Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma. Subramanian on Friday (17 October 2025) seemed to absolve his government of responsibility in the deaths of 25 children in Madhya Pradesh linked to Coldrif cough syrup manufactured in Tamil Nadu by Sresan Pharmaceuticals, claiming that the incident was caused by “negligence on the part of Madhya Pradesh drug quality control authorities.”

Responding to a special motion raised by Opposition Leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, Subramanian said that the state acted “within hours” of receiving information from Madhya Pradesh about the contaminated “Coldrif” syrup. He maintained that Tamil Nadu’s role was limited to regulation and that the company involved, Sresan Pharmaceuticals, had already been sealed and its operations halted.

Minister’s Explanation in the Assembly

The minister stated that the Tamil Nadu Drugs Control Department received an official communication from its Madhya Pradesh counterpart at 3 PM on 1 October 2025, reporting the death of a child in Chhindhwara district after consuming Coldrif syrup. The letter also contained details of the chemical substances suspected to have caused the fatality.

According to Subramanian, the Deputy Director of Drug Control immediately directed a senior inspector to conduct a spot inspection of the manufacturer. “By 4 PM the same day, inspections were initiated,” he said, asserting that the state government “was not a buyer of medicines” from the company. He also claimed that within 30 minutes of receiving the information, the sale of the cough syrup was banned across Tamil Nadu, and orders were issued preventing private retailers from stocking or distributing it.

Violations Found; 126 Drugs Suspended

Ma Subramanian stated that inspections carried out on October 1 and 2 reportedly revealed multiple violations in the company’s operations. Laboratory analysis of five medicines, including Coldrif, showed the presence of 48.6% diethylene glycol, a toxic chemical known to be life-threatening. Subramanian confirmed that the company’s entire range of 126 products was suspended, and a “stop production order” was issued on 3 October 2025.

He stated that Coldrif syrup had also been distributed in Puducherry and Odisha, and that Tamil Nadu authorities immediately alerted those states to prevent further tragedies. “The company was sealed, and a notice was issued to explain why its licence should not be revoked. Criminal action has been initiated against its owner, Ranganathan, who has been arrested,” he told the House.

Blames MP Officials, Says TN Acted Responsibly

While asserting that the Tamil Nadu government took “swift and comprehensive action,” Subramanian argued that the actual responsibility for the deaths lay with Madhya Pradesh’s regulatory mechanism. “The deaths occurred because of negligence by the drug quality control officials in that state,” he said, adding that Tamil Nadu had fulfilled its duty by taking immediate preventive steps.

Subramanian claimed that Chief Minister M.K. Stalin had instructed officials to pursue criminal proceedings against the company but also cautioned that political motives should not be allowed to affect India’s image in the global pharmaceutical market. “Our pharmaceutical industry exports drugs worth ₹12,000 to ₹15,000 crore annually. Inspections are being conducted continuously across all 397 manufacturing units,” he said.

Following the investigation, the Sresan Pharmaceuticals factory was permanently closed, and its licence suspended. “The plant is now completely shut down,” the minister confirmed, noting that the company had been barred from producing or distributing any medicine pending legal proceedings.

Subramanian concluded his statement by urging the public to avoid consuming any medicine without a doctor’s prescription and reiterated that Tamil Nadu’s regulatory system had acted responsibly once the alert came from Madhya Pradesh.

மத்திய பிரதேசத்தில் கோல்ட்ரீஃப் இருமல் மருந்து குடித்து குழந்தைகள் இறந்ததற்கு யார் காரணம்..? சட்டப்பேரவையில் அமைச்சர் மா.சு விளக்கம்#TNAssembly | #MinisterMaSubramanian | #ColdRif | #CoughSyrup | #PolimerNews pic.twitter.com/jxNbxiAqy5

— Polimer News (@polimernews) October 17, 2025

The opposition, however, accused the DMK government of deflecting blame and failing to proactively monitor pharmaceutical manufacturers operating within the state.

(Source: OneIndia Tamil)

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The post DMK Health Min Absolves TN Govt Of Responsibility, Shifts Blame On Madhya Pradesh Officials Over Coldrif Cough Syrup Deaths appeared first on The Commune.

Madhya Pradesh Minister of State for Public Health and Family Welfare Narendra Shivaji Patel on 8 October 2025 held the Tamil Nadu government responsible for the deaths of 20 children in his state due to kidney infections caused by consumption of an allegedly contaminated cough syrup.

Addressing PTI Videos, Patel said the southern state showed “grave negligence” as it was responsible for inspecting medicines manufactured and dispatched from Tamil Nadu. He added that while the MP government randomly inspects medicines entering the state, it was “by chance” that this particular stock of cough syrup went untested.

