Thane: In a rare show of opposition unity, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) will jointly hold a massive protest march on Monday against the alleged corruption and administrative failure of the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC).

The morcha, organised to demand accountability for what the opposition calls the TMC’s mismanagement, will begin at 3 pm from Ram Ganesh Gadkari Rangayatan and conclude at the TMC headquarters. The route will pass through key city points, Saikrupa Hotel, New English School, Madhavi Bungalow, Ghantali Naka, Saibaba Mandir, Aradhna Talkies and Raigad Galli, before ending at the municipal office.

The protest is being held to highlight civic issues such as traffic congestion, poor roads, irregular water supply and mounting garbage woes that have plagued Thane residents for months. With the municipal corporation currently being run by an administrator instead of elected representatives, opposition parties allege that corruption and favouritism have flourished under state-appointed officials.

Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) has expressed their support to the protest. NCP (SP) MLA Jitendra Awhad also announced his participation in the march, joining leaders from Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS. “Thane’s citizens are suffering due to inefficiency and corruption. Model road and park tenders are being used as tools for favouritism instead of genuine public service,” said NCP (SP) district chief Manoj Pradhan.

Local leaders from all three parties have appealed to Thane residents to participate in large numbers to express their anger against the civic administration. The joint protest marks a key moment in Thane’s political scene, with three rival opposition parties uniting against what they describe as unchecked corruption under the state-controlled civic body. Large turnouts are expected from constituencies including Kopri-Panchpakhadi, Owala-Majiwada, Kalwa–Mumbra and central Thane.

Security arrangements are being strengthened along the protest route. Thane police also shared a traffic advisory to manage traffic disruptions and ensure public safety as thousands are expected to join the morcha demanding better governance and transparency in Thane’s civic affairs.

Mumbai: A major fire broke out in the early hours of Monday, engulfing 15 to 20 galas in Kapadia Nagar near the Gurudwara in Kurla West. The blaze, which erupted at approximately 2:42 a.m. The fire was brought under control after a five-hour-long firefighting operation. Fortunately, no injuries or casualties were reported.

According to fire officials, the fire originated in partly ground and partly ground-plus-one structures and quickly spread across an area of around 3,000 square feet. The galas reportedly housed stockpiles of automobile spare parts, tyres, electric wiring, installations, scrap materials, and other combustible goods, which fueled the intensity of the blaze. The fire was escalated to a Level 2 major fire at 2:57 a.m., prompting a massive response from Mumbai Fire Brigade. 

Water tenders, 10 jumbo tankers, 3 additional water tankers, 2 quick response vehicles, and a 108 emergency ambulance were rushed to the site. Senior officials, including 1 Divisional Fire Officer, 2 Additional Divisional Fire Officers, 3 Senior Station Officers and 3 Station Officers were present on-site to oversee operations.

The fire was extinguished by 7:24 a.m., no injuries were reported, according to fire officials. The exact cause of the fire is yet to be determined and will be established following a detailed investigation, said an official. 

Mumbai: The DB Marg Police have arrested Channa Begum Shaikh alias Roja (38), a woman accused in a 2013 case registered under Sections 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 9 of the Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act (PITA). Roja had been absconding for the past 12 years.

The Sessions Court had recently issued a standing non-bailable warrant against Roja, directing the DB Marg Police to trace and arrest her. Acting on confidential information, the police learned she was working at a cosmetic shop in Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh.

A team led by PSI Azeem Shaikh conducted technical surveillance, traced her mobile number, analyzed CDR records, and identified her frequent contacts. Based on the findings, the DB Marg Police, with local police assistance, tracked and apprehended Roja from her workplace.

During questioning, Roja admitted to evading court appearances since 2013. Following Supreme Court guidelines, she was formally arrested and produced before the Kadapa court, which granted a five-day transit remand. She will be presented before the Sessions Court in Mumbai on October 11 for further remand proceedings.

The operation was carried out by the Wanted Fugitive Tracking Unit under the Girgum Division of Zone 2, Mumbai Police. Authorities commended the team’s persistence in capturing a fugitive who evaded law for over a decade.