Pune: Four people were killed and 18 others injured after a truck rammed into a bus in Maharashtra’s Pune district on Sunday, police said.
The accident took place at around 2 am near a temple off the Mumbai-Bengaluru national highway, they said.
As the private passenger bus heading from Satara to Dombivli in Thane reached near the Swaminarayan temple, a truck coming from behind rammed into it, a police official said.
Dhule (IANS) | Three women and a minor girl were charred to death and two others injured in a sudden fire at a candle-making factory in Maharashtra’s Nizampur area, officials said here on Tuesday. The tragedy occurred in the afternoon when the victims were working at the factory, which manufactures special twinkling candles that are popular for birthday celebrations and other occasions.
Unfortunately, three women and a minor working there suffered burn injuries and two others were seriously injured in the incident, said Superintendent of Police Dhule Sanjay Barkund. The injured have been taken to a specialized hospital in Nandurbar district. According to the police, the victims have been identified as Asha B. Bhagwat, Rajshree B. Bhagwat, Naina S. Mali and Sindhu D. Rajput.
In the preliminary investigation, the cause of the accident is being told as a short-circuit, the police have detained a suspect for questioning in the matter. Local eyewitnesses said that the fire quickly spread from liquid wax and other flammable materials and that the victims did not have time to run to safety. The victims were shouting for help but the flames did not allow other people to come inside to help them.
The Dhule police is also ascertaining whether the unit was authorized and had proper fire fighting and other safety measures in place. On getting information about the accident, top officials of the district and police reached the village to take stock of the incident and ordered an inquiry into the matter.
–IANS
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (IANS) | In a crackdown, the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar police have arrested and jailed at least 80 people for posting communal or inflammatory content on social media, a top official said on Tuesday. District Superintendent of Police (Rural) Manish Kalwania said that since January this year, action has been taken against those posting objectionable content on social media like status, videos, MMS, SMS, rumors and other content without verification.
Cyber police teams tracked those posting such objectionable posts on various social media platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter etc. from different parts of the district and arrested them under relevant laws. Kalwania said that 80 accused are from Khultabad, Sillod, Vaijapur, Peshore, Pagod, Bidkin, Kannada, Phoolambari, Gangapur and other towns and have been sent to jail.
He cautioned that the police are closely monitoring all the content being circulated on social media and those who are creating/forwarding fake material, inflammatory messages, videos or photos, comments, tags etc. that disturb communal harmony in the sensitive city If found, they will be dealt with strictly.
Kalwania has also appealed to the parents to monitor the social media activities of their children, as most of the accused (80) who have been booked are in the age group of 19-30, and have been convicted for the crime. Can be jailed for up to three years.
–IANS
One more patient undergoing treatment after suffering from sunstroke at an award function in Navi Mumbai has died, taking the toll in the incident to 12, officials said on Monday.
Earlier on Sunday, at least 11 people died due to sunstroke as the ‘Maharashtra Bhushan’ award function, attended by lakhs, was held in an open ground in Kharghar area of Maharashtra’s Raigad district.
The deceased included nine women and three men.
According to Panvel Municipal Corporation’s Deputy Commissioner Vitthal Dake, the deceased have been identified as Mahesh Narayan Gaikar (42), Jayshree Jagannath Patil (54), Manjusha Krishna Bhombade (51), Swapnil Sadashiv Keni (30), Tulshiram Bhau Vangad (58), Kalavati Siddhram Vaychal (46), Bheema Krishna Salvi (58), Savita Sanjay Pawar (42), Pushpa Madan Gaikar (64), Vandana Jagannath Patil (62), Minaxi Mohan Mistry and Gulab Baban Patil (55).
Mumbai (ANI): At least seven people, who suffered from heat stroke during the Maharashtra Bhushan award ceremony at Kharghar in Navi Mumbai, died while 24 are undergoing treatment, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said on Sunday.
The Chief Minister announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh for the families of the deceased.
“Rs 5 lakh will be given to the families of the deceased while we are ensuring proper treatment for those admitted,” Shinde said.
