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Mumbai Police on high alert after Pahalgam terror attack
Mumbai Police are on 'high alert' following Tuesday's Pahalgam terror attack, which has left 26 people, mostly tourists, dead. “It is to inform that all Senior Police Inspectors and Zonal Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCP) are instructed to remain more alert and vigilant in their jurisdiction,” Akbar Pathan, DCP (Operation), stated. On Tuesday afternoon, terrorists opened fire at a famed meadow near Kashmir's Pahalgam town. The attack is said to be the deadliest in the valley since the 2019 Pulwama strike. The dead included two foreigners and two locals, a high-ranking official said without getting into details, PTI reported. The toll is still being ascertained, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said while describing the terror attack as "much larger than anything we've seen directed at civilians in recent years". Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrived in Srinagar on Tuesday night to review the security situation in Kashmir following the Pahalgam terror attack, officials said. Two tourists from state killed in Pahalgam terror attack: CM Devendra Fadnavis Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday said two tourists from the state were killed and two more have been injured in the Pahalgam terror attack in Kashmir. In a post on X, Fadnavis said, "I strongly condemn the cowardly terrorist attack in Pahalgam. My heartfelt condolences to those who lost their lives in this incident. We share the grief of their families and loved ones. I pray to God for the speedy recovery of those injured in this incident." He said the government was in touch with senior officials of the Jammu and Kashmir administration. "We also called up Vijay Kumar Bidri, the divisional commissioner of Kashmir, under whose jurisdiction Pahalgam falls, and inquired about it," he said. According to the information received so far, the victims have been identified as Dilip Disle and Atul Mone. Fadnavis said Manik Patel from Panvel and S Bhalchandra Rao have been injured. "Fortunately, the condition of both of them is stable," the CM added. Meanwhile, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) lawmaker Supriya Sule has requested Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to provide immediate medical aid and support to the injured from Pune. "Requesting @OmarAbdullah for providing immediate medical aid and support to the people hailing from Pune who have suffered injuries in the Pahalgham firing incident today," Sule posted on X. (With PTI inputs)
22 April,2025 10:44 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Railways to install barricades, deploy RPF under 'Operation Clean-up' at Mahim
As part of 'Operation Clean-up' at Mumbai's Mahim, Western Railway (WR) will install long-height barricades made of toughened mould composite material at cost of approximately Rs 36 lakh. In addition, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) will be deployed to maintain vigil. Under this initiative, around 1,200 cubic metres of garbage have been cleared from Mahim over the past two months. The move follows a notice issued to the railways last month by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB). "We have arranged for muck special trains, deployed a team of 25–30 personnel for daily track cleaning, and stationed excavators at night to remove garbage. The MCGM (Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai) has been requested to lift of the garbage collected in the dustbins provided by the railway on a daily basis, to help achieve the goal of 'Garbage-free Mahim,' a WR spokesperson said. "We have also awarded a Rs 59 lakh garbage cleaning contract. To raise awareness among local residents, WR has organised a 'nukkad natak' to educate them about the importance of not throwing garbage on tracks and using the concrete dustbins provided," he added.
22 April,2025 09:19 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. Aklekar
Eknath Shinde chairs meeting on water crisis in parts of Maharashtra
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday chaired a meeting on water crisis in parts of the state and asked the officials to take immediate action on the issue, the officials said. Several rural areas in districts of the state, including Nashik and Yavatmal, has been facing water scarcity recently. An official statement said that Shinde has instructed all district officials and local bodies to take immediate action to prevent water shortages during the ongoing summer season. Shinde stated that people, whether in rural or urban areas, should not have to wander in search of drinking water. The statement said that during a video conference with divisional commissioners, district collectors, and other senior officials, the deputy CM said that ground-level visits must be carried out to check the water situation and provide quick solutions in areas facing shortages. The meeting was also attended by Water Supply Minister Gulabrao Patil, State Minister Meghna Bordikar, and key department secretaries. He directed the administration to plan water supply up to 15 July, ensuring that existing water stocks last through the summer. Shinde asked officers to act proactively and monitor the situation closely, especially in the next two months, it said. He also reviewed the number of water tankers deployed and compared the current situation to last year’s drought conditions. At present, 447 villages and 1,327 hamlets across 17 districts in Maharashtra are being supplied by water tankers. Last year, the situation was worse, with tankers serving 580 villages and 2,281 hamlets, the statement said. Shinde said that the officials must stay connected with the field situation. He urged BDOs, tehsildars, gram sevaks, and police patils to actively survey their areas and take prompt action. The districts in state that haven’t submitted action plans must do so within the next few days, he told the officials. He also called for speeding up temporary water schemes, desilting of lakes, and completing pending water supply projects. Tankers must be deployed in remote areas where people walk long distances for water. Eknath Shinde advised the administration to respond quickly to media reports about water scarcity and provide accurate information. He also instructed that wells may be acquired if needed and that the water quality must be tested, as lower water levels can lead to contamination. Drinking water tankers must be clean and fitted with GPS to prevent misuse, he told the officials. He added that repairing hand pumps and stopping illegal water extraction from small projects are also the priorities that officials must attend immediately, the statement said.
