<p>BJP's national general secretary Ram Madhav on Thursday said that there can be no better BJP candidate to fight Congress leader Digvijaya Singh from Bhopal other than <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pragya-singh-joins-bjp-says-would-like-to-contest-from-bhopal-211153">Pragya Thakur</a>.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The decision is taken by Madhya Pradesh unit. She is probably right challenger for a person like Digvijay Singh who is largely responsible for propagating the dubious and mischievous idea of Hindu terror in this country. He needed a proper challenger," Madhav told media.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The BJP leader added that the party cannot be questioned "on the constitutional validity of putting up a candidate who has just allegations against her," ANI reported.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Ram Madhav, BJP on Pragya Thakur: The decision is taken by Madhya Pradesh unit. She is probably right challenger for a person like Digvijay Singh who is largely responsible for propagating dubious &amp; mischievous idea of Hindu terror in this country. He needed a proper challenger <a href="https://t.co/zwdGAj2EqO">https://t.co/zwdGAj2EqO</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1118855251413671936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 18, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, who is facing trial in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, joined the BJP on Wednesday. Later in the day her name emerged in the party's list of candidates - Thakur has been fielded from Madhya Pradesh's Bhopal Lok Sabha seat.</p>

<p>"I will contest the election from Bhopal and win. Former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is with me," Thakur said, speaking after emerging out of the BJP office.</p>

<p>Thakur had recently said she was ready for a "Dharm Yudh".</p>

<p>"I am ready to take on Digvijay Singh if the sanghatan (organisation, apparently referring to the BJP) asks me to do so," Thakur had told PTI last month.</p>

<p>Born in Bhind district of Madhya Pradesh, Thakur has had a long association with the Sangh parivar.</p>

<p>Arrested in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, she was given a clean chit by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), but the trial court refused to discharge her from the case.</p>


BJP's national general secretary Ram Madhav on Thursday said that there can be no better BJP candidate to fight Congress leader Digvijaya Singh from Bhopal other than Pragya Thakur.

BJP's national general secretary Ram Madhav on Thursday said that there can be no better BJP candidate to fight Congress leader Digvijaya Singh from Bhopal other than Pragya Thakur. "The decision is taken by Madhya Pradesh unit. She is probably right challenger for a person like Digvijay Singh who is largely responsible for propagating the dubious and mischievous idea of Hindu terror in this country. He needed a proper challenger," Madhav told media. The BJP leader added that the party cannot be questioned "on the constitutional validity of putting up a candidate who has just allegations against her," ANI reported. Ram Madhav, BJP on Pragya Thakur: The decision is taken by Madhya Pradesh unit. She is probably right challenger for a person like Digvijay Singh who is largely responsible for propagating dubious & mischievous idea of Hindu terror in this country. He needed a proper challenger https://t.co/zwdGAj2EqO — ANI (@ANI) April 18, 2019 × Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, who is facing trial in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, joined the BJP on Wednesday. Later in the day her name emerged in the party's list of candidates - Thakur has been fielded from Madhya Pradesh's Bhopal Lok Sabha seat. "I will contest the election from Bhopal and win. Former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is with me," Thakur said, speaking after emerging out of the BJP office. Thakur had recently said she was ready for a "Dharm Yudh". "I am ready to take on Digvijay Singh if the sanghatan (organisation, apparently referring to the BJP) asks me to do so," Thakur had told PTI last month. Born in Bhind district of Madhya Pradesh, Thakur has had a long association with the Sangh parivar. Arrested in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, she was given a clean chit by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), but the trial court refused to discharge her from the case.

Digvijaya Singh needed proper challenger: BJP's Ram Madhav on Pragya Thakur

<p>Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, who is <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/malegaon-blast-case-sadhvi-pragya-and-lt-col-purohit-will-be-tried-under-uaps-act-along-with-other-accused-27869">facing trial in the 2008 Malegaon blast case</a>, joined the BJP on Wednesday. Later in the day her name emerged in the party's list of candidates - Thakur has been fielded from Madhya Pradesh's Bhopal Lok Sabha seat.</p>

<p>"I will contest the election from Bhopal and win. Former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is with me," Thakur said, speaking after emerging out of the BJP office.</p>

<p>Thakur had recently said she was ready for a "Dharm Yudh".</p>

<p>"I am ready to take on Digvijay Singh if the sanghatan (organisation, apparently referring to the BJP) asks me to do so," Thakur had told PTI last month.</p>

<p>Born in Bhind district of Madhya Pradesh, Thakur has had a long association with the Sangh parivar.</p>

<p>A post-graduate in history, she worked with the RSS' student wing Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad and Durga Vahini, women's wing of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad.</p>

<p>Arrested in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, she was given a clean chit by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), but the trial court refused to discharge her from the case.</p>

<p>The court dropped the charges under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against her, and she is now being tried under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.</p>

<p>She was granted bail by the Bombay High Court in 2017.</p>

<p>Six people were killed and over 100 injured when a bomb went off near a mosque in Malegaon in north Maharashtra, on September 29, 2008. According to the prosecution, it was the handiwork of a Hindu extremist group.</p>

<p>The BJP has been holding Bhopal Lok Sabha seat, where about 4.5 lakh of the 18 lakh voters are Muslim, since 1989.</p>

<p>According to sources, BJP leaders went into a huddle after Digvijay Singh's candidature was announced.</p>

<p>In the 2018 Assembly elections, the Congress won three out of the eight assembly segments in the Bhopal Lok Sabha constituency, and in the remaining segments the BJP's victory margin decreased.&nbsp;</p>


Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, who is facing trial in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, joined the BJP on Wednesday. Later in the day her name emerged in the party's list of candidates - Thakur has been fielded from Madhya Pradesh's Bhopal Lok Sabha seat.

Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, who is facing trial in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, joined the BJP on Wednesday. Later in the day her name emerged in the party's list of candidates - Thakur has been fielded from Madhya Pradesh's Bhopal Lok Sabha seat. "I will contest the election from Bhopal and win. Former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is with me," Thakur said, speaking after emerging out of the BJP office. Thakur had recently said she was ready for a "Dharm Yudh". "I am ready to take on Digvijay Singh if the sanghatan (organisation, apparently referring to the BJP) asks me to do so," Thakur had told PTI last month. Born in Bhind district of Madhya Pradesh, Thakur has had a long association with the Sangh parivar. A post-graduate in history, she worked with the RSS' student wing Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad and Durga Vahini, women's wing of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. Arrested in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, she was given a clean chit by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), but the trial court refused to discharge her from the case. The court dropped the charges under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against her, and she is now being tried under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. She was granted bail by the Bombay High Court in 2017. Six people were killed and over 100 injured when a bomb went off near a mosque in Malegaon in north Maharashtra, on September 29, 2008. According to the prosecution, it was the handiwork of a Hindu extremist group. The BJP has been holding Bhopal Lok Sabha seat, where about 4.5 lakh of the 18 lakh voters are Muslim, since 1989. According to sources, BJP leaders went into a huddle after Digvijay Singh's candidature was announced. In the 2018 Assembly elections, the Congress won three out of the eight assembly segments in the Bhopal Lok Sabha constituency, and in the remaining segments the BJP's victory margin decreased.

Pragya Singh joins BJP, set to take on Congress' Digvijaya Singh from Bhopal

<p>Income Tax officials are conducting searches at 50 locations including the premises of&nbsp;Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath's aides, reported news agency ANI.</p>

<p>According to the report, a&nbsp;search is underway at Bhopal residence of Praveen Kakkar, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to Kamal Nath.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Searches are also underway at his residence and official premises in Indore, the report added.</p>

<p>The premises of Ratul Puri, Amira Group and Moser Bayer are also being searched, the report added.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Indore: Visuals from official premises of Praveen Kakkar, OSD to Madhya Pradesh CM, where income-tax officials are conducting a raid. <a href="https://t.co/fWoOS4qT4o">pic.twitter.com/fWoOS4qT4o</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1114744357909868551?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>Ratul Puri, the nephew of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath, recently appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the AgustaWestland VVIP choppers money laundering case.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I-T Sources: I-T dept is conducting searches at 50 locations. Searches underway at locations of MP Chief Minister's OSD, Ratul Puri, Amira Group&amp;Moser Bayer. Searches also underway in Bhopal* ,Indore,Goa&amp; 35 locations in Delhi. More than 300 I-T officials conducting the searches. <a href="https://t.co/x5wkkEE01p">https://t.co/x5wkkEE01p</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1114737086337363969?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>Searches are underway in Bhopal, Indore, Goa and 35 locations in Delhi, the report added.</p>

<p>More than 300 I-T officials conducting the searches.</p>

<p>ANI also tweeted pictures of cash recovered during the raid at residential premises of Prateek Joshi in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.</p>

<p>The pictures were provided by I-T sources, the report claimed.&nbsp;</p>


Income Tax officials are conducting searches at 50 locations including the premises of Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath's aides, reported news agency ANI.

Income Tax officials are conducting searches at 50 locations including the premises of Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath's aides, reported news agency ANI. According to the report, a search is underway at Bhopal residence of Praveen Kakkar, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to Kamal Nath. Searches are also underway at his residence and official premises in Indore, the report added. The premises of Ratul Puri, Amira Group and Moser Bayer are also being searched, the report added. Indore: Visuals from official premises of Praveen Kakkar, OSD to Madhya Pradesh CM, where income-tax officials are conducting a raid. pic.twitter.com/fWoOS4qT4o — ANI (@ANI) April 7, 2019 × Ratul Puri, the nephew of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath, recently appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the AgustaWestland VVIP choppers money laundering case. I-T Sources: I-T dept is conducting searches at 50 locations. Searches underway at locations of MP Chief Minister's OSD, Ratul Puri, Amira Group&Moser Bayer. Searches also underway in Bhopal* ,Indore,Goa& 35 locations in Delhi. More than 300 I-T officials conducting the searches. https://t.co/x5wkkEE01p — ANI (@ANI) April 7, 2019 × Searches are underway in Bhopal, Indore, Goa and 35 locations in Delhi, the report added. More than 300 I-T officials conducting the searches. ANI also tweeted pictures of cash recovered during the raid at residential premises of Prateek Joshi in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. The pictures were provided by I-T sources, the report claimed.

