Thane Crime: IIT Bombay pervert nabbed for filming people bathing
In what can be called as a shocking incident coming from thane, a 34-year-old man was apprehended for allegedly filming people bathing. Police said that the accused is a student who is pursuing higher education from the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay.
The molester, identified as Avinash Kumar Yadav, is a Thane-resident who has been arrested under section 354 (any man who watches or captures the image of a woman engaging in a private act in circumstances where she would usually have the expectation of not being observed) of the Indian Penal Code.
"A woman filed a complain that she found a mobile phone on the bathroom window while she was bathing on Friday night. She alerted her husband who confiscated the phone. The couple saw the accused fleeing from the place," a Kapurbawdi police station official said.
"The accused was nabbed by other residents. The mobile phone had clips of men and women, mostly residents of the same building, bathing," he added.
In another incident in Thane, a 36-year-old man was sentenced to seven years imprisonment by a local court for raping a married woman in his neighbourhood. District Judge Kavita D Shirbhate convicted Bablu Lakhan Shaha under section 376 (rape), 385 (extortion) and 506(2) (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code and also imposed a fine of Rs 9,000 on him.
(With inputs from PTI)
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New Diva-Thane rail lines to miss March deadline, too
Eleven years since work began on the fifth and sixth railway lines between Diva and Thane, the project still awaits completion. Certain to miss its March 2019 deadline, the project across nine kilometres, has been facing several hurdles since its inception. mid-day took a walk along the stretch this week to get the ground report.
Rapid work at stations
Near Diva, on the line towards CSMT, space still needs to be created near the existing level-crossing for the new lines, and rails will have to be aligned to the old tracks. Slightly ahead, work of levelling land next to the mangroves is being done in patches while work on Mumbra station is being done at a rapid pace.
After Mumbra, the new line bypasses the existing line to cross over the creek and the highway with a rail-overbridge. The line from this point to the new Kalwa station is complete with work on the station under process. Between Kalwa and Thane, the major bridges have been completed, but work of building walls and levelling is still under process at certain places.
'Too many hurdles'
Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC) officials said that there have been delays because of too many external hurdles and complications. "The alignment meant rehabilitating people, with the involvement of numerous state government bodies," a senior official said. An MRVC spokesperson said that the project should be completed in 2019 itself.
The 2008 project
The project, which was sanctioned in 2008 as part of MUTP 2B, is crucial for the Central Railway as it will segregate the outstation and local train rail corridors and thus decongest the line. It has already missed deadlines in December 2015 and December 2017.
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Viral video: Leopard spotted at a mall in Thane tranquilised, rescued
Thane: An adult leopard was spotted by security personnel at the basement of Korum Mall in Thane early on Wednesday morning at around 5.30 am. The leopard's movement was caught on the CCTV camera installed towards the exit gate of the parking area. Forest department officials finally managed to tranquilise the big cat and rescued it from the densely populated human area.
The guards alerted the forest department and Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) officials. A veterinary doctor has also reached the spot. However, the leopard could not be traced even after a thorough search in the morning, as per reports. Finally, the forest officials succeeded in tranquilising the leopard around 12 pm
The leopard which was later spotted at the basement of a hotel near Cadbury junction in Thane was tranquilised by forest officials.
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Pulwama terror attacks: Protesters state 'Rail Roko' in Nalasopara
A group of protesters in Nalasopara blocked the railway tracks on Saturday morning to protest and rage out against the Pulwama terrorist attack in Kashmir that took lives of many CRPF soldiers.
Pic courtesy/mid-day Photo team
Pic courtesy/mid-day Photo team
The protesters went on to block the tracks at Nalasopara which obstructed the movement of plying trains in the area. Government Railway Police (GRP) and Railway Protection Force (RPF) are in the process of evacuating the protesters from the tracks to ensure smooth commuting again. The protest has affected the train services on the Western line.
Pic courtesy/Vinod Kumar Menon
Pic courtesy/Vinod Kumar Menon
Pic courtesy/mid-day Photo team
Pic courtesy/mid-day Photo team
The protesters along with some office-goers gathered in large numbers and raised slogans against the terrorists. Pulwama terror attack on February 14, 2019 was one of the deadliest terror attacks on security forces in the valley in over a decade. Over 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were martyred in Awantipora area of Kashmir on Thursday. The incident took place when a convoy of 2,547 CRPF personnel were travelling in 78 vehicles from the transit camp in Jammu and headed to Srinagar.
Also Read: Maharashtra ticket collector suspended for raising pro-Pakistan slogan
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Dolphin pod spotted at Ragodi beach in Nalasopara West
A pod of dolphins was spotted in the Ragodi beach in Nalsopara West in north Mumbai. Janardan Alonghe, a lifeguard deployed by the VVMC at Rajodi beach said, "I was on duty and suddenly noticed some movement in the sea. I thought someone was drowning in the water so I immediately took the help of a guard and rushed to the spot on a rider boat. There we saw a bunch of dolphins swimming and enjoying in the water."
He further said that this is not the first time when a dolphin appeared on the beach. Alonghe said, "Dolphins are seen here but mostly far away from the seashore. This is the first time when dolphins were this seen close to the seashore. Dolphins are usually seen at the seashore when the days are cold and then they go to the deep sea around 11:30 am when it is hot and sunny. Since it was cold for the last few days, the dolphins must have come closer to the seashore."
Nikhil Tandel, 'Blue life Adventure' guard deployed at Rajodi beach said that he has seen several dolphins in the past but he had seen them this close for the first time. He said, "There were ten to twelve dolphins jumping and swimming in the water. As soon as the people heard about them, they started visiting the seashore to witness the pod," he added.
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Shamita Shetty's driver abused and beaten up in Thane road rage
Bollywood actress Shamita Shetty's driver was bashed up by a motorist and his friends in Majiwada, Thane. The incident took place followed by an accident in Thane on Tuesday afternoon. According to reports, Shetty travelled from Andheri to Thane for some personal work, when a car rammed into her BMW from the rear near Viviana Mall, Majiwada. When her driver got off the vehicle to check for any damages, the motorist and two of his friends started abusing him.
Following the incident, Shamita's driver approached Rabodi police station and filed a complaint against the attackers. The police have already managed to identify the vehicle and are currently working on tracing its owner. Meanwhile, Rabodi police have also registered a case against the trio under Sections 279, 323, 427, 504, 506, and 34 of the Indian Penal code.
Shamita Shetty, sister of actress Shilpa Shetty Kundra, is a Bollywood actress and an interior designer. She made her Bollywood debut in 2000 with the blockbuster Mohabbatein. Her portrayal in the film earned her the IIFA Award for Star Debut of the year. She also featured in a couple of movies later and her notable work includes Zeher, Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai, Bewafa and Cash. She was also a contestant on Bigg Boss, the reality show in 2009. She is currently a contestant on the reality show season 9 of Colors, Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi. She had endorsed Pantene with her sister Shilpa Shetty Kundra for a year. She has also been associated with brands like Audi, Aldo, IIJAS Jewellery exhibition and many more.
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Man suspects wife of having extra-marital affair; stabs her to death
In a shocking incident, a man allegedly killed his wife on Tuesday over the suspicion of her having an extramarital affair. According to the police, the accused, Kumar Bhaoir (32), used to stay with his wife Veena in Murdagaon area in Uttan. On Tuesday morning, he entered his wife's office in Bhayandar West and allegedly stabbed her more than 16 times and fled from the spot. Later, he surrendered before the Bhayandar police stating that he killed his wife following frequent disputes between the two.
The deceased was working at a Chartered Accountant’s office situated in Bhayander West. After the incident, she was immediately rushed to the local government hospital where she was declared dead by the doctors. The police have registered a case of murder and have arrested the husband. During the interrogation, they learnt that Kumar had filed a missing complaint of his wife Veena on January 2, 2019, after his wife left the house following an argument with him.
The couple was married for 14 years and had no kids. During the investigation, the Bhayandar police learnt that a missing complaint had been filed earlier this month but Veena returned back on January 10 and was living separately. Kumar doubted her character and thought she was having an extra material affair with another person. He tried to get in touch with her but was unsuccessful.
On Tuesday, he learnt that she showed up at her workplace. At around 10:30 am, the accused showed up at Venkateshwara Cooperative Housing Society near Bhayandar station and initiated a conversation with her. Soon it turned into a heated argument and the accused, who was carrying a sharp knife, stabbed her multiple times until she fell to the ground. He then fled from the crime scene and went to the police station to surrender himself. Veena was rushed to the local government hospital by her colleagues where she was declared dead before admission.
“We have booked and arrested Kumar under section 302 of IPC and will produce him before the court,” said police R. Jadhav, Police Inspector, Bhayandar police station.
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Student accuses school of forcing him to give positive review
Officials of a school in Palghar in Maharashtra have been booked for allegedly threatening a student to give positive feedback about the institution, police said on Sunday. A student had complained that teachers at the school while distributing feedback forms, had told him that he would not be allowed to sit for the annual exams if he gave a poor review, a Virar police official said.
The 13-year-old student was also threatened with a beating by the teachers, the official said quoting the complainant. Palghar police spokesperson Hemant Kumar Katkar said Virar police on Saturday registered a case under sections of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act and section 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code against the Yahswant Nagar-based school. The official said a probe was on and no arrests had been made so far.
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Thane Crime: man with link to 'ISIS-inspired' group arrested
The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad has arrested a man in connection with an alleged ISIS-inspired group that wanted to carry out mass attacks at big events using poisonous chemicals, police said on Sunday. The arrest was made on Saturday from Mumbra in neighbouring Thane district and a laptop, tablet computer, hard disk, pen drives, router, mobile phones and diaries were seized from his residence, an ATS official said.
The ATS had earlier arrested eight people, and detained a minor, from Aurangabad and Thane after several teams carried out searches through January 21-22, an official said. They were charged under Indian Penal Code section 120B (criminal conspiracy) and relevant provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Bombay Police Act. This group, during interrogation, had named the accused who was arrested Saturday, he added. He will be produced in a court on Sunday, the official
informed.
