Bhopal:

A disturbing video that has been widely shared, sparking outrage, shows a man raping a woman on the road in Madhya Pradesh’s Ujjain. The man had allegedly got the woman drunk before sexually assaulting her, and the video has now led to his arrest.

The crime occurred on Wednesday when the man, who had promised to marry the woman, offered her alcohol and then raped her. He then threatened her against speaking about the sexual assault before fleeing the spot.

Police officials said they found out about the crime after the video went viral on social media and managed to trace the man and arrest him.

“The accused had promised to marry the woman. He made her consume alcohol and raped her,” said an official.

Katni:

A 35-year-old man shot dead his six-year-old son before taking his life with the same weapon, while his wife escaped unhurt from the firing in Madhya Pradesh’s Katni district on Wednesday, police said.

The incident took place in the Nai Basti area under Kotwali police station limits in the morning, said Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Santosh Dehariya.

He said Mayank Agrahari shot dead his son Shubh and also fired towards his wife Manvi Agrahari (30), who did not suffer any injuries as the bullet missed her. Mayank later shot himself dead, he said.

Police are yet to ascertain why Mayank took the extreme step, he said, adding that they are probing from all angles.

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

Bhopal:

A tribal farmer has been brutally killed in Singrauli district of Madhya Pradesh, allegedly by sand mafia. The incident took place late Sunday night in Gannai village. Indrapal Agariya, 46, was crushed to death by a tractor-trolley allegedly involved in the illegal transportation of sand. The sand mafia was excavating sand from the Patir river, which flows near Gannai village, and transporting it through Indrapal Agariya’s paddy fields, sources said.

Concerned about the damage to his crops, Indrapal had confronted the mafia and urged them to stop. Indrapal had attempted to stop them once again, when he was run over.

The incident has ignited political tension in the state.

Congress state president Jeetu Patwari alleged in a social media post that the accused are affiliated with the BJP and have been involved in illegal sand transportation for years.
“Everyone knows who is protecting them and why,” Mr Patwari said, fuelling controversy.

Local villagers corroborated that illegal sand transportation was being carried out through Indrapal’s farmland, leading to significant crop damage.

The accused, former vice-president of the BJP Yuva Morcha Lale Vaish and his associates had reportedly ignored repeated warnings to stop using the farmer’s field for their illegal activities.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav said the incident was “very sad and serious.

He extended his condolences to the family and assured people that the state would not tolerate such heinous crimes.

“I have ordered district administration officials to investigate the matter immediately. There is rule of law in Madhya Pradesh, and strict action will be taken against such criminals,” the Chief Minister said.

Bhopal:

His complaints against corruption allegedly ignored for years, a man from Madhya Pradesh assembled a garland out of the documents and made an entrance into a district collector’s office that left everyone stunned. Crawling on the road and then rolling on it, the man dragged several other documents containing what he claimed was “evidence” behind him, finally getting the attention that he was so desperately seeking. 

Like every Tuesday, a public hearing was being conducted in the office of the Neemuch district collector to address people’s grievances when Mukesh Prajapati was spotted crawling on his elbows – a garland of documents around him and several others sewn together on a rope trailing him. As he switched to rolling on the road and made his way to the entrance, it emerged that Mr Prajapat had been complaining against the alleged corrupt acts carried out by the sarpanch of his village, Kankariya, and claimed he had not been heard for over six years. 

His shirt off and keeping a slipper on his head, Mr Prajapati said, “I have been complaining about the corrupt sarpanch for six to seven years, but no action has been taken. This is not out of self-interest. I am shining a light on corruption in the interest of the country.”

Sub-Divisional Magistrate Mamta Khede told news agency PTI that Mr Prajapati had complained against a sarpanch, and the Panchayat and Rural Development had already conducted a probe into the allegations levelled by him.

District Collector Himanshu Chandra said he has ordered a fresh investigation into the complaints and asked for a report within three days.

“A team has been asked to go to the village and look into the complaints of corruption made by the man. I have asked for a report to be submitted within three days and action will be taken based on that,” said Mr Chandra. 

Videos of the unique protest were shared widely on social media and one of them was also picked up by the handle of the Madhya Pradesh Congress. 

“This person, crawling and dragging documents of complaints and evidence, depicts the helplessness of the Mohan Yadav government. His name is Mukesh Prajapati and he has reached the collector’s office seeking justice,” the post on the Madhya Pradesh Congress handle said in Hindi. 

