Mumbai: 5 accused of rape, murder break out of Karjat jail

Karjat: In a shocking incident, five accused arrested for rape, murder and on the charges of the Arms Act, 1959, have escaped from a jail in Karjat on Sunday evening.

The accused broke the ceiling of the jail and escaped. The police have formed a special team to nab the accused and initiated an inquiry into the incident.

The five accused were identified as, Akshay Ramdas Raut, Mohan Kundlik More, Gangadhar Jagtap, Chandrakant Mahadev Raut and Dnyaneshwar Tukaram Kolhe.

Akshay, Mohan and Chandrakant are accused of murder, Dnyaneshwar was arrested under the Arms Act and has many offences registered against him previously, while Gangadhar is accused of rape.

According to the police authorities, the accused who were lodged in custody number 3 of the district jail in Karjat escaped on Sunday evening around 7.30pm.

The accused first broke the plywood sheet covering the ceiling and then removed the red shingles on the roof and escaped one by one. At the time of the incident, one guard was posted at the lock-up while three were guarding the jail’s periphery, said an police officer. The jail is an old jail with comparatively less security and its condition is bad.

After the incident came to light, a case was registered under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections of resistance or obstruction by a person to his lawful apprehension (224) on Monday.

“We have formed a special team to nab the accused and an inquiry has been ordered in the matter. The local Superintendent of Police and IG of Nashik range are at the location monitoring the investigation,” said Inspector General (Law and Order) Milind Bharambe.

source https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/mumbai-5-accused-of-rape-murder-break-out-of-karjat-jail

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Delhi Election Results 2020 Updates: Counting of votes to begin at 8 am

Counting of votes to begin at 8 am

The counting of votes for 70 seats of the Delhi Assembly will begin amid tight security today at 8 am. According to Delhi's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Ranbir Singh, the counting of votes will take place at 21 centres. There will be a dedicated hall for every assembly constituency.

A tight security net has been put in place to ensure the counting of votes takes place in a peaceful manner. Over 670 candidates are in the fray for 70 seats at stake in the country's capital. As much as 62.59 per cent voter turnout was recorded in Delhi on February 8, when the elections were held in a single-phase in Delhi. Most of the exit polls predicted that Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP will retain the power, winning two-thirds seats while some have even predicted three-fourth majority in the 70-member assembly.

source https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/delhi-election-results-2020-updates-aap-bjp-congress-arvind-kejriwal-manoj-tiwari

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Mumbai: Byculla Zoo to get 2 tigers in barter plan

Mumbai: After a long wait, a pair of tigers from Aurangabad’s Siddharth Zoo will finally arrive at Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan (Byculla Zoo) on Wednesday. Civic officials will reach Aurangabad on Tuesday to take the custody of the two felines.

The two tigers from Siddharth Zoo will be sent to Mumbai in exchange for two pairs of spotted deers and two pairs of painted storks, a senior civic official told the Free Press Journal.

The Siddharth Garden and Zoo, run by the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation, was renovated recently and the tiger-bird exchange was decided due to the excess number of big cats at Siddharth zoo.

“The zoo at Solapur too had both sought a pair of tigers during the same time as we did, however a survey of facilities at both Zoos were conducted by the officials of Aurangabad Zoo, a report of this survey was submitted to Aurangabad Municipal Commissioner.

Preference was finally given to the demand made by the Byculla Zoo,” said a senior Civic official.

The Siddharth Zoo has 13 tigers and had made it very clear that they will make enough arrangements to house all 13 tigers in the zoo but will not send them to other zoos or facility.

However last year the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) permitted only nine striped animals to be kept at the facility.

The Aurangabad Zoo originally had nine big cats, however, in April 2019 Samruddhi an eight-year-old tigress gave birth to four cubs (Two white and two yellow tiger cubs) taking the count to 13 tigers at Siddharth Zoo.

According to the official, Siddharth Zoo has 12 big cats, which are “excess” in numbers. “ We will exchange four-spotted deers and four painted storks for two tigers Shakti (Male) and Karishma (Female).” said a senior official from Byculla Zoo.

Tiger Shakti was born in November 2016 to tigress Samruddhi whereas tigress Karishma was born in July 2014.

source https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/mumbai-byculla-zoo-to-get-2-tigers-in-barter-plan

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Mumbai: Cooler temperatures to return after two days

Mumbai: After a few days of chilly weather, there was a sudden rise in the maximum and minimum temperatures on Monday, making for an unpleasant start to the work week.

However, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted cooler weather after two days. Meanwhile, health experts say this sudden change in weather has led to a rise in health issues.

Experts have attributed the see-saw weather to the change in wind patterns. The Colaba observatory recorded a maximum temperature of 33 degrees Celsius, three degrees above normal, while the Santacruz observatory recorded 35 degrees Celsius, four degrees above normal.

The minimum temperature recorded at both the observatories was around 21 degrees Celsius, three-four degrees above normal.

“Change in wind patterns has caused a rise in temperature and this will continue for the next two days, after which it will be cooler, ” said an IMD official.

