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Maharashtra

Mumbai: De-Addiction Cases At KEM Hospital Rise By 15-20% In 2024

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Mumbai: The increasing number of young people falling prey to addiction has worried psychiatrists as the de-addiction centre run by KEM Hospital Parel has witnessed a 15% to 20% surge in new cases this year. According to the doctors running the centre, most of the patients seeking treatment are between the ages of 18 and 30.

Data from January to May this year reveals that 75 young patients in this age range are currently undergoing treatment, making it the largest demographic at the centre. There are 47 patients aged 31 to 45, nine patients under 18, and seven patients aged 46 to 60.

Dr Sangeeta Ravat, Dean Of The Hospital On The Reason For The Rise

Dr Sangeeta Ravat, dean of the hospital, said one reason for the rise is increased awareness about the centre. “Overall surge in addiction rates can be a reason behind the rising trend we are seeing at our centre. It can also be because they are more aware of seeking help at the centre. Our doctors are also visiting schools and counselling, sensitising parents and students about the harmful effects of addiction and the services available,” he said.

Dr Shilpa Adarkar, additional professor, psychiatry department of KEM Hospital, said addiction among school and college-going teenagers and young adults is a growing concern. Adarkar, who has been working at the centre for the past 30 years, said, they are now seeing children with MDMA (MD) drugs and marijuana addiction too.

“Earlier, we used to see most addictions related to marijuana, sleeping pills, tobacco, cough syrup, brown sugar, inhalation of nail polish or adhesives, and alcoholism,” she said.

Dr Adarkar added that patients coming to KEM Hospital are from economically weaker backgrounds and it is a cause for concern to see an increased accessibility to high-value drugs such as MDMA among children from poor economic backgrounds.

About KEM’s De-Addiction OPD Unit

KEM, the only civic hospital in Mumbai with a dedicated de-addiction OPD unit, expanded its services last year, adding 45 beds as part of a revamp to meet rising demand. On average, 1,000 to 1,200 new patients visit the OPD each year, while thousands more attend followups. Last year alone, 680 patients sought help for alcohol addiction, with another 270 seeking treatment for dependencies on other substances such as brown sugar, marijuana and sedatives. Alcohol addiction remains the most pervasive, affecting about 70% of patients.

Doctors cite various triggers for addiction, including peer pressure, mental stress, relationship problems, academic and personal challenges, as well as curiosity and the influence of media.

“Advertisements and movies that glamourise substance use can heavily impact vulnerable youth,” said Dr Adarkar, who stressed the importance of recognising these triggers to develop effective prevention and intervention strategies.

On Risk On Unproven Home Treatments

KEM doctors also warn against the risk of unproven home treatments promoted in de-addiction advertisements. Dr Ajita Nayak, head of psychiatry, cautions families against using such methods, which could harm patients further, and instead urges families to consult a trained psychiatrist.

Dr Nayak emphasised the role of families and society in addressing addiction. “Parents need to monitor their children’s social circles, media consumption, and spending habits,” she advised, adding that spending quality time and fostering open communication are vital preventive measures.

Maharashtra

Uddhav Thackeray Camp Mocks Mahayuti Infighting, Says Maharashtra Govt Suffering From Leadership Crisis

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Mumbai: Shiv Sena(UBT) on Monday claimed that all is not well in the Mahayuti government as, despite a roaring majority, the alliance partners — BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP — are involved in proxy war and all the top leaders want to become the Chief Minister.

The editorial attacked the May 3 meeting held by the state government to mark the completion of 65 years of the formation of Maharashtra state, where all former CMs were invited, but none from the opposition camp attended. Former CM Eknath Shinde also stayed away and sent a representative.

The Thackeray camp in the party mouthpiece Saamana editorial said that everyone in the grand alliance is testing each other. Ajit Pawar has launched a drive to bring in discipline in the finance department, while the Chief Minister has curbed the dominance of the contractors, which has made former Chief Minister Eknath Shinde uneasy, and his party ministers are feeling the pinch.

“Shiv Sena Minister Sanjay Shirsat called Ajit Pawar ‘Shakuni’ (cunning and manipulative villain) after the funds of the Social Justice department held by him were diverted to Ladki Bahin Yojana. As a result, the minister’s bungalow, car and two peons were left in the social justice department. The war in the state government has reached such a point that the concerned minister angrily demanded the closure of the social justice department. Now, the latest is that the former Chief Minister, Eknath Shinde, skipped the felicitation of former chief ministers organised by NCP on May 3 to mark the completion of 65 years of the formation of Maharashtra state,” the Saamana editorial said.

“The question is that those who call Ajit Pawar ‘Shakuni’ today will not hesitate to call Fadnavis ‘Duryodhana’ (Villain in the Mahabharata story; the eldest and greatest of the Kauravas) tomorrow. Prakash Ambedkar (the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi founder) says, the moment of ‘swallowing’ is approaching. “It’s just a matter of watching who will swallow whom (in the Mahayuti),” said the editorial.