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Thane crime: Man gets 3 years jail for abetting wife's suicide
Thane: A local court sentenced a man to three years rigorous imprisonment for abetting the suicide of his wife but acquitted his mother for lack of evidence in Maharashtra's Thane. District Judge RV Tamhanekar, in a recent order, also fined Bhiwandi-resident Sanjay Waghmare (26) Rs 7000.
Sanjay and his wife Priyanka had married in 2016 and there were frequent fights between the couple as well as the victim and her mother-in-law Jinsabai, said additional public prosecutor Sandhya Mhatre. After one such quarrel on August 30, 2017, Priyanka set herself ablaze, the APP said, adding that she died in a nearby hospital on September 4.
In his order, the judge said, "The accused has caused cruelty to the victim and his act was of such a nature as was likely to drive Priyanka to commit suicide". Sanjay was found guilty of the charges under sections 498A and 306 of the IPC, the APP said.
In a similar incident, the deposition of two minor siblings was considered as significant evidence by a Thane court which awarded five years imprisonment to their 45-year-old father for abetting the suicide of his wife. Assistant Sessions Judge S A Sinha held the accused, Sunil Martand Gaikwad, guilty under IPC sections 306 (abetment of suicide) and 498 A (cruelty) while pronouncing the punishment. The judge also imposed a fine of Rs 15,000 on him.
The prosecution told the court that Gaikwad, a resident of Gorsai village in Thane's Bhiwandi taluka, had married the victim, Vaishali, on May 27, 2005. The couple had a son and a daughter, aged 11 and 10 at present. As per the prosecution, the accused would come home late from work after consuming liquor and then fight with his wife. Fed up with the harassment, the woman hanged herself at her home on June 21, 2017, they said.
In their sworn statements in court, the couple's two children said their father would abuse and beat their mother after consuming liquor. They told the court that on the day of the incident, Gaikwad came home in an inebriated state and abused their mother following which the couple quarrelled. The children then went to sleep. The daughter woke up after some time and saw her mother hanging. She started crying and alerted her brother. On seeing the woman hanging, Gaikwad ran away from the house leaving the children alone, the siblings told the court.
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Angry over scolding, girl 'kills' neighbour's 2-year-old baby
A girl studying in Class 10 was detained by Murbad police in the district Sunday for allegedly strangulating a neighbour's two-year-old baby.
The incident took place at Tulai village, said inspector Ajay Vasave of the local police. Manishka (2) went missing while playing near her house Saturday evening following which local people alongwith the police launched a search in the area, he said.
Suspecting that the 16-year-old girl who lived nearby might be involved in the child's disappearance, the police searched her house sometime after midnight and found the child's body concealed in the house, he said.
The two-year-old girl had been apparently strangulated though the autopsy report was not yet available, the inspector said. The accused was scolded by the victim's mother a few days ago and the girl wanted to take revenge which allegedly led her to commit the crime, he said. A case of murder under IPC section 302 has been registered.
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Autorickshaw driver kills wife after doubting character; hangs self
A 40-year-old man allegedly killed his wife and later committed suicide by hanging himself in Thane on Thursday. Sunil Sangle, an auto driver, on Wednesday night strangled his wife Archana Sangle (35), to death at their home in Sri Nagar locality and later hanged himself on Thursday afternoon, said police inspector Sulabha Patil.
The couple often had fights over domestic issues and apparently the man also suspected his wife’s character, and this may have triggered the murder, police said. According to Hindustan Times, Sunil Sangle was an auto-rickshaw driver and his wife worked as a security guard at an IT park in the city. A probe is underway, the police added.
In a similar case, a 38-year-old man was arrested for allegedly killing a man suspecting him of having an extra-marital affair with his wife in outer Delhi, police said Saturday. The accused identified as Anil Chaudhary, a resident of Nangloi, used to work in a shoe factory.
Other two men, Bakil (38) and Kamrul Huda (27) who allegedly robbed the victim after he was killed by the accused Chaudhary, were also arrested, police said. On Thursday, Nihal Vihar Police station was informed by Satya Bhama Hospital that a person has been brought dead in the hospital, Rajendra Singh Sagar, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer) said.
The victim was identified as Vikas Yadav by his relatives. He used to work as a labourer in a chemical factory. On interrogation, the accused Chaudhary revealed he suspected Yadav of having an illicit relationship with his wife since a year. So, he decided to eliminate Yadav and on Wednesday night, he fired at Yadav, the officer said. Yadav was carrying two mobile phones and Rs 15,000 which were missing from his possession, the officer added.
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Thane: Amid divorce case, husband held for tapping wife's phone
Thane Crime Branch Unit I on Wednesday arrested a man along with two others for allegedly procuring the Call Detail Records (CDR) of his wife's phone while the couple's divorce case is on. The victim has also alleged that a police officer has been helping her husband get the call records of her and her friend's phones.
According to the police, Ketan Bundela married Surjit Kaur in 2011, and filed for a divorce in the same year. He later began harassing Kaur, who sought help from her friend Vishal Patane. Bundela was also aided by his brother Kunal and brother-in-law Farooq Shaikh in harassing Kaur.
Bundela and Kaur worked together in a well-known company, where the two fell in love and decided to get married. "My nightmare began right from the second day of our marriage. They made me participate in some horrible rituals. My husband also asked me to maintain relations with his brother Kunal. I soon left that house and returned to Mumbai from Pune. He then sent me a divorce notice. He also influenced my lawyer which is why the case is still on," said Kaur.
Along with her friend Patane, Kaur recently caught hold of Shaikh's phone when they found the CDR and thus approached the Crime Branch. "We have arrested the accused and secured their custody. There is so far no involvement of any police officer," said a Crime Branch officer.
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Three labourers choke to death in sewage treatment plant in Thane
Three labourers died after inhaling toxic gas while cleaning a sewage treatment plant of a local civic body in Thane district of Maharashtra, a police official said on Thursday. The deceased were daily wage labourers and had no formal training in sewage cleaning, he said.
The incident took place on Wednesday when the labourers were cleaning a chocked valve in a chamber of the non-operational sewage treatment plant located in Mira Road area, an official at Thane rural police's control room said.
One of the labourers climbed down into the sewage treatment plant to clean it, but felt suffocated and collapsed, he said. Two more labourers later went inside to check their colleague but they also inhaled toxic gas and died, he said. Another 17-year-old labourer, who also inhaled the toxic fumes, was admitted to a hospital where he was undergoing treatment, the official said.
The labourers were hired by a civic contractor from near the Mira Road railway station for the cleaning work but they were not given any protective gear like masks, he said. They were also not trained in such cleaning operations, he said. The deceased were identified as Muzaffar Moulik (24), Rafique Mandal (50) and Mofjum (18). The bodies were sent to a local hospital for post mortem, the official said, adding that a probe was underway.
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Mumbai: BJP man held for selling weapons at Dombivli shop
A large haul of weapons, including 170 guns, swords, machetes and knives, was found at the shop of a local BJP functionary in Dombivli, the police said on Wednesday. Dhananjay Kulkarni, deputy chief of BJP's Dombivli city unit in Thane district, from whose store the seizure was made, has been arrested, police said. The 170 weapons were found during a raid conducted by the Kalyan Crime Branch at Kulkarni's fashion accessories store in Tilak Nagar on Monday night, the police said. The cops added that he was arrested on Tuesday morning.
A local BJP leader said Kulkarni was the vice-president of the party's Dombivli unit. "Following a tip-off, the raid was conducted at Tapasya House of Fashion, which sells fashion accessories and cosmetics," a police officer said. "The weapons for sale included eight air guns, 10 swords, 38 press button knives, 25 choppers, nine kukris, nine guptis (bladed weapon concealed in a wooden case), five knives, three axes and a sickle," he added. "The seized weapons are collectively worth R1.86 lakh. The outlet has been operating for the past seven months," the officer said.
"Kulkarni had procured the arms from Crawford Market, and Punjab and Rajasthan," he added. The accused was on Tuesday produced before a local court, which remanded him in judicial custody, police said. The NCP has demanded an explanation from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis over the arms seizure. State NCP President Jayant Patil said the incident revealed the manner in which the BJP wanted to rule."What kind of riots do the BJP want to incite by using these weapons?" he said.
170
No. of weapons recovered from the shop
Rs 1.86 lakh
Total worth of the weapons
Also Read: Bal Thackeray plotted to kill Sonu Nigam, says Nilesh Rane; Sena MP rubbishes claim
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Local leaders oppose power privatisation move in three Thane areas
Thane: Political leaders cutting across party lines have opposed handing over of power distribution duties in three electricity subdivisions of Thane to a private player.
These leaders on Monday met at the circuit house here and among those who attended were Mumbra-Kalwa MLA (NCP) Jitendra Awhad, Shiv Sena MLA Subhash Bhoir, BJP MLA Kisan Kathore and Kalyan Shiv Sena district unit chief Gopal Landge.
These leaders claimed that the experiment to privatise electricity supply in the powerloom town of Bhiwandi here had failed and, hence, it should not be expanded to newer regions of the district. They also claimed that people were opposed to the entry of private players in place of the state-run Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) in this region.
On January 3 this year, private firm Torrent Power announced it had been appointed as electricity distribution franchisee for three sub-divisions under Thane urban circle of Maharashtra. "The company has emerged as the winner of competitive bidding process conducted by Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) for the appointment of input based distribution franchisee for distribution of electricity in Shil, Mumbra and Kalwa sub-divisions under Thane urban circle, for 20 years," Torrent Power had said in a BSE filing. Shil, Mumbra and Kalwa sub-divisions have a customer base of 2.15 lakh, the filing said. The firm is also the electricity distribution franchisee in Bhiwandi since 2007 for a period of 20 years.
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Four two wheelers, autorickshaws set ablaze in Thane
Thane: Eight vehicles parked in Lokmanya Nagar area of Maharashtra's Thane city were torched by unidentified persons in the wee hours of Monday, a civic official said.
Locals saw smoke near a bus stop in Lokmanya Nagar and informed the authorities around 3 am about four two-wheelers and as many auto-rickshaws being on fire, Thane's regional disaster management cell (RDMC) chief Santosh Kadam said.