The Tamil Nadu government banned the sale of the cough syrup ‘Coldrif’ from 1 October 2025 and ordered removal of stocks from the market. The syrup, linked to the deaths, was manufactured by a company based in Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu. On 4 October 2025, the Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration department declared that samples collected from the manufacturing facility in Sunguvarchatram, Kancheepuram, were “adulterated,” and instructed the company to halt production immediately.

Patel emphasised the responsibility of Tamil Nadu authorities in issuing licences and inspecting medicines. “A Certificate of Analysis (COA) certificate is required to be issued for every batch of medicine produced. Where did the Tamil Nadu government go wrong? Whether a COA certificate was issued or not? Which official made the mistake is a matter of investigation. The Tamil Nadu government has shown grave negligence in how such medicines came out of their state,” he said.

“We randomly inspect medicines that come into our state. By chance, these medicines were not tested. We seriously inspect medicines manufactured here,” Patel added.

He further stated that the Tamil Nadu government’s negligence directly contributed to the deaths of children in Madhya Pradesh. “We are writing to the central government and the state (Tamil Nadu) government to take strict action against the culprits,” he said. Patel also confirmed that the MP government had taken action against the pharmaceutical factory owner and that the state police had visited Tamil Nadu as part of the investigation.

Speaking about preventive measures, Patel said the state is increasing the number of testing laboratories and will also conduct tests in private labs to speed up the process. Commenting on another substandard medicine originating from a factory in Gujarat, he said, “We are also writing letters to the governments in the states from where the substandard medicines came.”

On Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s likely visit to Chhindwara to meet the families of deceased children, Patel alleged, “The government in Tamil Nadu is running with the support of the Congress. Rahul Gandhi should question his party’s alliance partner as to why this (tragedy) happened. I smell a conspiracy in this if the Congress is politicising this issue.”

Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla, who oversees the health portfolio, said 20 children have died following consumption of the cough syrup, while five others remain in critical condition.

Reacting to Patel’s statement, Congress leader Digvijaya Singh blamed the food and drug department for “poor administration,” claiming it led to the children’s deaths. “Firstly, drug controllers and inspectors are responsible for conducting sample surveys every month, but this was not done. Diethylene glycol should not exceed 0.1 per cent in the drug, but it was 48.6 per cent in the syrup. What were the drug inspectors and controllers doing here?” he asked.

Singh also criticised Deputy CM Shukla for allegedly giving the Tamil Nadu-based pharmaceutical company a “clean chit” even before the investigation concluded. “Besides, when information about the incident came to light, how did the Deputy Chief Minister (Rajendra Shukla) give a clean chit on the first day? On what basis did he give the clean chit? This is the biggest mistake. Had the drug inspectors and controllers performed their duties properly and conducted investigations, this incident would not have occurred,” Singh said.

On the MP minister blaming Tamil Nadu, Singh said, “I am not aware of the Tamil Nadu government. I have been told that permission has to be obtained from the Central government.”

When asked about CM Mohan Yadav’s statement that the Opposition should not politicise the issue and instead provide constructive suggestions, Singh responded, “We are not playing any politics. Take action against the culprits. How did the deputy CM give a clean chit? Accept his resignation. If the mistake was committed, what action did you take?”

(With inputs from The Week)

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The post Madhya Pradesh Minister Blames TN Govt For Deaths Of 20 Children Due To Contaminated Cough Syrup appeared first on The Commune.

A deadly cocktail of administrative apathy and gross regulatory failure within the Tamil Nadu Food and Drug Control Department has led to a national tragedy, with at least 20 children in Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat dying after consuming a toxic cough syrup manufactured in a filthy, unlicensed facility in Kancheepuram that operated unchecked for 14 years.

The manufacturer, Sresan Pharmaceutical Manufacturer, held a valid drug licence since 2011, granted by the Tamil Nadu drug control authorities. Despite mandatory annual inspections required under the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, the unit was allowed to function in “patently unhygienic conditions” until the deaths of children in MP’s Chhindwara district forced an inspection, revealing a staggering 364 critical and major violations.

A Killer Syrup Concocted In Filth

The inspection, triggered only after a letter from Madhya Pradesh’s drug controller, painted a horrifying picture of the manufacturing unit. The report detailed a “shoddy and neglected state” where medicines were stored in corridors, and filling, labelling, and dedusting occurred in areas without air handling units, posing a severe risk of contamination.

