FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms FREE PRESS VOL. 13 NO. 316 | BHOPAL | SUNDAY | APRIL 28, 2024 | PAGES 16 r Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2021-2023; `4 r RNI No. mpeng/2010/35815 QUALITY AT VALUE www.freepressjournal.in - READER'S CORNER MCGURK ROCKS MUMBAI INDIANS SPORTS BEAT THE HEAT WEATHER EDITIONS: INDORE, BHOPAL, UJJAIN, MUMBAI, PUNE 34.30c. 24.00c Sunrise : 05.57 Sunset : 06.52 BOLD RE-ENTRY AS ONSCREEN MOM CINEMA INDORI LIONS' ROARS ECHO NATIONWIDE A Symbol of Majesty and Revenue in Nine Zoos ARSH RAFIK VISAAL Indore NEWS BRIEF Elephant kills two forest guards Assam Tezpur: Three persons, including two forest guards, were killed and another person was injured in an attack by a wild elephant in Assam's Sonitpur district on Saturday, a forest official said. A wild elephant strayed into Dhirai Majuli village from nearby Dhekiajuli forest and trampled three persons to death on the spot and injured another employee of the forest department, when the forest personnel were patrolling the area, West Tezpur Divisional Forest Officer Nipen Kalita said. Resounding roars of the majestic Indori Lions have transcended the boundaries of Kamla Nehru Prani Sanghralaya, making their presence felt in nine zoological parks across the nation. Beyond being a captivating sight for visitors, these regal beasts have become a vital source of revenue for zoos in nine diverse cities. Their commanding presence not only enthrals spectators but also con- CONG CANDIDATE FROM AMETHI, RAE-BARELI Wait for few more days, says Kharge 2 Maoists arrested in Jharkhand MEDININAGAR: Two Maoists were arrested following a joint operation by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Jharkhand Police in Palamu district, officials said on Saturday. Four countrymade guns and explosives were recovered from them, police added. Palamu SP Reeshma Ramesan said the duo was arrested from different villages under Husainabad police station area on Friday evening. The Maoists were identified as Rajendra Bhuiyan (34) and Vishnu Viswakarma (31), she said. Man ends life alleges police harassment JAMMU: A 47-year-old man allegedly committed suicide here, officials said on Saturday, as a purported video of the deceased and a suicide note accused police of harassment. The concerned station house officer (SHO) was attached and an inquiry was ordered into the incident. Rajesh Kumar was found hanging from a ceiling fan at his Janipur residence in the city late on Friday evening, the officials said. ED arrests man for money laundering NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate on Saturday arrested a man from Uttarakhand in a money laundering case linked to dark web-assisted international drugs trafficking, official sources said. The agency's action came after US antinarcotics authorities sought India's assistance to unearth the racket. Parvinder Singh was taken into custody by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) from Haldwani city, the sources said. The federal anti-money laundering agency had raided Singh's premises on Friday and arrested him after a brief round of questioning, they said. tributes significantly to the financial sustainability of these institutions, adding a touch of grandeur and allure to the zoological landscape nationwide. This is in stark contrast to a time in the past when Indore zoo went without a lion for almost three years following the death of 21year-old Akbar in December 2009 due to paralysis and bedsores. “Roars of the majestic animals returned to the zoo in Novemeber 2013 after a pair of Akash and GUWAHATI Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday said that the names of party candidates for the prestigious Amethi and Rae Bareli seats in Uttar Pradesh will be announced in a "few days". Addressing a press conference here, he claimed that though the BJP says the corrupt must be put in jails, when leaders facing corruption charges join the saffron party, they are "put on the lap" and sent to Rajya Sabha or assembly . He also took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that the latter's "words have lost credibility", while also accusing him of trying to polarise the country . 60-yr-old wins Miss Universe Buenos Aires title WASHINGTON Alejandra Rodriguez, a 60year-old lawyer and journalist hailing from La Plata, Argentina, has etched her name in history by clinching the coveted title of Miss Universe Buenos Aires. This remarkable feat marks a paradigm shift in the realm of beauty pageants, as Rodriguez becomes the first contestant of her age bracket to secure the esteemed crown, reported People magazine. Defying conventional beauty norms, Rodriguez emerged triumphant among 34 competitors spanning a wide age range from 18 to 73. Her victory not only symbolizes personal accomplishment but also embodies a broader message of inclusivity and diversity within the beauty pageant circuit. "You have to wait for a few more days... when the names of candidates come from people to me and I sign the notification, it will be announced," he said when asked about candidates for Amethi and Rae Bareli Lok Sabha constituencies. "Those questioning Congress leaders for changing constituencies must also tell me how many times have (Atal Bihari) Vajpayee and (Lal Krishna) Advani changed their seats," Kharge said, when asked