The Maharashtra Bhushan award ceremony was also attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde and his deputy Devendra Fadnavis.
Shah distributed the awards at the function.
Mumbai (IANS) | A special court in Mumbai on Tuesday rejected the anticipatory bail plea of former Maharashtra minister Hasan Mushrif in an alleged money-laundering (Prevention of Money Laundering Act) case. In the petition filed by NCP (NCP) leader and former minister Mushrif had said that he feared arrest by the ED in the name of investigation and recording of statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The ED has argued that several crores of rupees were moved from two companies without any concrete business to support Sir Senapati Santaji Ghorpade Sugar Factory Pvt Ltd, in which Mushrif’s sons were directors or stakeholders.
Mushrif, in his bail plea, said that the entire matter was a result of a political campaign launched by former Bharatiya Janata Party MP Kirit Somaiya.
However, the ED refuted these arguments and said it was not pursuing the case against Mushrif, MLA from Kagal (Kolhapur) and former minister in the then Maha Vikas Aghadi government, for political reasons.
The ED argued that Mushrif is trying to shift the blame on others, but that does not end the crime. After hearing both the sides, Judge MG Deshpande rejected the bail plea of Mushrif, who had applied for similar relief from the Bombay High Court.
Akola, Maharashtra: At least seven people were killed and five were injured after a massive tree fell on a tin shed in Maharashtra’s Akola on Sunday.
The incident took place during a religious ceremony in front of a temple around 7 pm when heavy rainfall and strong winds caused an old Neem tree to fall on a tin shed under which scores of devotees were taking shelter. According to the police, 35 to 40 people were buried under the shed while seven lost their lives.
Five others were admitted to Akola Medical College where their treatment is underway.
As soon as the authorities received information about the incident, emergency services were pressed into action for rescue work while JCB machines were brought in to lift the tree trunk and the collapsed shed.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis condoled the deaths and announced that the Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government will provide financial assistance to the families of those killed.
“It is painful to report that some devotees were killed when a tree fell on a tin shed when some people had gathered for a religious ceremony at Paras in Akola district. I pay my humble respects to them,” Mr Fadnavis said, as quoted by news agency ANI.
“The Collector and the Superintendent of Police immediately visited the spot and are coordinating to ensure timely treatment of the injured. We are constantly in touch with them,” he added.
“Some of the injured have been admitted to the District General Hospital and minor injuries are being treated at Balapur,” he said. “Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has decided to provide financial assistance to the families of the deceased from the state government and the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.”
Mumbai (IANS) | Jumping into the controversy generated by Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar over the Adani Group issue, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Saturday called upon the national opposition to listen to the former Union minister’s advice on the matter. Ahead of his much-hyped visit to Ayodhya, Shinde on Friday referred to Pawar’s comments on a private television channel, saying US short-seller Hindenburg Research’s report on the Adani group appeared to be a ‘targeted attack’ on the central government .
Shinde said in Thane on Saturday – Congress has started an agitation demanding an explanation of Rs 20,000 crore from the Adani group. Even (former CM) Uddhav Thackeray has repeatedly spoken on this issue. Now, Sharad Pawar has commented. So those who are protesting (against Adani) should pay attention to his comments.
Shiv Sena spokesperson Krishna Hegde said his party has been saying for a long time that the opposition parties are not on one agenda. Hegde said, “Now Sharad Pawar’s statement proves this. And he clearly says that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s demand for an inquiry by the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) is not justified.”
However, Maharashtra unit Congress president Nana Patole and former chief minister Ashok Chavan reiterated the party’s stand of nothing less than a JPC probe demanded by Rahul Gandhi. Shiv Sena (UBT) chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut said Pawar’s statement was nothing new and dismissed speculation that it would lead to the collapse of the three-party Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance here.
–IANS
Lucknow, (IANS) | Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde will visit Ramlala in Ayodhya on Sunday. During this, his cabinet will be present along with Shinde. Although Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will not be present in this tour.