Income Tax officials raid premises of Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath's aides

<p>Security has been heightened in Bhopal ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the city today.</p>

<p>Speaking to ANI, Inspector General of Police (Intelligence) Makrand Deuskar, said, "5,000 police personnel will be deployed. Bhopal police have done elaborate planning on traffic. The Prime Minister is Special Protection Group (SPG) protectee and security arrangements will be done accordingly."</p>

<p>Prime Minister Modi will address a massive congregation of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers at Karyakarta Mahakumbh in Bhopal.</p>

<p>The programme is being organised at Jamboori Maidan in BHEL to mark the birth anniversary of party ideologue and co-founder of Janasangh, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay.</p>

<p>BJP president Amit Shah will also address a workers' congregation which will begin at 10 AM with a musical concert of singer Kailash Kher. An estimated 10 lakh party workers from 65,000 polling booths spread across 230 assembly constituencies in Madhya Pradesh will take part in the programme.</p>

<p>Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, party organisational general secretary Ramlal and central and state ministers and other senior leaders will attend the congregation.</p>

<p>An exhibition hall named after BJP leader and former union minister late Anil Madhav Dave has also been set up at the rally site.</p>

<p>The exhibition venue will showcase the journey and works of BJP stalwarts, including former prime minister late Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Prime Minister Modi and Chouhan.</p>


Security has been heightened in Bhopal ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the city today. Speaking to ANI, Inspector General of Police (Intelligence) Makrand Deuskar, said, "5,000 police personnel will be deployed.

Security has been heightened in Bhopal ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the city today. Speaking to ANI, Inspector General of Police (Intelligence) Makrand Deuskar, said, "5,000 police personnel will be deployed. Bhopal police have done elaborate planning on traffic. The Prime Minister is Special Protection Group (SPG) protectee and security arrangements will be done accordingly." Prime Minister Modi will address a massive congregation of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers at Karyakarta Mahakumbh in Bhopal. The programme is being organised at Jamboori Maidan in BHEL to mark the birth anniversary of party ideologue and co-founder of Janasangh, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay. BJP president Amit Shah will also address a workers' congregation which will begin at 10 AM with a musical concert of singer Kailash Kher. An estimated 10 lakh party workers from 65,000 polling booths spread across 230 assembly constituencies in Madhya Pradesh will take part in the programme. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, party organisational general secretary Ramlal and central and state ministers and other senior leaders will attend the congregation. An exhibition hall named after BJP leader and former union minister late Anil Madhav Dave has also been set up at the rally site. The exhibition venue will showcase the journey and works of BJP stalwarts, including former prime minister late Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Prime Minister Modi and Chouhan.

PM Modi to visit Bhopal today, security beefed up 

<p>India stood up Sunday to protest the recent Unnao and Kathua gang rapes.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Protests were held in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Aligarh, Bhopal, and Goa and Kerala.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Mumbai protest began at Bandra's Carter Road.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ekta Kapoor had earlier tweeted: "Everyone should come. Whatever religion, gender or belief you belong to. For humanity, for justice..."&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Delhi protest is being held at Parliament Street where, news reports said, Swati Maliwal, the chief of the Delhi Women's Commission, is holding a hunger strike.</p>

<p>The Kathua and Unnao gang rapes have left the nation in shock.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the first attack, an eight-year-old girl was kept captive in a temple in Kathua, Jammu. The child was sedated and gang-raped repeatedly.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The alleged mastermind was a retired revenue official and policemen were allegedly involved in the crime.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Unnao gang rape only came to light when the girl and her family tried to immolate themselves outside the residence of the Uttar Pradesh chief minister.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The girl said she had been raped by the BJP MLA from Unnao Kuldeep Singh Sengar and his associates in May 2017 but had got no justice.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The girl's father died a few days later. He was reportedly beaten by Sengar's brother in front of the police who allegedly did nothing because of the MLA's clout.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Sengar's brother has been arrested. Sengar himself was finally arrested only after the CBI took over the case.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Protest held over <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Unnao?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Unnao</a> & <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kathua?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kathua</a> rape cases at Carter Rd in Mumbai's Bandra <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Maharashtra?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Maharashtra</a> <a href="https://t.co/u3aCXue1fE">pic.twitter.com/u3aCXue1fE</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/985496803574460417?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Protest held at Parliament Street against Unnao & Kathua rape cases. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Delhi?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Delhi</a> <a href="https://t.co/JPAAiIgKMT">pic.twitter.com/JPAAiIgKMT</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/985495235777179648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>


Protests were held in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Aligarh, Bhopal, and Goa and Kerala

India stood up Sunday to protest the recent Unnao and Kathua gang rapes. Protests were held in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Aligarh, Bhopal, and Goa and Kerala. The Mumbai protest began at Bandra's Carter Road. Ekta Kapoor had earlier tweeted: "Everyone should come. Whatever religion, gender or belief you belong to. For humanity, for justice..." The Delhi protest is being held at Parliament Street where, news reports said, Swati Maliwal, the chief of the Delhi Women's Commission, is holding a hunger strike. The Kathua and Unnao gang rapes have left the nation in shock. In the first attack, an eight-year-old girl was kept captive in a temple in Kathua, Jammu. The child was sedated and gang-raped repeatedly. The alleged mastermind was a retired revenue official and policemen were allegedly involved in the crime. The Unnao gang rape only came to light when the girl and her family tried to immolate themselves outside the residence of the Uttar Pradesh chief minister. The girl said she had been raped by the BJP MLA from Unnao Kuldeep Singh Sengar and his associates in May 2017 but had got no justice. The girl's father died a few days later. He was reportedly beaten by Sengar's brother in front of the police who allegedly did nothing because of the MLA's clout. Sengar's brother has been arrested. Sengar himself was finally arrested only after the CBI took over the case. Protest held over #Unnao & #Kathua rape cases at Carter Rd in Mumbai's Bandra #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/u3aCXue1fE — ANI (@ANI) April 15, 2018 × Protest held at Parliament Street against Unnao & Kathua rape cases. #Delhi pic.twitter.com/JPAAiIgKMT — ANI (@ANI) April 15, 2018 ×

