News Reporter

By Dheeraj Fartode  Expressing deep concern over rise of Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) and its adverse impact on social and political fabric of India, International Working President of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) Dr Pravin Togadia on Thursday said that emergence of MIM would shrink the political space and will make Muslims politically unsafe.  Traditionally, Muslims votes en bloc for Congress or NCP, but these votes have now shifted to parties like MIM which actually helped the BJP in winning elections, Togadia claimed during an exclusive interview to The Hitavada. However, the fire-brand VHP leader claimed that corresponding decrease in representation of Muslims in Congress and NCP would actually affect political empowerment of Muslims in future. Any attempt by outfits like MIM to woo Scheduled Castes will not succeed, he predicted citing historic decision of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar who refused to embrace Islam.  Dr Pravin Togadia, International Working Pr...

Police force to rely on forensic tools for improving conviction rate Crime against women, cyber and economic offences poses new challenge and police department is going to sharpen its focus By Dheeraj Fartode Waking-up to new age challenges and reorienting the police force to meet these threats viz--crime against women, cyber and economic crime-- tops the new year agenda of the Maharashtra Police. Disclosing this Director General of Police (DGP) Sanjeev Dayal said to meet these challenges we have taken first step by starting refreshers courses for officers of state police service (SPS) at Maharashtra Police Academy, Nasik. DGP Sanjeev Dayal The course is dubbed as specialised training programme and incorporates forensic science and technology. Both are being clubbed to equip the officers who are in field with new perspective in investigating the crime. The biggest advantage that Dayal sees in aftermath of trained personnel is tackling the falling detection as well as ...

By Dheeraj Fartode Asserting that education decides future of country, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday asked institutes to focus on delivering quality education. “Education is an important measure of progress. It shapes generation and decides destiny of the country by providing quality education, enhancing skills and inculcating good values in students,” Fadnavis opined.  Instead of earlier concept -- ‘Education for all’-- the Government will work hard to ensure ‘Quality education for all’. Every school should follow the path of excellence as only book-based education and formal degrees are insufficient in knowledge based economy and ever changing world in 21st century. Educational institutes should adopt curriculum which hons soft skills of studetents, the Chief Minister said.  He was adressing a programme at Royal Gondawana Public School, Shankarpur, after inaugurating Late Meeradevi Dasture Memorial. Energy Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, MLA Sud...

Eco-friendly public transport to replace existing carbon emitting buses   By Dheeraj Fartode Terming balanced development of Vidarbha and other parts of the state as need of the hour, Union Surface Transport and Shipping minister Nitin Gadkari, on Friday, announced to brand Nagpur as a “pollution free city.” The city will soon have a fleet of green-bus which will run on ethanol, he declared. Union government have given approval for operation of Green Buses as pilot project at Nagpur city and sanctioned 1200 buses. This buses will reduce 90% emission of Carbon monoxide and will Star Buses operations in city limits soon, Gadkari stated.   Union Surface Transport and Shipping minister Nitin Gadkari visited Vidhan Bhavan premises on Friday afternoon. The BJP-Shiv Sena government is paying equal attention to grievances of all regions of the state and balanced development would be accomplished in next five years, said Gadkari.  Addressing a press confe...

The Independent MLA from Achalpur in Vidarbha registers novel protest on Wednesday in front of Assembly building to demand betterment of conditions of handicapped persons in State By Dheeraj Fartode Independent MLA from Achalpur, Bachchu Kadu on Wednesday was cynosure of all eyes at Vidhan Bhawan after he entered the premises riding on a tri-cycle to highlight the sorry plight of handicapped persons in Maharashtra. Kadu's novel idea was to demonstrate problems faced by physically challenged persons who he claimed are victim of apathy of Government. The MLA cycled in the Vidhan Bhawan with five handicapped persons on tri-cycles and attention of media and onlookers and politicians got immediately focussed on Kadu. Hundreds of persons gathered around Kadu in amazement as well as curiosity. MLA Bachchu Kadu along with his supporters at Vidhan Bhavan campus on Wednesday.  Talking with ‘The Hitavada’ Bachchu Kadu said that the morcha was to attract attention of the Gov...

By Dheeraj Fartode Acknowledging that much needs to be done to address the problems faced by people in Naxal-infested areas, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the Government is committed to overall development of the region. An action plan is being drafted to identify the shortcoming and to improve upon shortcomings in the administration. "The BJP-Shiv Sena alliance is committed to bringing the naxal infested region in mainstream of development", Fadnavis opined. Fadnavis was interacting with a group of 41 students hailing from Gadchiroli district who are on tour of State as part of Aapla Maharashtra programme organised by Maharashtra Police. The student have visited Mumbai, Pune, Ahmednagar,  Nagpur and other big cities. The tour is part of continuing efforts of Maharashtra Police to provide exposure to inhabitants of Gadchiroli to outside area and provide them an idea of what development means! Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Maharashtra Minister for Tribal...

By Dheeraj Fartode The cold war between Director General of Police (DGP) Sanjeev Dayal and his officers is now out in open, forcing Maharashtra Government to sit-up and take notice. Three senior police officers have lodged a complaint against DGP with Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Amitabh Ranjan. They stated that DGP directed them not to attend a meet called by Chief Minister for review of law & order situation in State. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in fact has not taken very lightly the DGP's directive to his officers. This is been seen as an open defiance by DGP to State's authority as the former reportedly prevented three top officials from attending a meeting convened by Chief Minister during the last month. Fadnavis has directed ACS (Home) to conduct an inquiry and submit him a report. When the trio was asked explanation for absence from the meeting, they squarely blamed DGP Dayal who they claimed told them they need not come. The Home department ha...