Bhopal:

Madhya Pradesh has witnessed creation of 55 districts across the state over the years, however this expansion has not been matched by a corresponding increase in the number of administrative officers.

On the flip side, the state’s cadre of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers is shrinking, placing immense pressure on the current workforce. Approximately 350 IAS officers in Madhya Pradesh are now burdened with multiple responsibilities, with some managing between one to four additional charges. 

This heavy workload is taking a toll on the efficiency of the state’s administration, affecting the delivery of public services.

Despite the state government’s regular announcements emphasizing the need for stricter ground-level implementation of policies, the effectiveness of these efforts is hampered by the overwhelming workloads faced by the officers tasked with execution.

There are 459 sanctioned IAS posts in Madhya Pradesh, but only 391 are currently filled, leaving 68 positions vacant. Additionally, 41 officers from the existing cadre are on central deputation, further exacerbating the shortage.

This situation raises critical questions: When will the government take steps to increase the number of IAS officers? And when will the sanctioned posts be filled to alleviate the burden on the current officers?

Retired IAS officer DS Rai has voiced concerns over the growing challenges, urging the government to end the “double-charge” system. “The government needs to address this issue and end the double-charge system. Many officers have one foot in Delhi and the other in Bhopal,” Rai remarked.

Adding to the strain, several officers in the state are seeking central deputation. The Madhya Pradesh government has already issued No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for five more officers, meaning they could be called to the central government at any moment. Moreover, 89 officers are expected to retire within the next five years, further diminishing the administrative strength. The last review of the IAS cadre in Madhya Pradesh by the central government was in August 2022, setting the cadre strength at 459, a number that has not been revised since.

Darshan Chaudhary, a Member of Parliament, acknowledged the issue, stating, “The Chief Minister is aware of this issue, and the government is working towards a solution. This problem will be resolved soon.”

Madhya Pradesh’s administrative needs are substantial. The state requires 136 IAS officers to manage its 55 districts, 55 district panchayats, 16 municipal corporations, and 10 divisions. Additionally, the state’s 56 departments typically require around eight IAS officers each, totaling 448. Including the 10 officers needed for the Chief Minister’s and Chief Secretary’s offices, the state requires a total of 594 IAS officers. The current central deputation quota for Madhya Pradesh is 99, with 41 officers already on deputation.

The shortage of IAS officers has become a focal point for criticism from the opposition, which accuses the government of intentionally neglecting this issue to favour promoted officers who might be more amenable to political influence.

Former Congress MLA Shailendra Patel stated, “The government is deliberately not addressing the shortage of IAS officers because they know they can use promoted officers to carry out their own agenda and engage in corruption.”

As the situation stands, Madhya Pradesh’s administrative framework is strained, and the state’s ability to deliver effective governance is under significant threat. The resolution of this issue will require immediate and sustained efforts from the government.

Bhopal:

A group of railway policemen were seen thrashing a teen and his grandmother on CCTV at a railway station in Madhya Pradesh’s Katni. The incident has sparked outrage on social media.

The men from the Government Railway Police (GRP) were interrogating the grandmother and her 15-year-old son over a suspected theft, reports said.

The group thrashed the woman first, and then turned towards his son, reports said.

The visuals show the teen lying on the ground while the GRP men hit him with a belt. Another man who is not in uniform is seen pulling the teen’s hair and shaking his head from side to side.

“The police asked me where’s my father. I didn’t know where he was. The police took me to the traffic inspector’s office. They then beat me up. They also hit my grandmother. They said my father has started stealing a lot,” the minor told reporters. “My father is only a labourer,” he said.

Katni SP Abhijeet Kumar Ranjan said they have launched an investigation headed by ASP Santosh Deharia to verify the video.

The Opposition Congress targetted the ruling BJP in the state over the incident, with former Chief Minister Kamal saying the incident shows Madhya Pradesh is unsafe for Dalits.

The police said it is an old incident involving the recovery of stolen jewellery. They said the GRP men seen in the video will be punished.

Satna:

A video of several cows being thrown into a swollen river in Satna district of Madhya Pradesh by a group of persons has gone viral on social media, prompting the police to register a case against four men. As per the preliminary reports, 15 to 20 cows have died in the incident that occurred on Tuesday under the Nagod police station limits, but the information is yet to be verified, police said on Wednesday.

“A video showing cows being thrown by some people into the Satna river under a railway bridge near Bamhor surfaced on Tuesday evening. Taking cognisance of the video, a police team was sent to the spot to collect information, following which a case was registered,” Nagod police station in-charge Ashok Pandey said.