RDMC officials and fire brigade personnel rushed to the spot and doused the flames, he said. A probe was underway, a police official said, adding that no arrest was made so far. Last month, around nine two-wheelers had been set ablaze in Naupada area of the city. Later, two persons were arrested in connection with the incident.
In a similar incident, Delhi police arrested a 23-year-old man for allegedly setting ablaze 18 vehicles in south Delhi's Madangir Village, police said Thursday. The accused was identified as Vijay Shukla and a country-made pistol and some matchboxes were found from his possession, a senior police officer said.
In a video of the incident which had gone viral, a man was seen setting fire to the vehicles after opening the fuel pipe of the motorcycles. Petrol overflowed from the tanks of six motorcycles after which they were set on fire by a match stick.
The cars parked nearby also caught fire, the officer said. The police rushed to the spot after receiving information about the incident at around 3.05 am Tuesday and doused the flames. A case was registered under relevant sections of the IPC against the man and subsequently, he was arrested, police said.
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Mumbai Crime: Three arrested for raping teen in Thane, one absconding
Three persons were arrested in Bhiwandi in Maharashtra's Thane district for allegedly raping a teenage girl several times, the police said Sunday.
Senior Inspector K D Jadhav of Shanti Nagar police station said the 14-year-old girl was acquainted with one of the accused, Jamil alias Bullan Vali Mohammad Khan (58) as she used to purchase cosmetics from his handcart. "Jamil along with others raped the girl on multiple occasions between June last year and January 9 this year.
She revealed her ordeal to her mother who filed a complaint on Friday," Jadhav said. He identified the others arrested, apart from Jamil, as Shahnavaz Khan (19) and Rizwan Khan (23), adding that a fourth person, Firoz Siddiqui, was wanted in the case.
"We have charged the accused under relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. They have been remanded in police custody for six days," he informed.
In another incident, a teenage girl from Bompally village in Telangana's Peddapalli district has filed a rape case against her 24-year-old lover and his two friends, police said Sunday. Police have identified the main accused as Kotte Ranjith. A police officer said Ranjith allegedly maintained physical relations with the girl under the pretext of marrying her.
The officer said Ranjith's friends Methuku Satish (23) and Vykuntam (24) also allegedly raped the girl repeatedly in the last ten months, following which she became pregnant.
"The girl had delivered a stillborn foetus and asked Ranjith to marry her, but he refused and threatened her with dire consequences, following which the victim approached police," he said.
Police have registered an FIR against the trio under section 376 (D) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for gang rape and under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. No arrest is made yet.
With inputs from PTI
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School student dies on a water sliding ride at Suraj Water Park
In a tragic incident, a 14-year-old student from Navjivan school Nalasopara East allegedly died falling from water sliding ride tower in Suraj Water Park on Friday afternoon. According to the police of the deceased has been identified as Deepak Gupta, a resident was residing with his parents at Pragati Nagar area, Nalasopara East. He was studying in Class X at Navjivan school situated in Oswal Nagri area and had gone for schools picnic.
The incident happened when Gupta climbed on the water slide tower and suddenly fell down on the tower platform. He was unconscious. Gupta was taken to the hospital where the doctor declared him dead. No one from Suraj Water Park said anything but the incident was confirmed by night duty security guard who mid-day that the incident took place between 1 pm to 2 pm. He said that the boy used to suffer from epilepsy and he fainted while climbing on the sliding ride tower.
The boy's parents alleged that he did not want to go to the picnic but the school authority had made it mandatory for students to attend and also alleged that the school authorities had threatened to not issue examination hall tickets for students appearing for SSC students.
A social worker Prashant Bhosle says the school management is responsible for the death of the child. If the student did not want to go to the picnic, how could the school management force? The school authority is totally responsible for the death of Gupta and they should be punished.
Hundreds of peoples including the parents gathered outside the school but no official from the from came out. And accidental death case has been registered at Kasarvadavali police station and further investigation is on.
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Mumbai crime: Man arrested for stalking girl in Mira Road 6 years ago
A local court has sentenced a man from Mira Road in the district to one year jail for stalking and ca 16-year-old girl nearly six years ago. Special judge Kavita Shirbhate convicted Yogesh Borade, 33, on Friday and also slapped a fine of Rs 10,000 on him.
He was held guilty under relevant sections of the IPC and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The incident had taken place late evening on March 18, 2013.
The girl was walking towards her home, when two persons on a two-wheeler waylaid her, prosecutor Rekha Hiwrale told the court. Borade, who was pillion riding, started troubling and abusing the minor.
Later, he got off the vehicle and started walking alongside her and also mildly pushed her, she said. Based on a complaint, the police had booked the accused and later arrested him.
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Are cops waiting for invitation to arrest notorious criminal?
Abbas Irani alias Abbas Khan is all smiles in his wedding photographs; there's not a frown or worried line on his face to indicate that the wanted fugitive was at all worried about the police showing up to arrest him. And why would he be? Despite the fact that he was wanted in two separate cases under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), the city police had never bothered to arrest him.
It was no different at his grand wedding celebrations in Kalyan. The notorious conman and chain-snatcher celebrated for three days and got hitched amid much fanfare at his house in Ambivli. However, there was no sign of the police. It was the same in 2017, when he was released on bail after being arrested by the Delhi police. Neither the Mumbai police nor Thane cops bothered to take his custody upon his release, even though he had been wanted under MCOCA since 2016.
Modus operandi
While Abbas is notorious for chain-snatchings, his gang's most common modus operandi is to dupe women by posing as policemen. The gang members impersonate CBI or crime branch officers and target elderly or uneducated women. Claiming that a thief is on the loose, they ask the women to hand over their gold ornaments for safe-keeping and then disappear with the valuables.
Police records show that there are more than 100 cases registered against Abbas and his gang across the country, but somehow, the police can never seem to catch him. There are cases against him in Mumbai, Thane, Kalyan, Pune, Bangalore, Kolkata, Delhi, Hyderabad and Chennai. As many as 40 cases of theft are registered in Thane alone, and there are more than 30 in Delhi. Sources revealed that the Baroda police are also in pursuit of the crook for stealing a bike just before he headed back to Kalyan for his wedding.
Powerful crime family
Abbas took up crime following in the footsteps of his father, Amjad Irani alias Amjad Khan, who was arrested in 2015 for similar offences and was booked under MCOCA. Police records show that his uncle Ajij Khan is also wanted under MCOCA. A few years ago, Abbas's wedding was called off after the girl's family learned of his criminal background. On January 8, he finally got married amidst his family and fellow gang members.
Sources said that despite the high-profile wedding, Abbas is protected from police action by his family's connections. His gang members Jafar Gulam Hussain, Faisal Ali Yusuf Ali Shaikh, Ali Hasan, Firoj Irani serve as his lookouts. His mother claims she is a member of a powerful political party. The family and gang control a massive network of criminals who have spread out across the country. A senior officer from Mumbai police said only, "It is true, he is wanted in MCOCA cases."
100 Approx no. of cases against Abbas and gang
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26-year-old man booked for molesting sister-in-law in Thane
A 26-year-old man from Kalyan in Maharashtra's Thane district has been booked for allegedly molesting his sister-in-law, police said Monday.
The woman in her complaint stated that she was living in her mother-in-law's home as her husband was bedridden following a paralytic attack and was being nursed there, said an official.
At her mother-in-law's home, the accused made sexual advances towards her, the victim said in her complaint. "After the victim rejected his overtures, the accused assaulted her ailing husband. She was molested by the accused when she intervened.
Neighbours rushed in and saved the couple," he said. The woman filed a complaint with MFC police station in Kalyan Sunday evening following which the man was booked, he said, adding that no arrest has been made so far.
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Forest Dept nabs one more accused in sambar, leopard poaching cas
The Thane Forest Department (Territorial) on Saturday night detained one more person in connection with the poaching case of a sambar deer and leopard, carcasses of which were found last week, trapped in wire snares set at the Film City.
Over the weekend, the five accused were taken to locations they had revealed during interrogation and some important evidence including bones of wild animals were recovered by the department. It was during this exercise that the name of the person came up.
According to sources, the accused were taken to various spots in the Film City where they had allegedly killed the animals. A Forest Department official said, "A few names came up during interrogation based on which one person was picked up."
"The accused also took us to the locations where they had set some snares and we have recovered bones and antlers from one such location," said a source from the Forest Department on the condition of anonymity.
The accused also confessed to having killed a barking deer at one spot, photos of which were found in one of their phones. A person was also named for allegedly selling sambar and spotted deer meat.
"We are exploring the meat trade bit and will get more names as interrogation progresses. One of the accused was wearing a gold chain with a pendant that had a nail resembling that of a big cat. We have seized it and will send it for forensic examination," the source added.
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42-year-old woman's decomposed body found in Thane; cops suspect murder
A highly decomposed body of a 42-year-old woman was found dumped on a roadside near the Mumbai-Agra highway here in Maharashtra, police said Sunday.
A group of devotees proceeding on foot to Shirdi temple town spotted the body, bearing injury marks on head, at a forest in Asangaon area of Sahapur taluka on Friday, an official at Sahapur police station said. An Aadhaar card found stuck in her clothes revealed her identity as Vandana Khermode, hailing from Solapur district in Maharashtra, he said.
The police subsequently sent the body for postmortem to J J Hospital in neighbouring Mumbai. Based on the autopsy report, a case was registered by the police on Saturday under IPC section 302 (murder) against unidentified persons, he said. The body was later handed over to the woman's relatives, he said, adding that a probe was on to ascertain why and where she was killed.
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Mumbai Crime: 58-year-old man arrested with 11 kg of charas in Thane
A 58-year-old man was arrested after 11 kg of charas (cannabis resin) was seized from him here in Maharashtra, police said Sunday. Acting on a tip-off, the anti-extortion cell of Thane police laid a trap and apprehended Azimuddin Ahmed Ansari at Kalyan town here on Saturday evening, police spokesperson Sukhada Narkar said in a release.