about the BJP criticising Rahul Gandhi for fighting the elections from Kerala's Wayanad instead of Amethi. "There was a demand from the people of Wayanad and he went there. Leaders have to go as demanded by the people," he said on Gandhi contesting from Kerala. Hitting out at the Prime Minister, Kharge alleged, "Modi is trying to intimidate everyone, with either CBI or ED or something else." CONTD. ON P7 Megha were brought from Kanan Pendari Zoo Bilaspur,” said zoo education Chinese ‘spy’ ship docks in Maldives again MALE officer Nihar Parulekar said. In the next decade, NEW DELHI Chinese marine research vessel Xiang Yang Hong 3 has returned in Maldivian waters, marking its second visit to the archipelago nation within two months after Pro-China Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu's ruling People's National Congress (PNC) has won the Parliamentary elections, as reported by Adhadhu news on Friday. It is pertinent to note that Defense Minister Ghassan Maumoon last month told the Maldivian Parliament that the Chinese vessel would not conduct any research despite sailing inside and near Maldivian waters. "There was no permission given to conduct any research in the Maldives territory. CONTD. ON P7 Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been asked to continue a low dose of insulin by a fivemember medical board set up on the direction of the Delhi court. The decision was taken after a review by the board, which consists of an endocrinologist and a diabetologist. After their virtual-conference, the board ruled that Kejriwal is healthy and does not need to change the dose of medicines being administered. The next review meeting will be held after seven days. The first dose of insulin was given to Kejriwal on Monday evening when his sugar level had spiked up to 217. The medical board, constituted the next day, advised the continuation of the dosage for five days. He is getting a low dose of insulin twice a day, before lunch and dinner, daily, Party seems to be unable to reach the target for increasing 370 votes in each constituency SLIGHT RISE IN POLL PERCENTAGE BHOPAL: There has been a marginal rise in polling percentage of second phase of Lok Sabha election. Till 6 pm on Friday, polling percentage was 58.35 %, while on Saturday, it increased to 58.59 %. OUR STAFF REPORTER Bhopal Candidates begin efforts for next phase The candidates, trying their luck in the third phase, have also swung into action to raise voting percentage. They have set up control rooms so that voters do not have any problem. the election in-charge Mahendra Singh, too. Seventeen constituencies are yet to go to polls. The state BJP leaders have been told to make a strategy for it. The party has been asked to activate the booth workers. The polling percentage did not reach the figure of 2019 Lok Sabha election in any of Around 3500 marriages were solemnized in those parliamentary constituencies where polling took place in the second phase of Lok Sabha election and this factor affected the polling percentage adversely . Extreme heat is another major reason for the low voting percentage. These two things came to the fore in the informal information collected by the officials of Election Commission. One of the senior officers of Election Commission said that when a marriage takes place then at least 200 people go to attend it. The marriage factor has taken a huge toll on voting in the second phase of general election. Looking at the tepid response of voters, authorities are planning to take special steps to ensure Direction to collectors C hief Electoral Officer Anupam Rajan instructed collectors that they should organise “Chale Booth Ki Aur” programme at every polling station to ensure a better voting percentage in the next two phases. This campaign will be conducted on May 1 for third phase election and on May 7 in fourth phase. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee lost her balance and fell while boarding a helicopter in Durgapur in Paschim Bardhaman district on Saturday afternoon. She was on the way to Kulti for an election rally when the incident happened. "The CM fell inside the helicopter after losing her balance while she was trying to sit. She is fine," a senior officer, who was accompanying Banerjee, told PTI. Following the incident, she flew to Kulti and addressed a rally in support of TMC's Asansol candidate Shatrughan Sinha. the 12 seats for which election has so far been held. In the 2019 Lok Sabha election, the BJP leaders won with heavy margins. In the constituencies, where the voting percentage was low, the contest between the Congress and the ruling party seems to be on an equal footing. CONTD. ON P7 ‘ED most highhanded’ Sunita Kejriwal, wife of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, holds a roadshow in support of AAPs East Delhi candidate Kuldeep Kumar at Kalyan Puri area in New Delhi on Saturday and this will continue till the next review meeting. "Kejriwal's health is being monitored by doctors of Tihar and he is being provided home-cooked food and other medicines prescribed by his doctors," an official of Tihar jail said. Sources said the Aam Aadmi Party leader - in jail since the Enforcement Directorate arrested him on March 21 in the alleged voting percentage increases in the third and fourth phases. “We are thinking of announcing to encourage the people to come out of their homes and vote. We will even take the help of garbage trucks to make these announcements,” an EC official said. Moreover, he added, that officials deployed on poll duty will be asked to assess the voting situation after noon, and if Delhi liquor scam case wrote a note to Tihar Jail's Superintendent after the prison arranged a video conference with doctors from the central government-run All India Institute of Medical Sciences. After the meeting jail officials claimed the supply of insulin had not been raised. Kejriwal, though, has a different take on the matter. According to Kejriwal, the NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday told the Supreme Court that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has acted in a "most highhanded manner" in a money-laundering case stemming from the alleged excise policy scam. In a rejoinder to the ED's reply affidavit filed on his petition challenging his arrest in the case, Kejriwal said he has always cooperated with the investigation. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader said the ED, in its reply affidavit filed in the apex court, has said that one of the reasons which necessitated his arrest was that he did not remain present before the investigating officer (IO) despite being summoned nine times. sugar level readings are between 250 and 320 mg/dl. "Almost every day I demanded , insulin. CONTD. ON P7 Business shutdown in Nagaland KOHIMA Markets were shut and private offices were closed as an indefinite shutdown of business establishments began in Nagaland on Saturday to protest against extortion by underground groups. The shutdown was first observed in the state's commercial capital Dimapur on Friday, following which the other districts joined on a call given by the Confederation of Nagaland Chamber of Commerce & Industries (CNCCI). The CNCI said harassment of the business community over extortion cannot be tolerated any further. It urged the government to take immediate steps to stop the "unabated" extortions, intimidations and summons by the underground groups. 3,500 marriages pull down voting percentage in 2nd phase OUR STAFF REPORTER city.bhopal@fpj.co.in males and two female with Green Zoological Garden Jamnagar; one male and one female with Binkadkatti Zoo Gadag Karnataka; two female with Nandankanan Zoological Park Orissa; two male with Bhiwani Zoo Haryana and with Bhopal, Jaipur and Pune,” said Dr Yadav. He attributed the success story of lion breeding to availability of free space in Indore zoo along with mineral supplements, proper nutritional diets, proper care and attention. KOLKATA ‘Kejriwal healthy, needs to take insulin twice a day’ BJP leaders worried over low voting percentage The BJP leaders are under pressure after the low turnout of voters in the second phase of the polling on Friday . Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked the BJP leaders to increase 370 votes in each booth. It does not seem to be possible for the BJP to hit the bull's-eye because of low turnout of voters in the first two phases of polling. The BJP's central leaders wanted a report from the state leadership for the low turnout of voters. They sought information from Indore zoo witnessed a rise in number of lions owing to internal breeding. Zoo incharge Dr Uttam Yadav said, “Akash and Megha gave birth to 18 to 20 cubs. The pair and their descendants are still present in the zoo.” “So far around 30 lions and lioness have been born and brought up in Indore zoo so far. This has enabled us to bring new animals through exchange programme,” said Dr Yadav. “We have exchanged two male lions with Chhat Bir Zoo in Chandigarh; three Mamata stumbles they feel that voting percentage is not satisfactory then they will take steps to mobilize the voters. Meanwhile, the political parties are also making plans on how to ensure that the voters go to the polling station to vote. While heat was a major factor in the low voter turnout in the first two phases, what is more worrisome is that it would be hotter during the third and fourth phases of polling. IAF chopper battles U’khand forest fire DEHRADUN An IAF helicopter was pressed into service to extinguish the raging forest fires in Uttarakhand's Nainital district on Saturday a day after the flames , reached the High Court Colony in the Pines area. The blaze came dangerously close to the houses in the colony and an Army cantonment around five kilometres away from the Pines, prompting the response by authorities. The Indian Air Force said a Mi-17 V5 helicopter was deployed to assist in the firefighting operations. "With a forest fire building up in vicinity of an Air Force Station near Nainital, #IAF activated its aerial fire fighting capability em, ploying a Mi-17 V5 helicopter for undertaking Bambi Bucket Ops," it posted on 'X'. Forest officials said the helicopter collected water from the Naini and Bhimtal lakes in a Bambi bucket and poured it over the burning IAF chopper drawing water from Bhimtal Lake forests of the Pines, Bhumiadhar, Jyolikot, Narayan Nagar, Bhawali, Ramgarh and Mukteshwar areas. The bucket can hold up to 5,000 litres of water at a time. Boating activities were briefly suspended in Naini Lake due to its low water level, but in Bhimtal Lake, it has been stopped for now, an official said. CONTD. ON P7