Four persons, identified as Beta Bagri, Ravi Bagri, Rampal Choudhary and Rajlu Choudhary, have been booked under relevant sections of the Madhya Pradesh Gauvansh Vadh Pratishedh Adhiniyam, the law that prevents the killing of cows in the state, and also under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), he said.

The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon, he added.

“As per the initial information, there were around 50 cows and 15 to 20 of them died. A rescue operation is underway,” he said.

The exact number of cows thrown into the river and their death count will be known after an investigation, Mr Pandey added.

Further investigation and a manhunt for the accused is underway, the police said.

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

Bhopal:

The quality of several crucial medicines in Madhya Pradesh has come under scrutiny, leading to a state-wide ban on more than nine essential drugs and injections.

The Madhya Pradesh Public Health Service Corporation Limited (MPPHSCL) has identified these medicines as substandard, raising concerns about patient safety across all districts in the state.

NDTV has got a copy of a shocking report that exposed this life-threatening fraud.

The issue first came to light when doctors at a government hospital in Indore saw that patients were not responding to treatment as expected. This prompted an investigation into the medicines supplied by MPPHSCL, uncovering significant irregularities. A large batch of medicines, including life-saving drugs and antibiotics, was found to be of poor quality, prompting immediate action.

“Our team reported that many injections were not working as expected; those that should be administered once had to be given twice,” said Dr Sumit Shukla, Superintendent of Government Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College.

The situation turned dire in Damoh, where five pregnant women died after they took intravenous saline.

In response, MPPHSCL has banned the use of these medicines across the state.

“We have a comprehensive system to check all medicines procured or sold in the market. There is a full department and a laboratory dedicated to this task. When medicines are purchased, their certificates are thoroughly checked, and once the medicines arrive, samples are collected and sent to the laboratory for testing,” said state Health Minister Narendra Shivaji Patel, adding the government is committed to transparency and safety.

“Our doctors and laboratories have identified the suppliers or factories that produced these ineffective or potentially harmful medicines. This shows that our system is working effectively to protect public health. If any supplier is found attempting to distribute substandard medicines, they will be banned, blacklisted, and subjected to strict legal action. We will take all necessary steps to ensure that our citizens are not harmed,” Mr Patel said.

Despite strict regulations requiring NABL-certified lab reports for medicine supplies in government hospitals, the reality suggests a lapse in quality control. Many of the banned drugs, including those used in intensive care units (ICUs) and operation theatres, are still available in private shops, raising further concerns.

NDTV went to a medicine shop in Bhopal’s biggest government hospital, Hamidia, to uncover the ground reality of the availability of banned medicines. Despite the state’s recent crackdown on substandard drugs, NDTV was able to easily purchase Heparin and Nitroglycerin injections. These are part of the nine life-saving drugs recently banned due to quality concerns of the same manufacturer.

The process was disturbingly straightforward. We approached the medicine shop inside Hamidia Hospital, requested the injections, made the purchase, and received an official bill – all without any hindrance.

These injections, which are critical in emergency care settings such ICUs and operation theatres, were supposed to be banned following the state’s directive. The ease with which these injections were obtained at Hamidia is not an isolated incident. Our investigation extended to private shops outside JP Hospital, where the same banned injections were readily available.

“Many of these medicines are life-saving. In the ICU, we administer dopamine to patients with dangerously low blood pressure. Additionally, when a patient suffers a cardiac arrest, we use non-adrenaline during CPR. These medicines are crucial in emergency situations, and their quality must be impeccable,” said Dr Ashok Thakur of MY Hospital. “Any deficiency in these drugs can lead to adverse outcomes, putting patients’ lives at risk,” he said.

The real question remains – how long has this compromised quality persisted? With more than 90 per cent of hospitals in the state facing a shortage of essential medicines and the quality of supplied drugs in question, the situation is alarming.

Bhopal:

A Madhya Pradesh government directive to schools and colleges in the state – to celebrate Krishna Janmashtami, or the birth of Krishna – has sparked a political squabble between the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress, with the latter accusing the saffron party of trying to politicise education.

The Congress has asserted that centres of learning should remain “only for studies”. MLA Arif Masood demanded to know “why this government is engaged in ruining educational institutions”.

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav dismissed the Congress’ objection, declaring the state had been blessed by Lord Krishna and emphasised the historical and cultural significance of the festival. He pointed to popular tourist sites in Madhya Pradesh – including Narayan, Amjhera, and Janapav Dham – that are associated with Krishna, and announced plans to develop these areas as pilgrimage destinations.