Equipment was found to be rusty, cracked, and leaking. The unit lacked basic pest control measures, a purified water generation system, or proper cleaning procedures. Most critically, the company purchased a non-pharmaceutical grade of propylene glycol, a key raw material, without any invoice, bypassing the most fundamental safety protocols.

Lab tests later confirmed the Coldrif solution manufactured here contained 48.6% diethylene glycol (DEG), an industrial chemical that causes acute renal failure when ingested. This toxic substance is what led to the deaths of the children.

Systemic Collapse And Unanswered Questions

The scale of the failure has exposed a complete breakdown of regulatory oversight. Former state drug controller M Bhaskaran questioned, “If they could list so many issues after a single inspection, why was the unit allowed to function?” He pointed out that the proprietor, G Ranganathan, was a known offender, booked in the late 80s for selling a syrup under the ‘food supplements’ category without a valid drug licence.

Furthermore, the national regulator, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), had previously warned states about the improper use of propylene glycol, specifically highlighting the risk of contamination with deadly DEG. Despite these red flags, Tamil Nadu’s drug inspectors failed to act.

“The state drugs control department said there were no cases pending against him. That’s because ‘no one kept track or inspected the premises,’” Bhaskaran stated, highlighting the sheer negligence.

A Facility Of Horrors

A visit to the sealed facility on the outskirts of Chennai revealed a scene of hurried abandonment. Inside the dingy building, stacked plastic jars, stained floors, and snaking hoses were found. Windows were blocked with makeshift barriers. In the backyard, among ash and debris, lay half-burnt labels of other syrups and discarded bottles, alongside blue barrels of “Liquid Glucose.”

The Tamil Nadu Drugs Control Department has since pasted show-cause notices on the unit’s walls, accusing the firm of grave violations and “misbranding,” as the syrup labels failed to carry a mandatory warning against use in children below four years.

National Outcry And Demands For Accountability

The tragedy has sparked national outrage. A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking a CBI investigation into the deaths and a court-monitored probe into the regulatory failures that allowed the circulation of substandard drugs.

While the Madhya Pradesh government has filed a case against Sresan Pharma’s proprietor, the Tamil Nadu health department is yet to initiate action against its own drug inspectors, whose primary duty was to prevent such a disaster. Experts and the PIL have demanded the suspension of manufacturing licenses and criminal prosecution against those responsible for the loss of young lives.

This incident stands as a grim indictment of the Dravidian model government’s claims of efficient administration, revealing a deadly lapse in a department tasked with protecting public health, a failure that has exacted the ultimate price from families hundreds of miles away.

(With inputs from Indian Express)

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The post Dravidian Model: TN Govt Drug Inspectors Failed To Detect Toxic Coldrif Cough Syrup That Killed 20 Children In Madhya Pradesh appeared first on The Commune.

The Gwalior Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court has admitted a petition seeking the removal of the word “mosque” from the official records of Bijamandal in Vidisha and restoration of full worship rights for Hindus at the disputed site.

The petition, running over 118 pages, was filed by senior advocate Hari Shankar Jain as the lead petitioner others including Vidisha resident Shubham Verma. Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain will fight the case. The case, listed before the High Court, has sought a response from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and other government authorities.

#विदिशा के हम सभी हिंदुओं के लिए गर्व का विषय है कि #बीजामंडल मंदिर की #पेटिशन माननीय उच्च न्यायालय ग्वालियर ने स्वीकार कर ली है तथा इसमें मांग की गई है कि #बीजामंडल के आगे से Mosque शब्द को हटाकर मंदिर किया जाए तथा हिंदुओं को बीजामंडल मंदिर में १२ महीने बेरोकटोक पूजा का अधिकार… pic.twitter.com/0GzVSz1vMn

— Shubham Verma (@THESHUBHAMV) September 14, 2025

Petitioners contend that the ASI has incorrectly described the monument as “Beejamandal Mosque” in its records, despite historical evidence identifying it as a temple. They have demanded that the site be officially designated as a mandir and that Hindus be allowed to perform worship throughout the year without restrictions.

According to the petition, the Bijamandal temple was demolished in 1682 during the reign of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. Since then, the Hindu community has periodically raised demands for restoration of worship rights, but the matter had remained unresolved for nearly seven decades after Independence.

Shubham Verma, who is listed as the second petitioner, told reporters in Vidisha that he and local youths had organised movements over the last two years to demand access to the temple but were unable to secure the opening of the site. He said they gathered documents, inscriptions, and records from archaeological and historical sources and submitted them to the legal team for preparation of the petition.

The petition was drafted by Advocates Harishankar Jain and Vishnu Shankar Jain.

