Mumbai: The special MCOCA court on Thursday sentenced two Thane residents to five years’ imprisonment for chain snatching and operating a crime syndicate in a November 2020 incident. The MCOCA court imposed a fine of Rs15.3 lakh on each of the accused.

The court found Zakir Irani, 39, guilty of chain snatching and heading a crime syndicate involved in such crimes, along with Sonu Ananta Jadhav, alias Raj, 28.

According to the prosecution, the complainant was on a morning walk toward Goal Garden, Malad (East), on November 9, 2020, at around 6am. At around 6.10am, a blue-coloured motor scooter approached from behind, and the pillion rider attempted to snatch a gold chain from his neck. The complainant resisted, but the pillion rider inflicted a blow with a helmet on his head, causing him to lose his balance. The rider then snatched the chain.

The complainant claimed that two passersby helped him get up, but the assailants threatened to kill him by running him over. The complainant chased them and tried to note the bike’s license plate number, but two digits were missing. He later lodged a complaint with Dindoshi police station. The police acted quickly and, based on a confidential tip, arrested Irani on the same day. A month later, Jadhav was also arrested.

Public prosecutor Jaysingh Desai contended that Irani had four prior cases and was out on bail when he attacked the complainant in this case. It was also noted that Jadhav was a co-accused in some of these cases. Desai argued that Irani headed the syndicate.

The prosecution stated, “It clearly reflects that in each and every case, Zakir is the ma in accused and there are certain other associates like Gulam Hussain with Zakir in three cases…. In all cases, the modus operandi is the same: the accused target the victim’s neck to snatch a gold chain or mangalsutra.”

Mumbai: A 32-year-old employee of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) was found dead in Building No. 9 of the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) project at HDIL Compound, Kurla (West), on Thursday afternoon, police officials said. The incident was reported around 4:30 PM by the V B Nagar Police Station.

According to the police, the deceased has been identified as Rajesh Parmar, a resident of the Ghatkopar area, who worked in the BMC Solid Waste Management (SWM) department, F North Ward.

The body has been sent to the Rajawadi Hospital for postmortem examination. The exact cause of death remains unknown and further investigation is currently underway.

Mumbai: The BMC has received Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance for the reconstruction of a bridge over the Poisar River inlet in Gorai, located in the western suburbs. However, the proposed demolition of the existing 100-meter-long bridge has faced opposition from local residents, as it serves as the only direct access route between the Lower and Upper Koliwada areas.

The three-decade-old bridge, located within the CRZ buffer zone, has been deemed structurally unsafe following a recent audit. Civic authorities have announced its reconstruction at a cost of Rs 4 crore over the next two years.

The new bridge will be sturdier, featuring railings and light poles. However, local fisherfolk and residents have opposed the demolition, arguing that “High tide may isolate Koliwada, leading to a 700-meter beach road detour.”

Residents have voiced concern over the lack of clear information from civic authorities regarding temporary transport plans during the bridge demolition. With no contingency plan in place for high tide, when the coastal road may be submerged, locals are urging officials to consult with the fisherman community and establish a swift, reliable alternative route. They warn that without it, emergency services like ambulances and fire engines could face critical access challenges.