Cops have recovered Rs 12 lakh from their bank accounts The gang duped numbers of persons across the country By Dheeraj Fartode Nagpur rural police have busted a seven member gang hailing from Haryana and Delhi for duping a businessman of Umred town to tune of Rs 24 lakh. The accused were also on radar of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Goa police for duping number of persons to tune of crores of rupees.  According to police, the complainant Amit Ashok Gupta (34), a resident of Itwari Peth, Umred, on April 24, 2014 received a call from call center of ICICI Prudential company. The caller first informed him about details of his policy so as to gain confidence of Amit. The caller further asked Amit to open five new policies of ICICI to nominate himself in diamond category and further said it will give him impressive returns of Rs 47 lakh. The caller started daily calling to Amit from the call center and convinced him to purchase new policies. Amit transferred Rs 24 lak...

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis directs appointment of special executive magistrate to speed-up process of liquidation of seized assets of fruadsters By Dheeraj Fartode Asking Home Department to speed-up process of disbursement of seized properties of fraudsters among the gullible investors, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday reviewed law and order situation. On sidelines of winter session, Chief Minister first asked for details about ponzy schemes and their status and . When he learnt about settlement in many cases, Fadnavis asked then directed Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Amitabh Ranjan and Director General of Police Sanjeev Dayal to co-ordinate with Revenue officials and ensure immediate disbursement of assets in cases which are now settled. He asked Home Department to pursue appointment of Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) who is an officer of rank of Additional District Magistrate, and provide immediate relief to thousands of investors who are waiting for r...

Ambazari police to produce in court on Monday and secure police custody remand By Dheeraj Fartode Amol Dhake, promoter of Satvik Group, the latest name in the long list of investment firms that duped Nagpurians, was arrested on Sunday by Ambazari police. Dhake was on run after his investment firm went bust last year, just about the time when the term deposits accepted by former was to mature. Amol Dhake Police have Dhake from Ram Nagar area of city where he was meeting the aggrieved investors to convince them about his intention to return their money. Dhake will be produced in court on Monday to secure his police custody remand (PCR) for interrogation.  Police Inspector of Ambazari police station, Balasaheb Khade said that Dhake was picked-up after we learnt about his meeting. The sudden appearance of Dhake in city was quite mysterious as was his disappearance from city last year after wounding-up his business and other establishments. A senior police offi...

17 investors who collectively lost Rs. 34 lakh approaches Ambazari police Dhake, wife and three others booked for cheating  By Dheeraj Fartode Yet another investment company has gone bust. Ambazari police have booked Chairman of Satvik Group of Investment Amol Dhake and five Directors, including his wife, for cheating investors to the tune of Rs 34 lakh. Incidentally, Dhake had already wound-up his establishment in city and disposed of properties and fled the city, the police stated.  Cops are currently clueless about location of Dhake and have launched manhunt to get nab him. He left city around six months ago when his investment went awry. Acting on the complaint by Sanjay Prakash Kashikar (50), a resident of house of 808 (a), near Model Mill Road, Karnalbag, the police have booked Chairman Amol Dhake and his wife,  Mahendra Kohad, Atul Dikshit, Sandip Mahajan and Mohan Joshi. Police Inspector of Ambazari police station Balasaheb Khade told ‘The Hitava...

By Dheeraj Fartode Sensation prevailed at Dharampeth after a businessman from Chandrapur was fired at from a pistol by three city youth on Tuesday afternoon. The businessman, Shahid Siddiqui (28) was shot at from German Mauser pistol by three youth. The spot was behind Sudama Talkies, about 500 metres from residence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The incident triggered panic as Siddiqui was driving the luxury sedan, Audi Q5, and as the bullet hit him he lost control and the vehicle rammed into compound wall of Adv. Sahil Bhangde. The gun shot wound was heard by citizens who came out of their house and saw the accident. Initially there was much confusion whether it was an accident of someone was hurt in gun shot wound. The bullet according to police pierced through Shahid neck and he is fighting for his life at a private hospital in city, the police said after preliminary inquiry. Sitabuldi police who almost made a dash for the spot, it being in close proximity to ci...

More than 100 trucks seized during last four months for transporting illegally excavated sand By Dheeraj Fartode Continuing its crackdown on illegal excavation and transportation of sand in district, Nagpur Rural Police on Sunday seized eight trucks from Ramadongri and Sahuli sand ghats. The police have also arrested eight persons who were on board the trucks. Local Crime Branch (LCB) raided the sand ghats during wee hours of Sunday. Sand was being excavated and the cops cordoned off the area and seized the trucks. The accused are identified as Gautam Udaram Borkar (35), a resident of Khairpanjab; Salman Khan Sayyad Khan (23), Siddharth Mahadev Bapne (40), both residents of Nagpur and Sukhdev Antu Uikey (40), a resident of Ramdongri. The cops have seized 9 brass of sand that illegally excavated and filled in the trucks. Khapa police have registered the case under sections 379, 109 and 34 of Indian Penal Code. LCB teams raids ghats and bust gangs involved in illegally exc...

By Dheeraj Fartode In the wake of defeat in Lok Sabha and Legislative Assembly polls held earlier this year, Congress party has decided to concentrate on strengthening the party organisation at ground level in not only Vidarbha region but also the State.  All India Women’s Congress Committee chief Shobha Oza, on Sunday, said that Congress learnt from the defeat that there was a big communication gap between the Government and the party organisation. “Now, we are going to strengthen the organisation. A special drive would be conducted. The party will rise strongly against the rivals in coming days,” she said while addressing a press conference.  Oza said that Congress would consistently raise issues concerning common man. ‘Halla Bol’ agitation on Monday is a part of Congress’ strategy to counter BJP, she added. Accusing BJP-led NDA Government of not keeping its promises, she said that the Government had no concern for common man. Atrocities against women, tribals, a...