Mumbai: The Samajwadi Party state president, Abu Azmi, on Tuesday, December 16, hit out at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar after a video from a government event in Patna went viral on social media. The clip triggered outrage as it showed the Bihar CM pulling down a woman doctor’s hijab while presenting her appointment letter.

While speaking to media, Abu Azmi said that he is deeply saddened as a person of the Chief Minister’s calibre, served as CM multiple times and is a senior leader, behaved so disrespectfully towards a woman.

Calling it unacceptable, he added that “If a woman wears a burqa, it is her personal choice, and forcibly pulling it off with one’s hand sends a message that the lives of Muslims have no value and anyone can remove their burqa.”

The Samajwadi Party state president said that the Bihar CM should apologise to the woman for his disrespectful behaviour. “I appeal to the people to protest against him, and until he apologises to the woman and she herself forgives him, he should not be spared…”

The incident reportedly took place on Monday during an official function where Kumar was distributing certificates to AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) doctors.

The woman seen in the video has been identified as Nusrat Parveen. In the footage, Nitish Kumar is seen asking her about her headscarf after handing over the appointment letter and is seen pulling down her hijab himself. The woman appeared visibly shocked by the Chief Minister’s action.

The Bihar CM distribution ceremony of appointment letters for 1283 AYUSH doctors (Ayurvedic, Homoeopathic, and Unani) was held at ‘Samvad’ in the Chief Minister’s Office.

Mumbai: In a bid to tackle severe congestion on the crucial Thane–Kalyan rail corridor, the Central Railway (CR) is actively exploring the possibility of laying underground rail lines as part of its proposed 7th and 8th lines project.

The 10.8-km Thane–Kalyan stretch, one of the busiest sections on Mumbai’s suburban network, handles nearly 1,000 train movements daily and serves as a vital interchange zone for lakhs of commuters. With land constraints posing a major challenge, railway authorities believe that going underground at select locations, especially near Dombivli, could be key to easing long-term pressure.

CR officials confirmed that a third-party agency has been appointed to conduct a Final Location Survey (FLS), which will determine the feasibility, alignment and engineering details of the new rail lines. The study, currently in its early stages, will assess whether underground corridors are required in densely built-up pockets where horizontal expansion is no longer possible. The FLS report is expected to be ready by mid-2026.

The Thane–Kalyan section is a critical rail artery where multiple routes intersect. Thane station links the main line with the trans-harbour corridor towards Panvel, Diva connects suburban services to Roha and Kalyan marks the bifurcation of routes towards Kasara and Karjat–Khopoli. With the rapid expansion of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, nearly 1.2 to 1.5 million commuters depend on this corridor every day, intensifying congestion during peak hours.

Central Railway had completed the long-delayed 5th and 6th lines between Thane and Diva in 2022, offering some relief. However, officials admit that this has only partly addressed the issue. While there is limited scope for surface-level expansion on certain stretches, areas before and after Dombivli are particularly constrained, leading a serious consideration of underground rail sections.

Currently, around 1,200 suburban local services operate daily between Thane and Kalyan on fast and slow corridors. Diva station remains one of the busiest points on the CR network, with nearly 70–75 per cent of the 894 daily local trains halting there. This has also led to frequent closures of the Diva level crossing, opened nearly 39 times a day, disrupting both train schedules and road traffic.

The proposed underground and elevated additions are part of a larger vision to segregate suburban and long-distance train operations. Central Railway plans to expand Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) with additional platforms and develop Parel as a new terminus, reducing pressure on CSMT and Dadar.

While underground lines could transform mobility on the Thane–Kalyan corridor, officials acknowledge that planning, approvals and execution will take several years before commuters see tangible benefits.

Ulhasnagar: Bringing relief to a grieving family and an outraged city, the Ulhasnagar police have arrested the prime accused, Vicky Kothankar, in connection with the brutal assault on Ranjit Gaikwad, which ultimately claimed the victim’s life after a ten-day battle in hospital.

The inhuman attack had taken place around Sambhaji Chowk in Camp-4, Ulhasnagar, and had shaken the city due to its sheer brutality and the fact that it unfolded in full public view. The arrest was made from the Vitthalwadi bus depot area, sending a strong message against violent crime, police officials said.

According to the police, Ranjit Gaikwad, a resident of Veer Tanaji Nagar, was walking with his wife and children on the evening of the incident when he was intercepted by Vicky Kothankar and an accomplice. After a brief argument, the accused allegedly struck Gaikwad on the head with an iron rod, delivering a powerful blow that caused him to collapse on the road, bleeding profusely.

The brutal assault occurred in front of Gaikwad’s wife and minor children, triggering panic in the area. Locals rushed the grievously injured man to a private hospital, from where he was later shifted to JJ Hospital in Mumbai due to his critical condition.

Despite intensive treatment for ten days, doctors were unable to save him, and Gaikwad succumbed to his injuries at around 4 am on Sunday, following which the case was converted into murder.

Following the incident, the police launched an intensive manhunt for the accused. Acting on specific intelligence, a special crime investigation team comprising Ramdas Misal, Dilip Chavan, Ganesh Rathod and Sagar More laid a trap and arrested Vicky Kothankar from the Vitthalwadi bus depot area.

The operation was carried out under the guidance of Deputy Commissioner of Police Sachin Gore, Senior Police Inspector Ashok Koli of Vitthalwadi, and Police Inspector (Crime) Chandrahari Godse.

Addressing the media on Monday evening, DCP Amol Koli revealed that the arrested accused has a criminal history, with previous serious offences, including cases related to violent crime, registered against him. Police are currently conducting a search for the absconding accomplice, while also probing the exact motive behind the attack.

The daylight brutality of the assault and the fact that it was witnessed by the victim’s family have created an atmosphere of fear among residents. Citizens have demanded strict and exemplary action against the accused and his associates to deter such violent crimes.

The murder of Ranjit Gaikwad has once again highlighted the growing concern over street violence and repeat offenders in Ulhasnagar, with locals urging the police administration to intensify preventive measures.