According to doctors, the marked difference in day and night temperatures can trigger viral infections, allergies, cough and cold.

Health officials said there has been a rise in the number of patients at civic hospitals over the last few days, complaining of fever, cough, sore throat and bodyache. “As the temperature fluctuates, civic hospitals see a rise in patients suffering from viral infection and stomach ailments,” they said.

According to health experts, viruses thrive in fluctuating temperatures, due to which cases of viral infections have increased. “We are getting at least ten patients everyday in the hospital’s outpatient department with respiratory problems.

Not everyone requires hospitalisation but in a situation where there is high fever, usually above 100 degrees, patients seek admission and require intravenous antibiotics,” said a doctor from the King Edward Memorial (KEM) hospital.

source https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/mumbai-cooler-temperatures-to-return-after-two-days

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Mumbai: LBS road widening plan to finally kick start

Mumbai: The much-delayed project to widen the Lal Bahadur Shastri (LBS) Road has finally got a push. Amid high tension and resistance from locals, the Brihamumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) demolished as many as 61 unauthorised structures in Ghatkopar, thus clearing 56,700 square feet of land for the widening project.

BMC first mooted the project in 2012 but opposition from shop keepers delayed the road-widening work.

Last year the municipal commissioner Praveen Pardeshi had directed civic officials to remove encroachments by December 15, 2019. However, due to resistance from the locals who occupied these structures led to a delay in clearing the encroachments.

The civic body has called for a meeting of all Project Affected People (PAP) a fortnight ago. During the meeting, all the PAPs were explained in detail about the project for a final time before taking demolition action.

“The location of rehabilitation of these commercial PAPs was also shown to them several times before. The option of monetary compensation as per BMC policy too was offered to them. However, the PAP’s decided to stage a protest in front of the to DMC Zone VI office against the demolition.

They were given enough chances and ample time to prove their eligibility,” said Ajit Kumar Ambi, assistant Municipal commissioner of N ward.

source https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/mumbai-lbs-road-widening-plan-to-finally-kick-start

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BEST to fall back on retired staff to tackle manpower shortage

Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking is suffering a shortage of manpower and has decided to reinstate its retired personnel as ground booking officers.

In order to expand its services, the BEST management has confirmed the rolling out of 1,200 buses by March, on various routes of the city.But the cash-strapped undertaking does not have the manpower required to deal with its expanded service plans, since it has frozen recruitment.

At its last committee meeting in January, BEST committee chairman Anil Patankar had scrapped the proposal to hire 300 bus conductors on contract, after it was opposed by committee members.

“BEST presently is under huge debt, the recruitment process is frozen. To fill vacancies, we will soon rope in retired staffers,” said a senior BEST official.

The management is in the process of initiating the paperwork and the retired personnel will be given the work of conductors, as there is a shortage of them.

“We will give light duties to retired personnel. Most of them will be given the job of ground booking officers, where they will be deployed at a single bus stop and sell tickets to passengers because most of the buses being operated on feeder routes now are conductorless,” he informed.

The official also informed, staffers who had prematurely retired will be recalled into service.

“We will invite a number of staffers who are prematurely retired. We will also transfer a number of drivers who are colour-blind, to conductors’ positions,” said the BEST official. Meanwhile, the BEST workers’ union has warned of agitation against the implementation of this policy.

“BEST is trying to manipulate its former employees and trying to exploit them,” said JM Kahar, general secretary of the BEST Workers Union.

“The BMC allotted Rs1,500 crore as grant-in aid in the new civic budget. The undertaking doesn’t maintain any transparency on its recruitment policy, nor does it give us a clear picture of the funds,” he added.

Furthermore, he said, conductors who have been working for more than 15 years are eligible for promotion to the post of ticket inspectors. None of the conductors have received a promotion in the last few years.

source https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/best-to-fall-back-on-retired-staff-to-tackle-manpower-shortage

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Mumbai: Colleges conduct remedial classes for HSC students

Mumbai: With just a week before the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) board examinations, junior colleges have started special arrangements for students. Colleges have extended library timings for students to study and prepare, teachers are conducting ‘remedial coaching’ classes and are inviting visiting faculty from other colleges to explain the examination related procedures.

Authorities of junior colleges revealed they are conducting special classes both for students who are weak in their studies and also for those who have performed well.

Swapna Durve, vice-principal of Mithibai College, Vile Parle (west), said, “We are conducting remedial coaching classes for students who need help. We are identifying students who have not scored good marks in their preliminary examinations. In these classes, we are helping them on a one-to-one basis to solve their queries.”

These classes are helping students who do not attend private coaching classes or are shy to speak in front of the entire class. Durve added, “These students need help as they do not raise their doubts in the class.

They need special attention and we are helping them resolve last minute confusion. Some of them cannot afford to go to coaching classes so they need assistance.”

Visiting faculty are conducting examination oriented special lectures and are imparting examination related information to students. Umaji Maske, principal of Siddharth College, Churchgate, said, “We have invited visiting faculty to conduct examination oriented lectures in our college.

