismantled.

Ms Thakur claimed that the recently apprehended terrorist in Khandwa had ties to such institutions. Ms Thakur urged the government to scrutinise and regulate madrasas more stringently.

Echoing similar sentiments, BJP MLA Abhilash Pandey highlighted that many madrasas operate without proper authorisation and are involved in suspicious activities. Mr Pandey advocated for the closure of madrasas not recognised by the Madrasa Board or the Education Department, aligning with recommendations from the Child Commission’s report last year.

When NDTV questioned Mr Pandey, he said, “I read it in your newspaper,” to which the journalist clarified that NDTV does not have a newspaper. Mr Pandey continued, “I have proof of it too, I can give it to you right now.”

When asked about the constitutional implications of his proposal, considering Articles 29 and 30 of the Constitution provide minorities with the right to establish and protect their educational institutions, Mr Pandey responded, “You see this, this is the news.”

NDTV then inquired whether actions would be taken against other illegally running schools and if any intelligence or police reports supported such claims, to which Mr Pandey replied, “Running illegally is a different issue… we will present the proof in the House.”

In contrast, Congress representatives criticised these proposals. Congress MLA Dinesh Gurjar argued that targeting madrasas is a direct assault on the Indian Constitution, which guarantees fundamental rights to all citizens, including the right to education. Congress MLA Atif Aqeel added that many madrasas provide quality education to innocent children and should not be stigmatized based on isolated incidents.

Madhya Pradesh hosts 1,505 government-recognised madrasas, educating a significant number of non-Muslim children as well. These madrasas operate similarly to government schools, offering education primarily in Urdu. Independent madrasas following the Dars-e-Nizami system are often affiliated with higher Islamic institutions and adhere to government-approved curricula.

Bhopal:

In a significant breakthrough, the Madhya Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested an alleged Indian Mujahideen terrorist who was planning a lone wolf attack on personnel from the security forces, officials said on Thursday. 

Faizan Sheikh, 34, was arrested from Kanhar Mohalla in Khandwa’s Saluja colony after a raid on his residence. 

During the raid, ATS officers seized a substantial amount of jihadi literature related to the Indian Mujahideen (IM), ISIS, and other terrorist organisations. They also recovered a pistol, five live cartridges, four mobile phones and membership forms for the banned organisation Student’s Islamic Movement of India (SIMI).

“The seized mobile phones and digital devices contained jihadi literature, videos, and photos from various terrorist organisations, including IM, Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba. Faizan was also found to be in contact with members of SIMI,” said an official. 

He added that Faizan had been using social media, particularly Facebook ID, to propagate the ideologies of IM and ISIS. The 34-year-old circulated videos from Mujahideen training camps in Pakistan, speeches by Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar and terrorists from Lashkar-e-Taiba, details about the Kandahar plane hijacking, statements by Mullah Omar, and posts related to Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGH).

“Faizan had been meticulously planning a lone wolf attack, monitoring and tracking the movements of security force personnel and their families. His objective was to emulate terrorists like Yasin Bhatkal of Indian Mujahideen and SIMI chief Abul Fazal, aspiring to gain recognition. To execute his plan, Faizan was also in the process of acquiring more pistols and cartridges through connections with local illegal arms dealers and individuals from outside the state,” the official said. 

ATS Inspector General Dr Ashish said, “Under the leadership of Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav, the state has adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism and anti-national activities. The arrest is part of an ongoing effort to maintain heightened surveillance across Madhya Pradesh.”

Faizan has been charged under sections of the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. 

The ATS has taken Faizan on remand for interrogation, aiming to uncover information about his associates and details of his plans.

Over the past three years, the Madhya Pradesh ATS has successfully arrested 22 people associated with the Popular Front of India, six with ISIS, six with Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), 16 with Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HuT), and 55 other suspected terrorists. 

The ATS has also seized a substantial quantity of arms, ammunition, anti-national literature, objectionable documents, and digital equipment from these individuals.

Between 2005 and 2013, IM was involved in multiple bomb blasts across India, including in Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, and Pune. In Madhya Pradesh, IM co-founder Riyaz Bhatkal has established a robust network of members, focusing on recruitment and training.

New Delhi:

The Madhya Pradesh government’s inspection of a Som Group distillery said child labourers, some aged between 13 and 17, were made to fill and pack liquor bottles and worked long hours.