India stands up to protest against Kathua, Unnao gang rapes

<p>A nationwide anti-quota bandh call today received mixed reactions with shops remaining closed in some parts of states such as Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan amidst heavy security arrangements, while internet services were restricted in a few sensitive areas.</p>

<p>Reports said over a dozen of people were injured in a violent clash in Ara town in Bihar's Bhojpur district.</p>

<p>The reports added that additional security has been deployed in Ara.</p>

<p>Reports from Bihar also described attempts to block trains, while some schools suspended their bus services in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh (MP), which was the worst hit during the April 2 nationwide bandh called by Dalit groups with at least eight people being killed in violent protests.</p>

<p>Officials in MP said the call for today's bandh was given on social media and no organisation had come forward so far to claim responsibility for it.</p>

<p>In Rajasthan, which was also hit badly during the Dalit-convened bandh, the state government has issued prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC and blocked mobile internet services in the state capital as precautionary measure.</p>

<p>The police chiefs and collectors of districts across the state have been asked to take prompt action if any nuisance is created, officials in Jaipur said.</p>

<p>Yesterday, the union Home Ministry had issued advisory to all states to beef up security and prevent violence during the Bharat Bandh against caste-based reservations in jobs and education.</p>

<p>The Ministry of Home Affairs also said the districts magistrates and superintendents of police (SPs) would be personally held responsible for any violence in their area of jurisdiction.</p>

<p>The directive came a week after a similar protest saw massive violence in different parts of the country leading to the death of at least 11 persons.</p>

<p>"The situation in the state (Rajasthan) is peaceful," ADG (Law and Order) NRK Reddy told PTI in Jaipur.</p>

<p>He said that companies of paramilitary forces including BSF and CRPF have also been deployed at sensitive areas of different districts in the state.</p>

<p>Markets in the walled city area of Jaipur as well as in the areas such as Bajaj nagar, Barkat Nagar and nearby places were not open today.</p>

<p>However, no demonstration or rally has taken place and the situation is quite peaceful. Private schools were closed and transport vehicles are plying normally.</p>

<p>The authorities in Bhopal have announced daytime curfew in Morena and Bhind, besides enforcing prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) in Gwalior, Bhopal, Sagar and some other sensitive towns of the state to avoid any untoward incidents.</p>

<p>"We are monitoring the situation. There has been no impact of the alleged bandh so far. The state police is also keeping a watch on the social media," Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Bhupendra Singh told reporters.</p>

<p>The internet services too have been blocked in the Gwalior-Chambal region to prevent rumour-mongering, officials said.</p>

<p>Bhopal range Deputy Inspector General of Police Dharmendra Choudhary had said yesterday that the social media messages were being monitored.</p>

<p>He had warned that those spreading hate messages would be booked under the Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code for disobedience to order promulgated by public servant.</p>

<p>In Uttar Pradesh, life remained by and large normal and officials said there was no report of any untoward incident from anywhere in the state till around noon.</p>

<p>Today's anti-quota protest came a week after a nationwide protest by Dalit groups against "dilution" of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act by the Supreme Court, entailing massive violence in different parts of the country and leading to the death of nine people.&nbsp</p>


The bandh, called in response to the earlier nationwide shutdown by the Dalit community, saw a mixed reaction elsewhere

A nationwide anti-quota bandh call today received mixed reactions with shops remaining closed in some parts of states such as Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan amidst heavy security arrangements, while internet services were restricted in a few sensitive areas. Reports said over a dozen of people were injured in a violent clash in Ara town in Bihar's Bhojpur district. The reports added that additional security has been deployed in Ara. Reports from Bihar also described attempts to block trains, while some schools suspended their bus services in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh (MP), which was the worst hit during the April 2 nationwide bandh called by Dalit groups with at least eight people being killed in violent protests. Officials in MP said the call for today's bandh was given on social media and no organisation had come forward so far to claim responsibility for it. In Rajasthan, which was also hit badly during the Dalit-convened bandh, the state government has issued prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC and blocked mobile internet services in the state capital as precautionary measure. The police chiefs and collectors of districts across the state have been asked to take prompt action if any nuisance is created, officials in Jaipur said. Yesterday, the union Home Ministry had issued advisory to all states to beef up security and prevent violence during the Bharat Bandh against caste-based reservations in jobs and education. The Ministry of Home Affairs also said the districts magistrates and superintendents of police (SPs) would be personally held responsible for any violence in their area of jurisdiction. The directive came a week after a similar protest saw massive violence in different parts of the country leading to the death of at least 11 persons. "The situation in the state (Rajasthan) is peaceful," ADG (Law and Order) NRK Reddy told PTI in Jaipur. He said that companies of paramilitary forces including BSF and CRPF have also been deployed at sensitive areas of different districts in the state. Markets in the walled city area of Jaipur as well as in the areas such as Bajaj nagar, Barkat Nagar and nearby places were not open today. However, no demonstration or rally has taken place and the situation is quite peaceful. Private schools were closed and transport vehicles are plying normally. The authorities in Bhopal have announced daytime curfew in Morena and Bhind, besides enforcing prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) in Gwalior, Bhopal, Sagar and some other sensitive towns of the state to avoid any untoward incidents. "We are monitoring the situation. There has been no impact of the alleged bandh so far. The state police is also keeping a watch on the social media," Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Bhupendra Singh told reporters. The internet services too have been blocked in the Gwalior-Chambal region to prevent rumour-mongering, officials said. Bhopal range Deputy Inspector General of Police Dharmendra Choudhary had said yesterday that the social media messages were being monitored. He had warned that those spreading hate messages would be booked under the Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code for disobedience to order promulgated by public servant. In Uttar Pradesh, life remained by and large normal and officials said there was no report of any untoward incident from anywhere in the state till around noon. Today's anti-quota protest came a week after a nationwide protest by Dalit groups against "dilution" of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act by the Supreme Court, entailing massive violence in different parts of the country and leading to the death of nine people.

