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Mumbai: Byculla zoo bids final farewell to its last elephant Anarkali

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Byculla lost its last elephant when the 59-year-old Anarkali passed away on November 10. With her death, there will be no more elephants at the iconic Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan, in compliance with a central government ban on the intake and housing of elephants. “Due to central government regulations, we cannot bring another elephant here,” confirmed an official from the  administration. As part of the ’s expansion plans, the enclosure that housed Anarkali will be repurposed for another species.

Rescued from a circus in 1977, Anarkali arrived at the Byculla  at the age of 12 along with several other elephants, including her long-time companion, Laxmi. The duo quickly got close, drawing countless visitors and schoolchildren eager to see their playful interactions. Anarkali and Laxmi were once used for joyrides at the  until protests by animal activists led to the practice being discontinued in 1992. “Anarkali remained very playful and responsive to her mahout and caretakers. She continued to be one of the crowd-pullers right up until her demise,” said Abhishek Satam,  biologist and education officer.

According to  officials, Anarkali died of old age complications. Sources at the  said that the post-mortem report revealed a stomach tumour, which likely contributed to her declining health. Despite her condition, she maintained a calm demeanour, said her caretakers. Anarkali’s passing follows the death of her companion Laxmi in 2020. Laxmi, believed to be around 64, died of a chronic heart failure brought on by old age. Their bond was so strong that Anarkali reportedly mourned deeply after Laxmi’s death, refusing food for days.

The story of elephants at Byculla  stretches back several decades. Five elephants initially lived at Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Udyan, three female elephants named Radha, Laxmi, and Anarkali, a male elephant that was later transferred to Thiruvananthapuram after showing aggression, and there was another female elephant in the  at that time called Champakali.

Radha, died of tuberculosis in 2005, leaving Anarkali and Laxmi to form a close-knit pair until Laxmi died in 2020. “Usually, elephants in captivity have a lifespan of about 62 to 65 years,” said Dr Sanjay Tripathi, director of the Byculla. “Anarkali had a calm attitude and listened to her mahouts. She will be missed. She was buried in the  premises with all the rituals, near her old friend and companion Laxmi.”

Byculla zoo to remain open on Christmas: BMC

In a release issued on Monday, the civic body said the zoo is generally shut on Wednesdays but will remain open on the day this week to allow people to visit keeping in mind the Christmas holiday. “As per a resolution passed by the civic body earlier, if there is a public holiday on Wednesday, the zoo will remain open on the day and remain closed the next day. Therefore, the zoo will remain shut on Thursday,” the release informed. 

Maharashtra

Only Azan will be given from loudspeakers of mosques in Mumbai, construction worker Saumya’s mischief in Shivaji Nagar was an attempt to mislead Muslims: Abu Asim Azmi

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Mumbai: In an important meeting of scholars of all ideologies on the loudspeaker controversy in Govind Shivaji Nagar, Mumbai, it was decided that the documents of mosques, schools and madrasas should be certified and along with this, police permission for loudspeakers should also be obtained without any restriction because communal elements, especially Crate Soumya, are trying to spoil the atmosphere of Mumbai city, so he is constantly targeting mosques, schools and madrasas.

Addressing this meeting, Samajwadi Party leader and MLA Abu Asim Azmi said that Crate Soumya is suffering from mosques and Azan. He is promoting communalism to create hatred between Hindus and Muslims, so Muslims need to be careful with him. He said that the way the law was flouted near Maloni Mosque on Ram Navami, DJ was played. He said that today the Constitution is being flouted, so Muslims need to be patient and be ready to work strategically. He said that a meeting should be held with the BMC and Police Commissioner on this issue and they should be made aware of the situation. Along with this, a ban has also been demanded on these miscreants. He further said that the illegal visit of miscreants, especially Krit Soumya, should be stopped.

Former minister and Congress leader Arif Naseem Khan said that we need to correct the documents of mosques, schools and madrasas and respond to them legally. Arif Naseem Khan said that along with the legal documents of madrasas, it is also mandatory to obtain loudspeaker permits. He said that we need to work cautiously and not in passion because communal elements are constantly trying to bring Muslims on the streets and mislead them, but we have to respond to them legally. Arif Naseem Khan proposed that only Azan should be given on loudspeaker and the rest of the speeches should be given using the speakers installed inside the mosque, to which the scholars agreed.

In this meeting, a team of lawyers was formed which will try to sort out the papers and other legal problems of the mosques and then legal action will be taken in this regard. Abu Asim Azmi said that the miscreants have objection only to the loudspeakers of mosques. In this, Raj Thackeray, Krant Soumya, Mangal Prabhat Lodha and Nitish Rane are creating an atmosphere of hatred and are conspiring to lure Muslims and bring them on the streets so that the atmosphere gets spoiled. Muslims need to be vigilant, so my demand is that these hateful leaders should be completely banned and their tours should also be banned so that a peaceful atmosphere is maintained. In this meeting, Maulana Abdul Rahman Ziyai said that legal action has been taken regarding the objection to loudspeakers on mosques. Apart from this, Krant Soumya and other leaders are also targeting madrasas. Their documents are also being investigated, which is completely wrong. However, work is also being done on the authenticity of the documents of madrasas and other issues.

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Maharashtra

Sensational shootout in Chembur, search for accused continues, investigation continues to find out who plotted the shootout

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Mumbai: A shooting incident on a construction company owner in Chembur Diamond Garden area of ​​Mumbai at 9:50 pm last night created a sensation. Three unidentified motorcycle-borne assailants attacked the builder with a lethal weapon, but Sadru survived the attack and has been admitted to a nearby hospital. The shootout took place when he was passing through Sinha Panvel Highway. Police are investigating who instigated the unidentified assailants to shoot at Sadru and who plotted the shooting. DCP Nunath Dhole said that the search for the assailants is on and a case has been registered after the shootout. Mumbai Police is investigating the case from every angle to find out if Sadru had any personal enmity or malice with anyone. A sketch of the assailants has also been prepared. Mumbai Crime Branch is also conducting a parallel investigation. A police team has been formed to search for the assailants, but no arrests have been made yet. Mumbai Police said that the attackers fled after the firing. Mumbai Police is investigating the CCTV footage as well as the direction in which the shooters fled. Along with searching for the accused, the police has also started gathering information in this regard from informers.

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Maharashtra

Threat to Kirit Somaiya… Demand for arrest of Yusuf Ansari within 48 hours, ultimatum to take action against loudspeakers and mosques

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Mumbai: BJP leader Kirit Somaiya has once again spread venom by demanding the removal of illegal mosque and loudspeakers in Govindi Shivaji Nagar. He has demanded action against illegal mosques within the limits of Govindi Shivaji Nagar and directed the police to take action against the loudspeakers and said that if action is not taken against the illegal mosque and loudspeakers within 48 hours, the BJP will protest.

Apart from this, the BJP has also demanded action and arrest against Yusuf Ansari, who threatened Kirit Somaiya on social media, and said that the police should arrest Yusuf Ansari immediately. Kirit Somaiya has termed the illegal mosque as land jihad and said that she is not afraid of goons like Yusuf Ansari, but will intensify her protest. Kirit Somaiya has also demanded action against illegal Bangladeshis in Govindi Shivaji Nagar. This mischief of Kirit Somaiya has created a stir in the area. In view of Kirit Somaiya’s visit, the police had made strict security arrangements.

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