Police are investigating the use of child labour at the distillery in Madhya Pradesh after the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights said last month it had found 58 children working illegally at the factory.

The commission released photos of some with hands showing chemical burns and said some children were transported in school buses for factory work.

A day after the children were found on June 15, an inspection report was drafted by the state’s industrial health and safety department based on interviews with 27 workers, the youngest among them being 13 years old. The state says those aged under 21 cannot work in a liquor factory.

The report, which is not public but was seen by Reuters, says children were working 11-hour shifts starting at 8 am.

Som and the Madhya Pradesh government did not respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.

In a submission to the state government on June 18, also seen by Reuters, Som said some children would visit the company to deliver food and medicines to their parents, and no worker was younger than 21.

Som is one of the smaller distilleries in India’s thriving alcohol industry, where both foreign and domestic players operate. Its website describes it as an “internationally acclaimed brand” available in more than 20 markets including the US, New Zealand and the UK.

The incident has drawn attention to child labour in Indian supply chains. In 2021, Reuters reported an external audit of two Carlsberg warehouses found underage labourers at a location in Jharkhand. Carlsberg at the time said it had terminated the services of the third-party provider.

In the Som inspection report, the state government said the children working there were not given training on how they could protect themselves from harmful chemicals.

“Since it is hazardous work, there should have been a health centre at the factory,” the report said.

The Madhya Pradesh government temporarily suspended Som Distillery’s manufacturing licences, but the company has challenged the decision, saying there has been no conclusive finding of wrongdoing.

After Som’s challenge, a local court put the state’s decision on hold and said it would next hear the case later this month.

In a statement to the stock exchange last month, Som Distilleries and Breweries Ltd said the Madhya Pradesh plant was run by its “associate private limited company” and used labour supplied by contractors who may not have carried out proper age checks. The listed company’s shares have fallen by 8 per cent since the children were found at the factory.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Bhopal:

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav has announced stringent measures to combat of paper leaks in the state – a proposed law that involves a 10-year jail term and Rs 1 crore fine and categorises it as a non-bailable offence.

At the recent NDTV MPCG MSME Conclave in Bhopal, Dr. Yadav said, “Very soon, a proposal will come that there will be 10 years imprisonment and strict action”.

The proposed law is more stringent that the Central anti-paper leak law, which has provisions for three to five years of imprisonment for those guilty of cheating. Those organizing the cheating – solver gangs and others — will face five to 10 years of imprisonment and a minimum fine of Rs 1 crore.

The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024 was passed by the Rajya Sabha on February 9 and Lok Sabha passed it on February 6.

The decision to bring the new law was taken by the state cabinet amid the huge uproar over paper leaks and other irregularities in the medical entrance examination NEET and a few others.

Congress’s Rahul Gandhi has called the BJP-ruled states the “epicentre of paper leaks,” citing Vyapam — a massive scam that erupted in Madhya Pradesh 15 years ago, involving irregularities in the entrance exams for government jobs.

From there, it has spread to all BJP-ruled states, Mr Gandhi had said, in a reference to the paper leak in the Uttar Pradesh Police Constable exam.

About the Congress uproar in the House over the nursing scam, exposed first by NDTV, Dr. Yadav maintained that the government is open to discussions and legal processes.

“There are many subjects on which there are some legal problems. We are always ready to hold any discussion under the rules and laws,” he said. “The Opposition should come up with good preparations and present their issue before the public. If there is a mistake, we will accept it. But forcing us without any mistake is not right; everyone has to stay within their dignity.”

On a different note, he said the ministers of the state, including himself, will now pay their own income tax. The decision has been echoed by the Leader of the Opposition.

Reacting to an NDTV report about the Madhya Pradesh government paying the income tax of its ministers, Dr. Yadav said, “I am satisfied that now our minister’s will pay their own income tax. We are not royals. We are elected people. We come from the middle of society and understand the value of tax collection”.

Bhopal:

Women elected as sarpanches in Madhya Pradesh are mere figureheads while their husbands, village influencers, or Panchayat secretaries wield actual authority, the disturbing trend has been unearthed by an NDTV investigation this month.

This phenomenon spans across various districts, showed the investigation, highlighting systemic challenges in gender parity and effective governance within local bodies.

