At least 15 persons were injured in a clash over the attempt by a group of saffron activists to enforce bandh in Neemuch town, around 240 km from here, on Tuesday. The situation was tense till the report was filed. The administration has clamped prohibitory orders in a busy market area.

The rioters freely used swords and continued to clash even after the police used tear gas shells to quell them.

Trouble started at noon when some saffron activists in suburban Baghana tried to enforce closure of shops. They were assaulted by some sword- wielding youths.

Hindu activists had called bandh to protest police action against a temple priest who was booked for murder of a member from Muslim community.

The Hindu groups were protesting police action against Trilok Pandey, priest of Madhopuri Balaji temple. He was accused of beating to death one Latif on March 12. He was arrested and sent on judicial remand.

Tension gripped the town in the afternoon when the saffron activists tried to force shopkeepers of Bagana area of Neemuch to down the shutters and faced resistance.

As two groups clashed, they pelted stones at each other and damaged goods in shops. A car was also set afire by the miscreants.

Police resorted to lathi charge to quell the mob. "Prohibitory order under Section 144 was clamped in Bagana police station area," Superintendent of Police (Neemuch) T Amongla Aiyer told DNA. The situation is under control, she said adding police force was posted in strength to prevent any flare-up.

Malwa region, particularly Indore is a major transit point for converting Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) through labour contractors, disclosed National Investigating Agency (NIA) on Monday. A two -member team of the investigating agency reached Indore on Monday to probe large-scale circulation of FICN.

NIA team will gather inputs about clandestine network in Dhar, Ujjain, Barnagar, Ratlam and Neemuch, a source said. The sources said labour contractors are known to act as conduits for FICN.  “The fake currency notes are deposited in small bank branches and fresh notes are collected through ATMs in larger cities,” he said.

The NIA team’s visit follows busting of a racket and subsequent arrests in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Bangalore around 15 days ago.

The gang members confessed to using labour contractors to get fresh and valid currency notes in cities where pace of infrastructure development is high. Cash transactions are carried out in a large number, the NIA sources said.

The breakthrough came during interrogation of Imran Manzoor and Jenab Hasan of Kairana, Muzaffarnagar. They were arrested by NIA near Chandini Chowk area in New Delhi. FICN worth `9.85 lakh were recovered from them.

The FICN with face value of `1000, `500 and `100 is smuggled into India from Pakistan using Dubai as a transit route, the NIA source said.

“The FICN was being smuggled into India by Pakistan based FICN dealer Iqbal Kana, also a resident of Kairana Tehsil. He has been operating from Pakistan for many years,” he said.
Iqbal had dispatched this FICN from Pakistan to Dubai and from Dubai Mohd Ashraf, a close associate of Iqbal, sent the consignment to another associate in Bangalore.

The Bangalore operative then forwarded the FICN to the arrested accused, who are members of Iqbal Kana’s core group in India, for further circulation.

“Local agents collect 60% of the value of FICN circulated from the circulators in genuine notes. As per deal, the genuine currency is then remitted to the bank accounts of the key persons by depositing amounts to the maximum of 49,000 to avoid being detected as suspicious transactions,” the NIA document says.

Indore will be decked up to impress potential investors who will attend the proposed three-day Global Investors’ Summit slated to begin from October 28 this year.

Around 1,000 delegates from India and abroad are expected to be a part of this conclave. This is second global meet in Indore after 2007.

A high-level review meeting to take stock of the preparations of the proposed summit decided to give a facelift to the city ahead of the mega event.

Significantly, the state plans to only reinforce brand Madhya Pradesh. It is not inclined to focus much on inking MoUs as the experience in this regard has not been very encouraging.

State’s industry minister Kailash Vijayvergiya, who chaired the meeting, issued directives to IMC officers to make arrangements for sprucing up roads and other cleanliness exercises.

He also instructed for monthly review of the preparations. Three prospective venues were visited by top officials on Monday to identify one for the summit, said AKVN chief general manager HR Mujalde. The minister will discuss city makeover plan ahead of the summit with divisional commissioner Prabhat Parashar and other top officials of various agencies.

The minister also directed for formation of various sub-committees to supervise various event related issues and programmes.

The Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) is soon going to start construction of a flyover connecting densely- populated localities with a major part of the city. It will benefit thousands of residents in localities between Bengali Square and Kanadia bypass intersection.

According to IMC, PWD, in-charge, Jawahar Mangwani, the fly over will be constructed at the cost of `33 crore and it will start from Telephone Nagar to Malhar Rao Holkar statue. With construction of this flyover, residents of around 12 posh colonies including Bijali Nagar, Sanchar Nagar Main and extension, Vaibhav Nagar, Manavta Nagar, Alok Nagar, Morya Residency will be benefited. Traffic jam is the order of the day at Bengali Square as it is the only way to go to bypass.

A large number of industrialists from Saket Nagar use this way to reach Dewas in absence of an alternative route in this area. One arm of the bridge will lead to Kanadia while the other will be diverted towards Bicholi Happsi. It will be spread in around 1.5 km stretch.

Last year, two bridges were inaugurated at Banganga over bridge and Bhandari. Work on Banganga bridge was started in 2009 and was completed in 2011. These two bridges were, however, delayed by two years. Works at Kesar Bagh railway over bridge and Panchkua bridge are going at a slow pace.

While Mangwani claims that within two months the work at Panchkua bridge will be completed. However, there is no sigh of completion at the Kesar bagh over bridge, as the houses are proving as a major hurdle in its way.

Residents of this locality are not ready to shift at other places and Indore Development Authority is trying to remove the hurdle.

The Indian Institute of Management, Indore (IIM-I) will hike annual fees by Rs 50,000 from this year. IIM-Indore director N Ravichandran told DNA that the fee structure of the institute is being revised after three years.

“Presently, the annual fee is Rs 6 lakh per annum, which is being revised upward to Rs 6.5 lakh per annum,” he said.
After revision of the fees structure, total fees of the two- year programme will be Rs 13 lakh.

However, special waiver will be offered to deserving students from economically weaker families.

“The concession for students from economically weaker backgrounds is always there and will continue “said Ravichandran. The IIM-I also has plans to launch some new courses.

“We will come out with a plan regarding new courses probably in June,” he said. The institute had increased intake of students in the (2010-2012) batch 250 to 450.

450 students realise their IIM dreams

The convocation ceremony of the IIM-I on Saturday saw 450 students of three different courses being awarded degrees and conferred with titles of ‘Fellow of Indian Institute of Management Indore’.

The 13th passing out batch of the institute followed more than a decade old tradition of walking down the hallowed precincts of the Institute toward the convocation lawn along with the chief guest, board members and other faculty members of the institute.

Five FPM participants were conferred title of Fellow of IIM Indore, 433 PGP were conferred the Post Graduate Diploma in Management and 39 EPGP participants were conferred the Executive Post Graduate Diploma in Management during the convocation. IIM-I chairman LN Jhunjhunwala presented the titles and diplomas to the students.
Infosys chairman KL Kamath, who was the chief guest, awarded the medals for Academic Excellence to the students.

Addressing students, Kamath spoke about the exciting future that awaited the graduating class in the growing India. He observed that young leaders in an interconnected world must be sensitive to the priorities that need to be in focus for India’s potential to translate to reality.

IIM-I director congratulated the students and emphasised to the graduating batch, the significance of managing oneself in the personal and professional life. He advised the students to perform their duties with the highest level of integrity and passion.

While electrification on Indore-Ujjain route has been completed and trains plying on the route will be operated by electric engines by second week of April, those on Dewas-Maksi route will have to do with diesel engines as electrification work on the route is yet to be completed.

The trains include Indore-Bhopal intercity, Panchvalley Express, Indore-Maksi Passenger, Nagpur Express, Amritsar Express, Indore-Kota Intercity, Indore Jabalpur-Intercity and Indore Jabalpur overnight Express.

On Friday, tests were carried out on Indore- Ujjain line. Head of railway electrification, MP Singh, along with deputy chief electric engineer Sanjay Kumar, inspected cabling work done from Manglia to Indore. Sources said that a report has been submitted to Western Railway headquarters in Mumbai and once a go ahead is received, the electric line would be made operational. Sources further said that all work and testing had been completed successfully and permission from the headquarters is a mere formality.