The petitioners include Rakesh, Mani, and Rahul from Delhi, in addition to local youth leaders. They said their plea is based on historical, archaeological, and literary sources, and seeks recognition of the site as a Hindu temple.

The High Court’s notice marks the first time the Bijamandal dispute has formally come up for judicial scrutiny.

Bijamandal, also referred to as Vijay Mandir, has been a point of contention for decades, with demands for Hindu worship rights being periodically raised.

The petitioners state the site is a matter of cultural self-respect for the Hindu community in Vidisha.

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Madhya Pradesh is the land of antiquity. In the heart of Vidisha district in the state stands one of India’s most magnificent ancient temples – the Bijamandal Temple, also known as the Vijay Surya Mandir. Built in the 8th century CE by the Chalukya dynasty and later expanded by Paramara rulers, this colossal temple complex once rivaled the grandeur of Konark and exceeded the scale of Khajuraho. Yet today, this sacred Hindu monument remains locked behind iron gates, its true identity deliberately obscured by bureaucratic mislabeling that calls it a “mosque” in government records.

The magnitude of this injustice cannot be overstated. For over six decades, Hindu devotees have been denied their fundamental right to worship inside their own ancestral temple, forced instead to offer prayers to locked doors during the annual Nag Panchami festival. This systematic suppression of Hindu religious rights represents not just an administrative error, but a calculated assault on India’s civilizational heritage.

The Sun Temple That Touched the Sky

The Bijamandal Temple’s original splendor was so immense that the renowned 11th-century scholar Al-Biruni described it as having a height of 315 feet with a shikhara visible from five kilometers away. The temple complex stretched over half a mile in length and width, reaching a height of 105 yards, making it one of the grandest temples in medieval India.

Ruins of Bijamandal temple in Vidisha, showcasing ancient Indian temple architecture preserved as an archaeological site

Historical accounts reveal that this was not merely a single deity temple, but a magnificent Panchayatan complex dedicated to multiple Hindu deities. Over its 300-year golden period from the 8th to 11th centuries, the temple evolved to house:

• Surya Bhagwan (the primary solar deity)
• Lord Shiva and Parvati
• Lord Ganesha and various Devi manifestations
• Saptamatrika and Ashtamatrika panels
• 64 Yoginis associated with tantric traditions
• Goddess Charchika (established by Paramara King Naravarman)

MP Tourism Plaque

A History of Repeated Destruction and Unyielding Rebuilding

Like many other temples across the country, Bijamandal has also seen its share of repeated destruction.

Systematic Destruction by Islamic Invaders

The temple’s tumultuous history exemplifies the broader pattern of Islamic iconoclasm against Hindu sacred sites. The destruction occurred in systematic waves:

1233-34 CE: Sultan Iltutmish first attacked and demolished the temple, looting its immense wealth and taking the main deity to Badaun mosque in Delhi, where it was deliberately placed on the entry steps for Muslims to trample upon as an act of religious humiliation.

1290 CE: Alauddin Khilji’s general Malik Kafur destroyed the rebuilt temple, stealing an eight-foot Ashta Dhatu idol and embedding it in the stairs of a Delhi Mosque for continued desecration.

1456-60 CE: Mahmud Khilji of Mandu obliterated both the temple and the entire town of Bhelsa (ancient Vidisha).

1532 CE: Bahadur Shah of Gujarat reduced the temple to near-complete ruins.

1682 CE: The final devastating blow came from Aurangzeb, who used cannons to pulverize the temple structure with the intent that Hindus should not worship – so he made it a “khandith” idol. He cemented the octagonal sections, converted them to quadrangular shapes, built a hall structure on top with two minarets, and declared it the “Alamgir Mosque.” Until 2000, the marks of twelve cannonballs remained visible on the temple walls as testimony to this act of religious vandalism.

Unwavering Hindu Resistance

Despite centuries of persecution, the Hindu community never abandoned their sacred site. After each destruction, devotees would return to worship among the ruins, demonstrating an unbroken spiritual connection spanning over a millennium. Following Aurangzeb’s death, Hindus immediately resumed worship of the scattered deity fragments, treating the site with the reverence due to their ancestral temple.

When the Marathas arrived in 1760 CE, they found the Islamic structure already in ruins and witnessed Hindus actively worshipping their deities. This continuous Hindu presence establishes an unbroken chain of religious practice that predates and outlasts any temporary Islamic occupation.

The Modern Betrayal: From Worship to Lockdown

Post-Aurangzeb, during the Maratha rule, the Islamic structure fell into disuse, and Hindus gradually resumed worship, considering it a temple of Charchika Mata or Bijasan Devi. This continued for centuries until a pivotal moment in 1922.

