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Maharashtra

CVoter IndiaTracker Poll: Majority Indians believe Thackeray supported Murmu to avoid another split

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Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has declared that the Shiv Sena led by him would support BJP-led NDA’s presidential candidate Draupadi Murmu.

The decision to back Murmu was taken a day after 16 Shiv Sena MPs conveyed to Thackeray to support her as she is a woman from tribal community.

Thackeray said that he is not under any pressure to back Murmu in the upcoming presidential elections. “Nobody pressured me in the meeting of Sena MPs,” Thackeray said, referring to the deliberation at the meeting of Sena MPs.

However, the decision is being seen as an attempt on the part of Thackeray to avoid further dissension in the party. Shiv Sena faced a major rebellion last month that resulted in the split in the party. Almost 40 of 55 party MLAs broke away under the leadership of Eknath Shinde, who replaced Thackeray as the chief minister of the state.

CVoter-IndiaTracker conducted a countrywide survey for IANS to know people’s opinion about Thackeray’s decision to back Murmu and the possible impact on the party if Shiv Sena had backed opposition candidate Yashwant Sinha.

During the survey, the majority of respondents opined that the Shiv Sena would have faced another split if the party had supported Sinha. According to the survey data, 63 per cent respondents said the Shiv Sena could have broken once again if the party had supported Sinha. However, 37 per cent of respondents disagreed with the sentiment.

The survey further revealed that while a majority of the NDA supporters — 77 per cent believe that Shiv Sena would have faced another rebellion if the party had not supported Murmu, views of opposition supporters were divided on the issue. During the survey, while 54 per cent of opposition voters said that Thackeray decided to back Murmu to avoid another revolt in the party, 46 per cent did not share the sentiment.

According to the survey data, while a majority of most of the social groups believe that Thackeray decided to back Murmu under pressure from the Shiv Sena MPs to avoid dissension in the party, a majority of Muslims did not share the sentiment.

According to the survey data, 75 per cent Upper Caste Hindus (UCH), 63 per cent Other Backward Classes (OBC), 69 per cent Scheduled Tribes and 66 per cent Scheduled Castes opined Shiv Sena would have faced another division if the party had hot declared its support for the NDA presidential candidate. At the same time, the majority of Muslims – 68 per cent did not agree with this opinion.

India will become the most populous country in the world, surpassing China in 2023, according to a United Nations report released on World Population Day on July 11.

India’s population is likely to go up from the present figure of 1.417 billion to 1.429 billion to surpass China. Population explosion in the country has been a major concern for the ruling dispensations in the country. There have been demands from different quarters for strict population control law in the country.

Union Minister Giriraj Singh demanded stringent population control law in the country after the UN released its latest report that projected India to surpass China’s population in the coming year.

CVoter-IndiaTracker conducted an opinion poll for IANS to know people’s views about the issue of increasing population in the country. During the survey, a whopping majority of respondents — 82 per cent said that the population of India is going out of control, only 19 per cent disagreed.

Problem of the ever increasing population of the country is one issue on which the majority of both NDA voters and opposition supporters expressed unanimity in their views. During the survey, 88 per cent of NDA voters and 77 per cent opposition supporters opined that the population explosion has become a perennial problem for the country.

Similarly, the majority of respondents from different social groups opined that the country’s population is becoming unmanageable.

As per the survey data, 87 per cent Upper Caste Hindus (UCH), 86 per cent Other Backward Classes (OBC), 77 per cent Scheduled Tribes (ST), 83 per cent Scheduled Castes and 65 per cent Muslims believe that India’s population is becoming uncontrollable.

Crime

Mumbai: Malad Police Arrest Trio For ATM Card Theft, Fraudulent Withdrawals Across City

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Three people were arrested by Malad Police for allegedly stealing ATM cards from unsuspecting bank customers. The accused discreetly noted down PINs and later withdrew money from victims’ accounts, targeting ATMs in Andheri, Bandra, Kandivali, Borivali, Chembur, and Malad this month alone.

The latest case was reported on October 8 in Malad. A 55-year-old man’s ATM card got stuck while withdrawing cash. The accused helped retrieve the card while secretly noting his PIN, later stealing the card and fraudulently withdrawing Rs 40,000 from his account.

After the complaint, a team led by Senior Inspector Dushyant Chavan analyzed CCTV footage and traced the suspects. Monitoring their movements, police followed a vehicle to Chembur and identified its owner, who admitted hiring the car to the three accused.

The arrested individuals are Mohammad Aarif Khan, 47, a chauffeur; Abdul Haqiq Khan, 34, a truck driver; and Danish Khan, 23, a labourer. Abdul Haqiq and Danish have prior criminal records in Uttar Pradesh.

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Maharashtra

Mumbai’s Rising Skyline, Falling Safety: Repeated Tragedies Expose Grim Reality At Construction Sites

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Mumbai: On October 8, two separate incidents reminded the city once again of this grim reality. In Jogeshwari East, 22-year-old Sanskruti Amin lost her life when a cement block fell from an under-construction building, fatally striking her on the head. On the same day, in Chembur, a 46-year-old labourer plunged to his death from the 13th floor while plastering a wall.

Relatives of both victims have accused the builders of negligence, alleging that basic safety norms were ignored. “If helmets or safety nets had been in place, these deaths could have been prevented,” said one relative, visibly angry at the developers’ indifference.

Unfortunately, these are not isolated incidents. Just fifteen days later, yet another construction worker died under similar circumstances — this time, the developer had reportedly failed to provide safety harnesses.