A search of his bag led to the recovery of nearly 11 kg of charas, worth around Rs 22 lakh, she said. Ansari, a resident of Siwan district in Bihar, had apparently got the contraband from Nepal, Narkar said. A probe was underway to ascertain as to whom he was planning to sell the contraband, she said, adding that the accused was booked under relevant provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
In another incident, the Mumbai Police has effected a massive drugs haul, valued at Rs 1,000 crore and arrested four drug-peddlers, a top official said on Friday.
The Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) swooped on a car parked at Shastri Nagar, in Vile Parle and seized around 100 kg of the banned Fentanyl, which is said to be 50 times more powerful than heroin. According to ANC chief, DCP Shivdeep Lande, following a reliable tip-off to a policeman Santosh Bhalekar about delivery of Fentanyl, the ANC's Azad Maidan Unit laid a trap on Wednesday.
Four drug peddlers were caught with the drugs near the service road outside the Mumbai Airport in Vile Parle East, said Lande, of the biggest success notched by Mumbai Police so far. "We have seized 100 kg of the banned drugs. It is worth around Rs 10 crore/kg and the total seizure is worth around Rs 1,000 crore," Lande said.
The four accused arrested are -- Salim Ismail Dhola, 52 of Ghodapdev and Chandramani Matamani Tiwari, 41 of Kandivali, both in Mumbai, and Sandeep Indrajeet Tiwari and Ghanshyam Ramraj Saroj, both from Nala Sopara town in the adjacent Palghar district. According to the tip-off, Dhola and two others were expected to arrive at a spot in Vakola, Santacruz east around 8.30 p.m. with the drugs consignment which was reportedly being smuggled to a North American country.
The vehicle halted near a tree on the road where a fourth accomplice was already waiting near his scooter for half an hour. After exchanging pleasantries, one of the car occupants came out and handed over a blue coloured container to the man waiting outside. This was the opportune moment when the waiting ANC team struck and caught them red-handed. They also recovered three more blue containers full of the banned drugs from the vehicle.
Later, it was found to be the very high-priced Fentanyl drug, and a mere 25 gm is lethal enough to kill a man, police said. Considered a party drug, with around 20,000 overdose-related deaths in the US in 2016, Fentanyl is basically an anaesthetic medicine, but made illegally into a recreational drug, with a lethal mixture of heroin or cocaine.
On December 27, the accused were booked under relevant sections of the NDPS and IPC acts for the offences, and have been remanded to police custody till January 1, police said.
With inputs from PTI
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Mumbai: 27-year-old MBBS student commits suicide due to stress in Thane
A 27-year-old MBBS student committed suicide by jumping off from a high-rise in Thane on Saturday. She was rushed to the hospital, where the doctor declared her dead. The deceased was identified as Dr Shamista Som, daughter of dermatologist Dr Kaberi Som. Police have found a suicide note in which she spoke about the pressure she faced for the preparation of her MD exams.
Shamista was living with her parents on the 12th floor of Glory building in Everest Society at Kolshet. Sources revealed that in 2016, Shamista had completed her MBBS and was preparing for her MD. On Friday night, she had spoken of the stress related to the same with her parents.
Glory building in Everest Society. Pic/Rajesh S. Gupta
"According to the parents, they spoke at length with their daughter and tried to calm her. Afterwards, she told her parents she was going to study," an officer said. Around 5 AM on Saturday, the security guard found her lying in a pool of blood. She was rushed to the hospital, where she was declared dead on arrival.
To mid-day, AV Deshmukh, senior inspector at Koparbaudi police station, said, "We have found a suicide note written by the deceased. The reason behind the suicide seems to be depression. However, we have registered the death as an accident and are inquiring into the case."
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Mumbai: Monorail stalls due to technical glitch, services affected
In a yet another technical snag, the commuters travelling in Monorail had to face problem on Saturday evening after Monorail services were affected due to issue related to brakes. The technical snag developed between Bharat Petroleum and Mysore Colony stations.
Informing the glitch, on its official Twitter account, Mumbai Monorail said, "We are facing technical difficulties. Dear Mumbaikars, we apologize for the inconvenience. Our technical teams have reached the site and are working to restore the services at the earliest".
We are facing technical difficulties. Dear Mumbaikars, we apologize for the inconvenience.
— Mumbai Monorail (@monorail_mumbai) April 13, 2019
Our technical teams have reached the site and are working to restore the services at the earliest.
— Mumbai Monorail (@monorail_mumbai) April 13, 2019
Following the incident, the monorail was taken to Mysore colony monorail station where passengers were evacuated safely. The authorities plan to take the train to the depot using another train.
According to authorities, the technical glitches has been attended and full services are expected to be restored in some time.
Skeletal services resumed.
— Mumbai Monorail (@monorail_mumbai) April 13, 2019
Technical glitches being attended.
Full Services are expected to be restored in some time.
More details are awaited.
This is the second incident Monorail has faced within a week. On Wednesday, Monorail was stuck mid-way towards Wadala depot affecting its services. After the passengers were evacuated, the monorail was being transported to the depot but it ceased to move mid-way. Another train was then used to push the monorail further. Since other trains could not use the same alignment, services were shut for about an hour.
The second phase of the Chembur-Wadala-Jacob Circle monorail was flagged off in March 2019.
Also Read: Mumbai: Garland wire glitch delays new Chembur-Wadala-Jacob Circle Monorail services
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Find the flavours of Mumbai at this new restaurant in Chembur
"Aye dil hai mushkil jeena yaha, zara bachke zara hatke yehe Mumbai meri jaan." We hum the song in our head, as we alight a train from the Ghatkopar Metro station. We are headed towards Chembur's Via Bombay. This is a city that grew from being a swampland that didn't interest the British East India Company to a bustling port city of the Empire, and eventually India's commercial centre. All of this is on our mind as we check out the menu that will circumnavigate its historic legacy.
We start with a paan pasand (Rs 340), an excellent pour of dark rum, betel leaf, mint, lime, gulkand and soda which is refreshing on the palate without being too sugary. We sip, and soak in its interiors, a green dress circle bar that is lit up and walls done up in frames of old newspaper scans.
From starters, we pick the baida pakoda (Rs 190) a deep-fried snack with a thick coat of gram flour. We wish the batter had been salted and spiced, for we have to resort to the green chutney for flavour. The Bombay duck rawa fry (Rs 275) on the other hand, is shallow fried and coated in semolina. The kick of desi masalas transports us to the streets of Bandra where Koli ladies selling the specialty. The Bhavnagri chillies (rs xx) taste good. It's stuffed with a coconut filling and served with a yummy side of peru dahi, which we feel deserves a special salute.
Baida pakoda
We wash it down with a Bombay gulab (Rs 320). After a fiery dish, the saccharine sweet drink helps, but the Rooh Afza and vodka jugalbandi sends our head into a tizzy. And not in a good way. For mains, we pick the mutton thali (R475), which comes with salad, gajar ka halwa, curd, mutton sukka and curry, daal and chapati. The dish is nowhere near the fare that's whipped up at its humble Maharashtrian counterparts scattered across the city.
(Clockwise from left on Thali) Salad, gajar, dudhi and beetroot halwa, curd, mutton sukka, mutton curry, daal and chapati
One spoonful of the dessert Amar Akbar Anthony (Rs 250), and we wish we had ordered it first. A delicious medley of gajaar, dudhi and beetroot halwa, the sweet treat is laden with ghee; just the way it should be. After all, unless you're calling yourself a health café, desi dishes ought to stick to their original recipes, never mind a dollop or two of extra fat.
Bombay gulaab
And though we loved the halwa, we leave the restaurant wishing the fare was a truer representation of asli Bombaywallah swaad.
AT Via Bombay, Jewel of Chembur, Chembur East
TIME 12 pm to 3 pm; 7 pm to 11.30 pm
CALL 67099988
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Via Bombay didn't know we were there. The Guide reviews anonymously and pays for meals
Rum festival in Chembur
Rum lovers swear by the old rum-and-coke recipe. But if you want the spirit in a new avatar, along with chakna made with rum, head to this rum festival in Chembur.
ON March 10, 9 am to 11.59 pm
AT Le Cafe, 1st Road, Chembur East
CALL 67099999
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Mumbai: Car catches fire on SCLR
A car caught fire on Monday morning just before Suman Nagar junction towards connecting SCLR towards Kurla affecting south-bound traffic.
@RidlrMUM can on fire on sclr near amar mahal entry pic.twitter.com/i9cwiHWbkp
— ghanesh shastri (@ghanesh13) February 18, 2019
The Mumbai police informed the control room and nearest mobile van for support.
#Fire on bridge connecting #SCLR towards Kurla avoid taking it. Use underpass at Amarmahal junction. #Mumbaitraffic @mumbaitraffic @MumbaiPolice pic.twitter.com/OlGWyZD0by
— Sachin Pukale (@spcores) February 18, 2019
It's Amar Mahal Bridge chembur. Kindly rectify. Heavy traffic on spot.
— ST (@Lady_Bheem) February 18, 2019
@RoadsOfMumbai @MirchiJeeturaaj pls note that there is slow bumper to bumber traffic on EEH from Ghatkopar to chembur Amarmahal and onwards...
— TheCritiC (@TheCritiic) February 18, 2019
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Vocalist Aruna Saira: The cosmopolitan Bombay is what I am
When disciples of the late Odissi exponent Kelucharan Mohapatra speak of him, they never fail to quote a life lesson he imparted to them. "Practising hard makes you a good dancer. But the day you embrace humility is when you become an artiste," he would say. More than 1,200 km to the south, Chennai-based Aruna Sairam practises a different classical art form, but what ties the Padma Shri awardee to Carnatic music is the same bond of humility.
Born in Mumbai, she was introduced to the music tradition by her mother. Six decades and several accolades later — she received the Sangeetha Kalanidhi award by the Madras Music Academy in January — she remains open to new experiences to keep her music evolving. Back in the city for a concert this evening, caught up with the vocalist.
Edited excerpts from the interview.
How did your years in Mumbai shape you as an artiste?
