News Reporter

NAGPUR (Rural) Police finally arrested four youths involved in Kuhi gang-rape and dacoity case. Those arrested have been identified as Dinesh Rajlakhan Chavan (22), Gulabchand alias Ninniki Bagchand Bhosle (23), both residents of village Jhiri, district Harda (MP), Chacchu Joharshigh Bhosle (22), and Atish alias Tenten Artisingh Bhosle (26), both residents of village Champa, taluka Kuhi.  Team of Nagpur (Rural) Police with accused.  Interrogation revealed that the accused Dinesh, Gulabchand, and Ravi (who is still at large) had arrived at Pardhi hamlet at Champa to participate in ‘Pardhi Panchayat’. Two others namely Chacchu and Atish, meanwhile, kept a watch on some of the farm-houses near Nawargaon. On Friday evening, after consuming liquor, all the accused boarded a jeep and stopped at a farm-house near Nawargaon. From that farm-house, they started the series of assault of workers and looting. At one of the farm-houses, after beating workers, they gang-raped a gi...

Dr Bhalchandra Kango.  By Dheeraj Fartode Maharashta State Council of Communist Party of India (CPI), on Tuesday, demanded White Papers on first phase of Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), and also voiced its opposition to direct transfer of cash subsidy scheme. It also demanded judicial probe into multi-crore irrigation scam. Dr Bhalchandra Kango, Secretary of CPI State Council, told reporters after the Council’s day-long meeting held in the city that direct transfer of cash subsidy scheme was aimed at rolling back public distribution system (PDS). “PDS is important in curbing price rise of essential commodities and ensuring proper prices for agricultural commodities. However, with direct transfer of cash subsidy, this system may be scrapped indirectly,” he said. CPI will create awareness among people about this, he added. On the issue of Food Security Bill, Kango said that CPI would submit a memorandum with 5,00,00,000 signatures to the...

 This in turn was result of senior officers’ attitude is not serious in ensuring their juniors do not take investigations lightly By Dheeraj Fartode The falling rate of conviction and shoddy investigations are two parts of same coin. Aiming to reverse the tide in Maharashtra, annual appraisal of Unit Commanders would now depend on conviction rate. Director General of Police (DGP) Sanjeev Dayal has drafted the new policy in a last ditch attempt to remove complacency that has set in the force. DGP, Maharashtra of Police, Sanjeev Dayal Senior officers were asked umpteen numbers of times to focus on ensuring that water tight cases are filed in the court to get conviction. But the large scale acquittal in sensational and also in not so sensational cases followed by chiding by courts, it was felt that unless top brass is brought in picture the scenario would not change. Hence, sources said, the new policy aims to ensure that annual confidential reports (ACRs), where fav...

By Dheeraj Fartode Angry villagers of Kuhi tehsil on Monday observed Bandh and expressed their deep anguish against the brutual gang rape and dacoity case. Villagers, including school and college girls, stormed the streets of Kuhi on Monday morning and marched to Kuhi police station and Grampanchayat to register their strong protest against the dastardly act. A group of armed dacoits on wee hours of Saturday raided a house in four villages and looted gold ornaments, cash and raped an 18-year-old girl. The villagers along with different social and political organisations gathered at the Police station and Grampanchayat and demanded stern action against culprits. The agitators submitted a memorandum to Superintendent of Police Dr Manoj Kumar Sharma demanding better policing to protect the lives and properties of the villagers. Addressing the protesters, Dr Manoj Kumar Sharma said that cops will take stern action against all culprits and no mercy will be shown towards anyo...

By Dheeraj Fartode Villagers of Kodamendhi village blocked Ramtek-Bhandara state highway and ransacked vehicles including a police jeep and MSRTC’s bus after one police officer allegedly thrashed a rice mill owner on Monday. Demanding suspension of Police Inspector of Ramtek Police station, Kishor Gavai, the irked villagers launched protest on the state highway. Cops resorted to mild lathi charge to disperse the angry mob and clear the highway. The villagers torched some tyres on the road and created ruckus to press their demand to take action against police official for his alleged high-handed act. The protest continued for around five hours. Additional Superintendent of Police Prakash Jadhav intervened into the matter and pacified angry villagers. Raghunath Deshmukh (42), a rice mill owner was heading towards Kodamendhi village with his tractor. PI Gavai and staff were in front of his vehicle in a police jeep. Deshmukh accelerated his tractor and tried to overta...