Bharat anti-reservation Bandh: Over a dozen injured in violent clash in Bihar

<p>Ahead of Assembly elections due later this year, the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh today accorded the 'Minister of State' (MoS) status to five Hindu religious leaders, a move which was slammed by opposition Congress.</p>

<p>As per the order of General Administration Department's Additional Secretary K K Katiya, the MoS status has been accorded to Narmadanand Maharaj, Hariharanand Maharaj, Computer Baba, Bhaiyyu Maharaj and Pandit Yogendra Mahant.</p>

<p>On March 31, these five religious leaders were appointed to a committee set up for the conservation of the Narmada river.</p>

<p>As members of the committee, they have been given the MoS status, a GAD official said today.</p>

<p>Assembly elections are due in the state this year, and main opposition Congress dubbed the decision as an attempt by the BJP to exploit the respect these religious leaders enjoy in the society.</p>

<p>"It's a gimmick to score political points. This is also an effort by the chief minister (Shivraj Singh Chouhan) to wash off his sins. He ignored conservation of the Narmada. These saints should inspect where the state government has planted six crore saplings (along the river banks) as claimed by the CM," said Congress spokesperson Pankaj Chaturvedi.</p>

<p>State BJP spokesperson Rajnish Agrawal said the opposition party dislikes anything related to saints.</p>

<p>"Saints and seers were accorded the MoS status to make their work of environment and river conservation easy. The saints were roped in for the Narmada conservation work to ensure public participation," Agrawal said.</p>


On March 31, these five religious leaders were appointed to a committee set up for the conservation of the Narmada river

Ahead of Assembly elections due later this year, the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh today accorded the 'Minister of State' (MoS) status to five Hindu religious leaders, a move which was slammed by opposition Congress. As per the order of General Administration Department's Additional Secretary K K Katiya, the MoS status has been accorded to Narmadanand Maharaj, Hariharanand Maharaj, Computer Baba, Bhaiyyu Maharaj and Pandit Yogendra Mahant. On March 31, these five religious leaders were appointed to a committee set up for the conservation of the Narmada river. As members of the committee, they have been given the MoS status, a GAD official said today. Assembly elections are due in the state this year, and main opposition Congress dubbed the decision as an attempt by the BJP to exploit the respect these religious leaders enjoy in the society. "It's a gimmick to score political points. This is also an effort by the chief minister (Shivraj Singh Chouhan) to wash off his sins. He ignored conservation of the Narmada. These saints should inspect where the state government has planted six crore saplings (along the river banks) as claimed by the CM," said Congress spokesperson Pankaj Chaturvedi. State BJP spokesperson Rajnish Agrawal said the opposition party dislikes anything related to saints. "Saints and seers were accorded the MoS status to make their work of environment and river conservation easy. The saints were roped in for the Narmada conservation work to ensure public participation," Agrawal said.

Madhya Pradesh: Bhaiyyu Maharaj, 4 other religious leaders get 'Minister of State' status

<p>The truck driver who allegedly hit the journalist reporting on sand mafia yesterday has been arrested by Bhopal Police. The accused admitted that he was driving the truck when the accident happened.&nbsp</p>

<p>"The person has admitted that he was driving the vehicle at the time of the incident. Our team is questioning and doing the investigations," a police official noted.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Bhind: Driver of the truck which hit the journalist reporting on sand mafia yesterday, arrested. SS Kushwaha,TI,City Kotwali,says, 'person has admitted that he was driving the vehicle at time of the incident. SIT team is questioning & doing investigation'<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MadhyaPradesh?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MadhyaPradesh</a> <a href="https://t.co/ViGStCcVOq">pic.twitter.com/ViGStCcVOq</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/978369197083209728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp</p>

<p>A leading Indian news agency posted a video yesterday where an investigative journalist was run over by a truck in Bhind, Madhya Pradesh. Sandeep Sharma was investigating a possible link between the local police and the sand mafia.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a>:Chilling CCTV footage of moment when Journalist Sandeep Sharma was run over by a truck in Bhind. He had been reporting on the sand mafia and had earlier complained to Police about threat to his life. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MadhyaPradesh?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MadhyaPradesh</a> <a href="https://t.co/LZxNuTLyap">pic.twitter.com/LZxNuTLyap</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/978176717113217024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>In the video, the journalist was seen riding a bike with a truck chasing him. According to reports, Sharma had previously lodged a complaint reporting threat to his life.&nbsp</p>


A leading Indian news agency posted a video yesterday where an investigative journalist was run over by a truck in Bhind, Madhya Pradesh