In these lectures, students are focusing on lessons which are extremely important from an examination point of view. Students can also ask basic examination related queries and have an open discussion with the faculty.”

In addition, colleges have extended library timings for students to get access to books, study and prepare. Jheel Sharma, a teacher said, “We have extended the closing time of the library from 5:30 pm to 7 pm.

Our libraries are now open from 7 am to 7 pm for students to access. Also, teachers are available in college during examination days if students need any help.”

Students will appear for the HSC (Class 12) board examinations from February 18 till March 23.

source https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/mumbai-colleges-conduct-remedial-classes-for-hsc-students

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Mumbai: BMC to seek help to act against illegal eateries

Mumbai: After being summoned, the city’s municipal chief Praveen Pardeshi appeared before the Bombay High Court on Monday afternoon informing that help has been sought from the Maharashtra government to make the civic body more powerful to act against illegal eateries in Mumbai.

The civic chief also assured the HC that the municipal body would be streamlined in order to properly assist the court.

A bench of Justices Shahrukh Kathawalla and Burgess Colabawalla had summoned Pardeshi after the BMC counsels and officers failed to assist the judges in a series of cases.

The civic chief was summoned while hearing a petition pertaining to an eatery in suburban Kandivali, which has been operating without any licence from 2016.

Having been appeared, Pardeshi said, “We are seeking the help of the state government to amend the provisions pertaining to the municipal bodies and empower us to take stringent action against the illegal eateries.”

Notably, the BMC is not yet empowered to immediately shut down or seal the eateries that continue to operate without a licence as the civic body has powers only to launch a prosecution, which goes on for years altogether.

During the course of the hearing, Pardeshi also informed the bench that the civic body has appointed an IAS official to oversee the functioning of the BMC’s legal department.

The HC has accordingly adjourned the matter for passing appropriate orders.

source https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/mumbai-bmc-to-seek-help-to-act-against-illegal-eateries

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Mumbai: Soon, 17-storey hospital at Grant Road on private-public partnership basis

Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), in a private-public partnership, plans to set up a 17-storey hospital at Grant Road, where 54 beds in the hospital will be dedicated to palliative care of patients with end-stage cancer. A green signal from the civic architecture department is awaited for construction to begin.

“The hospital will be constructed as an extension of the BMC’s eye hospital. A part of the building, which was in a dilapidated condition, was demolished a few years ago and now, the 2,000sq metre space will be used for the construction of the new hospital,” said Dr Padmaja Keskar, executive health officer, BMC (health). “This will be the first civic-run hospital to provide palliative healthcare to cancer patients in the city,” she added.

Also Read: Indore: 2 injured following clash of pvt ambulance operators at MY Hospital

Palliative care includes a variety of medical services for those in the final stages of serious illnesses, such as cancer, chronic infections like HIV, drug-resistant tuberculosis, renal and liver failure, and helps improve their quality of life.

Tata Memorial Hospital, Parel, India’s oldest palliative care unit — established in 1996 — has served more than 20,000 patients in the past three years, with a 13 per cent annual growth in the number of patients.

However, no civic-run hospital has palliative care units to tend to the needs of cancer patients. Palliative care experts had written to the state health department requesting them to start a full-fledged unit but so far, nothing has been done.

“There are a few palliative care experts working at the King Edward Memorial (KEM) and Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General hospitals. But the state government hasn’t set up any special units for palliative care, despite writing to them,” said Dr Sunil Dhiliwal, consultant, pain and palliative medicine, Asian Cancer Institute and founder of Dr Dhiliwal’s Pain & Palliative Care.

Amin Patel, the corporator who is the brainchild behind the project said, it is the constitutional right of a patient to die with integrity and palliative care has become the need of the hour. “We are in the last stage of getting the final approval for the hospital, which should come through this week.”

source https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/mumbai-soon-17-storey-hospital-at-grant-road-on-private-public-partnership-basis

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Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray picks Matoshree over Varsha

Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Monday ended speculations that he might move to Varsha, the official CM residence located at Malabar Hill, stating that he prefers his home 'Matoshree' in Bandra over it.

This was revealed by the CM himself during his felicitation programme held at his alma mater, Balmohan Vidyamandir, in Dadar. Along with him, Water Resources Minister Jayant Patil, who is also the alumnus of this school, was felicitated by the school and their batch mates.

Thackeray had studied in the school till Standard 10 in 1976. Patil was a year junior to him and cleared Standard 10 in 1977. A get together of their batch mates was organised by the school and both of them were felicitated for their achievements in life.

Also Read: Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA govt to present its maiden budget on February 28 or March 6

During the programme, both of them were interviewed by well-known anchor and actor Ajit Bhure.

"Definitely Matoshree," replied Thackeray, when Bhure asked him to choose between his Bandra home and Varsha, the sprawling 12,000 sq ft official residence reserved for chief ministers.

"School is not just a four-walled structure, but a place where I inherited a legacy of good values," Thackeray recalled, while his wife Rashmi and son Aaditya, a cabinet minister, listened.

