Category: Local News

A 35-year-old man named Shriram Uikey has been arrested by Maharashtra police in Nagpur for allegedly sending 30 bomb threat emails to various airlines, airports, and government ministers. His threats, which occurred between October 25 and 30, included messages directed at Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Over the past two weeks, more than 500 domestic and international flights were affected by similar bomb threats, later determined to be hoaxes by security agencies. Most of these threats originated from social media platforms.

In addition to the bomb threats, Uikey had also contacted senior officials, stating he wanted to meet with Fadnavis to discuss potential explosions. He claimed that terrorist groups were targeting six airports and that 31 flights were at risk of hijacking.

Nagpur’s Deputy Commissioner of Police, Lohit Matani, confirmed Uikey’s arrest late on October 31, noting that the investigation is ongoing.

In a separate case, the Kerala Police recently arrested a man for issuing a fake bomb threat to an Air Arabia flight bound for Abu Dhabi from Karipur International Airport. Mohammed Ijas, 26, from Palakkad, was detained under various legal provisions and has since been remanded to custody by the court.

Bhandara News : Lakhni, a central hub in the taluka, serves as a point for residents to conduct various small errands. However, a rise in stray dogs has led to a troubling situation, with reports of 47 dog bites at the rural hospital since October 1.

Many victims sustained serious injuries and were subsequently transferred to the district hospital. Alarmingly, the majority of those bitten were children, prompting local authorities to take urgent action regarding the stray dog issue. This crisis has instilled fear among the community.

In just the last three days, 16 individuals have been attacked by rabid dogs: three on Saturday (26th), eight on Sunday (27th), two on Monday (28th), and three on Tuesday (29th). The injured include Resham Urkude (19, Lakhori), Bhairavi Bhaisare (8 months, Lakhni), Shraddha Girepunje (7, Lakhni), and Priyanshu Uke (7, Lakhni), among others such as Sonu Chandorkar, Aachal Kokade, Somyik Hukare, Shruti Temburne, Viju Madavi, Mahendra Waghaye, Sakshi Nimbarte, Arya Nagalwade, Monali Chetule, Akshad Walode, and Shailesh Urkude.

Lakhni, Murmadi, and Sawari are neighboring villages, with Lakhni designated as a municipal council and the others as gram panchayats. All three areas have a significant population of stray dogs that attack during the day. Affected locations include the municipal council vicinity, the meat market area, Lakhori Road, Seloti Road, Adarsh Nagar, the Panchayat Samiti vicinity, Sipavada Road, and the Tehsil area in Murmadi, as well as the Kumar Petrol Pump area, Srinagar Colony, Shiv Nagar Colony, Ujjwal Nagar, and Samarth Maidan, including the State Bank area and Somalvada Road in Sawari.

The dogs aggressively chase residents and bark, contributing to a notable increase in minor accidents. Consequently, there is an urgent call for local authorities to take decisive action to manage the stray dog population.

Nagpur, Maharashtra: On Tuesday afternoon, two coaches of the 18029 Shalimar Express derailed near Kalamna yard while traveling from Nagpur to Gondia. Fortunately, the train was moving at a slow speed, preventing any injuries or casualties, as confirmed by railway officials.

The train had arrived at Nagpur station from Mumbai earlier that day and continued its journey after a brief stop at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Itwari Railway Station. The derailment occurred around 2:30 pm, affecting the parcel coach and sleeper coach S-2, which is located directly behind the engine, leaving passengers shaken.

Suspected Technical Issue

An officer from the Railway Protection Force (RPF) stated that the cause of the derailment is still under investigation, but initial assessments suggest a technical fault rather than a deliberate act. “We will have more information after the railway investigation, but for now, our focus is on restoring normal operations,” the official said.

Despite the panic among passengers, railway staff responded quickly. Several senior officials, including Divisional Manager Namita Tripathi, arrived on-site promptly to oversee the situation. Relief operations commenced immediately, and by 6:35 pm, efforts to clear the damaged coaches were nearing completion. Officials announced that the train would resume its journey after attaching alternate coaches by 7:30 pm.

Train Services Affected

In the wake of the incident, several trains were either halted or rerouted, including the Puri-Gandhidham Express, Vidarbha Superfast Express, and Puri-Ajmer Superfast Express. The Kolhapur-Gondia Maharashtra Express was redirected via Kalamna instead of Itwari.