By Dheeraj Fartode An on duty keyman of South Eastern Central Railway (SECR) Nagpur Division was run over by 12906 Howrah-Hapa Express at Kamptee station on Sunday. Rajkumar Ishwar Tembhurne (46), a resident of Rama Nagar, Kamptee, was working on the track. The incident occurred at 5 pm when the keyman was busy tightening keys of the track at railway station. As he noticed an approaching train, Rajkumar shifted to adjoining track ignoring that another train was also arriving on that track.  Though the Loco Pilot honked, as the adjoining track was still not clear the keyman froze and was run over. Staff of Government Railway Police (GRP), Itwari, rushed to the spot and sent the body for autopsy. Cops have registered a case of accidental death and launched a probe.

Maharashtra Minister Rajendra Mulak consoling a victim of dacoity at Kuhi Rural Hospital on Sunday.  As the crime happened in the night time, the cops hurdle is identification of accused By Dheeraj Fartode Nagpur Rural police on Sunday rounded up five more persons in the serial dacoities in the Kuhi tehsil. The criminals under influence of liquor had also raped a girl who tried to intervene when the former were beating her parents. Just after the incident, the cops had netted three in combing operations. Rural police that had formed 11 teams had fanned out in different directions and have brought in person who have past record of such crimes, said the Superintendent of Police, Dr Manoj Kumar Sharma. The police officers in Nagpur Rural Police jurisdiction were on roads all night and the combing operation led to nabbing of the three in immediate aftermath of the dacoities. “We are quizzing the suspects and hopeful of cracking the case,” he added. “The eight pe...

Senior officer interacting with traffic control branch personnel during workshop.  Traffic Control Branch has 540 personnel catering to population of 26 lakh in second capital of the State By Dheeraj Fartode  The Beat Constables are the best public relation manager. Their overall conduct makes or mars the image of the department. Taking cue from the feedback received from the general people, Traffic Control Branch has geared-up for an image makeover. The nature of complaints are general in nature, and most related to behaviour. We are aware that cops on duty may not be at fault but they do need counselling as this will alter their lookout and help them to handle stress in a better way, said Jeevraj Dabhade, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Traffic Control Branch, Nagpur city police. We felt that cops need to reorient themselves and their thinking. Hence, we have taken an initiative and started workshops to equip our personnel with better understanding of hu...

Cops deployed at spot They entered the huts of labourers, assaulted them, and relieved them of valuables By Dheeraj Fartode Sensation, shock, and anger prevailed throughout Nagpur district when a gang of dacoits struck at farm-houses in a few villages in Kuhi tehsil on Friday night, and gang-raped a girl. Nagpur (Rural) Police swung into action and launched a massive manhunt for the accused. On Saturday, cops rounded up three ‘suspects’. Around 8.30 pm on Friday, five or six motorcycle-borne masked dacoits in the age-group of 25-30 years reached village Chitapur-Tarni. They entered a farm-house reportedly owned by Vijay Bhandarkar, a resident of Nagpur. Deorao Soma Chacherkar, the care-taker, was at the farm-house. The dacoits knocked the door and when Chacherkar opened it, asked him whether he worked at the farm-house of one Bomkar. As he replied in positive, dacoits attacked him with an axe. Chacherkar sustained injuries in the attack. Dacoits also assaulted his wife T...

Due to foggy conditions, the train time table was severely disrupted on Grand Trunk and Mumbai-Howrah route By Dheeraj Fartode After improvement in weather conditions, the movement of trains on North-South and East-West sector is getting normalised. Due to foggy conditions, the train time table was severely disrupted on Grand Trunk and Mumbai-Howrah route. Due to late running of trains, travellers were severely troubled. Rajdhani Express A majority of trains after being rescheduled are now running on their original time, on Thursday five trains remained on late chart. Train No. 22865 Lokmanya Tilak-Puri Express was worst affected as it was running two and half hours behind the schedule time. Train No. 12130 Howrah-Mumbai Azad Hind Express was late by two hours, 12723 Hyderabad-New Delhi Andhra Pradesh Express by over one hour and 12102 Howrah-Lokmanya Tilak Jnaneswari Super Deluxe Express by two hours. The late running of trains during the winter season has now become...

Duranto express By Dheeraj Fartode  12214 Sarai Rohilla-Yashvantpur Duranto Express on Tuesday detained at Nagpur station for around one hour after problem was noticed in coupling of the train. A senior railway officer said that some ballast was bump to the train near Godhni station and train was stopped at spot as safety concern. Loco pilot informed to operating control about problem and moved the train at Nagpur station after noticing problems in coupling. The train arrived at 5 pm. Staff of mechanical department repaired the problem. It took one hour. The train moved ahead at 6.15 pm.

