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Maharashtra

Maha ATS lawyers to track Malegaon-2008 blast case hearing

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Alarmed by witnesses turning hostile in the Malegaon-2008 blasts case, the Maharashtra government lawyers shall now remain in the Special NIA Court where the trial is being conducted on a daily basis, Home Minister Dilip Walse-Patil said here on Saturday.

He told the media persons that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had taken over the case (from the state ATS), but the state government is perturbed at the manner in which several critical witnesses have become hostile in the Special Court.

The significant development came two days after the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) ally Congress had raised the issue and drawn the attention of the Home Ministry and the ATS.

Congress state Working President M. Arif Naseem Khan had submitted a memorandum to the Additional Director-General of Police and ATS chief Vineet Agrawal urging necessary measures to monitor the case closely.

“We are thankful to Home Minister Walse-Patil for accepting our demand for a team to keep a track on the court proceedings. The presence of the ATS lawyers will help in a free and fair trial,” Khan said in a statement.

An ex-minister, Khan reiterated that the NIA is allegedly ‘weakening’ the Malegaon-2008 case and not pursuing it with ‘honesty and sincerity’.

In his memorandum to the ATS Chief Agrawal, Khan contended that the witnesses turning hostile are invoking the names of Bharatiya Janata Party-RSS leaders to “malign the Maharashtra government and ATS” for gaining political mileage in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh elections.

The September 29, 2008 (Malegaon 2008) bomb blast was allegedly engineered in this minority-dominated Nashik town by Hindu fundamentalists, killing 6 and injuring over 100 others, during the Ramadan month when Muslims were breaking their fast.

The Maharashtra Police and then the ATS probed the case till 2011 when it was taken over by the NIA, and the trial is going on daily before the Special NIA Court in Mumbai.

Of the 223 witnesses examined, 16 have turned hostile, claiming that the ATS tortured them to give evidence against the accused, said Khan, urging the need for the presence of the ATS in the court to protect the image of the Maharashtra government.

Among the accused in the sensational Malegaon 2008 case are BJP MP Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, Swami Amritananda Dev Teerth, Dayanand Pandey, Lt. Col. Prasad S. Purohit, and others.

Khan said that the ATS was being sought to be tarnished as an ‘anti-Hindu’ agency with the witnesses, allegedly influenced by the accused, deliberately naming BJP-RSS people ahead of the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls for political gains.

“The NIA is not prosecuting all the accused with honesty and sincerity. Out of 223 witnesses who deposed so far, 16 important ones have turned hostile and over a 100 more are still left to be examined. These witnesses are crucial and need to be protected. The NIA has not challenged any orders passed in favour of the accused which shows their intentions clearly,” Khan said.

Some of the witnesses in Malegaon 2008 case even went beyond their recorded statement mentioning names like Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, but the NIA’s Special Public Prosecutor took no objection, and another witness claimed he was tortured and threatened by the ATS to take names of Yogi and 4 RSS leaders.

Maharashtra

Administration appeals to residents living on hills in Mumbai’s S-zone to move to safer places

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Mumbai: The Mumbai Municipal Corporation administration is appealing to the slum dwellers living in the hilly areas of Vikhroli and Bhandup to migrate to a safer place within the limits of the ‘S’ Zone Office. The administration has issued a warning to the slum dwellers living on the hills/slopes of the hills in Surya Nagar in Vikhroli West area, Indira Nagar in Powai, Gautam Nagar, Paspoli, Jaibhim Nagar and Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar Part 1 and 2, Naradas Nagar, Govindi, Compound in Bhandup West, Khandipara, Ram Nagar, Hanuman Nagar, Hanuman Tekri, Ashok Tekri. There is a possibility of landslides due to heavy rains during the monsoon season, landslides due to the flow of water flowing from the mountains due to rain and flooding of houses due to the fear of flooding in the drains. The S Division Office has already issued precautionary instructions/notices to the dangerous buildings/shacks in the area. Therefore, as a precaution, the Municipal Corporation administration is once again appealing to the local residents of the concerned areas to move to a safer place on their own. The responsibility of the residents living there without moving will be their own. The Assistant Commissioner of ‘S’ Division is being informed that the Mumbai Municipal Corporation administration will not be responsible for any accident or loss of life or property due to natural calamities.

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Maharashtra

Kurla SakiNaka pipeline repair work complete, water supply restored

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Mumbai: The repair work of BMC’s 1200 mm diameter water pipeline near the drain in Kurla Sakinaka 90 feet Tilak Nagar, Mumbai was successfully completed this morning, after which water supply has now been restored in the affected areas of Kurla. The water pipe, which is about 5 meters deep from the road surface, was completely opened and its damaged part was replaced. This pipeline was affected during excavation and after the pipeline burst, the residents of Kurla have been worried about water for two days and the water supply was completely stopped here, but now it has been restored again. Technical difficulties also arose during the excavation because on one side there was a 300 mm diameter gas pipeline of Mahanagar Gas Limited MGL and on the other side the foundation of a bridge was laid, still the engineers and staff carried out the work with utmost care and planning. Ward No. Water supply has been restored in the affected areas of 156,158,161,162,163,171,168,167,166,165,164. Water will be supplied as usual tonight, this information was given by the Mumbai Municipal Corporation today. According to BMC, there is a possibility of delay in water supply and low pressure at night, therefore, caution is required while supplying water to citizens.

