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Maharashtra

Ahead of Prophet Mohammad’s birthday, Mumbai masjids woo non-Muslims

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Barely a fortnight before Prophet Mohammad’s birthday on October 9 celebrated worldwide as Eid-e-Milad, several Muslim groups in Mumbai have united for a unique initiative to enlighten non-Muslims on the Prophet’s teaching and preaching and remove misgivings about Islam.

Titled ‘Prophet For All Campaign’, the initiative will see the participation of various masjids, madrassas, Muslim-run schools or colleges, NGOs, social and cultural organisations and other entities.

“This is not intended to be an evangelical exercise. We are only keen to carry the Prophet’s message of love, peace and brotherhood to all our non-Muslim brethren – Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Parsis, Jains, Buddhists, etc – for a better understanding of Islam and its followers,” the Campaign torchbearer Adv. Yusuf Abrahani, who is also the Islam Gymkhana President, told IANS.

Besides the Prophet’s message for humanity, it will also dwell on environment, conserving water, compassion for the poor, destitutes, orphans, workers or women along with certain activities conducted specially for non-Muslim audiences, he added.

President of the Association of Muslim Professionals (AMP), Aamir Edresy said that there are around 500 registered masjids in Mumbai, nearly 400 schools and 20 colleges run by various Muslim trusts who are also being roped into the Campaign.

“We are sending appeals through the students to their families to participate in the campaign, invite at least five locals or neighbours to their homes for a meal on Oct. 9, and try to convey the Prophet’s message, with similar pleas even on social media,” Edresy informed IANS.

The PFAC will put up banners of the Prophet’s teaching which have universal appeal at major railway stations, bus stands, outside mosques or other public places, to make the maximum number of masses aware, on October 8.

On October 9, a special amushaira’ shall be held at the Islam Gymkhana featuring non-Muslim poets who have written on the Prophet with the audience comprising invitees from different communities, added Abrahani.

Explaining the principle behind the PFAC, the duo said that in recent times, certain misconceptions about Islam and Muslims have been created which have caused immense distress to the law-abiding and peaceful minority community in the country.

The PFAC hopes to dispel such wrong notions among the masses, make them aware of the true beauty of Islam, its philosophy of universal peace, brotherhood, love and concern for all people irrespective of their faith, etc, they said.

Abrahani recalled how many Muslims had fought for India’s Freedom, many had contributed in different ways to Mahatma Gandhi’s struggle for Independence, and Muslims have always remained at the forefront of various wars to protect their Motherland.

“Even during the recent Coronavirus pandemic for two years, hundreds of mosques in Mumbai and other parts of the state, besides individuals took care of lakhs of ordinary folks, threw the doors open for the migrants, the poor and needy, with meals, and a safe place to rest and refresha,” added Edresy.

The next goal is to have regular meal services for the deprived sections of society in all mosques, like the Sikh community, all mosques to remain open round-the-clock for people without any restrictions, offering other social-cultural services to the nearby communities, competitions, health initiatives, and more, as the budgets of the masjid trusts would permit.

Other members like Saeed Khan, Wamir Idrisi, Farooq Syed have urged Muslims to visit orphanages, destitute homes, old age institutions, blind persons or even hospitals on October 9 to distribute food, fruits or items of daily necessities to the needy, as propounded by the Prophet.

“On the Prophet’s birthday, various organisations, NGOs, mosques, and others hope to offer celebratory meals to around 300,000 non-Muslims across Mumbai. We shall continue this campaign on a long-term basis,” said Abrahani.

Meanwhile, starting the main PFAC activities, groups of mediapersons (non-Muslim), IAS-IPS officers, police personnel, lawyers, civic workers, politicians, film celebs, cricketers, industrialists, and leading social personalities shall be invited in batches at a series of events culminating with the Prophet’s birthday.

The PFAC organisers are hopeful that this will help curb the venom spewed against Islam and its followers in India by a miniscule number of amisguided individuals’ and help strengthen the existing bonds of Muslims with all other communities.

Maharashtra

Mumbai cyber fraud case: A gang from Goa Vela involved in a fraud worth crores, more than 50 crore rupees deposited in the bank frozen, 12 accused arrested

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Mumbai: In a Mumbai cyber fraud case, the police have claimed to have exposed a gang that committed cyber fraud by activating multiple bank accounts and SIM cards. According to the details, the accused were arrested in the Siren Fraud case in the 2023 fraud case at the Pydhoni Police Station. In the progress of the same case, the Mumbai Crime Branch Unit 2 conducted an operation within the limits of the Goa Kolingot Police Station and took 12 accused into custody in the state of Goa. 15 laptops, 128 ATMs, 85 mobiles, 76 SIM cards, 22 checkbooks, 77 passbooks, 6 routers, 3 keyboards, 2 mice were seized from their possession. The accused used 100 panels called Rudra and used the gaming app to commit cyber fraud. The cyber fraud money was deposited and withdrawn in bank accounts in the name of cash and deposits and this gang operated from Dubai at a three percent commission. When the bank account details of the accused were found, 83 complaints have been registered in this matter on the cyber website 1930 across the country. The accused were produced in the court where the court ordered them to be kept on police remand till August 11. This action was taken on the instructions of Mumbai Police Commissioner Devin Bharti. Joint Commissioner of Police Crime Anil Kanbhare, DCP Raj Tilak Roshan have conducted the investigation. The accused used to defraud people by depositing money in several bank accounts. This information was given here today by DCP of Mumbai Crime Raj Tilak Roshan. He said that in the last 5 to 6 months, this gang has transferred 500 crores through cyber fraud to several bank accounts, while more than 50 crores have been found in their accounts, which have been frozen. He said that the investigation in Mumbai regarding the accused revealed that their accounts are also in Goa and the gang operates from Goa itself. This gang used to operate from a villa near Bij in Goa. From here, 12 accused have been arrested.