Echoing Thackeray, Patil said the values instilled by the school still guide them at every step of their life.

"Our school taught us to differentiate between the good and the bad. That is the reason when Thackeray became the CM, I told others that he will never take any wrong decisions," he said.

Thackeray, who became the CM on November 28 last year, currently shuttles between Varsha and Matoshree.

He had said that the official residence would be used only for holding official meetings. Thackeray held his first official meeting at Varsha on February 7.

Matoshree has an aura of legacy and power, as Thacekray's late father and Shiv Sena founder late Bal Thackeray shaped the Sena's political and social journey from its confines.

Late comer, Uddhav Patil, whose father Rajaram Bapu Patil was a minister then, used to stay in Malbar Hill. Thackeray resided at Dadar near the school.

"Despite staying near the school, Uddhav used to reach late. I used to always reach 5 to 10 minutes before the school started. Even today, he came late," Patil said this in lighter vein causing laughter in the hall.

Replying to this, Uddhav said that he never did any grave mistake and Balasaheb was never summoned to school. Patil also shared memories on how they prepared a budget sitting on a wheel chair in a private hospital. "A budget cell was started in hospital after both of my legs were severely fractured in an accident at Banglore," he added.

source https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/maharashtra-cm-uddhav-thackeray-picks-matoshree-over-varsha

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Anti-CAA: ‘Mumbai Bagh’ protestors demand prompt action against ward officer

Mumbai: A delegation of anti-CAA protestors from the sit-in demonstration at Morland Road, Nagpada – dubbed `Mumbai Bagh’ -- on Monday met BMC commissioner Praveen Pardeshi, demanding action against a ward officer whose complaint to the police prompted an FIR on February 7 against 300 unnamed women protesters for `wrongful restraint’.

Late evening on Monday, the protesters also held a candlelight vigil at Morland Road, condemning police brutality on students of Jamia Milia Islamia University. Women from the different walks life gathered at the protest site lit candles and raised slogans of ``Azaadi’’.

“This is a very emotional moment for us. These incidents are happening repeatedly, which bring to the fore the barbarism of the central government,” said Ayesh Siddiqui, one of the protestors at Nagpada.

Also Read: Mumbai Bagh: Police issue preventive notices to protesters

On Friday, Assistant commissioner of E ward Alka Sasane lodged a complaint with the Nagpada police, alleging that the civic body was not able to complete road construction work on Morland Road as the protesters had set up a stage and put chairs on the road, and also obstructed traffic movement in the area.

A 13-member delegation led by Nationalist Congress Party corporator Kaptan Malik and activist Feroze Mithiborewala, calling themselves "Satyagrahis of Mumbai Bagh", met the BMC chief on Monday and agreed to co-operate with the BMC for resumption of work on Morland Road, but also indicated that the protest would continue at the same location.

“The construction work at Morland Road only began three months back, and was being carried out sporadically. It was not a motorable road, and access for vehicles, as well as two-wheelers, had already been largely restricted,” said Meher Ansari, a protestor and a local resident of Madanpura.

However, according to the FIR, the indefinite protest has led to the stalling of construction work and is causing obstruction to traffic, among other issues.

“Chief Engineer for roads and traffic Sanjay Darade will now discuss with us how construction work – which mainly constitutes the renovation of the sidewalk – can be resumed,” said NCP corporator Kaptan Malik.

The BMC wishes to wrap up the work before the monsoon sets in. However, the protest according to the BMC officials, have led to work being stalled indefinitely.

"The members of Mumbai Bagh sit-in protest have agreed to extend their full co-operation to the BMC when the efforts resume, and are also willing to provide any necessary on-ground help in the form of "shramdaan" (voluntary contribution involving physical effort), in order to facilitate the construction work," said Malik.

He further added, "The Municipal Commissioner has also stated that he will be discussing the FIR with Mumbai Police Commissioner Sanjay Barve in order to have it quashed.”

Besides Malik and Mithiborewala, the delegation comprised local representatives like Zahida Shaikh, Umme Muhammad, Meher Ansari, Maryam Tinwala, Farid Khan, Waqar Ahmad, media professional Bijal Shah and social activist Guddi.

Meanwhile, Bhiwandi MLA and Samajwadi Party corporator in the BMC, Rais Shaikh, has written to chief minister Uddhav Thackeray alleging that the ward officer Alka Sasane had taken the step at the behest of "someone with a vested interest" in disrupting the protest. He too has demanded action against the ward officer.

Despite several attempts, Alka Sasane, assistant commissioner of E ward (Byculla, Mumbai Central), was unavailable for comment.

source https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/anti-caa-mumbai-bagh-protestors-demand-prompt-action-against-ward-officer

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‘To stop liquor smuggling, increase informer rewards’, says Dy CM Ajit Pawar

Mumbai: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Monday asked the state Excise department to strengthen its informer network to curb liquor smuggling and increase the rewards given to them.

Pawar, who reviewed the work of the department in a meeting, directed that the reward amount for informers be increased to five per cent (of the worth of the seizure) from the current two per cent, a state government release said.