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Maharashtra

Focus where the power is, victory will be ours…In the elections, Member of Parliament Dr. Shrikant Shinde gave the workers a mantra of victory

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Mumbai: In the upcoming Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti elections, focus with full force where the organization is strong. Plan at the micro level, appoint booth coordinators and strengthen the election preparations. If we work in an organized and strategic manner, victory will be ours. This message was given by Shiv Sena Parliamentary Party leader and Parliament Ratna MP Dr. Shrikant Shinde to the workers and office bearers. MP Dr. Shrikant Shinde’s two-day Shiv Samavad tour began today from Nandarbar in Khandesh. During this, he reviewed various assembly constituencies of the district in meetings held in Nandarbar and Taloda. Addressing the meeting, he guided the workers regarding the preparations and organization for the upcoming elections. Minister Dada Bhose, MLA Amsha Padvi, MLA Chandrakant Raghuvanshi, MLA Rajendra Gavit, Shiv Sena state unit chief and former MP Anand Paranjape, Shiv Sena secretary Bhausaheb Choudhary, Shiv Sena Nandarbar Lok Sabha liaison chief and former MLA Shreesh Choudhary and other important officials were present on the occasion. MP Dr. Shrikant Shinde reviewed the Shahada and Akkalkuwa assembly constituencies in Taloda this morning. In this meeting, he directed the officials to effectively conduct the voter list revision campaign, appoint BLAs and appoint a coordinator at each of the 20 polling stations. He said that the appointment of coordinators will enable regular review of each booth. If work is done systematically at the booth level, the organization will be strong and the chances of winning the elections will also increase. MP Dr. Shinde further said that what happened in the previous elections should be left behind. All the workers and office bearers should work unitedly thinking about how to increase the strength of Shiv Sena in the Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti areas. He said that there will be no alliance in the upcoming elections, the party leadership will decide on this, but the workers should work with attention at each booth. If we work with full effort and dedication, victory will be ours.

Dr. Shinde said that the strength of Shiv Sena in Nandurbar district is continuously increasing. A large section has been formed in the state that respects Shinde sahib’s leadership. As the Chief Minister, Shinde sahib implemented many welfare schemes of public interest, which the voters are aware of. This is the reason why Shiv Sena has got good public support and success in the Nagar Parishad and Municipal Corporation elections.

In the second meeting held in Nandurbar city, MP Dr. Shrikant Shinde reviewed Nandurbar and Nawapur assembly constituencies. On this occasion, he said that Shinde sahib has done a lot for the common people through the “Shaan Aap Ke Darwaza” campaign. The people’s trust in his leadership is constantly increasing. This is why leaders and workers of other political parties are also eager to join Shiv Sena. MLA Dr. Shinde urged the workers to strengthen the organization and asked them to work with full loyalty and increase the strength of the party. He said that the election symbol of Shiv Sena ‘Dhanush Ban’ should reach every area. The party leadership is committed to strengthening the workers and providing them all possible support. On this occasion, MLA Chandrakant Raghuvanshi said that Shiv Sena has a good hold in Akkalkuwa and Dhargaon talukas, while special efforts are needed to further strengthen the organization in Taloda and Shahada talukas. He expressed confidence that Shiv Sena will hoist the saffron flag in the upcoming Nandarbar Zilla Parishad elections. MLA Raghuvanshi also demanded that party office bearers and corporators be given more organizational powers and responsibilities. MLA Amsha Padvi and former MLA Shreesh Chaudhary also expressed their views in the meeting.

Shinde sahib’s eye on every taluka and assembly constituency
The Shiv Sena chief and Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra pays special attention to every taluka and assembly constituency. This is why party leaders are constantly touring even in the scorching heat of 45 degrees. This was said by Shiv Sena Parliamentary Party leader and MP Dr. Srikant Shinde.

He said that there is no election yet, yet Shiv Sena leaders are going from village to village to meet workers and working to strengthen the organization. Dr. Shinde said that under the leadership of Shinde sahib, there has been a big change in the way Shiv Sena works. Earlier, leaders used to go on tours, give speeches and leave, but now it is not like that. He said that now it is not just speeches but the leader himself goes to the field and works and establishes a direct dialogue with the workers. Dr. Shinde said that in the last two years, he has visited Nandarbar district four times, which shows the seriousness of the party leadership towards the organization.

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