The 1922 Deception and Its Consequences

When floods destroyed the Muslim Idgah near the Betwa river, local Muslims approached the Scindia king requesting temporary permission to use the Bijamandal site for a single day’s Eid prayer. The king, unaware of the site’s significance as a Hindu temple, granted this one-time permission based on incomplete information. No official documentation exists for any permanent transfer.

However, Muslims violated this temporary arrangement by returning repeatedly for subsequent Eid celebrations. When Hindu organizations like the Hindu Mahasabha and Arya Samaj protested this unauthorized occupation, they faced government persecution instead of justice.

The Nehru Era: Institutionalized Anti-Hindu Bias

The situation deteriorated dramatically after 1947. When Muslims objected to Hindu Sharad Purnima celebrations in 1947, instead of protecting Hindu rights, Nehru’s government banned Hindus from entering their own temple. This marked the beginning of systematic state-sponsored discrimination against Hindu religious practices.

For 16 years, from 1948 to 1964, the people of Vidisha, supported by Hindu satyagrahis from across India, including groups from Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Maharashtra, and Punjab, conducted continuous protests demanding restoration of worship rights. They endured lathi charges, imprisonment, and even the desecration of women satyagrahis in jail to reclaim their temple. The government’s response was to impose curfews during Hindu festivals while facilitating Muslim prayers, and to jail thousands of Hindu protesters.

The 1965 Agreement: Muslims Abandon Claims

The breakthrough came in 1965 when Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri intervened directly. He called representatives of both communities and offered Muslims alternative land and ₹40,000 to construct a new mosque elsewhere in Vidisha – this mosque still stands today. Muslims accepted this offer and vacated the temple site, acknowledging through their actions that they had no legitimate claim to the Hindu monument.

By all legal and moral standards, the property should have reverted to its rightful owners, the Hindu community.

But tragedy struck. Shastri’s untimely death allowed anti-Hindu bureaucrats to perpetuate the injustice by maintaining the fraudulent “mosque” classification in official records.

Today, worship is permitted only once a year, on Nag Panchami. And even then, for the last 30-35 years, the garbhagriha (inner sanctum) has remained locked. Hindus are forced to worship a locked iron door – an insult and historical injustice to Hindus.

ASI’s Fraudulent Classification: A Bureaucratic Crime Against Heritage

Now take a look at the images of the temple complex and the sculptures within the temple complex.

What do these tell you – do they indicate by any inkling that it is an Islamic establishment? But that is not what the ASI did.

The 1951 Gazette Deception

The Archaeological Survey of India’s classification of Bijamandal as a “mosque” in its 1951 gazette notification represents one of the most egregious examples of historical revisionism in independent India. This classification was made despite:

• No documentary evidence of legitimate Islamic construction
• Overwhelming archaeological proof of Hindu origins
• Continuous Hindu worship for centuries
• Absence of Islamic architectural elements in the original structure

When challenged under RTI queries, ASI officials admitted that historians recognize the site as a temple but claimed they were legally bound by the 1951 classification. This circular reasoning using a fraudulent classification to justify continued fraud exposes the bankruptcy of ASI’s position.

The “Non-Living Monument” Fraud

ASI’s designation of Bijamandal as a “non-living monument” represents another layer of administrative deception. This classification is used to deny Hindu worship rights while simultaneously allowing tourism and commercial exploitation. The hypocrisy becomes evident when considering that:

• Multiple ASI-protected sites across India permit regular worship
• Bhojshala temple in Dhar allows Hindu worship despite similar disputes
• Jama Masjid in Delhi, also under ASI protection, permits Muslim prayers without restriction

This selective application of rules reveals the discriminatory intent behind ASI’s actions.

The Unlock Bijamandal Movement: A New Chapter in Hindu Resistance

Several locals from Vidisha began raising their voice for the temple. One of them is Dr Shubham Verma.

Dr. Shubham Verma’s Crusade for Justice

In 2018, frustrated by decades of humiliating “lock worship” ceremonies, local researcher and activist Dr. Shubham Verma launched the groundbreaking “Unlock Bijamandal” movement under the banner of Sakal Hindu Samaj. This movement marked a decisive shift from passive acceptance to active resistance against religious discrimination.

Hindu protesters holding a religious flag during a street demonstration associated with Bijamandal temple issues in Madhya Pradesh.