22 April,2025 08:42 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Service providers oppose MMRC's telecom infra policies for Mumbai Metro-3
The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), representing India’s leading telecom service providers – Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio and Vodafone Idea – has strongly opposed Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC)'s policies on telecom infrastructure on Metro Line-3 (Colaba–Bandra–Aarey corridor). At the core of this issue is MMRC's decision to award the telecom infrastructure deployment to a third-party Infrastructure Provider-Category-I vendor, which the COAI says is in violation of existing regulations. "Under the current telecom licensing framework, IP-I providers are prohibited from deploying active infrastructure. This move not only breaches the Telecommunication Act, 2023, but also sidelines licensed Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) who are legally authorized and technically equipped to independently deploy mobile networks. Deploying of such network(s) are a norm, even in important places like the PWD tunnel in Pragati Maidan or the Central Vista wherein the TSPs are laying infrastructure without paying any cost to anyone (including any third party)," a press note said. All the three TSPs had jointly proposed to install a common In-Building Solution (IBS) network across the Mumbai Metro-3 corridor at their own cost, ensuring seamless and uninterrupted connectivity for commuters — without any financial burden on MMRC. Despite this, MMRC arbitrarily rejected their request for Right of Way (RoW) permissions, citing that the selection of a vendor is done through its internal tender process. This decision prioritises commercial gains over public convenience and stands in blatant violation of the Telecommunication Act, 2023, which guarantees fair, non-discriminatory access to public infrastructure for licensed TSPs. MMRCL, in a statement, said that with an intent to provide cellular connectivity in the underground metro system to all passengers, MMRC had invited bids to setup neutral/common infrastructure which could be used by any telco. This is in line with the best practices followed by other large-scale infrastructure projects such as airports and metro rails across India. "MMRCL undertook open tender process to onboard a neutral infrastructure provider. The telcos gave their letters of support to the participating bidders, thereby endorsing the tender process. The selected neutral infra provider has the requisite license to lay and operate the infrastructure, which they have already implemented. As the said provider was onboarded through a competitive, fair and transparent tender process, any allegations on MMRC of illegalities in the process are completely baseless and unfounded," the statement added.
22 April,2025 08:34 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. Aklekar
MBRRB addresses 54 complaints on its first Janata Darbar Din
The Mumbai Building Repairs and Reconstruction Board (MBRRB) of the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) held its first Janata Darbar Din and addressed 54 complaints, an official statement said on Tuesday. The initiative is part of MHADA’s 100-day action plan aimed at fast-tracking solutions for citizens, it said. The event was organised at Bharatratna Gulzarilal Nanda Hall, MHADA Headquarters in Bandra (East), under the leadership of Milind Shambharkar, Chief Officer of the MBRRB. Shambharkar directed officials to take swift action on the complaints and ensure all pending matters are resolved without delay. Citizens raised concerns including the non-allotment of rehabilitation units to families living in transit camps for many years, non-receipt of rehabilitation units after redevelopment of cess properties, delays in obtaining occupancy certificates for redeveloped buildings affecting possession of units, and the urgent need for verification of documents for tenants and residents in cess properties undergoing redevelopment. Shambharkar heard all the applications and instructed the concerned officers to take immediate and appropriate action to ensure that all complaints are resolved fairly and within the stipulated time. The primary aim of the Janata Darbar was aimed to address the concerns of residents living in cessed buildings and transit camp tenements within Mumbai city and its suburbs in a timely manner. The housing body had earlier encouraged residents to attend the event to present their grievances. I had appealed to residents to bring the relevant applications, documents, and representations to ensure efficient redressal of their concerns. The official statement said that a 100-day action plan has been implemented across all government departments as per the directives of the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and the Deputy Chief Minister and Housing Minister Eknath Shinde, aimed at strengthening citizen-centric governance. In line with these directives. "Sanjeev Jaiswal, the Vice President and Chief Executive Officer, MHADA, has instructed all regional boards to hold Janata Darbar Din to address public grievances effectively," the official statement said. It said that acting on these instructions, the Mumbai Building Repairs and Reconstruction Board conducted the Janata Darbar Din on Tuesday aimed at timely implementation of public welfare initiatives.