Oil tanker train of Indian railway The kite entangled into the over head equipment (OHE) of railway near Chunabhatti area By Dheeraj Fartode Yet another teenager risked his life for catching a kite. The lad climbed atop a stationary oil tanker at Chunabhatti on Sunday afternoon and was plucked by 11,000 volts current. He is identified as Lokesh alias Dadu Sahdeo Choudhary (15), a resident of Chunabhatti and a Standard X student of New English High School, Congress Nagar. Sub-Inspector of Dhantoli police station Surendra Ahirkar told ‘The Hitavada’ that Lokesh along with friends were enjoying kite festival. Some youths were flying kites and one group was chasing the kites. One of kite flew towards railway line and Lokesh along with his friends  chased the kite. The kite entangled into the over head equipment (OHE) of railway near Chunabhatti area. An oil tanker train was waiting at the signal post when Lokesh climbed atop the goods train to remove the kite. He was unawa...

These (Naxalites) are also our people.”  “We should try to find out the problem behind Naxalism It is totally a socio-economic problem,” said V K Singh V K Singh By Dheeraj Fartode Gen VK Singh has castigated Pakistan for the recent brutality with Indian soldiers saying that “Brutality is the nature of Pakistan.” “Pakistan has been involved in similar brutal incidents in the recent past. It was violation of Geneva convention and human rights,” he said. Remembering Captain Saurabh Kalia incident during the Kargil War, Singh said similar incidents had taken place since 1971 war. However, Singh was against tough action against Pakistan, as advocated by former military officers. “There are political and military solutions for the issue. In the past too it had given good results,” he said. Ruling out military action to solve Naxal menace, the ex-Army chief said “these (Naxalites) are also our people.”  “We should try to find out the problem behind Naxalism ...

Gen (retd) V K Singh garlanding the portrait of V P Singh at Mor Bhavan on Saturday. “Government cannot protect the interest of farmers. It cannot give justice to farmers. Price of fertilisers keeps increasing each year. There is a farmer’s suicide every hour,” said  V K Singh By Dheeraj Fartode Accusing government of anti-farmers policy ex-chief of Army staff General V K Singh, on Saturday, exhorted farmers to unite and change the system. Addressing a farmers’ gathering under the banner of Kisan Manch at Morbhavan, Singh said, “Government is giving a step-motherly treatment to farmers. Farmers should be aware of such political leaders and not vote for them in the upcoming elections.” National President of Kisan Manch Vinod Singh, Pratap Goswami, Central General Secretary of Nag Vidarbha Andolan Samiti, Ahmed Kadar and others were present on the dais. Singh blamed wrong government policies for last 65 years for rising debts on farmers. “Government cannot protect ...

MST Monthly pass-holders ransacked Kalmeshwar railway station By Dheeraj Fartode Monthly pass-holders ransacked Kalmeshwar railway station after one of their associate was run-over by a speeding Dakshin Express on Thursday night. The man was part of pass-holders group- who were demanding halt for Dakshin Express at Kalmeshwar station, as their passenger train was stranded for one hour to allow other express trains. A senior railway officer on request of anonymity said that 51839 Itarsi-Nagpur passenger arrived at Kalmeshvar railway station at 7.10 pm. The train was stationed at loop line to clear the track for express trains. As the train did not move even after one hour, the pass-holder were irked and sought justification from local Railway staffers. Very soon the situation became quite tense as a large group assembled near the chamber of station master. The passengers forced station master to move their train ahead. When the officer informed them that the track ...

By Dheeraj Fartode Pakistani troops encroached into the Indian Territory around 600 meters inside at Mendhar area of LOC (Line of Control) in Kashmir. Pak army fired incessantly on the tactical Border Patrolling Team of 8 on the border & killed 2 Army men of 13 Rajputana Rifles Lance Naik Shri Hemraj & Shri Sudhakar Singh while injuring 2 other army men. Pak brutality did not stop at that; the Pak military beheaded both Indian army men mutilating their bodies & also took away the head of one of the Indian army men as a trophy of victory the same way as they have been doing following their barbaric ideology past many centuries. Soldier of Indian Army Condemning it, Dr Pravin Togadia, VHP International Working President said, “Sheer inhuman brutality shown by Pakistan in all this can surely be the topic of a greater debate on the ideology guiding them to do all such things. But the issue at this moment here is that of Indian Govt’s meek & weak responses in al...

By Dheeraj Fartode Persistent foggy conditions in Northern India affected services of more than 50 to and fro trains to New Delhi and parts of Eastern India, including premier services like Rajdhani Express. The trains were running late by three hours behind schedule. Kamakhya Express service was cancelled as the pair train was running several hours late. Train No. 12724 New Delhi-Hyderabad Andhra Pradesh Express and 12616 New Delhi-Chennai Grand Trunk Express were the worst affected trains as they were reaching more than 10 hours late at Nagpur. A senior railway official said that the impact of fog is most severe on trains moving through New Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR). This has made journey to Delhi a rigorous one for the passengers. Almost all the trains between New Delhi and Chennai were running late on Monday. The impact will continue till the fog cover thins out. Train No. 12723 Hyderabad-New Delhi Andhra Pradesh Express and 12723 Patna-Banglore Express ...