The movement gained massive momentum in 2024 when Hindu groups formally requested permission to worship inside the temple during Nag Panchami. When the then-collector Buddhesh Kumar Vaidya denied this request, citing ASI’s fraudulent “mosque” classification, the movement exploded into national prominence.

Government Response: Intimidation and Threats

The government’s response to peaceful Hindu demands revealed the extent of anti-Hindu bias in the administrative system. District authorities issued threatening letters warning Hindu devotees of two years’ imprisonment and ₹1 lakh fines for attempting to worship in their ancestral temple. Police forces from five districts were deployed to prevent Hindus from entering the temple during Nag Panchami 2024.

The intensity of this repression treating Hindu worship as a criminal act demonstrates how far the Indian state has strayed from its constitutional obligations to protect all citizens’ religious rights equally.

The Civilizational Stakes

This is not merely about one temple but about India’s relationship with its own civilization. When the Indian state protects structures built through Islamic conquest while denying rights to the indigenous Hindu community, it becomes complicit in legitimizing historical genocide and cultural destruction.

The Al-Biruni accounts themselves serve as historical testimony to both the temple’s magnificence and the Islamic strategy of deliberate religious humiliation. These primary sources from Islamic historians leave no room for doubt about the temple’s original Hindu identity and the calculated nature of its destruction.

A Call to Conscience and Courage

This is no longer about history. It is about justice. It is about the integrity of our nation to honour its own heritage.

Hindus must unite to see Bijamandal for what it represents. It is Ayodhya, Kashi, and Mathura playing out in silent, heartbreaking repetition. Hindu voices should join the chorus demanding its liberation.

The government must immediately correct all records to declare the site the “Vijay Surya Temple,”, unlock the sanctum sanctorum, end the grotesque spectacle of Hindus worshipping a locked door on Nag Panchami, apologize for decades of misclassification and willful ignorance, and also begin the process of restoring the temple to its rightful status as a living place of worship.

The sculptures of Bijamandal are speaking. They are testifying to their own identity. The only question that remains is whether we have the courage to listen and the will to act.

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The post How Vidisha’s Bijamandal Temple, A Grand Hindu Shrine, Was Erased From History And Labelled A ‘Mosque’ appeared first on The Commune.

Communal tension flared in Madhya Pradesh’s Burhanpur district late on 7 September night after a Ganesh idol immersion procession was reportedly targeted with stones, injuring three persons.

Police officials said that the situation was brought under control following the deployment of a heavy security force and a flag march in the area. At least three people were injured in the incident, and they have been admitted to the district hospital.

The incident occurred at Pratima village, about 20 km from the district headquarters, at around 10 p.m., when a procession was moving towards a local river for the immersion of Lord Ganesha idols. As the procession passed through Pathani Mohalla, an unidentified group of people began pelting stones, leading to a tense standoff between the two communities. Three individuals were injured and immediately shifted to the district hospital for treatment. The incident led to communal tension in the area as a large number of people from both communities gathered.

Senior administrative officials, including Additional Collector Veer Singh Chouhan and Additional Superintendent of Police Antar Singh Kanesh, rushed to the scene to bring the situation under control. A senior police official confirmed that the situation is now peaceful but that a substantial security presence remains in the area. The spot where the incident occurred has been declared a prohibited zone, and a flag march was carried out late in the night to prevent further escalation. “Although the situation is currently under control, a significant police presence has been deployed. Investigations into the incident are ongoing, and CCTV footage is being scrutinised to identify those responsible,” a senior police official told reporters on 8 September.

Burhanpur MLA Archana Chitnis visited the site, interacted with locals, and appealed to them not to engage in violence. She remained there until early Monday morning, considering the tense situation. The senior BJP leader stated that some anti-social elements attempted to disturb law and order and create communal tension. “In Burhanpur, we usually celebrate all festivals peacefully, and people have no issues with each other’s festivities. Unfortunately, yesterday a regrettable incident occurred during the immersion of Lord Ganesha’s idol, when stone pelting created a tense situation in the village,” Chitnis told IANS on 8 September.

She further said that a similar incident had taken place last year as well. “Last year, when stones were pelted during the immersion of Ganesh idols, I had demanded that those responsible be punished. That did not happen. The government must take strict action to prevent any such incidents in the future,” she said.

-IANS

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The post Stone-Pelting During Ganesh Immersion Triggers Communal Unrest In Burhanpur, Madhya Pradesh appeared first on The Commune.

The crackdown on the infamous Machhli family, allegedly involved in sex rackets, drug trafficking, and money laundering, intensified on 27 August as the Bhopal district administration began reclaiming government land encroached by the syndicate.

