News Reporter

Police Nakabandi City police bosses took a review of the security arrangements for the new year eve and has instructed the staff to keep a tight vigil on the streets. Special arrangements will be in place at Futala lake side and on West High Court, the hot spots for the new year revellers. To ensure that road romeos do not spoil the party, city police have decided to enforce nakabandi on the popular streets. The policemen would be on street from 6 pm to 6 am, ensuring that they are on spot to tackle any eventuality. Field units have been told to crackdown on rash driving, especially on drunken driving. Every police station has carved out special force for deployment in their jurisdiction that are frequented by revellers. Charlie Commandos and crack teams would patrol on city street throughout the night, informed a senior police officer. Joint Commissioner of Police, Sanjay Saxena told ‘The Hitavada’ that leaves of all the policemen were cancelled and around 4,000 police ...

By Dheeraj Fartode Crime branch sleuths on Sunday busted a gang of thieves involved in robbing an elderly woman- Shashikala Jaiswal, in Sonegaon to the tune of Rs 15 lakh including gold and cash. Accused have been identified as Vishal Madanlal Ramteke (22), Samyak Dhnyaneshwar Gajbhiye (26), Vikas alias Vickey Mohan Rahangadhale (26), Rajesh Itwari Shahu (23), and one juvenile delinquent. Police said that accused Vickey was driver with Jaiswal and had left job five moths ago. They got the clue when Rana Pratap Nagar police reported that said Vickey was caught by them in a vehicle theft. Crime branch conducted a raid at the residence of Vickey and nabbed him. Police said that the accused spilled the beans during interrogation and admitted about his involvement in the robbery which occurred on December 17 at Sonegaon. It is learnt that Vickey with other four culprits had made plan to rob Shashikala Jaiswal. Three youths opened the door and entered the house. As the elderly la...

Train in fog By Dheeraj Fartode Rail traffic remained disrupted on Saturday due to heavy fog. Several trains on both Grand-Trunk route and Howrah-Mumbai route are running late by several hours. Gondwana Express is the worst affected train, which is running late 20 hours behind schedule. A senior railway official said that the impact of fog is most severe on trains moving through north India. 12406 Nizamuddin-Bhusawal Gondawana express is running 20 hours behind schedule. 12724 New Delhi-Hyderabad Andhra Pradesh Express, 12409 Raigarh-H Nizamuddin Gondawana Express, 12723 Hyderabad-New Delhi Andhra Pradesh Express are running late by 10 hours. 02746 Puri-Shree Sai Nagar Special Express, 12616 New Delhi-Chennai Central Express, 12295 Banglore-Patna Sampark Kranti Express,  12296 Patna-Bangalore Sanghamitra Express, 12616 New Delhi-Chennai GT Express are reaching 8 hours late at Nagpur station. Several other trains which were running late were 16688 Jammu Tawi-Tirunelveli...

By Dheeraj Fartode City police have decided to downscale ‘Z’ category security cover of former minister Satish Chaturvedi to a modest X category under which only few police personnel are deployed without usual pomp and show. Special Branch (SB) of City police has sent a proposal to state government to provide X-category security for the minister instead of existing Z-category due to lack of any security threat to him. Chaturvedi enjoyed security cover for one decade. Satish Chaturvedi BJP MLA Krishna Khopde had formally complained to Special Branch demanding downscaling of security cover provided to Chaturvedi. Khopde is president of City BJP and is fighting a bitter political and legal battle in East Nagpur with Chaturvedi and his loyalists. Chaturvedi has recently floated Hanuman Sena with the help of former aides of Khopde to counter him politically. Police Inspector of SB M A Patil in his letter to MLA Khopde said that the police had reviewed the security cover for ...

By Dheeraj Fartode Movement of mail and express trains on Grand Trunk  route was badly affected due to foggy weather condition. Most of the Delhi bound passenger trains originating from Delhi were running late on Monday causing hardship to the passengers at Nagpur station. According to Railway officials, 12 trains are running behind their schedule. The worst affected trains include: 12295 Banglore-Patna Sanghamitra express and 12406 H. Nizamuddin-Bhusawal Gondawana express. Both trains are running late by eight hours. 12724 New Delhi-Hyderabad Andhra Pradesh express, 22694 H. Nizamuddin-Banglore Rajdhani express are running four hours behind the schedule. Other trains including 12810 Howrah-CST Mumbai Mail is running late by 1.30 hours, 12622 New Delhi-Chennai Tamilnadu express is late by 5 hours, 14260 Bhuwneshwar-Chennai express is late by three hours, 12102 Howrah-LTT Dhnyaneshwari express is late by 1.45 hours, 12722 H. Nizamuddin-Hyderabad Dakshin express is beh...