I was brought up in Dadar Parsi Colony and went to the JB Vachha school. So, I lived in two happy worlds. One at home, where we spoke Tamil and my mother taught me Carnatic music. And one outside, where I enrolled for western music in school, took up Gujarati as a second language, and learnt Hindi and Marathi on the streets. We moved to Chennai in 2000 because that's the headquarters of the style of music I practise, but the cosmopolitan Bombay is what I am.
The first half of my concerts is dedicated to pure Carnatic music — something I learnt from my guru, Smt T Brinda. But I also sing abhangs in a Carnatic rendition. There are songs of Ganpati Visarjan, the hymn Vaishnav Jana To in folk Gujarati... in the last part.
You've also trained under international voice masters.
Since my school days, I had been introduced to the idea that in the West, they have techniques to hone your voice. So, when I felt I was finding it difficult to fully convey my emotions in my voice, I decided to train under them.
You have been performing since you were eight. What keeps you going?
I was in Jerusalem for a concert recently. I took the help of a professor there to learn a Hebrew song. When I sang it, people got emotional because they felt someone had taken the trouble to learn an important part of their culture. This sense of newness keeps me going.
ON Tonight, 7 pm
AT Fine Arts Cultural Centre, RC Marg, Chembur
CALL 25222988
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Mumbai Crime: 3 held for abusing, molesting women constable at Wadala
Wadala GRP arrested three persons from the same family for allegedly manhandling and molesting a women constable at GTB Railway station on Saturday morning. The constable was with a Ticket Checker when she caught a woman passenger who was travelling without a ticket in the First class compartment. All the three accused have been arrested.
The alleged incident occurred on Guru Teg Bahadur Railway station of Harbour line on Saturday morning. When a Ticket Checker was checking tickets on a platform when he stopped a 19-year-old Ekta Uppal, a teacher by profession. The checker found that Ekta was travelling without a valid ticket. The TC asked the woman constable present at the station to nab Ekta as she was not ready to pay the fine.
"The woman called her father and asked him to come to the railway station. Meanwhile, Ekta was repeatedly abusing constable. Constable called Senior Inspector of Wadala GRP Rajendra Pal, sending things can go bad," said a police officer. "Senior Inspector with cops reached the spot and asked what's the matter," the officer added.
"The passenger did not have a valid ticket and along with her father and brothers, were abusing constable too. When I tried to intervene they were not calming down. Their errant behavior didn't stop in spite of repeated warnings, therefore we booked all the three," said Rajendra Pal, Senior Inspector, Wadala GRP.
Police have arrested Ekta Uppal (19), Yashraj Uppal (19) and their father Tilakraj Uppal (52) under IPC 354 (Outraging women's modesty) and other relevant sections.
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Mumbai Crime: Constable held for raping woman in Powai hotel
A constable attached to MIDC police station was arrested on Saturday for raping a 20-year-old who was caught stealing chocolates from D-Mart in Powai. The accused, Madhukar Avhad, has been arrested by the Powai police for rape.
The Powai police said, on February 6, they received a call from the D-Mart staff informing them about a woman caught stealing 10 chocolates from the store. Avhad, who was on duty at the time, visited the mall and took a detailed note in writing from the woman that she would not repeat the act. Avhad then took her Aadhaar card details and phone number.
The next day, Avhad called to the woman telling her he would return her Aadhaar card and statement. He then took her to a hotel near Aarey Road saying he would return it to her there.
On reaching the hotel room, Avhad forced himself on her and even took a selfie on her phone. Avhad then refused to return her statement and Aadhaar card telling her to meet him again. On Saturday, the woman's husband saw the selfie on her phone and registered a case of rape against the constable at Powai police station.
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BEST strike: Student could not afford a taxi, auto; misses school
Rajesh Hudiyar, a resident of Mahul, was forced to stay at home because of the BEST strike in the city today. The youngster's board exams are hardly two months away but as he could not afford to take an autorickshaw or a taxi, he had to skip going to school.
Not just him, but many other residents of Mahul, most of whom are Tansa pipeline project affected people, are skipping work and school because since buses are not operational.
Meanwhile, the BEST strike in Mumbai has entered its ninth day today.
While Hudiyar says that he is missing important classes, he simply can't afford to spend Rs 100 on an autorickshaw ride.
Vikas Logade, who is a student of a Wadala college, says that he missed a project submission already which he fears will cost him marks in the final assessment but he can't spend Rs 150 on a taxi every day.
Firdaus Sheikh is a Std. 10 student whose preliminary examinations are underway and two of her siblings are skipping school as well.
Mangal Thakur is sending only her elder son, a Std 10 student, to school while her younger son has to sit at home.
She told Mumbai Mirror, “Unscrupulous autorickshaw drivers have jacked up fares. We can’t afford to send both our children to school in such a scenario."
Vivek Gambre who works in a factory in Andheri east says that he has missed seven days of work which has cost him Rs 9000, which is about 25% of his income.
Amita Pawar, a tester in a factory in Sakinaka, says that her daily wage comes to Rs 250 but an autorickshaw will cost her Rs 200 alone. “Then there’s the additional hassle of getting a vehicle in the first place.”
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The article has been sourced from third-party source and Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. All information provided on this article is for informational purposes only.
Mumbai: Fire in Tilak Nagar as blaze hits multi-storey building
Mumbai city suburbs of Tilak Nagar, located in Chembur faced another fire hazard on Wednesday evening. According to reports, building no 50, which is a multi-storey establishment which is located near Saraswati school caught fire. Four fire engines and water tankers were dispatched to the spot.
More details awaited.
Citizens took to social networking site Twitter quickly to react upon the fire in Tilak Nagar. Here's what some of them had to say.
Again fire outbreak in tilaknagar Chembur building no. 50. #chemburfire @MumbaiPolice @RidlrMUM
— Avantika Shukla (@avi_1801) January 9, 2019
And today another fire broke out in Tilak Nagar. There's absolute chaos due to the parking on roads in the colony. https://t.co/A22wLP1YnN
— Neenu (@kpophustle) January 9, 2019
Unbelievable how often this is happening. Tilak Nagar needs a revisit on fire safety norms!
— Chyrag (@chiragbshah) January 9, 2019
In a similar incident, a fire had broken out at Sadhana Industrial Estate near Mahindra Tower, Worli around 4.30 pm on December 29. Eight fire engines, two fire tenders, seven jumbo tankers were rushed to the spot. The ground-plus three-storey commercial structure was completely engulfed in smoke, said a fire official. Twelve firemen were rushed to the hospital, after they complained of suffocation.
A month ago, a deadly blaze at ESIC Kamgar Hospital at Marol in suburban Andheri had claimed six lives and left more than 30 injured. The building had neither a fire NOC nor occupation certificate. Ten fire tenders and 15 ambulances were rushed to the spot. The fire brigade officials said 147 people were rescued from the hospital, which includes patients as well as staff members.
Also Read: Tilak Nagar fire: Residents to take on MHADA, BMC
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BKC brewery is offering 24 craft brews for beer lovers
For a city as hot and humid as ours, there isn't much on offer for beer lovers. But thankfully, our neighbouring city, Pune, is a haven for craft beer breweries and they are slowly trickling down to Mumbai. Joining the ranks is Drifters Tap Station in BKC and they will offer 24 craft brews, including ciders, ales and beers.
We first got a taste of their beers at the now-shuttered Drifters Brewing Co in Kamala Mills last year and fell in love with their Milky Way stout, and are eager to try more at their soon-to-open BKC bar. Sunlight fills the large bar, and our eyes are instantly pulled towards a huge wall mural that depicts the brewing process.
Kasundi fish tikka
Seated in a cosy corner that overlooks the walkway outside, owner Nayan Shah presents us with flyers of different tasters and a plate of crumbled cottage cheese (Rs 365), which has chunks of paneer coated in batter and crumbles of spicy papad — a fried delight that we guiltily wipe off. The menu has a host of other options for Indian fare and a few international dishes such as bil lamhe chicken (Rs 415), flatbreads and pasta.
From the beers (Rs 295 for 300ml; Rs 1,300 for a 1.5l pitcher), we start with the light lagers first. The Helles is a pale unfiltered brew that's perfect for a light summer drink. Vienna lager offers a more malty experience with a medium body, and a beautiful, hoppy finish. For a crisp lager with just a hint of fruit, try IPL (Indian pale lager). The lemongrass is a white ale that catches us by surprise, and is exactly the kind of innovation we are looking for on balmy summer afternoons.
Crumble Cottege Cheese
By now, we have a table filled with stuffed kulcha balls (Rs 335), achari soya chaap (Rs 355) and kasundi fish tikka (Rs 475). The kulcha balls are deliciously cooked in a tandoor, and come with a simple stuffing of onions, paneer, mushroom and cheese. The soya chaap is just like the ones you would find in local Punjabi restaurants, but these are thankfully less greasy. The fish tikka is delicately spiced and the meat falls perfectly off the fork.
A flyer of four beer tasters brings our attention back to the brews. We now get experimental with kokam cider, a drink that reminds us of an idyllic weekend spent in Alibaug lazing on a hammock under mango trees. The black hefeweizen isn't our favourite, so we clear our palate with citra wheat, an American white ale with citrus notes.
Achari soya chaap
Coconut lovers looking for some fun should try their coconut porter or coconut saison ale. The former has a dark-chocolatey flavour, while the latter is a refreshing light ale. For tropical fun, try pina colada ale or the pineapple saison, which can also work for great cocktails.
And just in case you are looking for something more than beer, they also offer large plates that include everything from dal tadka (Rs 375), Turkish casserole (Rs 410) or chicken ala keiv with mushroom sauce, mash and assorted vegetables (Rs 425). But it's the 24 beers on tap that will take this beer lover a while to get over.
Restaurant Drifters Tap Station
On January 12, 5 pm to 1 am (for the first week); 12 pm to 1 am (after first week)
At Adani Inspire BKC, G Block, BKC, Bandra East.
Call 26522007
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Mumbai: 15-month-old baby survives 4-floor fall without any injuries
By holding on to a tree branch, one-year-old Atharva Barkade survived what could have easily been a fatal fall. Atharva fell from the balcony of his fourth-floor home in Deonar on Thursday morning, after curiously crawling to the edge of it. Luckily, he escaped with a few bruises. Preliminary tests have not indicated any injuries, but he has been admitted in the ICU as a precautionary measure.