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Maharashtra

Mumbai housing societies ordered to immediately remove ramps and encroachments from footpaths, otherwise strict action will be taken: Ashwini Bhide

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Footpaths in Mumbai are meant to allow citizens to walk safely and easily. Therefore, unauthorized ramps, encroachments, commercial structures or any other form of obstruction by housing societies or business owners on footpaths will not be tolerated. Housing societies and unit owners who have built ramps or other encroachments on footpaths will have to remove them at their own expense within a month. BMC Commissioner Ashwini Bhide has issued a clear warning that the municipal corporation will take strict action against the parties concerned if they fail to do so. The Mumbai Municipal Corporation is effectively implementing the ‘Pedestrian First’ campaign across the city to clear footpaths of unauthorized hawkers and encroachments, ensuring that they remain free from obstructions. As part of this campaign, BMC Commissioner Ashwini Bhide today (August 6, 2026) conducted an on-site inspection of several areas in the ‘K-West’ and ‘P-South’ wards of the Western Suburbs. These include Swami Vivekananda Marg, Ram Ganesh Gadkari Marg, Bando Gaur Marg, the road leading to Goregaon Railway Station, Sheth Shri Devaraj Ji Gundicha Chowk, Tomato Street near Goregaon Station, and Dudhsagar Marg. During this inspection visit, Commissioner Ashwini Bhide issued instructions to completely remove encroachments from the footpaths and make them easy for citizens to walk. Commissioner Bhide inspected the encroachments, ramps, commercial structures and other obstacles obstructing the path of pedestrians. He directed the officials concerned to take immediate action to ensure that the available footpath space is completely opened for public use. In the ‘K-West’ ward, under the ‘Pedestrian First’ campaign, the first phase aims to remove encroachments from 320 km of footpaths, so as to make them accessible to the citizens. Moreover, 27 out of a total of 355 roads in the K-West ward have been selected for this initiative. Footpaths stretching for 37.7 km on these roads are being cleared of encroachments.
Municipal Corporation’s appeal to citizens

In ‘K-West’ and ‘P-South’ wards, ramps built by housing societies or shop owners to facilitate vehicle access often become obstacles in the way of pedestrians. Such obstacles force senior citizens, women, children and various differently-abled persons to walk on the road, which endangers the safety of pedestrians. Taking the matter seriously, Commissioner Bhide ordered the immediate removal of such ramps. He directed the concerned parties to voluntarily remove these encroachments and restore the footpaths within a month. Commissioner Bhide clarified that strict action will be taken against those who do not follow these instructions as per the municipal rules and regulations. Moreover, in some areas, commercial stalls set up on footpaths are causing traffic congestion. Bhide directed the officials to ensure that alternative places are provided to these stall owners.

Patients, their relatives and ambulances frequently travel along Ram Ganesh Gadkari Marg and Swami Vivekananda Marg in Vile Parle (West) to reach Dr. RN. Moreover, the presence of colleges and educational institutions on these routes results in a significant increase in foot traffic of college students. Therefore, ensuring smooth and hassle-free traffic flow on these roads is of utmost importance. Due to encroachments and unauthorized obstructions on footpaths, students and other citizens are often forced to walk on the road. This not only compromises the safety of pedestrians but also affects the flow of traffic. In this context and under the ‘Pedestrian First’ campaign, priority has been given to making footpaths on these routes completely obstacle-free for citizens. Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide has issued instructions for immediate removal of unauthorized hawkers, shopkeepers’ encroachments, unauthorized ramps and other obstacles obstructing the path of pedestrians.

Business operators to be shifted
An inspection revealed that citizens were facing considerable difficulties due to obstructions on footpaths along Bindu Gor Marg near Goregaon (West) Railway Station. Since this situation was causing traffic congestion, Commissioner Bhide ordered the concerned business operators to be shifted at the earliest. The Bando Gor Marg is 350 metres long and 13.40 metres wide, serving around 70,000 railway passengers daily. In the first phase, 43 commercial structures near the Goregaon (West) railway station were removed, and there are plans to widen the road.

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Maharashtra

MLA Abu Asim Azmi holds important meeting with Suburban District Collector regarding Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar development works

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Mumbai: Local MLA Abu Asim Azmi met Mumbai Suburban District Collector (IAS) Saurabh Katiyar to discuss various pending and important development projects in Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar (Govind) Assembly constituency in detail. The meeting had constructive discussions on important issues related to education, social welfare and rehabilitation in the area. During the meeting, MLA Azmi presented key demands to the District Collector, including allotment of government land for a degree college in Mankhurd Govind area, provision of a suitable place for funeral rites for the Shia Muslim community, and immediate resolution of the rehabilitation issues of residents living in transit camps. Speaking after the meeting, MLA Abu Asim Azmi said, “Public interest and all-round development of the constituency are my primary objectives. The meeting with the District Collector was very positive, and I am sure that the administration will soon take favourable decisions on the issues raised.

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