By Dheeraj Fartode India Against Corruption (IAC), which had attracted huge turnout last year at RBI square during Anna’s agitation, could enthuse a very few during the launch of it’s political wing ‘Aam Admi Party (AAP).’ Only a handful of youngsters bothered to attend the programme organised to launch AAP in city and as against the targetted 25 full-timers, the party could convince only 10 youths to become political activists on full-time basis. Due to such lukewarm response, even all office-bearers could not be named for city unit on Monday. A two-day District summit and election progarmme for district unit was organised by the party at Saikrupa hall. AAP Addressing a press conference, member of national executives Mayank Gandhi stated that party was declaring list seven executive members along with convenor Devendra Wankhede, Secretary Rajesh Puglia and Treasurer Girish Nandgaonkar as it was in the process to enrol more members. The party had announced 50 per cent reserv...

By Dheeraj Fartode THE much-hyped Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted by State Government to look into Rs 70,000 crore irrigation scam, may turn out to be a toothless tiger. Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, on Friday, ruled out an inquiry under Commission of Inquiry Act and was evasive on legal status of SIT. Chavan’s statement is seen as an anti-climax, especially after he had set off political storm in State questioning only 0.1 per cent irrigation creation despite spending Rs 70,000 crore in last 10 years. Interestingly, despite SIT’s ambiguous legal status, the Opposition also blew its trumpet claiming that SIT inquiry into irrigation scam was their victory. At customary post-session press conference, Chavan seemed defensive on matters related to Water Resources Department. Asked why the Government announced SIT and did not order judicial probe, Chief Minister played cautiously and said, “I will not answer this question.” Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who ...

By Dheeraj Fartode OPPOSITION parties on Friday charged Democratic Front (DF) Government with failure to provide any succour to Vidarbha and dishing out only old promises without any financial commitment and definitive time-frame. “Appointment of SIT to probe into irrigation scam was our achievement”, claimed Leader of Opposition Eknath Khadse who reminded that irrigation scam issue was discussed on 28 occasions in the past and it was because of relentless pressure the Government was forced to announce the probe. Leader of opposition Eknath Khadse  Addressing a press conference Khadse blasted “bankrupt, Rs 2.70 lakh crore debt-ridden” Government and charged it with abject failure on all counts. During winter session issues of price-rise, regional development, OBC scholarship, drought situation, farmers’ problems were raised forcefully by the Opposition, but Government gave typical answers and no additional concessions were announced, Khadse said. The Government ...

SNDL employees damaging properties of SNDL office By Dheeraj Fartode Furious former employees of Spanco Nagpur Discom Limited (SNDL) ransacked the company’s head office in Civil Lines on Friday afternoon, demanding continuation of their employment. Later, the company stated that issues raised by employees fell under purview of Spanco BPO Services Limited. According to Sadar Police, around 10 persons arrived at SNDL office on 4th floor of Narang Tower in Civil Lines area. Initially, they raised slogans in front of the office. Agitators urged SNDL officers to arrange a meeting with SNDL’s Human Resources Manager Sunil Sadar. When they came to know that the officer was absent, they started ransacking the office, and damaged office property including computers, furniture, attendance punching machines. Some agitators closed down shutter of the office and fled from the spot. According to agitators, SNDL had interviewed around 700 youths for the post of Meter Reader and appoin...

By Dheeraj Fartode Shiv Sena and BJP MLA on Thursday protested at staircase of legislative assembly demanding stern action against guilty police officers involved in Akot riot.  MLAs Sanjay Gawande,  Ranjit Patil,  Abhijit Adsul,   Gopikishan Bajoria, Gowardhan Sharma are  protesting at stair-case of Legislative assembly     The MLAs gathered at stair-case and launched sloganeering against police officers of Akot police station. MLA Sanjay Gawande said that an idol of Goddess Durga had been desecrated at Akot by anti-social elements on October 19. The police did not initiate any action against the culprits. The riot was broken out during a procession carrying idol of Goddess Durga for immersion, he said. MLA Ranjit Patil said that anti-social elements pelted stones on procession and many people were injured in the attack. However, only office-bearers of Hindu organisations were booked by the police. MLA captain Abhijit Adsul demande...