Railway helplines have been established at various stations, including Itwari, Gondia, Dongargarh, and Rajnandgaon, to assist and provide information to passengers’ families. Despite the disruption, officials reassured that no one was harmed during the derailment, largely due to the train’s slow speed at the time of the incident.

Controversial Smart Market Complex Constructed on Government Land in Vinoba Bhave Nagar

Tumsar News : A serious case regarding the disposal of government land on Bhandara Road in Vinoba Bhave Nagar, Tumsar, has come to light. A private smart market building has been constructed on this land, systematically misrepresenting it as private property.

The old land record number for this site is 1100, and it has been established that a fraudulent layout plan exists in series 3231. After the establishment of the Land Records Department in 1972, this land was transferred to the Nazul department. The Nazul department created a layout plan without mentioning the original owner and marked it as “Gairan.”

Thirty-one years later, the Talathi made alterations under orders, indicating that this government land was private. This raises questions about the validity of the claims.

According to Sections 233 to 237 of the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code, the land has been clearly designated as a village site on the Tumsar village map. Residents of Tumsar have demanded action against the responsible officials. Attempts to contact Sub-Divisional Officer Darshan Nikale were unsuccessful.

Given the neglect by the Sub-Divisional Officer, and considering the land is government property, letters were sent to the Sub-Divisional Officer from Sub-Divisional Officer (Revenue) Shri Bhupati More on March 3, 2023, and July 27, 2023, instructing them to conduct an inquiry and take appropriate action. However, no action has yet been taken, and the smart market building stands completed.

Under the Madhya Pradesh Abolition of Zamindari Act of 1950 and Section 122 of the Maharashtra Land Revenue Act of 1966, government Gairan/village sites and habitation are clearly defined. Violations of these regulations are evident.

The village site is government-owned, and this land will be taken over by the municipal council. Orders will be issued for an inquiry and action against the relevant officials.” – Mohan Tikle, Tehsildar, Tumsar

On October 15, 2024, a meeting was held at the police headquarters in Bhandara to discuss the safety of women and children, along with other important issues, attended by around 50 lodge owners from the Bhandara district. The meeting was led by Superintendent of Police Narul Hasan and Additional Superintendent of Police Ishwar Katkade, who provided guidance and directives to the lodge owners.

Key instructions included that minors under 18 years of age should not be allowed to enter the lodge without their parents, and that CCTV cameras must be installed with a storage capacity of 90 days.

Customer records and identification documents must be kept securely for five years. If foreign nationals stay at the lodge, their complete information must be reported to the local police station and also emailed to the district special branch in Bhandara.

The consumption of drugs and alcohol within the lodges is strictly prohibited. Given that Bhandara district borders the Naxal-affected areas of Gadchiroli and Gondia, any suspicious Naxal activities must be reported to the relevant police station immediately.

With assembly elections approaching in Maharashtra and a significant number of VIP visits expected in the district, lodge owners must notify the police if they have information about relevant individuals staying at their establishments.

Additionally, any illegal activities such as gambling, cricket betting, or unlicensed hookah parlors found in the lodges will result in strict action against the lodge owner as per the applicable laws. This guidance and these instructions were provided to the lodge owners during the meeting.

In a serious case of misconduct, officials in the Orthopedic Department of Bhandara General Hospital allegedly misused their positions under the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana during the financial years 2019-20, 2020-21, and 2021-22. They reportedly facilitated a scam by conducting procurement processes in a non-transparent manner, favoring a contractor without using online trading.

Ajay Gopichand Meshram filed a complaint on March 15, 2024, with the Collector and the Chief Minister, highlighting that this malpractice resulted in the embezzlement of crores of rupees from the government treasury. Despite submitting further evidence to the Guardian Minister, the seriousness of the situation was reportedly overlooked, raising concerns that the details of this scam might not reach the public.

The investigation revealed that hospital officials inflated the prices of medical items by four to eight times, causing significant financial loss to the government. Furthermore, the Collector’s report noted that tender advertisements were not published in recognized newspapers, which raises additional questions about the procurement process.

The embezzlement amounts to lakhs or even crores, and despite demands for a high-level inquiry, no action has been taken against the implicated officials after eight months. Meshram is calling for a criminal case to be filed against those involved, the blacklisting of the contractor, and immediate suspension of the officials.

