Madhya Pradesh has seen a string of major and troubling developments today. In the pilgrim town of Omkareshwar in Khandwa district, three separate drowning incidents unfolded in the Narmada river within just 24 hours, claiming one young man's life. In Ujjain, grief has spread across a Navodaya Vidyalaya campus after one of two missing minor students was found dead in a pond. Separately, the Supreme Court hearing on accused Sonam's bail in the Raja Raghuvanshi murder case has been postponed once again, and Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav has taken aim at the Congress over the Uniform Civil Code. Ratlam, Jabalpur and Indore have also thrown up significant stories. Here is a full roundup of the day's biggest news from Madhya Pradesh.
Three drowning incidents in Omkareshwar's Narmada river, one pilgrim dead
The pilgrim town of Omkareshwar in Khandwa district is once again facing questions over its safety arrangements after three drowning incidents were reported in the Narmada river within a single day. A young man who had travelled from Piparia in Narmadapuram district with eight friends for darshan drowned at Brahmapuri Ghat. Chaos broke out at the ghat immediately after the incident. Around the same time, two more incidents unfolded at Kevalram Ghat, where a woman devotee from Delhi and a father and son from Ujjain got stuck in deep water. Boatman Mukesh Verma and his companions, who were present at the spot, acted swiftly and pulled all three of them out safely. Verma explained that the riverbed opposite Kevalram Ghat has several deep pits, and pilgrims arriving from outside are usually unaware of them, which causes them to unknowingly wade into deep water and become victims of such accidents.
One of two missing Navodaya Vidyalaya students found dead in Ujjain
Two minor students went missing the previous evening from the Kendriya Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya located in Ghattiya, Ujjain district. The missing students were Roshan Baretha (14), a class 9 student, and Pragyan Vimal (15), a class 10 student. School staff and fellow students searched extensively but could not locate them, after which the Ghattiya police station was informed. Police swung into action, checking nearby CCTV cameras and questioning the boys' friends, but there was no trace of either student well into the night. The next morning, police received information that a student's body was floating in a small pond adjoining the school's boundary. Station in-charge Karan Khowal, sub-inspector Pravesh Jatav and a police team rushed to the spot and, with the help of villagers, pulled out the body, which was identified as that of Pragyan Vimal. The body has been sent to the district hospital for a post-mortem. The second student, Roshan Baretha, remains missing, and a search is underway to locate him.
Raja Raghuvanshi murder case: Supreme Court hearing on Sonam's bail postponed again
The bail matter of Sonam Raghuvanshi, the accused in the widely followed Raja Raghuvanshi murder case, has once again been postponed by the Supreme Court. The Meghalaya government has filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking cancellation of the bail granted to Sonam, and today's hearing was meant to take up that plea. However, ever since the first hearing, the case's date has repeatedly been pushed forward. The matter will now be heard on 17 July. Sources indicate that the Supreme Court could deliver a significant ruling on that date. For now, Raja's family continues to wait for the Supreme Court's decision.
CM Mohan Yadav's remarks on the UCC take aim at Congress
Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav made a pointed statement on the Uniform Civil Code, or UCC, while speaking in Bhopal. He said that the committee handed over its UCC report just a day earlier, and that Congress must now clarify its stance on the issue. Whether it is the Bhojshala matter or the UCC, Mohan Yadav said, Congress has consistently taken an oppositional position, adding that the party views every issue through a Hindu Muslim lens. He said the government would present the merits and the facts of the UCC to the public. According to him, the Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and Christian communities have all put forward their views on the subject, but Congress has still not made its position clear. Mohan Yadav said this exposes what he called Congress's double standard.
Row erupts at Jabalpur school over religious conversion allegations
A major commotion broke out at St Aloysius School in Jabalpur over allegations of religious conversion. Workers from a Hindu organisation, along with a large number of women, gathered at the school and accused the management of carrying out religious conversions. The allegation is that employees at the school are being converted. Given the seriousness of the situation, a heavy police force was deployed at the spot. Despite this, protests continued on the school premises, during which activists smashed the glass panes of the school's windows. A scuffle also broke out between the protesters and police personnel during the demonstration.
Students protest at collectorate against teacher's transfer in Ratlam
In Ratlam, a strong protest has broken out against the transfer of a government school teacher, Badrilal Rathore. Schoolchildren themselves reached the collectorate demanding that his transfer be cancelled. The government primary school in Rupakheda is regarded as the top-performing school in the district and is also the only bagless school there, where students up to class 5 have memorised multiplication tables up to 40. Teacher Badrilal Rathore's efforts are credited with turning the government school into one that outperforms even private schools, which is why his transfer has upset both students and parents.
Residents block road at Ratlam's Subhash Nagar overbridge over sewerage jam
Residents living near the Subhash Nagar overbridge in Ratlam blocked the road, frustrated by a persistent sewerage jam problem. They alleged that despite repeated complaints, the municipal corporation has failed to take any action. Police officials rushed to the spot as soon as the blockade began and are engaged in trying to pacify the agitated residents.
Indore municipal corporation cracks down on Congress's Cyclothon Yatra
In Indore, the municipal corporation took spot fine action during Congress's Cyclothon Yatra. BJP spokesperson JP Moolchandani had earlier raised questions after garbage was found scattered in front of the Gandhi statue. Once a video of the litter went viral, municipal corporation officials reached the spot without delay and carried out the spot fine action. As part of the action, a receipt of Rs 2000 was issued in the name of NSUI's state in-charge Ravi Dangi.