The Barkades reside on the fourth floor of Jay Gopi Krishna CHS at Deonar. Around 8:45 am on Thursday, Ajit, Atharva's father, was getting ready to go to work. At the other end of the house, Atharva's grandmother was going to the balcony attached to the living room to put out clothes to dry. Atharva crawled behind her and out of the balcony.
Crawling and falling
Just then, Ajit entered the living room and saw Atharva crawling out of the balcony and yelled when he saw his baby fall from it. "I was cooking when I heard Ajit shouting. All the family members rushed to the living room and he just kept pointing to the balcony," said Anjali, Atharva's aunt. "We all rushed to the ground floor and to our surprise, found Atharva crying and trying to stand up," added Anjali.
The fourth floor balcony from where Atharva fell. Pic/Rajesh Gupta
Ajit and Mangal, Atharva's parents, checked his body for injuries. They were able to only find bruises on his back. But they decided to go for a more professional assessment. "Without giving it a second thought, we rushed to the main road looking for an autorickshaw and took him to a private hospital in Chembur, where we were told that they don't have the facilities to admit a baby. Then, we took him to the Fortis Hospital in Mulund," said Mangal, Atharva's mother.
Admitted in ICU
Atharva has been admitted in the paediatric ICU and currently kept under observation for 48 hours. According to the family, the CT scan and other reports have not shown any internal bleeding. The Govandi Police have made an entry of the incident. They were alerted when Atharva was taken to the hospital. According to cops who examined the spot, "The baby must have fallen on a flexible tree branch and held it until he lost its grip and fell, which reduced his speed. Had he fallen directly on the ground, it could have been fatal." The cops suspect he gripped on the tree first as he was found holding a few leaves after he fell.
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Mumbai: Dadar Parsi Colony has been turned into 'Parking Colony'
A high court order has inadvertently turned the Dadar Parsi Colony into the Dadar Parking colony. Miffed with all kinds of taxis parking in its premises -after they were not allowed to park under the Khodadad flyover - and causing a 'great nuisance' to residents, the colony's residents wrote to the local police and the BMC in November, seeking an end to the issue. They have got no respite yet.
The Bombay High Court disallowed parking underneath flyovers in February 2016 because of security concerns. Because of that, cabbies have shifted from parking underneath the Khodadad Circle flyover to the Colony.
Cabbies have shifted from parking under the flyover to Dadar Parsi Colony
This has angered residents of the iconic community housing enclave in Dadar East, who first sent an anguished letter about their grievances to the Sion Police Station. The letter cited that private taxi aggregators, black and yellow cabs, and other cabs are parking in the colony, causing a, "great nuisance" to residents, especially those of Katrak, Firdoshi, Khareghat and Mancherji Joshi roads within the colony. Their letter went on to say that cabs are being parked haphazardly, blocking traffic within the colony and not giving its residents any space to park their cars.
Residents Darayus (who goes by his first name), Zarine Engineer, Dilly Dalal, Anjali Cooper, Zinobia Schroff, Sunita Davar and Nikhil Desai said, "The problem started after parking under flyovers was stopped by a High Court order. We appreciate this security measure, yet a majority the cabs that used to be parked under the Khodadad flyover have now made Dadar Parsi Colony their home. This has become a free parking spot."
Garden pardon
When mid-day visited the flyover, underneath which cabs used to be parked, it was clear of vehicles and shuttered from one side. The cab booking office though was functional.
A staffer sat at the ticket window for Mumbai-Pune cabs and said sarcastically, "Bageecha bana rahe hain, pareshaan kar diya." (A garden is being made here; we have been troubled because of no parking).
Said Dadar colony resident Dilly Dalal, "We have become a soft target because the community is so peaceful; we do not stoop to rowdy protests or resort to hooliganism." Instead, these Parsis believe in the power of the pen. Another letter was sent in November, to the BMC's assistant engineer of the waterworks department (F/North Ward), which encapsulated residents' arguments about cab parking bringing in social ills.
This letter read, "There is an illegal racket on at Katrak Road Junction. A flower merchant draws water illegally from a toilet meant for shopkeepers and then the cabs are cleaned." Residents pointed out the huge amount of cab washing makes the roads slippery, and has turned the place into "an illegal taxi stand." They stated that cab parking has a domino effect, "it leads to problems like drinking and other anti-social behaviour."
Residents said angrily that, "There is double and triple parking because of these cabs and we have been rendered helpless against this." Desai added, "Despite complaints, the system is not responding to the problem."
Locals were also in no mood to hum 'dil garden, garden ho gaya' when told that a beautiful garden is going to come up under the flyover, which they could access, pointing to at least 14 gardens within the colony itself. Cooper said, "Authorities should have found an alternate and viable parking space before shutting the parking underneath the flyover."
No solution
Amey Gole, the corporator for Dadar Parsi Colony, said he has had several meetings with residents, but nothing has come out of them. Gole added, "I am, in fact, in-charge of the garden coming up underneath the flyover. The design is almost complete; it looks like the streets of Paris."
Gole added, "Having said that, I do know the problems being caused by parked cabs, and have spoken to the police about these. The police though had a negative attitude and said they could not move the cabs out of the colony. Cops have to ensure the cabs move out, not the BMC. We do have other parking spaces in the area. All of this is extremely difficult as I have been repeatedly told there is no solution," finished Gole.
Also read: Mumbai: Construction noise leads to brawl at Dadar Parsi Colony
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Mumbai: Two fall to death from Govandi building
Two labourers were killed on Friday after falling from the eighth floor of an under-construction building here, a disaster control official said. The incident occurred when they were fitting window panes of the Shabari Park building, coming up opposite the RK Studios in Govandi suburb.
Suddenly they lost their balance and fell nearly 80 feet below, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation official said.
Other workers rushed them to the Shatabdi Hospital where they were pronounced dead.
It is not clear if they were wearing safety belts or whether a safety net was installed below to prevent such accidents.
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Two film screenings to attend: Lest we forget
It's been 35 years since over 2,000 Muslims were killed in the town of Nellie and its surrounding villages in Assam, and 34 years ago, the country was burning in the flames of anti-Sikh violence. In the semblance of the peaceful times we live in, these tragedies have been relegated to the dusty pages of history. But only when lessons are learnt from the past can there be the hope of history not repeating itself. Remembering/Forgetting, a screening of documentaries on the two tragic events, organised by the Godrej India Culture Lab, aims to do that by starting a dialogue between the audience and filmmakers, who will be present at the screening.
"When I visited the Sikh Widows Colony in West Delhi to speak to its residents, I chose to not meet them during October-November, when politicians visit them. It's only when they were sure that I had no political motive, did they start opening up about how they struggled and coped with the loss," recalls Teenaa Kaur Pasricha, whose documentary, 1984, When the Sun Didn't Rise, won the National Award for Best Investigative Film this year.
She adds that the number of cases that stand in court against the perpetrators of the 1984 violence have drastically come down over the years because people have given up hope for any justice to come their way.
Teenaa Kaur Pasricha
For Subasri Krishnan, making her documentary, What the Fields Remember, was an exercise in piecing together her own faint recollection of the word Nellie, which she had heard as an eight-year-old when she lived briefly in Assam. "In 2006, I came across an article on the Nellie massacre.
A still from What the Fields Remember
Later, when I started my research and came across very little material on it, I wanted to know why there is public amnesia about it," says the filmmaker, for whom the idea of citizenship has been an intellectual pursuit. The concern becomes even more relevant with the ramifications of being excluded from the National Register of Citizens, which forms the subject of her next documentary, Shadow Line.
Subasri Krishnan
"The history of minorities, written by the powerful, is always suppressed in the public eye," laments Pasricha — something that is as relevant in the case of the Nellie massacre, where the reality of Bengali-speaking victims in the already-neglected region of the North East only grows more complex.
ON Today, 5 pm
AT Auditorium, Godrej ONE, Vikhroli East
RSVP indiaculturelab@godrejinds.com
FREE
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Mumbai Food: This eatery in Mulund serves chicken bhel
The street food stalls in Mulund have been the fodder for several viral social media videos for their cheese-laden fast food innovations. Although a delight for those who don't pinch the calories, there are hardly any rasta-fare options for non-vegetarians in the leafy suburb. But a trip to Mulund East can solve your greasy grub craving. A whiff of chicken being slow-roasted on rotisserie, and a large crowd waiting on most days, will guide your nose to EFC Shawarma on 90-feet road.
Run by Jayesh Vaity, whom you'll often see shredding chicken with long knives on busy nights, EFC Shawarma is known for their 'lamba' shawarmas (they offer a smaller size too, in both, vegetarian and chicken options). Their vast menu has other options for a full meal such as mutton dum biryani, tandoori kebabs, grilled sandwiches and burgers.
Their most hat-ke section on the menu, however, is chicken bhel, which in a way, is like a deconstructed shawarma. Made with thinly sliced roasted chicken, mayo, veggies, schezwan sauce, cheese and fries, the bhel comes in varieties such as plain and classic special chicken (R80 and R90), and classic cheese schezwan special chicken (R120). The cheese and mayo-laden chicken makes for a meaty meal, which we often use at home, too to fix a sandwich with toasted baguettes. A big draw among the locals, be ready to wait for your treat on busy days.
ON: 11.30 am to 2.30 pm and 5 pm to 11.30 pm
AT: Shop no 5, Center Point, 90 Feet Road, Mulund East.
CALL: 9867850843
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New pop-up in Chembur present a new face of Maharashtrian cuisine
It's a busy morning inside the sprawling open kitchen at Chembur's Pot Pourri with blogger-author Saee Koranne-Khandekar helming the activity with help from executive chef Vinod Garde. In the last 10 days she has been pretty much relegated to this section of the 175-seater space. The only time we see her stepping out is to answer a phone call or greet a guest. The reason is a new culinary experiment that will see the restaurant, known for dabbling in global cuisine, present a new face of Maharashtrian food. One that you might not identify by its appearance — we did not — but certainly by taste.