He said liquor smuggling was causing huge revenue loss to the state and, therefore, asked the Excise department to increase the number of checkposts as well as inspections.

Also Read: NCP leader alleges conspiracy to assassinate Sharad Pawar; files complaint in Pune

Pawar also said there was need to think seriously on curbing deaths from the consumption of spurious 'tadi' (palm wine), the release said.

The Excise department has been asked to build environment-friendly 'green buildings' with solar power facilities, it said.

He asked the finance department to carry out district-wise review of expenditure on government offices functioning from rented premises.

source https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/to-stop-liquor-smuggling-increase-informer-rewards-says-dy-cm-ajit-pawar

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Maharashtra: Daughter’s love marriage drives family to suicide

Mumbai: Even as the State was grappling with the demise of a young lecturer who was set on fire by a jilted suitor, a shocking news has emanated of a suicide by a family in Gadchiroli.

Upset at their daughter's love marriage to a boy who they felt was lower in the social pecking order owing to his caste, the parents and her brother committed suicide on Monday by jumping into a well.

Honour killings over inter-caste marriages are not new to the state and there have been instances of a girl’s husband being slain by an agitated parent or a brother -- a social malaise that was highlighted in a Marathi movie Sairat.

Wargantiwar (52), a farmer, and his wife Vaishali (43), a daily-wage worker in the district general hospital. They were staying in a rented flat with their son Sairam (19) and daughter Pranali (24).

Also Read: How sister's death galvanised Bangladesh captain and U-19 WC champion Akbar Ali

Pranali was a teacher in a private convent school and her brother was studying in the 12th standard. The boy whom she got married to was working in a private firm.

Pranali tried hard to convince her parents about her well-intentioned marriage but when they failed to relent, she told them two months ago that she was going ahead regardless. The parents tried to dissuade her but failed. At the core of the row was the caste tag, which became a trigger for the suicide.

“The parents belonged to the "Gaanli" caste which is an OBC; nonetheless, they had reservations about the groom who belonged to the ‘sweeper’ caste, which is a Scheduled Caste. The parents, owing to their skewed thinking and caste dynamics, felt humiliated and insulted."

On Saturday, Pranali left home and on Sunday she got married at a famous Shiv Temple in the nearby Markanda village. After hearing about the wedding, the distraught family refused to eat, despite neighbours trying their best to pacify them.

The agitated family even approached Pradip Chaugaokar, the police sub inspector of the area, to file a complaint against their daughter. The police, too, tried to convince them that since the boy and the girl are of marriageable age, a case cannot be registered against them.

On Monday afternoon, neighbours brought food for the family but they refused to eat.

Around 12 noon, the distressed family left home and walked for a km. On reaching a nearby well in a farm, they informed their landlord about their decision to commit suicide.

"You will never see us, we are leaving this world," they informed him on mobile and the shocked landlord informed the police. Before taking the fatal step, they put aside their watches and mobiles on the outer wall of the well.

All three bodies were recovered by the police around 3 pm. Belated reports received by the FPJ correspondent said the anguished newly married couple, on learning about the tragedy, also tried to commit suicide, but were thwarted.

source https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/mumbai-daughters-love-marriage-drives-family-to-suicide

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FPJ Exclusive: Phone tapping; Babus trying to scuttle probe?

Mumbai: The Maha Vikas Aghadi government is yet to issue a notification on the inquiry into phone tapping of Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress leaders by the BJP-led government during the assembly elections last year.

This, even though 10 days have elapsed since Home Minister Anil Deshmukh announced the formation of a two-member probe committee headed by additional chief secretary Shrikant Singh. It is reliably learnt that senior officers from the Home and the Revenue departments have swung into action to scuttle such a probe.

Also Read: Maha Home Minister Anil Deshmukh announces job to kin of Wardha lecturer who was set ablaze by jilted lover

A Home department officer told FPJ: “It is true that some senior officers have come together to oppose the probe and they are lobbying against it with higher-ups in the state administration. They fear that a probe will reveal the nexus between the key officers and their associates in securing the orders to conduct phone tapping.”

He informed that a contract was allegedly awarded to Indian and foreign companies which were linked to associates and relatives of a few senior officers. These officers fear that their links will get exposed if an inquiry is instituted.

However, the officer said that Deshmukh has not given up but is actively pursuing the matter with the Chief Minister's Office for an early release of the government notification, so that an inquiry can be launched without further delay.

As reported by the FPJ, Deshmukh, in his statement, had said the inquiry would be conducted within six weeks by a two-member committee comprising Shrikant Singh, Additional Chief Secretary, Home department, and Amitesh Kumar, IPS (Joint Commissioner of Intelligence); the committee is at liberty to induct officers and technical experts, as per requirement.

The minister had further said that the inquiry should cover not only the legal documentation but also take the support of technical experts to decipher if unofficial surveillance has been carried out by tracing the footprint in the servers of various telecom companies through physical verification and visits.

Deshmukh alleged that he was taking the decision to form a committee after receiving multiple complaints of “misuse of phone tapping by the previous government”.