22 April,2025 08:14 PM IST | Mumbai | A Correspondent
BREAKING
Language row: Hindi not compulsory, but optional, says Maharashtra govt
Facing criticism over making Hindi language compulsory for Std 1 to 5 across the state, the Maharashtra government has stepped back in the ongoing language row. The state School Education Minister Dada Bhuse on Tuesday clarified that Hindi is not compulsory, but optional under the three-language formula under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray–UBT) had strongly condemned the government resolution (GR) proposing the current two-language format in schools to be replaced by a three-language structure under NEP, with Hindi made mandatory in addition to English and Marathi. However, addressing the media in Mantralaya in Mumbai, Dada Bhuse said, “The Union government has not made Hindi or any language compulsory under the NEP. Hindi is not compulsory, but optional.” Clarifying the government’s stand on promoting the Hindi language, the education minister mentioned that it is a language closer to Marathi and uses the Devanagari script. “From Class 5, the Hindi language is already part of the curriculum. Hence, Hindi was introduced from Std 1, as it would be easy and convenient for students. Marathi and English are compulsory. So, if any students are asking for or opting for a third language other than Hindi, we will see how many students are requesting it and whether there is availability of teachers to teach the same,” Dada Bhuse added. The language controversy triggered such a movement that two estranged Thackeray cousins – Uddhav and Raj – who had been at loggerheads for 20 years, decided to bury their differences and reunite for the cause of Marathi and in the interest of Maharashtra. Late Balasaheb Thackeray in 1966 founded Shiv Sena on the issue of "Sons of the Soil". Thackeray senior’s estranged nephew, Raj, broke away from Shiv Sena in 2005 and in 2006 launched MNS on a similar ideology to fight injustice against Marathi speakers.
22 April,2025 05:46 PM IST | Mumbai | Sanjeev Shivadekar
Maharashtra govt appoints 26/11 martyr cop's widow as Deputy SP
The Maharashtra government on Tuesday appointed the widow of police constable Ambadas Pawar, who attained martyrdom in the 26/11 terror attacks, as a probationary Deputy Superintendent of Police, reported the PTI. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis issued the orders of the direct appointment of Kalpana Pawar, the widow of Ambadas Pawar, the officials said. Kalpana Pawar thanked the chief minister, saying he strived to provide justice to the common man. "Like my husband, I got an opportunity to serve the people. My appointment proves that this government belongs to farmers, workers, women and those who sacrifice their lives for the sake of the nation," she said, according to the PTI. Ambadas Pawar was decorated with a police medal for gallantry. In an official post on X, the Maharashtra CMO wrote, "Constable Ambadas Pawar lost his life while bravely carrying out his duty during the 2008 attacks. As a gesture of honour and support, the Government of Maharashtra has appointed his widow to a senior police post. The appointment order was handed over by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis." It stated, "While receiving her appointment, Kalpana Pawar expressed her gratitude, saying, “Just like my husband, I now have the opportunity to serve the nation. The government truly belongs to the farmers, the hardworking people, the beloved sisters, and the brave martyrs who laid down their lives for the country. My appointment proves this.” It further stated that while handing over the appointment letter to Kalpana Pawar, CM Fadnavis said that the decision reflects the government’s respect and sensitivity towards the families of fallen heroes. He added that such actions demonstrate the administration’s genuine commitment to those who make the ultimate sacrifice for the country. शहीद पोलीस शिपाई अंबादास पवार यांच्या पत्नी कल्पना पवार यांना थेट पोलीस उपअधीक्षकपदी नियुक्तीमुख्यमंत्री देवेंद्र फडणवीस यांच्या हस्ते आज 26/11 मुंबई दहशतवादी हल्ल्यात वीरमरण आलेल्या पोलीस शिपाई अंबादास पवार यांच्या पत्नी श्रीमती कल्पना पवार यांना परिविक्षाधीन पोलीस… pic.twitter.com/MHM4k8sKAr — CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) April 22, 2025 On November 26, 2008, when Mumbai witnessed unprecedented terror attacks that saw terrorists targeting multiples locations in the city, Pawar was on his way to the protection unit office as he was on night duty. He was unarmed and in civil dress at that time. At the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), he saw a Government Railway Police (GRP) officer seriously injured in the firing opened by terrorists. Pawar then took the rifle from him and fired at the terrorists, but lost his life. A total of 166 people were killed in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. (with PTI inputs)
22 April,2025 05:26 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Mumbai
Rijiju slams Mamata Banerjee over Waqf Act implementation