By Dheeraj Fartode A passion of teenager for kites ended in tragedy after he got run over by a passenger train near Kumbharpura on Sunday morning. The incident occurred when Chhindwara-Nagpur Narrow Gauge train was crossing the Panchpaoli area. The 15-year-old, Nikhil Devanand Pathak, a student of SSC, and only son of parents, ignored the approaching train in a bid to latch onto a kite that was about to fall down on other side of the railway line. Kite chasing According to Panchpaoli police, Nikhil along with neighbouring friends were chasing a kite on the railway track. Chhindwara-Nagpur passenger was zooming in from other side around the same time. While Nikhil's friends stopped in their track, the teenager got engrossed in looking upto the kite in the sky. He was continuously running in direction of the kite and got caught-up in the train, the police said. Nikhil was knocked death on the spot. Panchpaoli police shifted Nikhil's body for autopsy to  Mayo Hospital...

After getting information about the murder, relatives of Naushad gathered in large numbers and ransacked offices of Baksh brothers and set ablaze two vehicles parked before their office By Dheeraj Fartode  In cold blooded incident, a middle aged man was stabbed to death near Shitala Mata Temple on Umrer Road on Saturday night. The murder sparked violent reaction as deceased's relatives indulged in arson. The mob frenzy then forced accused to turn themselves in to police, to avoid beaten to death. Cops used cane charge in the area to law and order. Infact, cops had to resort to cane charge to bring the situation under control. The accused are identified as Arifff Baksh Mehbub Baksh (25), a resident of Shoukat Alik Square, Ganjipeth, and Jakir Baksh Mehbub Baksh (35), a resident of Mahendra Nagar, Auliya Nagar, Teka. Police said that victim Naushad Alam Khan (42) was a resident of Ganjipeth area and was running a garage at Hasanbag area. He recently diversified into transpor...

With tremendous increase in NMC’s responsibilities, its sources of revenue, recovery, new taxes had not increased By Dheeraj Fartode NMC Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) general body, on Saturday, passed a proposal seeking special grants of a whopping Rs 6,320 crore from 4th Maharashtra State Finance Commission to boost developmental works in the city. Based on population census of 2011, the proposal seeks additional grant. During discussion on the proposal, Mayor Prof Anil Sole said city’s total area was 217.56 sq km and population was 24.05 lakh as per 2011 census. Population of the city would increase with growth of five-star industrial area in Butibori, Multimodal International Hub and Airport at Nagpur (MIHAN), emerging markets, Metro Region development etc. NMC was bound to play more effective role in city’s development against this backdrop. With tremendous increase in NMC’s responsibilities, its sources of revenue, recovery, new taxes had not increased. This st...

By Dheeraj Fartode Expressing deep concern over ever inadequate supply to gas-based power plants like Dabhol and Uran, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on Friday urged Centre to take over Dabhol project and provide maximum power to state which is facing power shortage. Chavan was speaking at the foundation stone laying ceremony of Mouda Super Thermal Power Project of NTPC. Union Power Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia was the chief guest. Guardian minister Shivajirao Moghe, State power minister Rajendra Mulak, food and civil supplies minister Anil Deshmukh, MP Avinash Pande, MLAs Ashish Jaiswal, Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Narendra Bhondekar, former union minister Subodh Mohite were present at the programme. Power generation of the state has affected due to inadequate supply of coal as state’s power projects are getting only 75 per cent coal, CM stated. Maharashtra Government is ready to invest Rs 1500 crore in the coal block allotted at Machhakata in Orissa, but Orissa g...

By Dheeraj Fartode After three long years, the District administration has finally decided to set up fast track court at New Administrative building to expeditiously decide MIHAN land acquisition award enhancement cases. The administration has cancelled proposal for setting up court at Hingna and/or at MADC administrative building in MIHAN. District Collector Saurabh Rao while confirming the development said that the administration had identified 6,000 sq ft space at new administrative building. Initially the administration had identified two spots including MIHAAN building and Hingna. However the lawyers and District Court administration was not too keen to move outside municipal limits. Infact, location of MIHAN court became point of discontent between lawyers and authorities as they felt that it would be practically inconvenient to travel such a long distance from district and high court. The lawyers had urged administration to search for a land near court area. There was...