The NCP had cried foul over phone tapping of party chief Sharad Pawar during assembly elections. The party had further claimed that phone tapping reportedly persisted even after the elections were over and while hectic parleys were on between the NCP, the Shiv Sena and the Congress on government formation.

Incidentally, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut, who was fiercely critical of the BJP in the days and weeks following last year's assembly elections, had claimed that a senior BJP leader had told him his phone calls and messages were, in fact, being monitored. Raut also said he had nothing to hide and that he “welcomed” anybody who wanted to listen to his conversations.

Furthermore, veteran BJP leader and former revenue minister Eknath Khadse has welcomed the probe into allegations of phone tapping during the erstwhile BJP-led government.

“That my phone was among the phones tapped, I read it in newspapers....I welcome the probe. I do not think that my phone would have been tapped...but if it was, then...,” he had told the reporters last week.

source https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/fpj-exclusive-phone-tapping-babus-trying-to-scuttle-probe

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Shocking claims by students, that they were ‘‘hit in private parts’’ during protest march to Parliament

New Delhi: Yet another protest – by hundreds of Jamia Millia Islamia students and local residents – turned ugly on Monday evening with reports emanating of several students being badly mauled in a scuffle with the men in uniform.

Even more shocking were allegations in News 18 and India Today.com which quoted several students, some of them women, as claiming that they were ‘‘hit in their private parts’’.

(FPJ is not running the quotes as these claims need to be corroborated).

However, a Delhi Police official said that no protesters were lathi-charged. This was at variance with the account of a student who said that only those near barricades were forcefully stopped, pushed and punched (News 18).

Also Read: Gargi College Mass Molestation Update: Students hold protest against Delhi Police's inaction

One of them is said to be in ICU for "chest and stomach injury and respiratory problems", but is stated to be stable, the TV channel’s news portal said. Most of the others came in a semi-conscious state.

Sources told FPJ that 18 students were admitted at the Al-Shifa hospital, Okhla, after they were brutally hit by the police during the protest. “Nine out of 18 students are serious as they have sustained severe injuries on their ‘vulnerable’ parts. The treatment is underway and we are monitoring the students,” said a doctor at the hospital.

The trouble erupted after the police denied the students the request to proceed to Parliament, which is currently in session; howling and protesting, they clambered over barricades before finally digging in their heels and sitting on 'dharna' outside the university.

These visibly shaken students were initially taken to the Jamia Health Centre and later shifted to Al-Shifa.

Around 2,000 police personnel were stationed with over 800 barricades to thwart the 1,200 students, Saiful Islam, a student of the law faculty of Jamia Millia Islamia University who was part of the protest and an eye witness to the scuffle, told FPJ.

Another student charged that the cops hit below the belt, so that the camera could not capture the blows (Ref: India Today). "They were pushing us so hard that we got stuck in a stampede four or five times," the student alleged.

The protesters raised slogans like "Kagaz Nahi Dikhayenge' (We will not show documents) and "Jab Nahi Dare Hum Goron Se Toh Kyun Dare Hum Auron Se" (When we did not fear the British, why should we fear others).

Male protestors formed a human chain on either side of the road as women walked ahead, waving the Tricolour and raising slogans of "Halla Bol".

Hours after the stand-off, the Joint Commissioner of Police for southern range addressed the protesters and requested them to call off the protest but they refused.

"It is dark now, some miscreants might infiltrate and create ruckus, better you call it off now," Srivastava added. But despite repeated appeals from the police and the varsity authorities, the protesters refused to end their agitation.

The protesters did not have permission to march towards Parliament. As the number of people joining the protest swelled by the evening, the Sukhdev Vihar Metro Station near the university was closed.

source https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/public-protest-turns-private-shocking-claims-by-students-some-of-the-women-they-were-hit-in-private-parts

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Daily Horoscope for Tuesday, February 11, 2020 for all Zodiac signs by astrologer Nilikash P Pradhan

Your business proposal may get approved by the higher authorities. Those who are in the real estate business should keep a check on their debts. Family life will be blissful.

Tackling irregularities, bad habits, addiction and overcoming them would be your first priority today. You will realise the value of a disciplined life.

This day may be one of the exciting days of your life. You will feel fresh and relaxed. You will expect your partner to understand your feelings. Be clear with your thoughts. Romance is in the air.

Move your ideas and energy into the right direction with a positive mind-set for better outcomes. Higher authorities may cause hindrances. Pay attention to your health.

Actors and those associated with the sports sector will have a good day. Politicians and socialites may come into the spotlight. Investment in commodities would be beneficial.

Take a break and spend time with your partner, it will give a boost to your relationship. A confusion will get cleared. It will be easy to increase cash reserves and assets in the present scenario.

The stage is being set for expansion and recognition. Your confidence will increase and people around you will know your worth. Career life will go smoothly. Love life will bloom.

Determination is the key to success today. You need to have a diplomatic approach towards problems you are currently dealing with. Your new ideas and ambitions shall succeed.