All arrangements have been made for the stay of Shiv Sena ministers, MPs and MLAs. Shiv Sainiks were sent by special trains a day earlier to welcome the Chief Minister in Ayodhya.
Maharashtra Chief Minister’s Public Relations Officer Viraj Mulaye told that Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde will leave for Lucknow on Saturday. Will go to Ayodhya on Sunday, where Ram will visit and worship in the temple. Will see the ongoing construction work of Ram Janmabhoomi temple and will perform evening aarti on the banks of river Saryu.
He told that the Chief Minister will meet the saints of Ayodhya. Will also talk to journalists. Apart from this, will have dinner with the Chief Minister. Then return to Mumbai on Sunday.
It may be known that Eknath Shinde had earlier visited Ayodhya in June last year. Then he was responsible for arranging the travel of the then minister and Shiv Sena youth leader Aditya Thackeray. A few days after this visit, he rebelled against the party and toppled the government. Ayodhya has always been a part of Shiv Sena’s Hindutva agenda.
Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray first gave the credit for the demolition of the Babri structure to the Shiv Sainiks. Uddhav Thackeray has also been going to Ayodhya. Now Eknath Shinde as Chief Minister wants to show his party as the flag bearer of Hindutva by visiting Ramlala in Ayodhya.
–IANS
Wardha: In a shocking incident, over two activists of a right-wing group and some goons barged into the Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya (MGAHV) around midnight and attacked a PhD Dalit student sitting on an indefinite protest there, student leaders said here on Saturday.
The PhD scholar, Rajneesh Kumar Ambedkar, 37, and his classmates were attacked by the horde of miscreants who raised slogans of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ and attempted to break the five-day protest at the prestigious 25-year-old Central university named in honour of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi.
According to scholar activists like Chandan Saroj, though there was security at the campus and the main gate was closed, some outsiders and miscreants managed to sneak inside, joined their associates of a right-wing student union on the campus and indulged in violence on the scholars sitting on protest there.
A Dalit researcher, Ambedkar and others are on an indefinite sit-in strike against the MGAHV, demanding the evaluation of his PhD thesis, but the varsity management has not responded in the matter.
Saroj said that on the night of Friday-Saturday, the ‘saffron goons’ stormed inside the campus, started slapping, beating, kicking and punching the protestors, and hurled obscene, casteist abuses at them throughout the fracas.
When other students tried to click pictures and videos of the incident, they grabbed their mobiles and deleted them, and even threatened with consequences if they continued to record the ruckus in the darkness.
Some students summoned the Wardha Police which soon rushed a team there and brought the situation under control around 4 a.m.
Ambedkar said that at least five students were hurt in the scuffle and a few more sustained minor injuries even as the attackers fled away after the police entry.
When contacted, an official Spokesperson for MGAHV told IANS that some students had taken an ‘unauthorised’ religious procession on the campus late last night and were raising the ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogans.
The Spokesperson also confirmed that later, they attacked the Dalit students holding their protest though it was dispersed later.
He added that the situation is “fully under control now, though other top varsity officers were not available for comments despite repeated attempts”.
“We strongly condemn this dastardly attack by saffron group’s thugs on Dalit researchers and scholars who are fighting for their legitimate demands and against caste bias perpetrated by the university administration,” said Ambedkar.
He and others have demanded that the Wardha Police take note of this “terror” strike on the students and book the culprits on charges of attempted murder forthwith.
Soon after the attacks, the varsity administration urged Ambedkar and others to call off their indefinite protest in view of the delicate situation, but they were spurned and the agitation continues for the sixth day today (April 1).
The students have called upon the Wardha Police and other Dalit and democratic organisations to identify the ‘masterminds behind the attack’ and the alleged role of the varsity behind the attacks that has rattled the campus residents.
A Central University set up by an act of Parliament, the MGAHV was established in 1997 on a 200-acre campus in Wardha, fulfilling the cherished dream of Mahatma Gandhi to promote Hindi as the national language and give it a status of an international language.