Union minister Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday hit back at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over her refusal to implement the Waqf (Amendment) Act, reported the PTI. Rijiju stated that under a federal structure, a state cannot block a law passed by Parliament. He said that some misguided Muslims and politicians who were engaged in vote bank appeasement are opposing the Waqf (Amendment) Act. He added that the government would soon expose these elements. Rijiju made these remarks during a press conference in Mumbai. West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee had earlier stated that the Waqf Act would not be implemented in West Bengal and that she would protect minorities and their properties. Responding to Banerjee's remarks, the Minority Affairs Minister said, "We work under a federal structure. She can oppose the Act in theory, but she cannot say that she will not implement a law passed by Parliament in the state," according to the PTI. He also criticised the Trinamool Congress chief for violence in Murshidabad over the Waqf (Amendment) Act. He noted that several members of the Muslim community have come forward to thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi for enacting the Waqf Act. The Union Minister said rules would be framed to ensure that Waqf properties are used for the welfare of poor Muslims. "We will soon expose those who looted poor Muslims and misled them about the provisions of the law. Such elements and some politicians interested in vote bank appeasement have been spreading lies that Muslims will lose their burial grounds or mosques, and that their land will be seized. Speaking such lies is a sin," he said, the news agency reported. He further alleged that the Opposition had spread misinformation that Muslims' citizenship would be revoked under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). "Has anything like that happened, even though the CAA has been in force for more than a year?" he asked, as per the PTI. Responding to a question on the National Herald case, the minister said Congress workers should realise that their funds were looted by their own leaders, the news agency reported. (with PTI inputs)
22 April,2025 04:48 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Three held for robbery at gunpoint on Thane highway
Three people were held by the police ten days after a robbery at a gunpoint on a high in Thane district of Maharashtra, a police official said on Tuesday, reported the PTI. According to the police, the robbery had took place around ten days ago. A trader was robbed of Rs 13 lakh at gunpoint on a highway in Thane district. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone-I) S S Burse said the bike-borne robbers intercepted the autorickshaw in which the victim was travelling at a deserted spot between Bhiwandi and Vashi on April 12 night, as per the PTI. The trio allegedly threatened the trader with a revolver and a knife and snatched the cash before fleeing. A special team of police scanned footage from over 100 CCTV cameras along the track taken by the autorickshaw. Also, it used intelligence inputs to track down the culprits, leading them to Faizanali Abdul Sattar Ansari (41), a powerloom worker from Bhiwandi, the PTI reported. Subsequently, Vivek Waghmode (22), a private sector employee, and Mayur Rajendra Patil (22), a plumber, were arrested, police said, adding that two more persons involved in the crime are on the run. The accused persons were booked on charges of robbery, dacoity, and wrongful restraint under the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), the news agency reported. The police recovered stolen Rs 5.25 lakh from the accused and impounded two motorcycles used in the crime. Further investigation is underway. Thane court acquits six booked under MCOCA in 2017 robbery case Meanwhile, a court in Thane district has acquitted six persons booked under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) in a 2017 robbery case, citing insufficient evidence, reported news agency PTI. The accused were booked under the MCOCA and the Indian Penal Code for stealing cigarettes worth Rs 91 lakh from a godown in Navi Mumbai. A copy of the order dated April 16 was made available on Monday. The court has acquitted Mukesh Mohan Chaudhari @ Raju Rathod (43), Surendra Aslaramji Chaudhari (30), Champalal Chogaram Verma (35), Ratanlal Nagaram Dangi (38), Suresh Hariram Chaudhari (35), and Tejas Champalal Unecha (43), all residents of Pune district, reported PTI. According to the prosecution, the robbery took place on the night of July 29, 2017, at a godown and cigarette distribution centre in the APMC Market area of Navi Mumbai. A police complaint was lodged, and the accused were arrested and charged based on recovered cigarette cartons and fingerprint evidence. A case was registered under sections 457 (house-breaking by night), 380 (theft), 120(B) (criminal conspiracy), 411 (dishonestly receiving stolen property), and 34 (common intention) of the IPC, and relevant provisions of the MCOCA. Special MCOCA court judge Amit M Shete noted several critical lapses in the investigation. He noted that the trial was based on circumstantial evidence, and the prosecution and witnesses failed to establish each chain of circumstances, reported PTI. Though the prosecution had invoked the MCOCA citing past criminal cases against the accused, the court clarified that since the accused are given the benefit of the doubt for the offence punishable under the IPC, they are required to be acquitted for the offence punishable under the MCOCA. (with PTI inputs)
