News Reporter

Though the State’s conviction rate has been a cause of concern for the Government, Nagpur City Police’s record on this count has come as a breather for it. Compared to the conviction rate of 14 per cent for previous year, the City Police has registered conviction in 26 per cent in six months of current year. Conviction rate is number of cases per hundred in which court has held the accused guilty and awarded punishment. Maharashtra’s conviction rate has been a dismal single-digit for past some years. In 2012, it was 9.4 per cent only. This has prompted the State Government to initiate measures to increase conviction rate. In case of Nagpur city, the data with City Police reveals that conviction rate has registered an increase in first half of this year over the year 2012. Of a total 1,203 cases registered between January and June 2013, accused were convicted in 309 cases. In the year 2010, conviction rate for the city was only 5 per cent, which declined to 4 per cent in 20...

By Dheeraj Fartode SECURITY got beefed-up in second capital and special searches were carried out at malls after city police received specific alert from Maharashtra police headquarters. Throughout the day police patrolling was intensified in sensitive areas and police presence stepped at key installations including Railway station. Sources said that an alert was sounded about terrorist strike on July 21 in major cities of Maharashtra including Pune and Mumbai and at Hyderabad in Andhra Pradesh. The alert based on intercepts said that anti-national elements may also hijack planes from small airstrips or attack at Railway station. Following this authorities have beefed up security at airports, railway station and sensitive areas, the sources claimed. The sources further informed that July is a worrying month for Maharashtra police as a string of blasts--such as the serial train blasts of 2006, and triple blasts of 2011-- have in the past occurred in this month. The railway...

This disturbing trend has exposed the dark underbelly of progressive state like Maharashtra where tiny tots are exposed to violence.  Age group 0-10 yrs               Maharashtra   Uttar Pradesh   Tamil Nadu 2012 159                 114                     59 2011 141                  96                     63 2010 169                 138                      90 By Dheeraj Fartode Maharashtra may be leading State and a torch bearer of progressive ideas, many of which got adopted at national level. But beneath the sheen lies a dark underbelly, the rising graph of crime against children. In fact Maharashtra has put behind even populous ...

By Dheeraj Fartode  Predicting early Lok Sabha elections, Guardian Minister Shivajirao Moghe asked district administration to get proposals under district annual plan approved from District Planning Committee (DPC) before August 14. “Elections for Lok Sabha can be held anytime. Once model code of conduct comes into effect, it will not be possible to clear the proposals,” Moghe told reporters after DPC meeting held on Friday. The meeting acquired a stormy tone for a while as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators and corporators expressed resentment over depriving Nagpur city of DPC funds. MLA Devendra Fadnavis, Krishna Khopde, Vikas Kumbhare, and corporator Sandeep Joshi demanded separate planning committee for the city. Minister of State for Finance and Planning Rajendra Mulak said that amendment to rules was needed to make a provision in this regard. Moghe informed the reporters that district annual plan size was of Rs 175 crore. Clubbed with various sub-plans, the...

Many students, who do not have driving license, drive vehicles at high speed due to fear of Traffic Police By Dheeraj Fartode  If you are going to school/college on motorbike, and do not want to land in trouble, you should keep driving license with you. Traffic cops have decided to conduct drive to check driving licence in schools/colleges in the city, and fine those riding motorbike but not possessing a valid licence. Traffic Branch of City Police will conduct the drive In July and August. “We have already sent a letter to 274 schools/colleges and requested them to mention driving license number of students in their Identity Cards,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP-Traffic) Chandra Kishore Mina told ‘The Hitavada’. Assistant Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Mahadeo Gawade said that many school going/college going students were riding motorcycles without driving license. “No school/college should allow parking of motorcycles in institution’s premises if riders do...