FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms Vol. 15 No. 201 | BHOPAL | FRIDAY | JANUARY 2, 2026 | Pages 16 ` 3 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. mpeng/2010/35815 FREE www.freepressjournal.in Sports ‘ODI format may lose relevance once Ro-Ko era winds down’ P.14 ESTD-1983 iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: BHOPAL MONEY 40 dead in Swiss bar fire during New Year party Agencies BERN Indore’s Aishni clinches Scottish Open Junior crown Our Sports Reporter INDORE/ EDINBURGH provided by the Valais Cantonal Police, there are approximately 40 deaths and 100 injuries due to the non-arson fire that occurred at the Constellation bar last night in Crans-Montana. The victims cannot be identified due to the severe burns they suffered. A collection point for family members has been set up at the Regent conference center in Crans-Montana," the statement read. However, as per Cantonal Police Commander Frederic Gisler, the bar fire had killed several dozen and left 100 fp Briefs NEW DELHI GST collection jumps 6.1% others injured, CNN reported. However, no exact number was provided. The Italian MFA further added that the Italian Ambassador to Switzerland and the Italian Consul General in Geneva are travelling to the site of the incident for assessment. According to the Valais Cantonal Police, the fire broke out on New Year's Eve at approximately 1:30 am (local time) at the "Le Constellation" bar. Significant police, fire, and rescue forces responded immediately to the scene, and a large-scale emergency operation is ongoing. 4Continued on | P8 Hindu bizman stabbed, set ablaze in Bangladesh FP Online DHAKA Rising Ind i a n squash sensation Aishni Pathak has etched her name in the record books by winning the Under-17 title at the prestigious Scottish Open Junior International Squash Championship 2025. The 16-year-old from Indore displayed grit and flair to defeat Rowan Calhoun of the United States 3-1 in a thrilling final. In yet another case of mob violence against a Hindu in Bangladesh, a 40-year-old businessman narrowly escaped death after he was beaten, stabbed and set on fire by a group of attackers. The victim, identified as Khokan Chandra, survived by jumping into a pond, though he sustained severe burn injuries. According to reports, Khokan was attacked around 9 pm on New Year’s Eve while returning home after closing his medical shop in Keurbhanga Bazar. He was intercepted by a group of people near the Tiloi area and was then brutally assaulted. The attackers allegedly stabbed Khokan multiple times with sharp weapons before dousing him with petrol and setting him ablaze. Despite the assault, he managed to escape by leaping into a nearby pond. Locals later rescued him and rushed him to Shariatpur Sadar Hospital, where doctors said his condition remains critical. Authorities have not yet EOW FIR against 4 for bank loan fraud confirmed the motive behind the attack, nor have they identified those responsible. The incident has intensified fear among Bangladesh’s Hindu minority, coming amid a spate of violent attacks following the killing of anti-India youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi. Protests over Hadi’s death have taken a strong antiIndia turn, with allegations that the accused fled to India. The latest attack occurred just a day after another Hindu man, Bajendra Biswas, was shot dead while on security duty at a garment factory in Mymensingh. According to local reports, the accused, Noman Mia, taunted Biswas before shooting him dead. 4Continued on | P8 PM calls for harmony in ’26 Agencies NEW DELHI India’s GST (goods and services tax) collection recorded a 6.1 per cent increase to Rs 1,74,550 crore in December 2025 compared to Rs 1,64,556 crore the same month of the previous year, reflecting the increase in economic activity during the month, official figures released on Thursday showed. Central GST collections rose to Rs 34,289 crore, state GST collections to Rs 41,368 crore, and integrated GST collections to Rs 98,894 crore. NEW DELHI Dense fog disrupts flights Flight operations across several parts of northern and eastern India, including Delhi, were affected on Thursday as dense fog engulfed large swathes of the region, sharply reducing visibility and prompting airlines to issue advisories for passengers. Low visibility conditions led to disruptions at multiple airports, including those in Delhi, Ranchi, Bhubaneswar and Guwahati, with airlines cautioning travellers to remain alert and check flight updates to avoid inconvenience. Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL Economic Offence Wing (EOW) has registered a case against four persons for cheating a bank by taking a loan of Rs 2.56 crore against a property that was already sold, police said on Thursday. DG EOW Upendra Jain said that Neha Tambi, proprietor of Lakshya Equipment and Engineering in Pithampur Industrial Complex, applied for a loan of Rs 1.70 crore under OCC limit in October 2020. She mortgaged a property to Canara Bank that had already been sold in 2007, mortgaged earlier to Bank of India, later classified as NPA, and seized. Despite this, the then chief manager of the bank, Pawan PRESS PUNE Kumar Jha, and the panel advocate ignored facts and gave a positive report, leading to the loan being disbursed. Neha’s husband, Manish Tambi, had taken the guarantee for loan. Once the loan amount was credited to Neha’s company account, it was diverted to Manish Tambi’s account, who runs Blue Chip Equipment and Engineering Pvt Ltd. When the bank demanded repayment, officials found no factory under Neha’s company at the registered address; instead, Blue Chip Engineering was operating there. Police have registered cases against Neha Tambi, Manish Tambi, Pawan Kumar Jha and panel advocate Vikas Kumar Verma. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday extended New Year greetings to the nation, wishing everyone an excellent 2026. In a message shared on X, the Prime Minister expressed hope that the year ahead would bring good health and prosperity to all. He said he prays for success in people's efforts and fulfilment in all that they do. The Prime Minister also prayed for peace and happiness in society, extending his best wishes for harmony and well-being as the country enters the new year. 4Continued on | P8 festive flood People crowd Marble Rocks waterfall on New Year’s Day in Jabalpur on Thursday PTI INDORE NASHIK MUMBAI E-paper Edit Jaishankar’s reset signal P.6 GST collections rise 6.1% to over `1.74 lakh cr in December 2025 CELEBRATION TURNS TRAGIC | 100 injured in non-arson fire at ‘Le Constellation’ bar in Crans-Montana, Switzerland The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) on Thursday stated that around 40 people have died and 100 others have been injured in a non-arson fire at the "Le Constellation" bar in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, citing information provided by the Valais Cantonal Police. In a statement, the Italian MFA said the victims are currently unidentifiable due to severe burns, noting that a collection point for family members has been established at the Regent Conference Centre in Crans-Montana. "According to information UJJAIN Cinema First look of Prabhas-starrer Spirit unveiled P.16 BMC water testing in hands of driver, blind assistant BHAGIRATHPURA TRAGEDY Contaminated water caused deaths: Report Our Staff Reporter INDORE Utsav Gupta BHOPAL Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) is reportedly handling water testing and monitoring with its driver collecting samples and a visually impaired lab assistant testing them, raising concern over drinking water safety for nearly 30 lakh residents. The issue comes amid growing fears after the recent tragedy in Indore. Officials said the city has 15 water treatment plants supplying water from multiple sources, yet monitoring falls on just four chemists. Routine sample collection is reportedly handled by driver Pankaj Jangde, who on Wednesday collected samples from various parts of TT Nagar and has been performing this duty for a long time. Lab assistant Ashok Vishwakarma, part of water works department, suffers from prolonged weak eyesight and is undergoing medical treatment. 4Continued on | P8 A high-level meeting was held in Indore on Thursday to review the contaminated drinking water crisis that has so far claimed 14 lives ( even as the official death toll remains at 4) and over 150 people are still undergoing treatment, triggering public outrage and judicial intervention. Meanwhile, the government on Thursday officially confirmed that contaminated drinking water caused the deaths and illnesses in Bhagirathpura. The meeting was chaired by Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) Sanjay Dubey and attended by Urban Development and Housing Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya, Water Resources Minister Tulsi Silawat, Indore Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargav, Divisional Commissioner Sudam Khade, District Collector Shivam Verma, and Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) Commissioner Dileep Kumar Yadav. The focus was on reviewing the situation in the worst-hit Bhagirathpura area, coordinating relief measures, and expediting stalled water supply works. Tender issues resolved, work to begin Addressing the media after the meeting, Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya said the delays in water supply repair works DEATH TOLL RISES TO 14 HC TO HEAR MATTER TODAY The death toll in the water contamination tragedy has now risen to 14, dealing a severe blow to Indore s image as the country s cleanest city. The latest victim has been identified as Arvind (43), son of Hiralal, a resident of Kulkarni Bhatta. Earlier, 13 deaths were reported between December 21 and 31. In a significant development, the Indore High Court has ordered free treatment for all affected patients and sought a detailed status report by January 2. . The order followed a PIL filed by the Indore High Court Bar Association, demanding clean and safe drinking water for residents. were due to procedural hurdles, which have now been cleared. Today, we resolved minor issues such as tender-related problems due to which work was hindered. The tender for the Bhagirathpura area will be cleared by tomorrow and work will commence immediately, he said. Vijayvargiya added that instructions had been issued to prioritise fixing water-related problems across the city. Two to three additional officers will be deployed from Thursday as there is a shortage of officials and the existing officers are overburdened. This will reduce their workload and ensure smoother functioning. However, despite the gravity of the situation, the meeting largely concluded with the decision to increase manpower, with no immediate announcement of accountability or timelines for repairs. Patients still arriving The minister said he had personally visited Bhagirathpura and met families affected by the outbreak. 4Continued on | P8