The indefinite strike of the Sarafa traders entered 16th day on Thursday. The market continued to wear a deserted look.

A group of traders have persisted with the hunger strike for third day even as a traders’ delegation called on Congress spokesperson Anil Shahstri and briefed him about their demands.

Traders are claiming that the strike has completely crippled trading in the city. The jewellery market has suffered a loss of more than Rs 30 crore till date.

Jewellers across the country are protesting the Centre’s decision of levying excise duty on non-branded jewellery announced in the general budget.

Sarafa associations president Mukund Soni said that the traders continued hunger strike for the third day and no trading took place in the market. The jewellers urged the government to roll back the imposition of taxes and excise duties in the gems and jewellery sector. Soni affirmed that the strike would continue till the excise duty is rolled back. Sarafa chaupati traders also have extended support to the agitating traders. They kept their street side establishment closed on Thursday.

This is perhaps for the first time that Sarafa market has remained closed for such a long period.

Apart from the city, the market also attracts buyers from the region. Earlier, jewellers also organised a peace candle march to protest the union government’s decision.

Lokayukta Special Police Establishment (SPE) sleuths on Wednesday detected assets worth Rs 2.5 crore in a raid at house of a Patwari.

During the raid the team discovered Laxmi Narayan Yadav’s two houses in Hathod and Ambikapuri. He was booked him under Prevention of Corruption Act, SP Virendra Singh said.

The raid revealed two houses in Indore, a JCB machine valued at Rs 20 lakh, two cars, Rs 11 lakh cash, gold and silver ornaments worth Rs 10 lakh, insurance policies of Rs 80,000 and nearly 30 bigha agricultural land in Balkakri near Indore, the SP said. Investigation was still on.

CHL Apollo Hospital witnessed chaotic situation on Wednesday evening after a woman died and her relatives accused the doctors of negligence.

Jyoti was admitted in the hospital for 12 days with complaints of kidney failure. The condition of the 38-year-old woman was improving but she suddenly fell back to deterioration after the doctors changed the medicines.

Dilip Jain, a relative of Jyoti, said Dr Pradeep Salge was supervising her treatment and contemplated shifting her from the ICU to general ward. However, after changing her medicines, her health worsened significantly and she was kept on ventilator.

Jain also alleges that the doctors did not inform them of the death immediately.

The angry relatives of Jyoti broke glasses at the reception and created havoc in the hospital campus. Jyoti’s husband Pradeep alleges that the doctors did not even visit her and gave directions over telephone.

Meanwhile, the doctors have claimed that the medicines were not changed and the patient was being attended well.

City schools have said the order issued by the district administration warning them not to compel parents and students to purchase uniforms and books from particular shops does not hold much ground.

Schools and their respective Parent Teacher’s Association claimed that there is no such rule existing in their school, that forces students to purchase uniforms and books from any particular shop.

“I have been a member of the PTA for the last three years. There has been no such rule in place in all these years. Students as well as their parents are free to purchase essential items from any shop they want. We have not received any information about the administration’s rule either,” said Saint Paul School PTA member Anil Gohar.

Another PTA member of SICA School said that the school in its history has never asked students to purchase items from one particular store. “This is not practiced in SICA School. In fact, I have not even heard other schools doing so. Schools suggest when parents seek advice from them,” said representative of SICA School PTA.

Sri Satya Sai Vidya Vihar PTA member Ankita Jain said since there is only one outlet where the school’s uniform is available, the PTA has demanded the management to increase the number of shops. “Presently Sugani Dresses is the only shop where the uniforms are available, so parents don’t have any other option, but it’s still not a compulsion,” she said.

The administration has threatened the schools of taking action under section 144 against those found indulging in this practice.

Billabong High International School principal Shyam Agrawal said “Not only our, but I believe that none of the city schools has made it compulsory to purchase stationery and other educational items from any particular store. We do recommend them so that uniformity is maintained, but not force them," he said.

State health department has effected a minor change in the schedule of the ambitious pulse polio programme. The programme, which was scheduled to be held on April 1 earlier, has been postponed to April 15, 2012 now.

