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Maharashtra

Bombay HC Asks Maharashtra Government To File Affidavit On Ban Against Animal Sacrifice

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Warning the petitioner against giving a communal spin in the petition challenging the recent ban on the practice of animal sacrifice within the protected area of Vishalgad Fort in Kolhapur, the Bombay High Court has asked the Maharashtra government to file its reply affidavit. 

A division bench of Justices Gautam Patel and Neela Gokhale was hearing a petition filed by Hajrat Peer Malik Rehan Mira Saheb Dargah challenging the order issued by the Deputy Director of Archaeology and Museums, Mumbai on February 1, prohibiting illegal animal slaughter in the name of sacrifice to Gods. The order cited a 1998 high court order that prohibited animal sacrifice in the names of Gods or Goddesses at public places.


‘Influenced by right-wing Hindu fundamentalists’

It alleged that the authorities in Kolhapur had swung into action “only under the influence exerted by right-wing Hindu fundamentalists.” It claimed that it was “age-old tradition” and there never had been any law and order problem. The petition alleged that the ban was passed to “please the majority community for political gains by the party in power”.

“It might be an age-old tradition. The petitioner has also tried to put a communal spin to the issue. Let us be very clear that we will dismiss the petition on this ground itself saying it is motivated,” remarked Justice Patel. 

The court emphasized that it would not permit “unregulated slaughter of animals anywhere” as there is a need to maintain hygiene. “Let us make it clear, we are not going to permit any unregulated or unmonitored slaughter of animals anywhere. There needs to be some level of civic hygiene and sanitation maintained,” added Justice Patel. It further added that there was a need to preserve the area surrounding the fort.

According to the petition, the dargah within the fort precinct was one of the most ancient and historical monuments in Maharashtra. It was constructed in the 11th century and visited by both Hindus and Muslims. The plea claimed that animal sacrifice at the dargah was an integral custom. Also, the actual sacrifice is not carried out in a public place but at a privately-owned land and is performed behind closed doors.

These offerings are then served to pilgrims and others at the dargah and have been a source of food to many poor and backward people residing in the surrounding villages of Vishalgad fort.

Petitioner soughts Stay Order

Terming the ban as arbitrary, discriminatory, unjust, high handed, oppressive, and violative of their fundamental rights, the petitioner has sought a stay on the same. 

Petitioner’s advocate Satish Talekar sought an interim stay on the collector’s order which was refused by the bench saying: ““There is no question of interim relief in matters like this. It is an irreversible process. We are not going to permit unregulated and unmonitored slaughter anywhere for any purpose. There is an invocation of the need to maintain correct hygiene and cleanliness.” 

The HC has kept the PIL for hearing on July 5.

Maharashtra

Thieves caught stealing MTNL cables in Vakola, Senior officer caught them red handed

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Thieves were caught red handed while stealing cables from MTNL’s underground manhole in Vakola area of ​​Mumbai.

A senior MTNL official caught the thieves while they were removing the cables with the help of a JCB machine and a tempo. This incident took place just 100 meters away from Vakola police station, while a police blockade was also going on at a distance of just 50 meters.

MTNL’s goods, tempo and JCB machine have been taken to the police station.

According to sources, the involvement of some scrap dealers (Bangar Wale) and some MTNL workers is suspected in this theft. At present, interrogation is going on at Vakola police station.

So far, MTNL has suffered a loss of about Rs 500 crore due to cable theft in Mumbai.

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Maharashtra

Visit to Deonar Bakra Mandi on the occasion of Eid-ul-Adha, important meeting led by Mumbai Congress President Prof. Varshatai Gaikwad

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Mumbai: On the auspicious occasion of Eid-ul-Azha, a delegation led by Lok Sabha MP and Mumbai Congress President Smt. Prof. Varshatai Gaikwad saheb visited Deonar Bakra Mandi (Slaughterhouse).

On this occasion, she had a special meeting with the General Manager of Deonar Slaughterhouse, Mr. Kaleem Pasha Pathan and discussed in detail the problems faced by the public and traders present in the mandi.

The main points of the discussion were as follows:

Problems faced by traders
Care and maintenance of animals
Cleanliness situation in the mandi
Traffic problems and their solutions
Difficulties faced by common citizens

Professor Gaikwad saheb gave necessary instructions to the concerned authorities for the early resolution of all these problems and assured that Mumbai Congress stands with the people.

Honorable MLA Mr. Aslam Sheikh Sahib, Honorable MLA Mr. Amin Patel Sahib, MLA Dr. Jyoti Tai Gaikwad Sahib, former Corporator and former Chairman of Mumbai Congress Minority Wing Haji Babbu Khan Sahib and other senior leaders and office bearers of Mumbai Congress were also present in this important visit.

The visit was a positive effort for mutual discussions, identification of problems and effective steps to resolve them, which makes an auspicious occasion like Eid more meaningful.

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Maharashtra

ATS crackdown on 22 members including suspected member of Padgha Daesh Saqib Nachan, ATS conducted midnight operation on relatives

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Mumbai: The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has claimed to have seized several important documents and items during raids at the homes of Saqib Nachan, a former member of ISIS and Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), and 22 of his close associates and relatives. The ATS had received information that important documents and other items were hidden at the homes of Saqib Nachan and his close associates, after which the ATS launched the raids at 2 am last night and the operation continued till 4 am, after which the ATS team left for Mumbai. During this operation, the ATS team also cordoned off the entire area. In Borivali Pargham, ATS has conducted raids on Abid Ashraf Mulla, Moaz Mulla, Aqib Saqib Nachan, Abdul Latif Shadab Kaskar, Urmesh Irfan Mulla, Hashim Nadvi, Farooq Mulla, Nabeel Malik Khot, Qais Arif Khot, Kaif Nachan, Sahil Munyar, Adnan Mulla, Shero Deokar, Sharjeel Nachan, Sajid Nachan, Zeeshan Mulla, Atif Mulla, Shams Khot, Asjad Mulla, Raif Khot, Abid Khot. During this time, some of them were on Hajj trips, so they were not present at home.

In this case, ATS conducted raids and did not arrest anyone during house searches. Zubair Mulla, a resident of a small mosque who deals in land, was on a Hajj trip. Zubair Mulla was convicted in the 2002 and 2003 bomb blasts and was also sentenced. Now he is lodged in Delhi jail along with Saqib Nachan in the case of ISIS connection in Delhi. Abdul Latif Kaskar is employed in Godam and is also a friend of Farhan Sousa in the Delhi ISIS case. Shams Khot, Rais Khot, Abid Ashraf Mulla, Moaz Ashraf Mulla, Qais Asif Khot were not present at the house during the search, while a raid was conducted at Kalyan’s house in Sahil Munyar and he was also not present here.

ATS had found Saqib Nachan active in terrorist activities again since 2017. During this time, ATS had kept an eye on him and a case was also registered against him, but in this case, NIA had arrested Saqib Nachan in the ISIS case. First, his son Aqib Nachan was arrested and then Saqib will also be arrested. ATS has also claimed to have seized several important documents during the operation, which will be investigated and then the action will progress accordingly. Maharashtra ATS has conducted raids at 15 places including Mumbai police station Bhiwandi Kalyan and during this, action has also been taken against suspected members of ISIS. In this operation, ATS is expected to find many important documents and evidence. The ATS has taken action in this case against those accused of being involved in anti-national and illegal activities. ATS is taking further action in this case, while no arrest has been made so far after searching anyone.

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