He has also threatened to go on a hunger strike outside the Collectorate in eight days if no action is taken. Evidence and reports detailing the embezzlement related to the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana have been attached to the complaint.

Nagpur: Ritika Malu, the main accused in the Ram Jhula accident case, was arrested by the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) late Wednesday night at her home in Deshpande Layout, Wardhman Nagar. The Sessions Court denied her bail application on the same day and granted the CID permission to act 214 days after the accident.

Following her arrest, several dramatic developments occurred. In an unprecedented action, the First-Class Judicial Magistrate (JMFC) opened the courtroom at 10:30 PM, enabling the CID to proceed with the arrest. Notably, the court allowed the arrest of a female accused even after sunset.

Action Taken

A team of ten CID officers, including two female officials, entered a residence belonging to the Malu family after midnight to conduct a search operation. About 40 minutes later, the female officers left the house without Ritika Malu and proceeded to another bungalow belonging to the Malu family in the same lane. Around 1 AM, the female officers emerged from that bungalow with Ritika Malu, drawing a large crowd of neighbors.

What is the Case?

On February 24, Ritika Malu drove her vehicle at high speed on the Ram Jhula bridge, running over Mohammad Hussain Ghulam Mustafa and Mohammad Atif Mohammad Zia shortly after midnight. After the accident, Ritika and her friend Madhuri Shishir Sarda fled the scene. A few days later, both surrendered to the police and admitted to the incident. The Tehsil police subsequently filed a bailable case against them under Sections 297, 338, and 304(a) of the IPC.

Request to the Court

As per a Supreme Court ruling, a female accused cannot be arrested after sunset. However, if there are compelling reasons for the arrest or a risk of the accused fleeing the state or country, investigating officers can seek permission from the judge of the court handling the case. With the court’s approval, a female accused can be arrested even after sunset.

The National Child Health Program at District Hospital Bhandara is making significant progress in improving child health through regular check-ups for children aged 0 to 18. Recently, an investigation identified 132 children in Bhandara district as potential candidates for heart surgery.

Out of 21 children were found eligible, and 15 were referred to Acharya Vinoba Bhave Rural Hospital in Savangi Meghe, Wardha, on September 13, 2024.

On September 18, 2024, five successful heart surgeries took place, showcasing the program’s effectiveness. A notable case was that of Ch. Krishnai Yogesh Brahmankar, a 2-year-old girl with severe heart disease.

Although her surgery was scheduled under the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana, her parents faced complications due to not having a ration card, which complicated the registration process.

Thanks to the dedicated efforts of Dr. Dipchand Soyam, Dr. Atul Tembhurne, and the diligent health screening team.

Krishnai’s surgery was successfully conducted under the National Child Health Program, overcoming these obstacles. Their commitment ensured that she received the life-saving treatment she needed.

Now, Krishnai is recovering well, bringing immense relief to her family. Her parents have expressed heartfelt gratitude to the district surgeons and medical staff for their support and expertise.

This initiative highlights the importance of regular health screenings and the vital role of healthcare professionals in providing essential services.

The successful surgeries not only reflect a commitment to improving child health outcomes in Bhandara, but also ensure that vulnerable children receive the care they deserve. The National Child Health Program is making a lasting impact on the lives of children in the district.

Pooja Khedkar, an IAS officer currently embroiled in multiple controversies, was seen in Nagpur on Wednesday, sparking widespread speculation. Khedkar, who was accompanied by her mother, was reportedly spotted in a black luxury car at Gokulpeth Square in the afternoon. The vehicle later proceeded towards Ramnagar, drawing significant attention.

Khedkar, a trainee IAS officer from the Maharashtra cadre, has faced intense scrutiny over allegations of using fake documents to secure her place in the UPSC quota. The controversy has not only implicated her but also extended to her family. In response to these allegations, the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration in Mussoorie has recalled Khedkar to verify her documents. Consequently, her training program in Maharashtra has been abruptly canceled.

The charges against Khedkar are severe and multifaceted. They include allegations of commandeering a senior officer’s cabin, using a red beacon on a private vehicle, and leveraging her position under the OBC quota despite holding substantial assets. Additionally, there are claims that she secured her IAS position by using a disability certificate fraudulently.

The unfolding situation has prompted significant public and administrative concern, with ongoing investigations likely to determine the full extent of the allegations and their implications for Khedkar’s career and the integrity of the IAS selection process.