The truck driver who allegedly hit the journalist reporting on sand mafia yesterday has been arrested by Bhopal Police. The accused admitted that he was driving the truck when the accident happened. "The person has admitted that he was driving the vehicle at the time of the incident. Our team is questioning and doing the investigations," a police official noted. Bhind: Driver of the truck which hit the journalist reporting on sand mafia yesterday, arrested. SS Kushwaha,TI,City Kotwali,says, 'person has admitted that he was driving the vehicle at time of the incident. SIT team is questioning & doing investigation'#MadhyaPradesh pic.twitter.com/ViGStCcVOq — ANI (@ANI) March 26, 2018 × A leading Indian news agency posted a video yesterday where an investigative journalist was run over by a truck in Bhind, Madhya Pradesh. Sandeep Sharma was investigating a possible link between the local police and the sand mafia. #WATCH:Chilling CCTV footage of moment when Journalist Sandeep Sharma was run over by a truck in Bhind. He had been reporting on the sand mafia and had earlier complained to Police about threat to his life. #MadhyaPradesh pic.twitter.com/LZxNuTLyap — ANI (@ANI) March 26, 2018 × In the video, the journalist was seen riding a bike with a truck chasing him. According to reports, Sharma had previously lodged a complaint reporting threat to his life.

Madhya Pradesh Police arrest truck driver accused of running over journalist

<p>A shocking incident surfaced in the capital city of Madhya Pradesh Saturday wherein an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) took his life by hanging himself from a wireless tower.</p>

<p>The incident took place in Ashoknagar, Bhopal and is believed to be an alleged case of harassment.</p>

<p>ASI&#39;s superiors, including the district superintendent of police, are now under the scanner for further investigations.</p>

<p>The suicide note found in the ASI&#39;s pocket names people linked to his harassment.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Going by the suicide note, the superintendent of police had stopped his (ASI&#39;s) salary on his inability to produce &#39;police diary&#39;.</p>

<p>His increments and salary were long due. The note also names two more officials and revealed that the victim also suffered mentally. &nbsp;</p>

<p>A couple of policemen have been suspended; a CID inquiry and a magisterial probe have been ordered to further investigate the matter.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The suicide was attempted around 6am on Saturday, December 23.</p>


The incident took place in Ashoknagar, Bhopal

A shocking incident surfaced in the capital city of Madhya Pradesh Saturday wherein an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) took his life by hanging himself from a wireless tower. The incident took place in Ashoknagar, Bhopal and is believed to be an alleged case of harassment. ASI's superiors, including the district superintendent of police, are now under the scanner for further investigations. The suicide note found in the ASI's pocket names people linked to his harassment. Going by the suicide note, the superintendent of police had stopped his (ASI's) salary on his inability to produce 'police diary'. His increments and salary were long due. The note also names two more officials and revealed that the victim also suffered mentally. A couple of policemen have been suspended; a CID inquiry and a magisterial probe have been ordered to further investigate the matter. The suicide was attempted around 6am on Saturday, December 23.

Bhopal: Police official blames superiors for harassment, commits suicide

<p>The four men accused of raping a 19-year-old woman in <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/bhopal-rape-case-4-police-officials-suspended-superintendent-of-police-transferred-23460">Bhopal </a>in October were sentenced to life imprisonment by a fast track court on Saturday.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FLASH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FLASH</a> Bhopal UPSC aspirant gang-rape case: Fast track court awards lifetime imprisonment to all the 4 accused. <a href="https://t.co/RT8bAIh7K2">pic.twitter.com/RT8bAIh7K2</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/944486947447115776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>The additional district and session judge&nbsp;Savita Dube reportedly gave the verdict.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The woman, a UPSC aspirant and daughter of a police couple, was raped about 200 meters from the Habibganj government railway police (GRP) station. Officials said that the crime scene fell in the MP Nagar police station limits.</p>

<p>The 19-year-old&nbsp;also claimed that the four men tried to strangle her to death after raping her and after thinking that she is dead, they left.</p>

<p>The victim soon after&nbsp;returned home and told her parents.&nbsp;An FIR had been lodged following the incident and the investigation was completed within 15 days.</p>

<p>The accused have been identified as Golu Bihari, Amar Chhantu, Rajesh, and Ramesh who were booked under Section 376 (2) N (raping repeatedly) and other subsequent IPC sections.</p>


The 19-year-old?also claimed that the four men tried to strangle her to death after raping her and after thinking that she is dead, they left

The four men accused of raping a 19-year-old woman in Bhopal in October were sentenced to life imprisonment by a fast track court on Saturday. #FLASH Bhopal UPSC aspirant gang-rape case: Fast track court awards lifetime imprisonment to all the 4 accused. pic.twitter.com/RT8bAIh7K2 — ANI (@ANI) December 23, 2017 × The additional district and session judge Savita Dube reportedly gave the verdict. The woman, a UPSC aspirant and daughter of a police couple, was raped about 200 meters from the Habibganj government railway police (GRP) station. Officials said that the crime scene fell in the MP Nagar police station limits. The 19-year-old also claimed that the four men tried to strangle her to death after raping her and after thinking that she is dead, they left. The victim soon after returned home and told her parents. An FIR had been lodged following the incident and the investigation was completed within 15 days. The accused have been identified as Golu Bihari, Amar Chhantu, Rajesh, and Ramesh who were booked under Section 376 (2) N (raping repeatedly) and other subsequent IPC sections.

