16 April,2026 02:38 PM IST | Latur | mid-day online correspondent
Representational image. File pic
The police department in Maharashtra's Latur district has launched an initiative to check disputes among farmers, officials have said.
As reported by news agency PTI, recently, a tense standoff between two groups over a pipeline installation was peacefully resolved under this initiative, known as 'Police on Farmers' Fields'.
The incident took place on April 10 in Hosur village, where the work of laying a pipeline from a pond to agricultural fields had been stalled for nearly a month despite having official permission, as per PTI.
A senior official said, "A team from Aurad Police Station reached the spot, explained the legal aspects to both parties and resolved the matter amicably." The official further added that the timely and sensitive intervention helped avert a possible law and order situation.
Two forest department officers have been arrested in Maharashtra's Thane district for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 25,000, news agency PTI reported.
The duo were allegedly demanding the sum to issue an NOC for a petrol pump, the anti-corruption bureau (ACB) said on Thursday.
The agency also highlighted that the accused have been identified as forester Vilas Shivaji Sanap and forest guard Rekha Gaikwad, both stationed at the forest department office in Kunda, Mamnoli, under Kalyan taluka, PTI reported.
According to Deputy Superintendent of Police (ACB) Anil Jaykar, the complainant had received a sanction to open a new petrol pump and required a mandatory no-objection certificate (NOC) from the forest department.
When he applied for the certificate, Sanap allegedly demanded Rs 50,000 to process the request. Following negotiations, the bribe amount was reduced to Rs 25,000. After being alerted, the ACB laid a trap at the forest office on Wednesday and caught Gaikwad while accepting the bribe amount on behalf of the forester.
The officials further asserted that both the accused Sanap and Gaikwad have been arrested under the Prevention of Corruption Act, and a further probe is underway, as per PTI.
A medical officer from Thane district was arrested on Friday for allegedly accepting a Rs 2,000 bribe to issue a medical certificate needed for renewing a gun licence, news agency PTI reported.
The accused has been identified as Dr Anil Patil, who was posted at Murbad Rural Hospital, according to the Thane unit of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).
A man had approached the hospital seeking a medical certificate required for the renewal of his father's revolver licence.
"An ambulance driver, Mahendra Hindurao, allegedly demanded Rs 3,000 on behalf of the medical officer for issuing the certificate. The amount was later negotiated down to Rs 2,000," said Inspector Rupali Pol of the ACB.
(With inputs from PTI)