Being rigid or stubborn may not help you today. You will be successful in domestic as well as on the work front. Meditation or yoga may help bust mental stress.

A surprise group assign-ment or a project is on the cards. Your boss may ask for help and would expect your contribution to a key project. The money flow will be good.

Trading into shares/ stock market is favourable. The luck is on your side. You may suffer from health issues. It is advisable to avoid junk food.

source https://www.freepressjournal.in/horoscope/daily-horoscope-for-tuesday-february-11-2020-for-all-zodiac-signs-by-astrologer-nilikash-p-pradhan

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MMRDA terminates contract of Metro contractors who fail to set deadlines

Mumbai: To complete the ongoing metro project work on time, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has been sending reminders to its contractors about the set deadline.

In a recent move, the authority also terminated the contract with SIMPLEX and MBZ-RCC for carrying out the work at a snail's speed, setting a strong message among other contractors that they too might lose their job on similar lines. The contractors are asked to provide additional manpower to meet the project deadline.

Commenting on the termination of work with the two metro contractors for slow work, Mumbai-based urban transport expert Ashok Datar said, "Metro doesn't make profit unless it has a location advantage. The Delhi metro is an example, where it is proved that it is not getting the kind of expected ridership.

Also Read: Delhi elections 2020: Delhi Metro services to begin at 4 am on polling day

As the construction of metro is a costlier investment, delay in executing the project work will only add additional burden. A single day delay will also cause huge losses. Hence, more attention should be given on the timely completion of the project.

Besides, everyday the traffic is increasing. It is important that metros should be constructed within the set timeline. The authority should not accept even the slightest of excuse from contractors over delaying the project work."

Urban transportation infrastructure is undergoing massive up-gradation. Interestingly, in Mumbai, the highest amount of metro construction work is underway as compared to other cities like Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Chennai, and Bangalore, amongst others. MMRDA is undertaking 337 kilometres of 14 metro lines costing Rs 1.4 lakh crores.

On the 14 metro lines project work, RA Rajeev, commissioner of MMRDA, said, "Metro work is going on at a good speed. I, myself, am taking regular updates from my engineers and general consultants. The contractors appointed for the civil work are time and again sent reminders whenever we feel the work is going slow.

To complete the project on the set timeline, we have asked them to put additional labourers and machinery if required, so the work is not affected. We are aiming to complete all 14 metro lines as per the set-deadline."

According to the data assessed by this paper, of a total of 14 metro lines, civil work has started in six lines while the remaining are in different stages. For the Kanjurmarg-Badlapur--Metro14 and Shivaji-Chowk Mira Road/Virar--Metro 13, the feasibility study is in process.

Similarly, Gaimukh-Shivaji Chowk (Mira road) Metro-10, Wadala-CSMT--Metro 11, and Kalyan-Taloja--Metro 12 have received the cabinet's approval and their tenders will be called soon, says MMRDA officials. Additionally, the Mumbai Airport -Navi Mumbai international airport--Metro 8 detailed project report is being prepared by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).

The other metro lines' civil work that have started include the Dahisar East to Andher East--Metro 7 project, where 73 per cent of the civil work is complete until now. Similarly, in the DN Nagar to Dahisar Metro 2A project, 75 percent of work is done, and in the DN Nagar to Mandale Metro 2B project, 6 per cent of the work is finished.

In the Wadala to Kasarvadavli--Metro 4 project, 11 per cent of the work is over, and in the Samarthnagar to Vikroli-- Metro 6 project, 10 percent of project work is complete.

Why Metro

Every day, around a dozen people fall off Mumbai's overcrowded locals. As per the data, Mumbai's local rail network is the busiest commuter train system in the world with 7.5 million people using the trains to commute daily. Therefore, metro was planned to provide relief to commuters by giving an alternative transport mode.

Daily ridership in Metro once ready

The daily ridership across 14 metro corridors (225 stations) will touch 1.3 crore per day by 2026 when all the routes are commissioned.

How Metro will be beneficial

MMR and Mumbai roads are 95 and 137 per cent congested presently. Once metro services start running, the congestion will reduce drastically to 9 and 33 per cent. Average travel speed on the road will increase to 37kmph from 20kmph and 30kmph from 17kmph in both the regions.

source https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/mmrda-terminates-contract-of-metro-contractors-who-fail-to-set-deadlines

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Maharashtra cabinet divided over proposal of 100 free units of power

Mumbai" Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar has opposed the proposal of giving 100 unit power free of cost to domestic consumers. This has raised doubts on whether or not the government would implement the said policy.

The proposal is expected benefit more than 1 crore consumers and is also expected to burden the exchequer with Rs 8,000 crore. Going by the current fiscal position of the state government, it will be a tough task to implement this proposal.

The proposal to provide 100 unit power free of cost to domestic consumers has caused a difference of opinion in the Maha Vikas Aaghadi government, especially between the power minister and the finance minister.

