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A Village Burnt Overnight: Tears, Loss and Survival in Dhamangaon Blaze

  Sitting amid the blackened remains of his home, 32-year-old Nikesh Gawali carefully broke open a half-melted plastic box with a screwdriver. His hands shook slightly, not out of fear, but out of hope. “I’m trying to find my daughter Aarti’s gold earrings,” he said quietly, still focused on the box. “She’s just five. I got them made recently after months of labour work.” The plastic box, warped and blackened by heat, was one of the few things left from his two-room house on the outskirts of Dhamangaon village . All around him lay ash, broken tin sheets and charred wooden beams. The walls had cracked under the heat and the front room’s tin roof had caved in completely. What remained was a blackened debris all around - almost nothing to suggest a home once stood there. Nikesh earns his living as an agricultural labourer, like many in the village. Work is uncertain and depends on the season. Those earrings weren’t just jewellery - they were a small dream, a reward for his hard work,...

Christmas Party turns violent at CP Club, One injured


What was meant to be a cheerful Christmas celebration at the CP Club in Civil Lines turned ugly late on Tuesday night after a heated argument led to a violent attack. A young man was seriously injured after being hit with a glass during a party, following abuses allegedly made in the name of a BJP MLA.

The incident took place in the early hours of December 25 at the 1901 Lounge of the CP Club, where a Christmas party was being hosted. According to police, the party was attended by several well-known faces from the city. Among them were the injured man, Sarvottam Sanjay Kothari (32), a resident of Ramdaspeth, and the accused, Akshay Muglewar (29), who lives near Ravi Nagar Chowk. The two reportedly knew each other.

Sarvottam had been invited to the party by Suraj Devani, son of CP Club committee member and liquor businessman Girish Devani. Everything was going smoothly until around 1.30 am, when Akshay allegedly began using abusive language and repeatedly took the name of a BJP MLA while talking about the Hingna Nagar Panchayat elections.

Witnesses said Sarvottam tried to calm Akshay down and asked him to stop using offensive language. He also attempted to call the MLA to inform him about what was being said. This reportedly angered Akshay further. In a sudden fit of rage, he picked up a glass and attacked Sarvottam.

Sarvottam suffered deep cuts on his face and ear, causing heavy bleeding. Panic broke out at the party as guests rushed to help him. He was immediately taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. His condition is said to be stable.

As the situation worsened, the Sadar police were informed. After recording statements and reviewing the incident, the police registered a case of assault against Akshay Muglewar. Further investigation is ongoing.


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