Shivpuri District: Husband Runs the Show

In Shivpuri district, Hemlata Rawat holds the title of President, Janpad Panchayat. However, her husband, Raghuveer Rawat, effectively manages operations across more than 300 villages. During a recent interaction, Raghuveer confirmed his central role in governance, underlining the disconnect between formal positions and actual responsibilities.

Plight of Women Sarpanches in Local Panchayats

Badarwas Gram Panchayat

Vimala Bai, elected as Sarpanch of Badarwas, laments her symbolic position without real authority. Her home lacks basic amenities like a toilet, while Shyam Bihari, elected as Deputy Sarpanch, exercises substantive control over local affairs.

Jhiri Gram Panchayat

Pappi Adivasi, elected Sarpanch of Jhiri in 2022, faces similar challenges. Despite that, influential figures dominate decision-making, complicating administrative tasks such as financial recoveries, which Pappi manages alongside her labourer duties.

Satanwada Khurd Gram Panchayat: Struggle for Power

Vidya Adivasi, a tribal woman Sarpanch, is thwarted by the Panchayat secretary, who has usurped her authority. Despite her complaints and police reports, administrative intervention remains elusive.

Government Response and Accountability

Umrao Maravi, District Panchayat CEO, Shivpuri, acknowledges these issues, attributing them to local power dynamics and gender inequities. He has pledged departmental support and emphasized more efforts to ensure women representatives can fulfill their roles without undue influence.

The prevalence of men taking over women’s elected positions raises serious questions about the effectiveness of gender quotas and women’s empowerment in local governance. Despite legislative mandates for gender inclusivity, ground realities indicate persistent obstacles and a need for systemic reforms.

Indore:

A 60-year-old man was arrested in Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh on Sunday for allegedly killing a woman after a failed rape attempt, dismembering her body and dumping the parts in two trains, a police official said.

Accused Kamlesh Patel had lured her to his house when she was sitting at a railway station on June 6, the official said.

“The woman had left her home on June 6 after a fight with her husband. The woman was sitting at Ujjain railway station to go to Mathura when Patel lured her to his house and spiked her food with sleeping pills. He tried to rape her but she got up and raised an alarm.,” Railway Superintendent of Police Santosh Kori said.

“Patel strangled her, cut her body into pieces and placed it in the Indore-Nagda and Indore-Dehradun passenger trains. The hands and legs of the 37-year-old victim were found in a train in Rishikesh in Uttarakhand on June 10, while the rest of the body was recovered from a train in Indore on June 9,” he said.

Meanwhile, a missing person complaint was filed by her family in Bilpank police station in Ratlam district on June 12, Kori said.

Patel was held from Ujjain and the knife used in the crime has been recovered along with other evidence, the SP added.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Bhopal:

In a shocking incident that has sparked outrage, a video showing a woman being brutally assaulted in the Tanda area of Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar district has gone viral on social media. The incident depicts bystanders filming the assault instead of intervening to help the victim.

The video, widely shared on various social media platforms, captures the horrifying scene where several men can be seen mercilessly beating the woman with a stick. Instead of coming to her aid, onlookers are seen filming the ordeal.

Upon noticing the alarming video, local authorities swiftly took action. The Dhar police immediately launched an investigation into the matter.

“A video was circulating on social media that shows an unknown man beating a woman. As soon as the video went viral, my team took cognisance of the matter and launched a probe. We found out the area where the incident took place,” stated Manoj Kumar Singh, Dhar Suprintendent of Police.

The police investigation led to the prompt identification and apprehension of the primary suspect involved in the assault. The main accused has been identified as Nirsingh, a resident of Kokri Thana Gandhwani. He has been taken into custody, and efforts are underway to locate and arrest the other individuals seen in the video.

“This act of violence is reprehensible, and we are committed to ensuring justice for the victim,” added Mr Singh.

The incident has gained even more attention as it occurred in the hometown of newly appointed Union Minister Savitri Thakur. While the minister has not issued an official statement, the incident has brought attention to the urgent need for stricter measures to prevent such atrocities against women.

In May, an elderly Dalit couple was allegedly beaten up and made to wear garlands of shoes in Madhya Pradesh’s Ashok Nagar district. The couple’s son had allegedly been involved in an eve-teasing incident, they said.