Dr Sharad Pandit, chief medical and health officer said, "Due to certain circumstantial changes, there is a slight change in the schedule of the programme. It is a request that parents should visit polio booths to get the polio drops for their children."

INDORE: Three members of a family along with the driver died in a road accident in Ujjain when their vehicle collided head-on with a tanker in the intervening night of Sunday and Monday.

The deceased were identified as Sachin Shukla, 45, wife Sharmila Shukla, 40, their son Yash Shukla, 15, and driver Hemant, 23, son of Kishan lal. Eight-year-old son of Sachin, Mohak was battling for life in Gokuldas hospital. While the driver was the resident of Kumharkhedi, Shukla family members stayed at Avantika Nagar. Sachin's brother Ashwin Shukla is a BJP corporator from ward number 18.

The accident took place in Chikali village of Ujjain district. Ingoria police inspector Dinesh Singh Rathore said the family was returning from Pawagarh in a four-wheeler (MP 09 CG 3350) when a tanker (GJ 06 VV 9790) coming from the opposite direction collided with its vehicle. Three of them including Shukla couple and the driver died on the spot, while Yash died in the hospital.

Police said that the tanker which crushed the four-wheeler under its wheels was being driven at a reckless speed when the accident took place. The driver escaped from the spot. Police impounded the tanker and were trying to find out the details of the owner.

Rathore said that villagers informed the police about the accident and it took almost half-an-hour to remove the bodies from the mangled vehicle. A JCB machine had to be pressed into service to remove the dead and the injured.

Family members said Sachin was posted at the office of labour commissioner while his wife was running a private clinic. It is said that Sachin Shukla had a narrow escape about one and half year ago when he was fired at near Mahesh Guard line. The incident meanwhile sent shockwaves among the residents of Avantika Nagar and neighbours were seen consoling the family members of the deceased since morning.

INDORE: Thanks to their swift action, police managed to arrest four people who were trying to escape after looting two men on Monday night. The accused posed themselves as cops.

The incident took place at around 2 am near Lal Bagicha falling under MIG Police. Prakash Chauhan and his friend Mahesh were walking towards home after providing dinner to a relative admitted in MY Hospital.

While they were crossing a bridge near Lal Bagicha, four people claiming themselves to be cops intercepted them for checking. They allegedly beat the victims and forced them to get into the mini bus (MP09 FA 3593) parked on the roadside. They also looted Rs 600 from Prakash and Rs 255 from Mahesh besides snatching their cell phones.

The victims were freed a few metres away. Wasting no time, they reached MIG police station and informed the cops about the entire incident.

All patrolling teams were subsequently informed and they managed to catch the four accused within half an hour of the incident.

The accused were identified as Sumit, Ganesh, Manoj and Ravindra.Police impounded the mini bus used for the crime. The stolen money and the cell phones were also recovered. The accused were booked under section 394 of IPC and interrogation was on to find out if they were involved in other crimes as well.

Indore: Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) and Indore Development Authority (IDA) are now facing problems of funding for activities under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).

New Delhi-based government agencies have delayed releasing funds to the tune of Rs 93 crore meant for these activities in the city.

The cash strapped agencies are now planning to request the state government for special grants.

This is being taken up on a priority basis as phase-I of JNNURM ends in 2014 and if funds are not released by then, they would lapse automatically.

A concerned mayor Krishnamurari Moghe said, “”By the time the government sanctions projects under JNNURM, the budget will shoot up. This will hit the economic condition of civic bodies.”

Moghe also advocated for more powers to civic bodies so that they could appoint consultants and experts for quality maintenance works.

“Delay in appointment of consultants for important projects leads to escalation in budget,” he added.

Indore: The proposed Indore-Manmad rail link which is embroiled in a legal tangle is in for another twist with the petitioner planning to make the Planning Commission of India a party.

Head of the Railway Action Committee Manoj Marathe said he had filed a PIL in the Indore bench of MP high court on the issue on March 28 last year and the court served notices on seven parties including the state government and the Railway Board.

Marathe alleged that officer in charge appointed in the matter offered forged reply and termed the project having a rate of return of 10.30% whereas the project carried the rate of return of more than 14%, considering social, economical and other benefits. The petitioner claimed that the initial cost of the project was Rs 1500 crore assessed in 2009 and surged to Rs 1750 crore. Later, Maharashtra government agreed to pay its share for this partnership based project.