Bhopal gang-rape: Four accused sentenced to life imprisonment

<p>A major fire broke out in a shopping complex in Bhopal, Bairagargh which caught over 100 shops.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The fire suddenly broke out on Sunday morning and destroyed nearby shops in the Bhopal&#39;s shopping complex, reports said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Around 20 fire engines have been reported at the cite to curb the fire.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>More than 100 shops gutted in the fire which broke out in a shopping complex in Bhopal&#39;s Bairagarh. (ANI)</p>
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<p>An army vehicle and soldiers also reached the shopping complex to help the firefighters. The firefighting operation is underway.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Visuals?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Visuals</a> from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MadhyaPradesh?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MadhyaPradesh</a>: Fire fighting operations underway at the shopping complex in Bhopal&#39;s Bairagarh where a fire broke out gutting 100 shops. 20 fire tenders and an Army vehicle at the spot. <a href="https://t.co/93qCDkaZED">pic.twitter.com/93qCDkaZED</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/942327137989570560?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 17, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>The cause of the fire has yet to be discovered.&nbsp;</p>

<p>No casualties have been reported so far. More details are awaited.&nbsp;</p>


No injuries or causalities have been reported

A major fire broke out in a shopping complex in Bhopal, Bairagargh which caught over 100 shops. The fire suddenly broke out on Sunday morning and destroyed nearby shops in the Bhopal's shopping complex, reports said. Around 20 fire engines have been reported at the cite to curb the fire. More than 100 shops gutted in the fire which broke out in a shopping complex in Bhopal's Bairagarh. (ANI) × An army vehicle and soldiers also reached the shopping complex to help the firefighters. The firefighting operation is underway. #Visuals from #MadhyaPradesh: Fire fighting operations underway at the shopping complex in Bhopal's Bairagarh where a fire broke out gutting 100 shops. 20 fire tenders and an Army vehicle at the spot. pic.twitter.com/93qCDkaZED — ANI (@ANI) December 17, 2017 × The cause of the fire has yet to be discovered. No casualties have been reported so far. More details are awaited.

Over 100 shops gutted in Bhopal shopping complex fire

<p>An additional superintendent of police has been charged with sexually harassing a&nbsp;woman constable at police headquarters in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>The constable alleged that she had complained to an additional director general of police and had given her video and audio as proof but that the ADG threatened to suspend her.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;I complained to ADG and submitted videos and audios as proof but she threated to suspend me,&quot; ANI reported her as saying.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Bhopal: Woman constable posted at PHQ, alleges sexual harassment by Additional SP Rajendra Verma, says, &#39;I complained to ADG &amp; submitted videos &amp; audios as proof but she threatened to suspend me.&#39; <a href="https://t.co/iePMPfybf1">pic.twitter.com/iePMPfybf1</a></p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/933295472734650368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 22, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>ANI added that a case has&nbsp;been registered under section 354 A IPC against Additional SP Rajendra Verma.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UPDATE?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UPDATE</a> Bhopal: Case registered under section 354 A IPC against Additional SP Rajendra Verma for alleged sexual harassment of a woman constable posted at PHQ</p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/933348389697159168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 22, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>In Shimla, Himachal Pradesh an army colonel has been arrested for allegedly raping the daughter of a lieutenant colonel posted at Army Training&nbsp;Command.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Himachal Pradesh: Police arrested a serving colonel from Army Training Command in Shimla for allegedly raping a woman; Case registered under section 376 in Indian Penal Code</p>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/933344318332346368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 22, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>The woman filed a complaint on November 20 and the colonel was arrested Wednesday after investigations, PTI reported.</p>

<p>Police confirmed the arrest of the colonel but refused to disclose his identity.</p>


The colonel was arrested in Shimla, the additional SP of police was charged in Bhopal

An additional superintendent of police has been charged with sexually harassing a woman constable at police headquarters in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. The constable alleged that she had complained to an additional director general of police and had given her video and audio as proof but that the ADG threatened to suspend her. "I complained to ADG and submitted videos and audios as proof but she threated to suspend me," ANI reported her as saying. Bhopal: Woman constable posted at PHQ, alleges sexual harassment by Additional SP Rajendra Verma, says, 'I complained to ADG & submitted videos & audios as proof but she threatened to suspend me.' pic.twitter.com/iePMPfybf1 — ANI (@ANI) November 22, 2017 × ANI added that a case has been registered under section 354 A IPC against Additional SP Rajendra Verma. #UPDATE Bhopal: Case registered under section 354 A IPC against Additional SP Rajendra Verma for alleged sexual harassment of a woman constable posted at PHQ — ANI (@ANI) November 22, 2017 × In Shimla, Himachal Pradesh an army colonel has been arrested for allegedly raping the daughter of a lieutenant colonel posted at Army Training Command. Himachal Pradesh: Police arrested a serving colonel from Army Training Command in Shimla for allegedly raping a woman; Case registered under section 376 in Indian Penal Code — ANI (@ANI) November 22, 2017 × The woman filed a complaint on November 20 and the colonel was arrested Wednesday after investigations, PTI reported. Police confirmed the arrest of the colonel but refused to disclose his identity.