Chicken Bhujing is a street dish available inVirar. Bhujing, derived from the Marathi word, bhujne, is a process of roasting chicken with potatoes on charcoal and then mixing it with nylon poha and masalas
Creating a new avatar
Starting today, Pot Pourri will roll out a new menu curated by Khandekar that will be available only till October 24. The objective is to showcase how traditional Maharashtrian recipes can be tweaked and made palatable to an evolving audience, who might otherwise gawk at the idea of eating faraali misal or varan phala at a gourmet restaurant. Having said that, Khandekar is clear that food won't carry any 'deconstructivist' baggage. Portion sizes are hearty, and there are no foam, vapours and gasses to accompany it.
Pathare Prabhu pot pie with tomato saar
"I had to mainly work on the way I approached certain traditional dishes," says Khandekar, who in 2016, authored Crumbs! Bread Stories and Recipes for the Indian Kitchen, that offered more than 40 recipes of Indian and international breads. She adds, "For instance, if I said thalipeeth with koshimbir, people who are not familiar with the cuisine, might say, 'Oh, this is just too experimental for me'. They might find it intimidating and rustic, and not want to eat it at all." In order to give the spiced Maharashtrian pancake a makeover, Khandekar has created thalipeeth tostadas, topped with a creamy guava-based yoghurt salad. The dish, prepared using bhajanee (flour made from roasted grains, legumes and spices), has been fashioned to look like the Mexican tortilla with guacamole. If you have tasted the Maharashtrian snack, a powerhouse of nutrition, the taste will hit home. It's the yoghurt that helps balance the spiciness of the pancake, making it a sumptuous bar snack.
Faraali misal is eaten while fasting. Here's it's served with a peanut dip
Khandekar believes that although, thalipeeth has for centuries been a 'multigrain' offering, the idea of bringing into the mainstream never took off due to its seemingly regional strappings. "Somewhere, in the name of 'evolution', we have drifted away from what's intrinsic to the culture. Our cuisine which was earlier very millet and rice-heavy has now moved to being wheat heavy. Seasonal items like gourds barely make an appearance," she adds.
Modak icecrean with crispy vermicelli; Baked coconut fudge karanji with vanilla icecream
Getting global recognition
For any regional cuisine to reach the pedestal of a fine dine, it needs to go through a rite of passage, believes Rajendra Agnihotri, executive chef, at White Charcoal Fine Dine, Empressa Hotel, Andheri. "In terms of food, the key lies in the attention to detail when it comes to ingredients and methods of preparation. The ingredients need to be sourced from where it originates and the chefs need to be local who have specialised in the cuisine; it has to be authentic to the T. If you're making the classic kombdi rassa, you would need gavthi chicken. The one purchased from a supermarket won't have the same taste," he says. When it comes to Maharashtrian cuisine, it's the diversity that makes it complex. In fact, the vegetable Kolhapuri that you might have seen on almost every Indian restaurant's menu doesn't exist in the region, adds Khandekar.
Saee Koranne-Khandekar with chef Vinod Garde. Pics/Sayyed Sameer Abedi
"There is nothing called as Veg Kolhapuri. If you go to Kolhapur, there are so many different masalas. There's no one-size-fits all masala." Akshay Deshpande, Sous Chef (Indian specialty), Conrad Pune, who grew up eating Maharashtrian food at home, admits that he's seen little of the food on the fine dine space. "It has been over eight years that I have taken up regional cooking professionally, but I admit that the cuisine in its entirety is an extremely unexplored cuisine. I think it's because it's extremely rustic and there's no standardisation so to speak," he says.
The cuisine from Vidharbha, the north-eastern region of Maharashtra, known for its extreme climates, is famous for its extremely spicy flavours, while Konkan is more mellow given all the coconut and kokum that goes into it. According to Khanderkar, who has extensively researched traditional Maharastrian cuisine, what has made winners out of misal pav and puranpoli, are the people who migrated from Western Maharashtra, introducing it to Mumbai through khanavals. "They made a business out of it and that's why it is what it is," she says. But those dishes that did not transition to the mainland, are yet to enjoy their moment in the sun.
Back to basics
The 'unsophisticated' appearance makes it a tricky business. She, for one, had to battle one critic in her own home. "My husband was of the opinion that Maharashtrian food is not visually appetising," she says. But chefs are now channelling their energies into presentation. The modernist element is consistent throughout Khandekar's menu. Take the Pathare Prabhu Pot Pie with tomato saar, served in a shot glass. The latter is a spicy tomato soup made with curry leaves and chillies. It's eaten with rice in parts of Maharashtra and Karnataka. Here, the dish is a take on the shepherd pie. The taste is unmistakably Pathare Prabhu, courtesy the signature fragrant garam masala which gets its edge from the fennel seeds that are ground along with Bengal gram, fenugreek, whole wheat and black peppercorn. All ingredients, we are told, have been sourced locally.
Agnihotri feels the local and regional cuisines are slowly making their way into the mainstream. And, it's a lot to do with the growing realisation of the food miles concept, which is a way of expressing just how far the food we eat travels from the farm where it is first produced, before it ends up on our tables. Although the expression was first coined back in the 1990s, it has entered public consciousness given the awareness of carbon footprint and environmental degradation. "You want to tap into indigenous resources. It's to do with chefs who are going back to roots. There's a return to basics," he says.
The winners
- Chicken Bhujing, a signature street dish popular in the confines of Virar and Vasai. Those living outside the parameters may have no clue. The chicken is roasted along with potatoes and then fried and steamed with onion. It's then mixed with nylon poha and a special masala mix
- Orange kharvas with dink crumb and kaakvi is a colostrum pudding served with fried edible gum, fresh orange and sugarcane molasses
- Varan Phala Ravioli is their take on the Maharashtrian pasta. It is made with whole wheat and stuffed with coriander and goda masala in a tuar dal sauce
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Mumbai: 15-year-old girl found hanging in a chawl near Antop Hill
A 15-year-old girl's dead body was found at a chawl near Samaj Mandir hall at Antop Hill on Monday. According to police sources, they received a call informing about a suicide after which they immediately sent a team with forensics experts at the banquet hall where they found her hanging from a ceiling fan.
An officer said, "We have sent her body to Sion hospital for post-mortem. As of now, we have registered a case of accidental death (ADR). We have not noticed anything suspicious as of now. The post-mortem report will give a clear picture.
Further investigations are on.
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Chembur hospital holds dead patient hostage until family pays the bill
A month after she noticed what looked like an insect bite on her hand, Chanda Verma, 45, mysteriously died, after spending 22 days in the ICU. Before the Verma family could even process what had happened, the hospital handed them a bill of Rs 3 lakh, and refused to release the body until they paid up.
Late August, Chanda noticed a small sore on her hand. As a single mother supporting two kids on a modest income as a vegetable vendor, she brushed it off as an insect bite. But, in a few days, her hand swelled up and the pain became unbearable, and she was admitted to Sai hospital in Chembur, where she underwent surgery.
Mystery illness jolts family
Despite treatment, her condition deteriorated, and her entire body was swollen. She was moved to the ICU, where she spent 22 days in comatose state before succumbing to the infection on Tuesday. The shocked family's ordeal had only begun. When the family said they wanted to perform her last rites, they were handed a bill instead. The hospital held the body for nearly 12 hours, until the Vermas paid a portion of the bill.
"Around 10 am, I was informed that my sister had passed away. The hospital immediately gave us a bill of Rs 3 lakh. When I asked them when I could take the body, they ordered me to pay the pending amount, and threatened that they wouldn't release the body otherwise. We waited and pleaded, to no avail. Then my friends helped me collect Rs 50,000, which we gave before collecting the body," said Chanda's brother Ratan Verma, who runs a small local business. Chanda had died at 4 am, and her body was eventually released at 3 pm. She is survived by two children, aged 16 and 18.
Hospital says
A hospital staffer told mid-day, "The patient had a pending bill, so we couldn't release the body. The family members tried to shrug it off saying they didn't have any money. Later, they paid Rs 50,000 and took the body. What would we have done with the body anyway?"
Administration in-charge Padma Joseph said, "We had given them a lot of time to clear the bills. She was admitted for 20 days and the bill amount rose to above Rs 3 lakh. They paid around R1lakh, so, we asked them to pay the remaining as this is a private hospital and we can't let go of unpaid bills. This does not mean we held back the body. When they informed us that they could pay only Rs 50,000, I told the director who instructed us to give them the discharge file." Dr Abid Sayyed, director of the hospital, said, "We had informed the family about the estimated amount and also asked them to shift the patient to another hospital, but they didn't listen. When the patient died, the doctor had to negotiate the pending amount. We never stopped them from taking the body," he said.
Against apex court, HC ruling
The hospital's alleged insistence on payment before releasing the body is in violation of human rights and a judgment given by the Bombay High Court in January. The HC, while hearing a public interest litigation on bill disputes at hospitals, stated that detaining any patient for an unpaid amount is illegal. Last year, the Delhi High Court had issued a similar judgment, ordering that hospitals cannot hold patients "hostage" to extract money for unpaid bills. A few years earlier, the Supreme Court had also ruled similarly, advising hospitals to recover dues by moving court for legal recourse. In 2016, HC asked the state government to develop a mechanism which would enable the state to take action against hospitals and doctors who detain patients and hold up bodies over non-payment of bills.
Expertspeak
Dr Shivkumar Utture, president of Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC), said as private hospitals do not come under the purview of the council directly, there are no specific rules for that, but under the court rules, it is prohibited. "No hospital can refuse to release a body over unpaid bills. It would be a violation of the court judgment."
The Bombay HC also ordered the Maharashtra government to publish the legal rights of patients online, so that such harassment is not meted out to less privileged patients. However, seven months on, the government is yet to follow the directive. "Patients need to know about their rights so that private hospitals can't harass them. The state government hasn't done anything to spread awareness among people," said Dr Ravindra Singh, a health activist. Advocate Shailesh Sadekar said, "As per a SC ruling, it is illegal to hold a body and deny a chance to carry out the last rites over a bill," he said.