By Dheeraj Fartode MLA Abhijit Adsul Daryapur MLA Captain Abhijit Adsul protested at stair-case of Legislative Assembly demanding approval for development plan of Sant Gadgebaba’s birth place at Shendgao. The MLA with special T-shirt arrived at Vidhan Bhavan premises and shouted slogans for the demand. The MLA said that Gadgebaba was born at Shendgao village and people are demanding development of the village. Government’s many schemes are running under the name of Sant Gadgebaba but, his birthplace still ignored, said Adsul. He alleged that he had approached the government but, they are ignoring his demand as he is MLA of Sena. The MLA also threatened to launch stir against the government, if his demand wiill not fulfilled.

By Dheeraj Fartode Apathy of Democratic Front (DF) government in resolving the problem in Orange cultivation in Vidarbha is killing the prosperous Orange yards. Now just two crore trees have remained as equal number of them fell to various germ attacks and lack of support on irrigation front from State Government, alleged, Sunil Shinde, ex-MLA here on Thursday. Former MLA Sunil Shinde Farmers need support from government to enable them to tide over huge losses due to fall in yield of Orange crop due to scattered rainfall. The flowers did not bloom as during the crucial period the rains dried-up in the Orange belt. The ex-legislator alleged that Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and Horticulture minister do not have time to even discuss the problems facing the Orange cultivators. Shinde who was once close confidant of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo, Sharad Pawar, was addressing a press conference at Vidhan Bhavan premises. Technolog...

Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) legislatures on Wednesday staged dharna on staircase of Vidhan Bhavan on issues east Vidarbha. The legislatures in special T-shirt shouted slogans and demanded Rs 2500 minimum support price (MSP) for paddy. MLAs Sudhir Parwe, Atul Deshkar, Dr Khushal Bopche, Rajkumar Badole and Krishna Khpde gathered at staircase and launched sloganeering for their demand. The legislatures with placard demanded for immediate rehabilitation of Gosekhurd project affected people, cancellation of Gunthewari for Bramhapuri and pattas for enchroachers. MLA Parwe while addressing a newsperson said that as pert agriculture price commission’s report Rs 2345 is the expenditure of one quintal paddy. Despite of that agriculture ministry had declared only Rs 1250 minimum support price (MSP) for paddy that is not enough for farmers. State government has not done rehabilitation of Gosekhurd project affected people (PAP) hence, water storage not started after expending huge sum ...

Furious women legislators of all parties on Wednesday united on the rising incidents of atrocities on women and staged a dharna at staircase of Vidhan Bhavan. The legislators are pressing for strengthening the existing laws so that culprits do not go scot free. They later called on Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and submitted him a memorandum. Earlier, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Harshwardhan Patil Leader of Opposition in Legislative Council Vinod Tawade called on the agitating lady legislators and gave them a patient hearing. Shiv Sena’s Dr Neelam Gorhe, BJP’s Pankaja Munde, NCP’s  Vidya Chavan, Congress’s Yashomati Thakur and Alka Desai, and others staged protest on the stair case. Atrocities against women are raising in the country. On Monday, a 23-year-old girl was gangraped in a moving bus in New Delhi. A 10-year old girl was sexually exploited in Nagpur, the second capital of Maharashtra. The lack of stringent laws is being seen as main hindrance in acting a...

Legislators of Maratha community engaged in a show of strength on Tuesday by staging a sit-in on staircase of Legislative Assembly building to demand inclusion of Marathas in Other Backward Classes (OBC). Their also pressed for immediate fulfillment of promise made by Democratic Government about memorial to Chhattrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Arabian sea.  Legislators gathered at staircase of Legislative Assembly carrying placard and shouted slogans for inclusion of Maratha community in OBC list. They were wearing special T-shirt with logo of Maratha Arakshan (Reservations for Marathas). Convenor of agitation Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLA Vinayak Mete while talking to newspersons said “The economic plight of community is quite miserable and Maratha community is agitating since long for their demand to be included in list of OBCs.” However the State Government has not yet taken any steps to accept our contention. “We are demanding 25 per cent reservation for Maratha co...