Army colonel arrested for rape, SP charged with sexual harassment

<p>A day after eight suspected SIMI activists were killed in an alleged police encounter following a daring prison break here, their families have decided to approach the Madhya Pradesh high court seeking a CBI probe into what they dub &quot;cold-blooded murders&quot;.</p>

<p>&quot;The families of the deceased have come to me and are weeping inconsolably for justice. We are going to move the MP high court for a CBI probe into the entire incident,&quot; lawyer Parvez Alam told PTI.</p>

<p>&quot;It is surprising that the authorities are claiming that the accused climbed the 32-feet boundary wall of the jail. Is this possible?&quot; he asked.</p>

<p>Police have claimed that the escapees were killed yesterday in an encounter hours after they escaped from the high-security Central jail where they had slit the throat of a security guard and scaled the wall using bedsheets between 2 AM and 3 AM.</p>

<p>Alam described the encounter as &quot;fake&quot; and said, &quot;The TV grabs show police and ATS firing. There is no evidence that the accused fired.&quot;</p>

<p>&quot;This is a fake encounter and (these are) cold-blooded murders,&quot; Alam claimed.</p>

<p>He said Inspector General Yogesh Choudhary had last night told media that the accused made keys from toothbrushes and used them to open their cells.</p>

<p>&quot;Can someone open the keys of high-security Bhopal Central Jail that has earned an ISO certificate with keys made of toothbrushes?&quot; he wondered.</p>

<p>&quot;What lie these authorities are speaking,&quot; he said.</p>

<p>&quot;Our first course of action after the funeral of the accused killed in the encounter is to move the HC for justice,&quot; he added.</p>

<p>The kin of seven accused have already reached Bhopal to receive their bodies and take them to their place for burial, Alam said.</p>

<p>He said that no one has yet claimed the body of Mohammad Khalid, a resident of Solapur in Maharashtra.</p>

<p>Family members of accused Sheikh Mujeeb are taking his body to Ahmedabad, while Abdul Majid&#39;s mortal remains are being taken to Mahidpur area in Ujjain district of MP, he said.</p>

<p>Bodies of the rest, Amjad Khan, Zakir Hussain, Mohammad Salik, Sheikh Mehboob and Aqueel Khilji, all hailing from MP&#39;s Khandwa district, are being taken to their homes, Alam added.</p>

<p>Yesterday, the police had dismissed criticism over the encounter killing of the eight escapees near Bhopal, saying there was heavy exchange of fire in which they were killed after which four country-made guns and some other sharp-edged weapons were recovered from them.</p>

<p>Also, IG Chaudhary repeatedly maintained that all questions raised over the encounter were a matter of investigation as the series of events over seven hours between their escape and killing were still being probed.</p>

<p>This came soon after a controversy raged over the police action following the daring pre-dawn jailbreak, as TV channels showed footage purportedly from the encounter site in which a policeman is seen pumping bullets into a man from close range after some unidentified person takes out what appears to be a knife said to be in a plastic cover and places it back.</p>

<p>Besides the veracity of the video, police is also probing how the SIMI terror suspects could lay their hands on weapons after their escape.</p>

<p>(PTI)</p>


'This is a fake encounter and (these are) cold-blooded murders,' their lawyer said

A day after eight suspected SIMI activists were killed in an alleged police encounter following a daring prison break here, their families have decided to approach the Madhya Pradesh high court seeking a CBI probe into what they dub "cold-blooded murders". "The families of the deceased have come to me and are weeping inconsolably for justice. We are going to move the MP high court for a CBI probe into the entire incident," lawyer Parvez Alam told PTI. "It is surprising that the authorities are claiming that the accused climbed the 32-feet boundary wall of the jail. Is this possible?" he asked. Police have claimed that the escapees were killed yesterday in an encounter hours after they escaped from the high-security Central jail where they had slit the throat of a security guard and scaled the wall using bedsheets between 2 AM and 3 AM. Alam described the encounter as "fake" and said, "The TV grabs show police and ATS firing. There is no evidence that the accused fired." "This is a fake encounter and (these are) cold-blooded murders," Alam claimed. He said Inspector General Yogesh Choudhary had last night told media that the accused made keys from toothbrushes and used them to open their cells. "Can someone open the keys of high-security Bhopal Central Jail that has earned an ISO certificate with keys made of toothbrushes?" he wondered. "What lie these authorities are speaking," he said. "Our first course of action after the funeral of the accused killed in the encounter is to move the HC for justice," he added. The kin of seven accused have already reached Bhopal to receive their bodies and take them to their place for burial, Alam said. He said that no one has yet claimed the body of Mohammad Khalid, a resident of Solapur in Maharashtra. Family members of accused Sheikh Mujeeb are taking his body to Ahmedabad, while Abdul Majid's mortal remains are being taken to Mahidpur area in Ujjain district of MP, he said. Bodies of the rest, Amjad Khan, Zakir Hussain, Mohammad Salik, Sheikh Mehboob and Aqueel Khilji, all hailing from MP's Khandwa district, are being taken to their homes, Alam added. Yesterday, the police had dismissed criticism over the encounter killing of the eight escapees near Bhopal, saying there was heavy exchange of fire in which they were killed after which four country-made guns and some other sharp-edged weapons were recovered from them. Also, IG Chaudhary repeatedly maintained that all questions raised over the encounter were a matter of investigation as the series of events over seven hours between their escape and killing were still being probed. This came soon after a controversy raged over the police action following the daring pre-dawn jailbreak, as TV channels showed footage purportedly from the encounter site in which a policeman is seen pumping bullets into a man from close range after some unidentified person takes out what appears to be a knife said to be in a plastic cover and places it back. Besides the veracity of the video, police is also probing how the SIMI terror suspects could lay their hands on weapons after their escape. (PTI)

Bhopal encounter: Families of killed escapees to move high court seeking CBI probe

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