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Viral video: Girl slips off Mumbai local train, saved in nick of time
An unidentified female commuter had a close call after she slipped and almost fell off a moving Mumbai local train. The commuter was standing on the edge of the footboard inside a Mumbai local when she lost her balance and almost fell off the train. However, alert commuters who was standing close managed to grab her hands and pulled her back inside the train to save her life. The entire incident was captured on mobile by a fellow commuter.
A Government Railway Police (GRP) official said that they were investigating the footage to ascertain the identity of the location and the commuters.
Watch video here...
The video has become viral after it was circulated on the social media. In the footage, the girl is seen leaning out of the train and adjusting her earphones when she suddenly loses balance and was about to fall off the train before being pulled back inside by alert fellow commuters.
Also Read: Watch Video: Youth Performs Death-Defying Stunt On Mumbai Local Train
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Where two worlds meet
The restaurant landscape of Powai has minuscule space for street food favourites, barring the desi ice cream trucks that line its famous lake. The scene is dominated by fine-dine chains or international fast food properties. So, when restaurateurs attempt to offer a novel quick service restaurant (QSR) experience, it could go either way. In such scenarios, pricing and innovative menus play a key role in swinging the customer opinion.
El Rancho and Pick Pocket’s menu grabs our attention on both counts — its pricing and attempt to focus on two cuisines, which not many QSRs can pull off. What we also like is the floor plan — it is divided into two sections to represent the two cuisines, without giving the patron a feeling of claustrophobia on entering the outlet. It’s a great example of utilising a small space.
Veg Mexican Pizza
For a QSR, the menu is extensive, and we are tempted to try a few dishes, except for out-of-context options such as chicken stroganoff and anda bhurji. We stick to their specialities and start with cottage cheese burger (Rs 179), Veg Mexican Pizza (Rs 119, for a slice), veg nachos and a falafel pocket (Rs 159 each). We eye a box of Jenga to while away our time, but the service is super quick and two dishes make it to our table under 10 minutes. The portions overwhelm us too. Famished, we start with the nachos that are served with a tasty salsa sauce, cheese sauce and sour cream. The nachos are crisp to our liking.
Chicken Kabsa
The Mexican pizza arrives with near-identical flavours that include beans, mozzarella and a tangy sauce, but we like it nonetheless, especially the crisp base. The burger is a big downer. While the portion size is generous, the jerk sauce that they serve is nowhere close to the real one and the thick paneer patty is bland. The falafel pocket scores a ten on ten, though. The pita pocket is super soft with several pieces of falafel stuffed in, and with the right amount of hummus so that the pocket doesn’t feel dry. In love with this dish, we pick another option — butter chicken pocket (Rs 189). It offers a heady, smoky gravy but chunks of fragrant chicken are a tad undercooked. The Mexican chicken pizza is bland too (Rs 169) and the bad run continues with the chicken kabsa (Rs 249). The chicken is raw, but the accompanying gravy is fragrant with cumin, which compliments the saffron rice.
Baklava
The saving grace is the deep fried shredded barbeque chicken burger (Rs 199). The glistening bun is stuffed with melted cheese and delicious pieces of chicken (more cheesy than BBQ though). The dish is perfect and our favourite of the evening; we would love to return here just for this mean burger.
Stuffed, we attempt to try their dessert offerings. Since the churros weren’t available (it’s 11.30 pm now), we call for Turkish Baklava (Rs 199) and umm Ali (Rs 199).
Deep Fried Shredded Barbeque Chicken Burger
Both the sweet treats are the QSR versions of the indulgent ones we are used to having, but we aren’t complaining. The baklava doesn’t have many layers, but we’re fine with this abridged version as we are pretty full by now. The umm Ali, with four pieces of croissant dunked in milk doesn’t have the crust a baked version should have, but is tasty nonetheless.
Despite the chicken debacle, the quick service and tempting price points somewhat tilt our opinion. Both menus display promise but the kitchen needs to up its game for an all-out glitch-free experience.
TIME 10 am to 1 pm
AT Cypress CHS, Hiranandani Gardens, Powai.
CALL 30151775
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59-year-old man beaten to death for using public toilet for long time
In a shocking incident that took place in the eastern suburbs of Mumbai, a 59-year-old man was beaten to death after a fight broke out for using a public toilet for a little longer. The elderly man was killed in a spat over using the public for a longer time. The incident took place on Wednesday night.
As reported in Mumbai Mirror, the incident took place on September 19, in the Sangam Nagar area located in Wadala East. The accused was identified as Shakir Ali Shaikh (34) who had an argument with Yadav when he used the public toilet for a little longer. When the locals intervened and prevented the altercation the two left the argument and left from there. Later, when Yadav was walking back home, Shaikh attacked him and hit him until Yadav fell into a nullah.
After the local residents took notice of the fact that Yadav had fallen into the nullah, they rushed to his aid and immediately took him to the nearest hospital where the doctors declared him dead on arrival. The Wadala TT police have arrested the accused and have registered a case.
A police officer from Wadala police station was quoted saying, "Yadav worked with a transport company and offered driving lessons. We have registered a case and arrested the accused."
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Mumbai event: Explore Asalpha village on foot
I guess it happens to everyone at some point," remarks Ranjeet Adkar about mid-life crisis. The 45-year-old mechanical engineer quit his corporate job to pursue his passion for photography in April this year, after working in the profession for two decades. And in May, he started PhotoWorks, an organisation that conducts photography workshops and walks, and provides basic and advanced training to enthusiasts.
a photograph of schoolchildren from the village
This Saturday, Adkare will be conducting a walk around the colourful Asalpha village, a locality situated in Ghatkopar, which has often been compared to Positano, a popular holiday destination and quaint cliff-side village on southern Italy's Amalfi Coast. But Asalpha wasn't always Positano. Some time ago, it was much like any other slum in Mumbai, morbid with its crumbling walls, and homes as weathered as a book left out in the rain for too long. In 2017, an NGO started a campaign inviting volunteers to re-imagine the village and together, they painted close to 175 walls in the area, as well as murals, transforming the erstwhile slum into a vibrant village, and thereby making it an automatic option for photography.
Ranjeet Adkar
Resounding this, Adkare tells us, "I think there are two reasons why Asalpha attracts people. Firstly, the community is extremely open-minded and welcoming unlike some other places where people tend to say,'Please don't take our photograph.' They are chatty and forthcoming, so it's a fun place to be in.
And secondly, from a photography point of view, it's a place that allows you to truly explore street photography."
Elaborating on why Asalpha is a fertile ground for camera addicts, he shares, "There are narrow lanes, so it is apt for wide-angle photographs. The colours are simply brilliant despite being worn out a little. Then there are children on their way back from schools who are eager to pose, as is the rest of the community. So it's great for candid portraits as well."
On: September 22, 8 am
At: Asalpha village, Ghatkopar West.
Log on to: thephoto.works
Cost: Rs 750
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Mumbai: Hawkers crawl back into Kurla wall collapse site
Close to a week after the September 7 Kurla wall collapse that injured four people, the notorious hawkers who played a part in causing it are back. mid-day observed this on a visit to the site of the incident outside the railway station on Thursday. All of the hawkers are sitting within 150 metres of the railway station, despite a 2017 Bombay High Court ban on the same. The Central Railway (CR) has alerted the BMC about their presence.
Local MLA Mangesh Kudalkar said, "The wall was leaning. I'd alerted the railways in June 2017 and done regular follow-ups, but the issue kept moving from one department to another. And then, this happened," he said. CR had held the hawkers partly responsible for the collapse, saying they'd drilled holes into the structure, thus weakening it. In addition to them, two old trees, whose roots got entangled in the concrete wall had also weakened it.
Railway officials said preliminary inquiry into the collapse had revealed that the wall had been damaged. "This wall is made of brick masonry. Hawkers used the outer face of this wall for hanging their goods on thick nails and hooks and weakened it. Moreover, there are two old peepal trees near this boundary wall. Some roots of these trees also entered this wall, which may have weakened it further. We've already begun work on building a new wall and have also spoken to BMC about the hawkers' issue," said a railway official. mid-day reached out to the civic body, but they remained unavailable.
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Ram Kadam has apologised for his remarks, row should end, says Chandrakant Patil
Senior BJP leader and Maharashtra minister Chandrakant Patil on Friday said the controversy surrounding his party colleague Ram Kadam's remarks against women should end as the latter has apologised. Patil also advised public representatives saying they need to exercise caution while speaking. "Ram Kadam has apologised and the issue should now end. Kadam does not have a history of speaking ill about women. On the contrary, he is known for helping women immensely. Thousands of women in his constituency tie him rakhi every year," Patil told a Marathi news channel.
"Public representatives should be extremely cautious while speaking and they should properly frame every sentence in their heads before uttering them," the minister added. He said new channels should also try to show the true meaning of what has been spoken. "But if what the channels are saying about the remarks is right, the public representative should apologise.
In this case, Ram Kadam was not arrogant and he apologised...So the matter should come to an end," Patil said. Kadam, while speaking at an event during dahi handi celebrations in the city, had said hewould "kidnap" a girl a boy likeseven if she says no to the proposal. "You (youngsters) can meet me for any work," he is seen in the video clip, telling the crowd, mainly comprising youth.
Kadam was heard saying that he got requests from youngsters to help them after girls rejected their proposals. "I will help, 100 per cent. Come (to me) with your parents. What will I do if parents approve (the girl a boy has liked)? I will kidnap the girl concerned and hand her over to you (for marriage)," he was heard telling the crowd.
Kadam was also heard sharing his mobile number with the crowd. His remarks created a huge controversy as it drew sharp reactions from the opposition parties, Shiv Sena and women's organisations. The Maharashtra State Commission for Women issued a notice to Kadam over his remark.
In a video message issued Wednesday, Kadam expressed regret over his remarks saying, "I have very high regard for women. Without giving any explanation about the video clip (of his controversial remarks), I express my regret." He also tweeted saying, "By doctoring my statements, my political rivals created an atmosphere which has hurt the sentiments of our mothers and sisters. I have already expressed regret over my comments and (I am) once again tendering an apology to all my mothers and sisters."
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