NCP and BJP MLAs face to face VIDHAN Bhavan premises on Friday witnessed war of words between political opponents, heavy sloganeering and use of oibjectionable words, leading to a situation where NCP and Opposition MLAs came face-to-face. Timely intervention by security staff and senior legislators avoided any untoward incident.  NCP legislators including Jitendra Awhad, Rajendra Jain adopted aggressive posture from Friday morning and staged a sit-in near Vidhan Sabha staircase demanding immediate discussion on irrigation and other pressing issues.  They denounced Opposition for stalling proceedings of the House for past four days and were peeved at their leader Ajit Pawar being targetted by Opposition members. They shouted slogans in support of Ajit Pawar and condemned his opponents. Home Minister R R Patil also joined the agitation. State President of NCP Madhukarrao Pichad pacified agitated members of the party. By 10.45 am, when Opposition MLAs led by Leader of...

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) spokesperson Nawab Malik, on Tuesday, said that his party was concerned about dues of electricity bills. “People should pay power bills regularly to make Maharashtra load-shedding free,” he said. Malik was talking to reporters in Vidhan Bhavan premises. Asked about Deputy Chief Minister and former Power Minister Ajit Pawar’s announcement that Maharashtra will become load-shedding free by December 12, 2012 (12-12-12), the birthday of NCP chief Sharad Pawar, Malik made the comment. On no-confidence motion of Shiv Sena, NCP spokesperson said that the Opposition was divided. “NCP will request Speaker of Legislative Assembly Dilip Walse-Patil to check if the Opposition had enough numbers required for no-confidence motion,” he said. He Malik said that Speaker could ask the Opposition for majority required for no-confidence motion under Rule No. 57. BJP and MNS were not with Shiv Sena over no-confidence motion, he added. Supporting Home Minister...

Deputy Leader of Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) in Parliament Gopinath Munde, on Tuesday, flayed the State Government over ‘drab’ White Paper on irrigation and demanded Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar to be sent to jail. “The Government is deep into corruption and White Paper has been published only to give a clean chit to Ajit Pawar. We strongly demand probe into the scam through Special Investigation Team (SIT),” Munde said while talking to newpersons in Vidhan Bhavan premises. White Paper was only a status report and its copies should be burnt in every village, he added. For a short while, Munde watched proceedings of the Legislative Assembly from visitors’. Munde further said that price rise was breaking the neck of common man and the Government indulged into corrupt practices. He also flayed the Government for not taking any steps to tackle drought situation in State. He warned that BJP would take to streets if the Government did not take any action agains...

FURIOUS over re-induction of senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar as Deputy Chief Minister, the Opposition took out a silent march carrying black flag to the legislature on the very first day of winter session. Legistators from all Opposition parties including Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Shiv Sena and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) carried placards and banners against Ajit Pawar slamming for his alleged role in irrigation scam and desperation to return back to seat of power. Opposition leader Eknath Khadse, Sena group leader Subhash Desai, MNS group leader Bala Nandgaonkar, BJP MLAs Devendra Fadanvis, Sudhir Mungantiwar, Sudhakar Deshmukh, Sudhir Parwe, Shiv Sena MLA Vinod Ghosalkar and MNS MLAs Pravin Darekar and others took part in the march. Pawar had resigned in September in view of irregularities in irrigation projects in the State only to make a comeback last week. The Opposition also plans to target several ministers of the ruling Congress-NCP coalition for their alleged...

On eve of winter session of state legislature here, city police machinery faced its acid test when hundreds of Shetkari Sanghatna ran past police blockade to meet Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan. The farmers were insisting on meeting Chief Minister while the cops got instruction to hold back the protesters who were staging sit-in at RBI Quarters Square. The bandobast duty team dutifully put around barricades. The agitating farmers defied police bandobast and ran past till Ladies Club while the cops chased them in a bid to rein them. Not wanting to use force, the cops had a hard time controlling the angry farmers.  Earlier, farmers from Vidarbha and Marathwada region gathered at RBI Quarters Square and launched a sit-in protest. The agitation was led by former MLA Wamanrao Chatap, Ravi Dewang, Ram Newale, Sheila Deshpande, Saroj Kashikar, Jagdish Nana Bonde and Gunwant Patil Hangargekar. The agitators lost cool after the police officers conveyed the message that ...

Ahead of State Legislature's winter session, the action is happening outside the political arena. For city police yet another emergency erupted after Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) staff allegedly bashed-up constables of Nagpur city police.  The matter did not stop here as the angry CRPF constables reached MIDC police station and allegedly made an issue about registration of offence against them for their earlier action in CRPF campus. What's more shocking was joining of CRPF ranks by their superiors, taking advantage of fact that most of staff of MIDC police station was away in bandobast for winter session. Police said that Narendra Nandankar attached to Ambazari police station was on way back to city with wife. The incident occurred around 9 pm when Nandankar's vehicle collided with bike being driven by a CRPF's constable. The mishap occurred near CRPF's campus gate no 4. Following the accident, a scuffle ensued between Nandankar and bike borne two C...