22 April,2025 04:12 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondent
BMC launches waste collection service for used sanitary pads, diapers
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has introduced a new service for the collection of household sanitary and special care waste in Mumbai, an official statement said on Tuesday. The introduction of the new service aims to ensure safe and proper disposal of items like used sanitary pads, diapers, expired medicines, and waste from beauty parlours and women’s hostels, the officials said. "Starting from April 22, 2025, housing societies, beauty salons, women’s hostels, and also educational institutions can register to get this service from the civic body in Mumbai," an official said. The civic body's new initiative has been named as 'Domestic Sanitary & Special Care Waste Collection Service' which will be launched by the BMC's Solid Waste Management Department, the official statement said. It said that it will be implemented under the guidance of Additional Municipal Commissioner (City) Dr. Ashwini Joshi and Deputy Commissioner (Solid Waste Management) Kiran Dighavkar, as per the directions from the BMC chief Bhushan Gagrani. The statement further said that Mumbai generates around 7,000 to 8,000 tonnes of solid waste every day. Out of this, nearly 70 to 80 tonnes is related to personal hygiene and sanitation. It includes used sanitary napkins, diapers, tampons, condoms, bandages, cotton contaminated with body fluids, and even expired medicines, injection needles, razor blades, and beauty salon waste like wax strips and PPE kits. It said that such waste is hazardous and is often mixed with regular garbage, posing serious health risks to sanitation workers and complicating waste processing. To address the issue, the BMC will begin the actual collection from 1st May 2025, but the registration process starts from 22nd April 2025 to spread awareness and encourage participation, the officials said. Registration process and collection of waste- The organisations can register using link here - - A QR code is also available on official BMC platforms for easy access to the people who can scan the QR code to register. - To collect this specific waste, yellow-coloured bags will be used. - The BMC will also conduct awareness drives at registered locations to educate residents and staff about proper segregation.
22 April,2025 02:46 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Opposition spreading misinformation: Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske on Waqf Act
Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske on Monday stated that the Waqf Act is about regulating national property and not interfering with Muslim religious rights, reported news agency ANI. Naresh Mhaske also accused the opposition of spreading misinformation and said that the amendment aims to benefit poor Muslims. Speaking to ANI, Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske said, "Making laws is the work of Parliament. If any law is made against the Constitution, the court has the right to raise objections. I don't know what Nishikant Dubey said... Some people, including Imams and certain Muslim organisations, have approached the Supreme Court claiming that the Centre has violated Articles 25 to 28, and 29 to 30 and that their religious freedom has been infringed upon. That's why the issue is being heard in the Supreme Court... However, the government maintains that it has not violated any such provisions... Article 29 pertains to educational institutions and Article 30 to cultural ones. The Waqf Board is not an educational or cultural institution -- it deals with property... Hence, we have the right to legislate on this. We are not interfering with anyone's religion or rituals." He further added, "The opposition is spreading misinformation that this is against the Muslim community... This concerns national property that currently lacks proper legal regulation in the Constitution. We are amending the law to ensure that poor people from the Muslim community benefit. That's why we believe we have the right to make laws. And the government has stated this clearly before the Supreme Court," reported ANI. His comments come in response to the controversy surrounding Nishikant Dubey's recent statements, where Dubey accused the Supreme Court of overstepping its authority. He alleged that the apex court was "inciting religious wars" and questioned its authority, even suggesting that the Parliament building should be shut down if the court continued making laws. Earlier, President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which was passed by Parliament during the budget session of Parliament. (With inputs from ANI)
22 April,2025 01:27 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondent