Vyapam scam: Police to reopen MBBS student death case

Namrata's case has come back in focus after the sudden death of TV journalist Akshay Singh in Jhabua district's Meghnagar town recently after he interviewed Namrata's father.

Ujjain District's Superintendent of Police Manohar Singh Varma today said, "We have ordered a review of the death of Namrata Damor. Sub Divisional Officer of Police (SDOP), Tarana, RK Sharma will reopen the case."

Namrata's body was found under mysterious conditions near the railway tracks on January 7, 2012. Earlier, the police had registered a 'murder' case in this regard and later termed the incident as an 'accident' and closed the case, a police official said.

Namrata was studying at the Government MGM Medical College in Indore and it was suspected that she took admission with the help of the racket involved in the high-profile Vyapam scam that is said to have claimed 45 lives.

Buckling under pressure, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had yesterday made a U-turn and decided to seek an investigation into the murky Vyapam scam by CBI on a day the Supreme Court agreed to hear petitions in this regard.

Following Chouhan's announcement at a press conference, the state government moved the Madhya Pradesh High Court seeking its direction for institution of a CBI probe into the massive admission and recruitment scam.

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Shivraj Singh Chouhan observes fast against Central 'apathy' to farmers woes

The four-hour fast was part of the statewide bandh call till 2 pm, given by the BJP in protest against Centre's "indifferent" attitude towards farmers hit by unseasonal rains and hailstorm in parts of the state recently.

Chouhan appealed to Centre to provide a special package of Rs 5,000 crore for Madhya Pradesh to deal with the crisis. "Our entire Cabinet would go to Delhi to apprise the Union government about the current situation," the Chief Minister said in his address.

   

"We have already earmarked Rs 2000 crore for providing relief to farmers and this is just the beginning...We will take all possible measures to provide aid to affected farmers," Chouhan said, adding that various organizations and people have donated Rs 7.42 crore for the cause of farmers during the sit-in protest held at a ground near New Market are.

   

Chouhan said even as the Centre cold-shouldered farmers, people of Madhya Pradesh stood behind them in the hour of crisis.

   

On the occasion, he demanded to constitute a permanent National Disaster Relief Fund to deal with such crises and also appealed to people to donate generously in the Chief Minister's disaster relief fund.

Chouhan also hit out at opposition Congress for describing his visit to the affected villages as "Ola paryatan" (hail tourism) and alleged that Congress leaders were insensitive towards the plight of farmers.

   

He also asked Centre to "rationalize" the current crop insurance scheme by making it more practical so that farmers get actual damage caused to their crop.

Chouhan also criticized Centre for not providing any relief to the loss caused to soybean crops, not purchasing gram crop on minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 3100 per quintal and also not recognizing Madhya Pradesh as basmati rice producing region.

Chouhan alleged the Centre was doing so at the behest of Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) and also because of Pakistan's opposition to the move.

   

"APEDA has joined hands with Pakistan for doing injustice to the farmers of Madhya Pradesh," he alleged.

Cabinet Ministers including Kailash Vijaywargiya, Jayant Mallaiya, Uma Shankar Gupta and Babulal Gaur also observed fast.

   

Meanwhile, the state unit media incharge of BJP, Hitesh Bajpai claimed the shutdown as totally successful and peaceful in the entire state.

   

On Wednesday, state unit BJP chief Narendra Singh Tomar had said, "When Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had no time to meet the MP Chief Minister during his last visit to Delhi on the issue of farmers despite the fact that he was present in the national capital, the BJP is left with no option except to resort to protest."

(Agencies)

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Madhya Pradesh: Seven killed, 25 injured as car collides with bus

The accident took place near Barehgaon, about 20 kms from Morena, when relatives of former corporator were returning in a car after attending a marriage function at Porsa.

   

The deceased included four children and two women travelling in the car, and a bus passenger.

   

Those killed in the mishap have been identified as - Kanchhi, Rudrapratap, Nidhi and Golu (all children in the age group of 8-10 years), Neetu, Sonali and bus passenger Rajat.

   

The post-mortem of the bodies was conducted following which they were handed over to their kin, the police said, adding that a case has been registered in connection with the mishap.

(Agencies)

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