TENSION erupted in Government Medical College (GMC) after a group of medical students clashed with some youths and assaulted a Police Sub-Inspector (PSI) on Saturday evening.  Ajni Police booked 10-15 youths including medical students for creating ruckus and attacking PSI Nitin Indrale. Soon after the cops rounded up the accused students, a large number of GMC students gathered in front of Ajni Police Station. According to Police, a youth Vipin Siddharth Bangar (22), a resident of Jogi Nagar, and his girl friend  were talking after parking their respective two- wheelers near the rear gate of the GMC.  Amit Arun Shende, a MBBS student, allegedly picked up a quarrel with Vipin saying that outsiders were not allowed in the college premises. After heated exchanges, Amit immediately called other medical students. Bangar too contacted his friends on his cellphone and called them. Both the groups then clashed. More than 50-60 medical students also gathered. S...

Security Vidhan Bhavan Nagpur A thick security blanket has been thrown over the Second Capital for the Winter Session of the Maharashtra Legislature slated to begin here from Monday. About 12,000 police officers and personnel have been  deployed in the bandobast to maintain law and order during the session.  The security arrangements are being monitered by Commissioner of Police Kaushal K Pathak and  Joint Commissioner of Police Sanjay Saxena. Director General of Police Sanjeev Dayal would review the security arrangements on Sunday. The security cover for the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister has also beeen strengthened.  Security at the Council Hall premises, where the two houses of the legislature meet, 'Ramgiri', the official residence of the Chief Minister and 'Devgiri,' the official residence of the Deputy Chief Minister, has been beefed up.  No person without valid photo identification would be allowed entry at the three places. Sec...

Police Nakabandi Entire city police force right from Commissioner of Police to Police Constable were on their toes on Tuesday night for a special nakabandi carried on to capture criminals and anti-social elements. The sudden orders to conduct this massive checking drive were given by new Commissioner of Police K K Pathak following a credible input received from intelligence agencies about possible trouble on December 6. Exactly 20 years ago, the disputed Babri structure at Ayodhya was demolished and since then intelligence agencies are keeping a close watch on elements which may foment trouble to disturb communal harmony. Though such warnings have become almost routine, the police force is taking no chance this time as well. This time, the entire Maharashtra Police has been asked to remain on high alert. The Director General of Police asked top police officials across the state to personally lead the force and undertake massive combing exercise. Especially four wheelers ar...

BJP MLAs during sit-in protest by BJP near  collectorate for release of OBC scholarship.  Hundreds of college students under the banner of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday launched sit-in protest in front of Collector office, demanding disbursement of scholarship amount of OBC, VJ/NT and EBC students. The protest named as ‘Thiyya Andolan’ will continue round the clock. The protest was launched on Tuesday afternoon in presence of BJP state general Secretary and MLA Devendra Fadanvis and MLA Nana Patole. Mayor Anil Sole, Former MP Banwarilal Purohit, MLAs Sudhakar Deshmukh, Krishna Khopde, Vikas Kumbhare were prominently present on the dais. Addressing students MLA Fadanvis lashed at the state government for not disbursing scholarship to OBC and VJ/NT students. Many OBC and VJ/NT students have been forced to quit the course by the private college authorities after scholarship amount was not disbursed by the government during last two academic sessions. ...

 Cops investigating  spot after the incident  A youth was set ablaze by four goons over a petty matter at Pandhrabodi slum in city on Monday night. The incident occurred under the jurisdiction of Ambazari police station. Rajesh Mogre (25), a resident of Sudarshan ward in Pandhrabodi was allegedly set ablaze by the accused, identified as, Lotang Sagdel (50), Rajesh Kasekar (30), Guddu Kasekar (26) and others, all residents of Pandhrabodi and known history sheeters. Police said that Kasekar family is notorious as all the male members are involved in one or other crime. The family is a terror in the area abuses people at will and also indulge in bootlegging. Victim’s family and accused are neighbours and they are involved in old rivalry. On Tuesday at 6 pm, family members of Kasekar family were fighting amongst themselves. Rajesh came out from home to inquire about the matter. Lotang suddenly abused Rajesh irked by his interference in their family matter. Raje...