Also Read: FPJ Exclusive: MIDC mulls foray into electricity distribution, hopes to supply electricity at competitive rates

"We should not do this. We should not resort to such governance of freebies," Pawar had said while speaking at a programme in Pune. He also made it clear that the state government is reviewing the demand on how it can reduce the power tariff of the industry sector.

"We are studying what will the burden be if we slash taxes on the power supplied to the industry," he added. Opposition of Ajit Pawar is significant, as he is currently the finance minister and has also worked as a power minister for a long time.

It was Power Minister Nitin Raut, who announced that the state was mulling on a proposal to give 100 unit power for free to domestic consumers. He has directed Power Secretary Aseem Gupta to prepare a report feasibility of this proposal.

1.28 crore consumers will benefit

This proposal is expected to benefit more than 1.28 crore consumers, who use power up to 100 units. This will burden the Maharashtra Distribution Company Maha Discom), a power company owned by state government, by Rs 8,000 crore.

Maha Discom has 1.95 crore consumers and they pay Rs 25,000 crore as electricity bill. The Rs 33,000 crore bill of agriculture pumps is already pending with the state government.

The government uses a cross subsidy pattern by loading this extra burden on industrial and domestic consumers. But in this case, the power tariffs will again increase for these categories.

source https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/maharashtra-cabinet-divided-over-proposal-of-100-free-units-of-power

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Mumbai: A ‘sleeper’ police complaint cell

Mumbai: The state government seems to be least bothered about complaints against the police department. This is because the sole authority that can hear grievances against the police, the State Police Complaint Authority (State PCA), which was established on the Supreme Court's directions, is defunct since January 2.

Result: a complainant against the police has nowhere to go.

The outgoing committee became operational on January 2, 2017, and it has run through its three-year tenure. However the government has not bothered to set up a new committee; nor has it asked the outgoing committee to continue working in the interim until the new one takes over.

With no authority in seat, the number of pending applications has crossed the 500-mark.

The Maharashtra Government had issued a GR to establish the State PCA in 2014; in May 25, 2015, the actual process of staff recruitment began. However, the authority started functioning only on January 1 2017 -- from the MTNL building opposite Cooperage Ground at Fort.

In the last three years, the authority received 1,490 complaints against the police, of which 1,379 were disposed of by the committee; of the latter, 900 complaints were settled and 30 cases were drawn to the Home Minister’s attention.

In four of these, the home ministry asked the Director General of Police (DGP) to take action. Almost 60 to 70 per cent complaints were about non-registration of FIR; the rest were about shoddy investigations.

“We tried to dispose of over 90 per cent cases and the people are now aware that there is such an authority. But, till the new authority takes charge, complainants will have to wait,” said P K Jain, a former State PCA member.

After the incumbent committee’s tenure was over, the Home Ministry initiated the process of appointing the new one; however the process may take long.

The home ministry has sent a letter to the High Court for recommending the name of a retired judge; another letter has gone to the General Administration Department (GAD) and to the DG office for nominating a retired IAS and IPS officer, respectively. An advertisement for the ‘eminent’ citizen-member has also been issued.

source https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/mumbai-a-sleeper-police-complaint-cell

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Another big day at race course

After the big showdown at the Mahalaxmi racecourse for the Ultra Indian Derby on February 2, the venue is set for yet another face off on the cards, this time the Poonawalla Breeders’ Multi Million, Grade One on February 23. This was announced by Zavary Poonawalla, chairman of the Royal Western India Turf Club, here on Sunday.

In its 31st year, this race has come a long way since its inception in the year 1990, and has set many benchmarks in the three decade of racing in making the day at the course enjoyable for each and every one at the venue, ensuring that racing continued to be the King of Sport.

Apart from racing many other event have been lined up for people to enjoy the day midst of the thunder of the hooves of powerful thoroughbreds.

Also Read: Indian Derby: War Hammer is the new Titan

Sponsors, the Poonawalla Stud Farm have contributed Rs 3.7 million out of which Rs 2.5 million would be towards the stakes. The winner of this Juvenile race, therefore, would go home with a handsome purse along with the trophy.

For the race goers and non-racing public at the venue there is the expected Free Contest of Skill and if predict the first four winners can drive home with Honda Amaze car. Besides, there are other prizes for the general public, special prizes for the best dressed lady and best turned out gentleman, Poonawalla.

Also Read: It is Brother in Arms at Indian Derby! Siblings Suraj and Rajesh make history in racing

And for the people involved in racing, such as the jockeys and trainers also have prizes. The championship battle, ‘Clash of Titians’, between the Indian and foreign jockeys is also in cards and trainers who make it with the highest point of day are also in for surprises.

To make the day more enjoyable and colourful for the families, as for everyone else, there will be beautiful models, attired in top of the line outfits, courtesy Delna Poonawalla with her hats will be seen at the racecourse in a carnival atmosphere.

The sponsors would also underwrite a substantial revenue to the club by giving away tote vouchers, Rs 100 at the members enclosure and Rs 50 at the first enclosure. The main race, the Poonawalla Breeders’ Million, is likely to be run at 6 pm.

source https://www.freepressjournal.in/sports/another-big-day-at-race-course

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