“Lord Krishna highlighted the importance of education 5,000 years ago. He came to Ujjain from Mathura to receive education. What could be a more auspicious time to celebrate his teachings?”

“The friendship of Krishna and Sudama at Narayan Dham symbolises the bond between the rich and the poor. What is wrong with promoting the place that represents Lord Krishna’s bravery?”

The Chief Minister also pointed out other cities associated with Krishna also celebrated the day, and asked, “If we do not remember places associated with Lord Krishna on Janmashtami, then why remember Mathura? If Janmashtami is celebrated in Mathura, will Congress stop visiting?”

“This is nothing but disrespectful and nonsensical talk,” he declared.

BJP MLA Rameshwar Sharma also hit out at the Congress and shot off a jab on furore over the consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, for which senior Congress leaders like Sonia Gandhi were invited but chose not to go. “It is a crime only in the eyes of the Congress. They used to be allergic to Lord Ram earlier… now allergic to Lord Krishna,” he said.

Issued on Wednesday, the state government’s order directs district officials to ensure temples dedicated to Krishna are cleaned and play host to “cultural programs”.

The Congress has objected strongly, insisting that schools and colleges, and other educational institutions, should be free from religious or political influence. “Educational institutions are for education… and they should be allowed to function as such. There is already a holiday in schools and colleges for religious events and people celebrate these according to their beliefs,” Mr Masood said.

He also pointed to the state government “raising questions about our madrasas”.

“On one hand you make Janmashtami celebrations compulsory… and on the other you are raising questions about our madrasas. What exactly is the government trying to achieve?”

“I am unable to understand why this government is ruining educational institutions…” he continued, warning also of the dangers of making celebration of any festival mandatory.

With input from agencies

NDTV is now available on WhatsApp channels. Click on the link to get all the latest updates from NDTV on your chat.

Bhopal:

The Madhya Pradesh Forest Department went through a major administrative shake-up this week amid scrutiny over the alarming increase in the number of dead tigers in the Bandhavgarh reserve, and public outcry fuelled partly by NDTV’s ground coverage of the wildlife crisis.

Subharanjan Sen, who was Acting Principal Chief Conservator, has been replaced amid claims the department, under his charge, had mishandled tiger conservation efforts in the state.

The decision was taken after the National Tiger Conservation Authority sought a response from the state’s Wildlife Department regarding serious concerns raised by a special investigation team.

The SIT’s report – highlighted by NDTV on August 1 – pointed red flags in the department’s handling of tiger deaths, including procedural lapses and negligence by officials.

READ | Alarming Rise In Tiger Deaths in Madhya Pradesh Reserve: Report

Vijay N Ambade, previously Deputy Director-General of Forests in Nagpur in Maharashtra, will replace Sen. The transfer order – issued by Kishore Kumar Kanyal, Deputy Secretary to the Forest Department, said it was for “administrative” reasons and will take immediate effect.

NDTV’s reportage helped shed light on the worrying increase in tiger deaths in Bandhavgarh and the Shahdol forest area between 2021 and 2023. As many as 43 tigers died in this period.

READ | Another Dead Tiger In Madhya Pradesh, With Bullets Wounds In Skull

Some of these have been linked to poaching and others to negligence by wildlife officials.

The SIT report – which NDTV has seen – said there were 34 tiger deaths in Bandhavgarh alone, with the other nine in the Shahdol area. The report also pointed out many of these were not properly investigated; postmortem procedures were conducted without the necessary oversight and, in many cases, the deaths were prematurely attributed to fighting between rival tigers.

NDTV Impact | After Tiger Deaths, Notice Issued To Bandhavgarh Deputy Director

Taking cognisance of these reports the NTCA demanded clarification from state officials.

Last week Sen wrote back, acknowledging the lapses and admitting that protocols established the NTCA, a statutory body house in the Union Environment Ministry – were not followed.

Sen’s own report claimed 30 deaths were during the tenure of other senior officials who also failed to follow established protocols. This has led to recommendations for further inquiries and possible disciplinary action against officials involved.

Meanwhile, there have been calls for a thorough review of management practices within Bandhavgarh. Ajay Dubey, a prominent wildlife activist, pointed to a “leadership crisis” within the Forest Department and emphasised the need for permanent and accountable officers.

NDTV is now available on WhatsApp channels. Click on the link to get all the latest updates from NDTV on your chat.