Officials started demarcating nearly 100 acres of land belonging to the Animal Husbandry Department at Kofta bypass, which the family had allegedly usurped under the guise of developing a “courtyard premium colony.” A team of officials from the revenue department started the process of demarcation of land in the presence of a heavy security deployment. The district administration has also decided to videograph the entire process which is being carried out by at least six officials, to avoid any further untoward incidents. Before the operation started, the surrounding area was declared a prohibited zone.

The development came a week after the Bhopal district administration razed a three-storey mansion of the notorious Machhli family built illegally on government land in the Anandpur Kokta area on 21 Aug. The building, sprawling across 15,000 square feet, has 30 rooms and is estimated to have a market value of ₹25-Rs 30 crore. Notably, the sequence of actions is being followed after a sweeping operation on 30 July, when authorities bulldozed over ₹100 crore worth of illegal properties linked to the Machhli family, including farmhouses, warehouses, factories, madrasas, and residential buildings. The Machhli family, long accused of drug trafficking, sexual exploitation, and violent intimidation, had established a stronghold in Ward No 62 of Bhopal.

Their influence began to unravel after a major breakthrough by the Bhopal Crime Branch, which uncovered a disturbing nexus involving narcotics, illegal weapons, video blackmailing, and physical abuse, according to government officials. The investigation led to the arrest of Shahwar Machhli and his nephew, Yasin, in connection with a rape and blackmail case targeting college girls. Shariq Ahmed, their uncle, was also taken into custody shortly thereafter. The crackdown is part of a broader campaign led by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, who has vowed to eradicate criminal syndicates operating under the guise of drug mafias and so-called “love jihadis.”

-IANS

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The Central government’s flagship insurance scheme, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), is proving to be a vital support system for families in times of personal loss.

In Madhya Pradesh’s Shahdol district, the scheme has helped several grieving families regain financial stability after losing loved ones. One such beneficiary is Balmukund Baiga, whose wife Phoolmati passed away during medical treatment. Fortunately, she had enrolled in the PM Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana. After her demise, Balmukund received ₹2 lakh under the scheme.

Speaking to IANS, he said: “The insurance amount helped me repay debts. I don’t know what I would have done without it. This scheme came to my aid when I needed it the most. bought tools for carpentry work and used the rest of the money to clear my debts.” He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for having launched such a scheme which is benefiting the poor. Another resident, Abhinesh Singh Chauhan, also benefitted from the scheme after the untimely death of his sister due to illness. He said the insurance payout provided significant support to the family during their time of distress. “We didn’t expect anything, but the scheme gave us much-needed relief. It helped us manage expenses and reduced our burden,” he shared.

According to Abhiyank Sharma, Regional Manager of Central Bank: “This scheme is designed to ensure that even the economically weaker sections can access life insurance. At just Rs 436 per year, beneficiaries get a life cover of Rs 2 lakh. It is an excellent initiative for financial inclusion.” The PM Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana is available to individuals aged 18 to 50 and provides affordable life insurance cover through participating banks and insurance companies. Normally, life insurance is often seen as inaccessible for low-income families in the country.

However, PMJJBY has emerged as a key financial safety scheme. In small districts such as Shahdol, where many families live hand-to-mouth, it is helping turn moments of crisis into manageable recoveries offering not just compensation, but hope.

-IANS

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The post “This Scheme Saved Me”: PM Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana Emerges As Lifeline For Grieving Families In Shahdol appeared first on The Commune.

A widely circulated video captured at the Madhya Pradesh High Court has ignited severe backlash around the Indian family law. The undated and unverified clip features Justice Devnarayan Mishra deliberating on whether a non-biological father can be legally required to pay maintenance for a child under Section 125 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973.

The key question under scrutiny: Can a man who is not the child’s biological father be held liable for maintenance if the child is born within a subsisting marriage? An advocate in the court asked: “Does an illegitimate child have the right to maintenance under Section 125?” The judge’s response albeit curt was: “Yes… yes.”

#MenAreNotATMs #JusticeForMen #EndMisandry

This case is a CLASSIC EXAMPLE of how INDIAN LAWS are DESIGNED to PUNISH MEN for the CRIMES of WOMEN! A man is FORCED to pay maintenance for a CHILD that is NOT EVEN HIS, because his WIFE committed ADULTERY and had someone else's baby!… pic.twitter.com/Y51jUvwKJl

— VOICE FOR JUSTICE (@OfVoice8691) July 25, 2025

Legal Backdrop: Section 125 and Supreme Court Precedent

Section 125 explicitly mandates that a man may be ordered to support his “legitimate or illegitimate” minor child, regardless of the marital status or finances.