The MP government offered land and labour cost. The project was sent to the Planning Commission of India for approval in the railway budget 2012-13.

Marathe argued that country’s only 5 rail projects out of total 122 carry the rate of return more than 14%, so this profitable rail link should not be overlooked. He has sent copies of the information to the chief ministers of MP and Maharashtra.

Indore: Miscreants involved in setting parked vehicles on fire in city appear to have become active once again. On the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday, they set afire a jeep in Heera Nagar area.

The incident occurred around 2.30 am in Bajrang Nagar. On hearing a commotion, residents of the area rushed out of their houses and found a jeep parked outside house of Mahendra Singh Jadaun engulfed in flames. They immediately started pouring water on the vehicle to douse the blaze. After sometime, cops from Pardeshipura and Heera Nagar police stations also arrived.

The owner of the jeep, Jadaun, claimed that fuel tank of the jeep was full and had the flames spread to that part of the vehicle, it could have turned dangerous. He rued that he had spent a big amount to renovate the jeep just a couple of weeks ago. Claiming that he had no enmity with any person, Jadaun suspected it to be a handiwork of miscreants who wanted to create panic in the area.

The incident once again exposed laxity of the cops in the area. A regular night patrol in the area would have definitely led to the arrest of miscreants, claimed the residents.

A gang of miscreants involved in setting the parked vehicles ablaze and smashing windscreens of the vehicles had created panic among citizens during last some months.

In December last year, miscreants had torched a dozen two-wheelers in three adjacent localities of Shani Gali, Vyasfala and Chandrabhaga under Raoji Bazaar police station area.

Besides, many incidents were reported at posh localities including Saket, Old Palasia and Tukoganj area where miscreants had smashed windscreens of cars parked outside sprawling bungalows. Ironically, barring arrest of four hooligans in Pardeshipura area, no clue about the miscreants involved in other incidents has been found.

Indore: Miscreants involved in setting parked vehicles on fire in city appear to have become active once again. On the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday, they set afire a jeep in Heera Nagar area.

The incident occurred around 2.30 am in Bajrang Nagar. On hearing a commotion, residents of the area rushed out of their houses and found a jeep parked outside house of Mahendra Singh Jadaun engulfed in flames. They immediately started pouring water on the vehicle to douse the blaze. After sometime, cops from Pardeshipura and Heera Nagar police stations also arrived.

The owner of the jeep, Jadaun, claimed that fuel tank of the jeep was full and had the flames spread to that part of the vehicle, it could have turned dangerous. He rued that he had spent a big amount to renovate the jeep just a couple of weeks ago. Claiming that he had no enmity with any person, Jadaun suspected it to be a handiwork of miscreants who wanted to create panic in the area.

The incident once again exposed laxity of the cops in the area. A regular night patrol in the area would have definitely led to the arrest of miscreants, claimed the residents.

A gang of miscreants involved in setting the parked vehicles ablaze and smashing windscreens of the vehicles had created panic among citizens during last some months.

In December last year, miscreants had torched a dozen two-wheelers in three adjacent localities of Shani Gali, Vyasfala and Chandrabhaga under Raoji Bazaar police station area.

Besides, many incidents were reported at posh localities including Saket, Old Palasia and Tukoganj area where miscreants had smashed windscreens of cars parked outside sprawling bungalows. Ironically, barring arrest of four hooligans in Pardeshipura area, no clue about the miscreants involved in other incidents has been found.

Indore: Renowned scientist and former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam will be in Indore on March 26. He will address students of Holkar Science College and deliver lectures on the latest developments in science and technology. Holkar College principal Dr S L Garg said, “He has confirmed he is coming on March 26.”

It will be for the first time Kalam will be coming to the college. It is claimed this is for the first time he will visit a government science college of the state. Earlier, Dr Kalam was supposed to be gracing the diamond jubilee celebration of the institute.

As Kalam had other commitments, the trip was cancelled. Holkar College will seek to become a science deemed university of the country during the visit. The college management has written to the CMalso. The college is starting three M Phil courses in microbiology, statistics and physics soon.