Despite the frequency of such tragedies, accountability remains rare. Police cases, if filed at all, usually target the on-site supervisor or contractor. Developers — who are ultimately responsible for ensuring compliance with safety norms — often escape scrutiny.

According to labour activists, Mumbai witnesses several such deaths every year, many of which go unreported or are quietly settled. “Workers’ lives are treated as cheap. There is no system to monitor safety compliance effectively,” said an activist who has been tracking such incidents.

Many small and mid-level builders cut corners to save costs, skipping helmets, harnesses, barricades, and safety training altogether. In the meantime, the families of victims are left to fight lengthy legal battles or simply move on, with little hope of justice or compensation.

Adv. Bhimesh Mutula, Secretary of the Maharashtra State Nurses and Labour Workers’ Association, stated, “Safety norms in new constructions and redevelopment projects remain only on paper. The safety of workers, structural inspections at construction sites, and physical inspections by the concerned authorities are being seriously neglected. It is very painful that even after the death or accident of workers, their families do not receive justice or compensation.”

Meanwhile, Mumbai BJP President and MLA Ameet Satam has written to BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, demanding a thorough probe into the Sanskruti Amin incident. Satam also urged the BMC to conduct a citywide audit of all under-construction sites to ensure compliance with safety norms.
The demand follows the tragic death of 22-year-old Amin, who was killed by a falling brick from a redevelopment site in Jogeshwari East on October 8. Around 1,000 residents joined a protest march on Sunday, demanding action against the builder.

“It has been brought to my notice that there were prior complaints regarding safety norms not being followed at the said site, and no action was taken. If these allegations are true, the BMC administration should take immediate action against the concerned officials,” Satam said.

He further called for stringent safety checks across the city. “The BMC must audit all under-construction sites to check whether safety norms are being followed. Any violations must be rectified at the earliest. In the interest of public safety, a stop-work notice should be issued until compliance is ensured,” he added.

Meanwhile, the BMC’s Building Proposal Department, which grants permissions for new constructions and redevelopment, stated that it is the responsibility of the owner, builder, developer, architect, and other professionals to take all precautionary measures on-site to avoid any mishap.

‘Special Safety Control Guidelines’ were issued by the State Urban Development Department in August 2025 for construction activities in high-rises. Some of the key recommendations include the appointment of safety officers, safety measures for façade and height work, and the safeguarding of adjacent areas as part of the Building Proposal’s Intimation of Disapproval (IOD) conditions.

“As per the provision of DCPR 2034 Clause 12(5), it is the responsibility of the builder on record to ensure necessary safety precautions are taken on-site and in its immediate surroundings. The grant of IOD does not render BMC liable for any injury or damages whatsoever. In simple words, when the builder is permitted to start work, he accepts full responsibility for compliance with safety norms,” said a senior BMC officer.

The officer added that while the BMC does inspect construction sites, the visits are not frequent.

A police officer said, “When a complaint is received regarding unauthorised construction, the police stop the construction and inform the municipal authorities. The police cannot take direct action. Based on the municipal corporation’s directions and the complaint, a case is then registered against those responsible. If the municipal body requests police protection for the demolition of such illegal structures, the police provide security. However, if the police register a case against unauthorised construction, they must obtain approval from the municipal corporation for further action.”

A retired police officer added that this process often leads to significant delays.

The complete responsibility for the safety of workers at a building construction site lies with the concerned builder, contractor, or supervisor. It is the duty of the relevant administrative authorities to ensure that proper facilities and safety measures are provided at the construction site.

If safety measures are not in place and a worker dies as a result, a preliminary investigation is conducted, and a case is registered against those responsible, followed by further legal action, according to a police official.

As the skyline of Mumbai continues to rise, it does so on a shaky foundation not of cement and steel, but of ignored safety measures and forgotten lives. Until strict accountability is enforced, more such headlines will continue to remind the city of the price paid for negligence.

Key Facts

Fifteen days later, another worker died due to lack of safety harnesses.

Developers reportedly failed to provide proper safety measures.

Police cases usually target supervisors or contractors; developers often escape scrutiny.

Victims’ families often face long legal battles or give up hope for justice.

Many such deaths go unreported or are quietly settled.

Many small and mid-level builders skip safety gear and training to cut costs.

Builders, developers, and architects are fully responsible for on-site safety.

Safety Guidelines

Special Safety Control Guidelines (August 2025) for High-Rise Construction Include:

Appointment of safety officers.

Safety for façade and height work.

Protection of adjacent areas.
A senior BMC officer admitted that inspections are carried out but not frequently.

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Maharashtra

Mumbai: Ahead of Diwali, citizens beam with smiles… Goods worth over 1 crore returned, police performance praised, and people in a joyous mood.

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Mumbai: Mumbai Police has brought back the happiness of the citizens before Diwali by returning their lost and stolen goods and spreading smiles on their faces. DCP Manish Kalwaniya in Zone 8 of Mumbai has today returned the lost and other belongings of the citizens before Diwali, worth more than one crore, including 2000 mobile phones. The DCP said that the people’s joy has doubled after the return of stolen and lost goods because most of them had given up hope of their belongings, but the police have brought smiles back to their faces. Mumbai Police has started a process of returning people’s belongings at various police stations. This process has been started on the initiative of Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti. After the return of stolen and lost goods, the trust of the people in the police in Mumbai has been further strengthened and now the police is performing better in such cases in which people’s belongings have been stolen or have disappeared. The police have now brought smiles to the faces of many people who had forgotten their belongings or did not expect that their belongings would be available to them again.

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