This interpretation aligns closely with a January 2025 Supreme Court ruling, clarifying that where a marriage continues and access between spouses remains, a husband is presumed the legal father even if not biologically related. In this landmark judgment, a bench led by Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan reaffirmed the presumption of legitimacy under Section 112 of the Indian Evidence Act, which heavily favors the husband’s paternity unless non-access is proven.

As Justice Kant explained, Section 112 aims to avoid intrusive investigations into a child’s parentage requiring anyone contesting legitimacy to prove they had no possible physical access to the spouse during conception.

In the Kerala case at the center of that ruling, the mother admitted the child was fathered by another man. She later divorced, sought to change the child’s surname, and claimed maintenance from the biological father. When a local court ordered DNA testing, the individual resisted on grounds of privacy. Ultimately, the Supreme Court upheld his right to refuse, emphasizing the balance between a person’s privacy rights and a child’s interest in knowing biological lineage. The Court revoked the DNA test order, stressing that forced testing could infringe on dignity and personal reputation.

Social media has erupted over the court’s tone and the perceived unfairness in the video. Critics argue it reflects a gender and class bias, highlighting how the legal system can discount the rights of women and children especially when motherhood falls outside traditional norms.

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The post Gems Of Judiciary: Madhya Pradesh High Court Directs Man To Support Child Born Out Of Wife’s Affair With Another Man appeared first on The Commune.

A summer children’s camp organised at a local church in Ambala, Haryana, has come under scrutiny after Bajrang Dal activists confronted the organisers over alleged religious indoctrination of minors. A video of the altercation, which has since surfaced online, purportedly shows members of the organisation questioning the church staff about religious content being imparted to children under the guise of a vacation camp.

Activists alleged that children attending the camp were being taught Christian doctrines and urged to accept the faith, raising concerns about violation of constitutional and child protection norms. Police have yet to confirm if a formal complaint has been filed in the matter.

New Missionary Conversion Tactic:

A so-called summer camp was organised in a Church for students in Ambala, Haryana. In the name of the camp the children were given religious teachings. The following video contains an altercation between Bajrang Dal activists and the… pic.twitter.com/iZuzau5Dus

— Subhi Vishwakarma (@subhi_karma) June 28, 2025

The incident has drawn comparisons to a case in Chaubara Jagir village of Sonkutch Tehsil, Dewas district, Madhya Pradesh, where a similar alleged conversion operation involving tribal minors was reported earlier this month. On 20 June 2025, police at Sonkutch Police Station registered FIR No. 409/2025 under the Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 2021.

According to the complaint filed by local resident and Hindu activist Gajraj Singh Sendhav, a group was conducting what was presented as a free coaching class for tribal children. However, the complainant alleged that the initiative was a front for religious conversion, involving inducements such as money, education, and other material benefits.

The FIR stated that five individuals, identified as Manju, Kiran, Mahida, Sachin, and Mithun, were found conducting a religious session at the residence of one Bhagnu Jiyaji, where Christian posters were displayed and sermons were delivered that allegedly disparaged Hindu deities. The complainant reported that the accused told those gathered that their gods could not protect them and promised blessings upon converting to Christianity.

The accused reportedly offered ₹50,000, free school admissions, and other incentives in exchange for religious conversion. Following a confrontation with local residents, police arrived at the scene and detained the group. They were subsequently booked under Sections 3 and 5 of the Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, which prohibit conversion by allurement or coercion, particularly when involving minors or Scheduled Tribes. Convictions under these sections carry penalties of up to five years’ imprisonment.

Videos from the site allegedly showed children seated on mats in a house repurposed as a classroom, with religious posters prominently displayed. One of the posters read, “Jesus says, allow children to come to me. Only they will go to heaven who send their kids to me.”

Gajraj Singh told Organiser that he and others had been monitoring the group’s activities and claimed that children were being asked to pray to Jesus. One of the accused reportedly fled with a bag believed to contain religious literature.

This incident in Dewas is the latest in a string of reported cases in tribal-dominated areas of Madhya Pradesh, such as Jhabua, where activist groups have alleged systematic proselytisation efforts. Reports from Jhabua have highlighted covert religious meetings in forested areas and the use of inducements to convert vulnerable communities.

As regards the Dewas case, the Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 2021, requires prior approval from the district magistrate for any religious conversion and includes provisions to nullify conversions made solely for the purpose of marriage. The law places the burden of proof on the accused and imposes enhanced penalties when victims are minors, women, or members of Scheduled Castes or Tribes.

(With inputs from Organiser)

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