Prakash Ambedkar has warned that ‘Shinde-Pawar should be careful. “You never know when the python will swallow you. Ambedkar likened Fadnavis to a python, but those who sacrificed 56 male buffaloes at the Kamakhya Devi temple will not hesitate to attack the python’s head,” claimed the editorial, indicating that former CM Eknath Shinde will not leave his chase for the CM’s post.

“The Maharashtra government has a majority, but is the government stable? The government is not stable and the government’s mental health is not good, as can be seen from the daily developments,” taunted the Thackeray camp.

“Devendra Fadnavis is currently the Chief Minister. At the same time, Ajit Pawar also wants to become the Chief Minister, and he has openly said so. Ajit Pawar has become the Deputy Chief Minister six times, which is a record, but he has not become the Chief Minister with such a strong hold yet. If he stays with the BJP, his desire to become the Chief Minister will never be fulfilled. Why would Amit Shah make a rival’s nephew the Chief Minister? This is a simple question,” said the editorial.

“For many years, I have also wanted to become the Chief Minister, but that combination has not come together anywhere,’ Ajit Pawar admitted again on Saturday. Even though Ajit Pawar said this, Fadnavis is not scared. The felicitation of former chief ministers was organised last week by the Amit Shah-led NCP, though Ajit Pawar looks after the party work in Maharashtra,” claimed the Thackeray camp in a stinging swipe.

“Ajit Pawar took the initiative to felicitate the former Chief Ministers of Maharashtra. Sharad Pawar, Sushilkumar Shinde, Prithviraj Chavan and Uddhav Thackeray did not turn up at the ‘felicitation ceremony’ for former Chief Ministers, but the ever-vivid former Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also boycotted the felicitation ceremony and sent his representative to the event. Shinde avoided attending the felicitation ceremony as a former Chief Minister. Because his mind is not ready to accept that he is no longer the state Chief Minister,” said the editorial.

“Even after the Assembly elections, his (Eknath Shinde) party chief, Amit Shah, had told him that he would be the Chief Minister, but Fadnavis snatched away the crown. Since then, this gentleman (Eknath Shinde) has been walking around with a knot in his beard while hinting that he will become the CM again,” said the editorial in a dig at Eknath Shinde and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

“In fact, if Shinde is not ready to call himself ‘former’, then he should always call himself ‘future’ Chief Minister. Overall, there is confusion in the current government of Maharashtra. Maharashtra is suffering from this confusion. Two former Chief Ministers were present at the felicitation ceremony organised by Ajit Pawar’s group. One of them, Narayan Rane, was the Chief Minister in the Shiv Sena-BJP coalition government. Later, he changed many parties, but did not become the Chief Minister. This means that the Shiv Sena chief has turned many stones into gods. ”If it were not for the Shiv Sena, the police would have conducted our encounter. We survived because of the Shiv Sena,” Rane has admitted in the past,” said the editorial.

“The other former Chief Minister who was present was Ashok Chavan, who lost his Chief Ministership in the Adarsh scam of the Defence Department. Now he has joined the BJP. Such a (former) Chief Minister was felicitated by the Ajit Pawar group. It is not clear whether Fadnavis was felicitated as ‘former’ or ‘present’, but the ‘recent’ former Chief Minister did not come, which made Ajit Pawar’s ceremony dull,” said the Thackeray camp in its sarcastic comments.

“They say that the meetings between Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar have increased, but Sharad Pawar did not attend Ajit Pawar’s political ‘Gaurav’ programme (felicitation ceremony). It would have been better if all the former Chief Ministers had come to the glorious Maharashtra festival, Fadnavis said. Let alone all the other former Chief Ministers, tell us why even the recent former Chief Minister in the government did not come,” said the editorial.

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Maharashtra

Ajaz Khan’s Troubles Increase – Rape Case Filed for Deceiving Model with False Promise of Marriage

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House Arrest Show Had Also Invited the Model

Mumbai: A rape case has been registered against film actor Ajaz Khan at the Charkop Police Station in Mumbai. Ajaz Khan allegedly developed a relationship with a 30-year-old model-actress under the pretense of getting her roles in films and TV serials, and then sexually exploited her. Following this, the victim filed a complaint against him with the police.

Ajaz Khan allegedly had non-consensual sexual relations with the victim on April 4. The police have registered the case under relevant sections of the BNS (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita), including Sections 69, 74, 64, and 64(2)(M).

Ajaz Khan first met the victim during the “House Arrest” show, which he was hosting. However, the victim later declined to work in the show. Around that time, Ajaz took her phone number and began communicating with her. On March 24, he called her and later initiated video calls, during which he spoke of his belief in God and even tempted her with a promise of marriage.

The victim stated that when she mentioned her sister was still unmarried, Ajaz Khan proceeded to establish a physical relationship with her at Bhoomi Park in Kandivali, against her will. Later, on April 4, he called her to SV Road and sexually exploited her again.

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Maharashtra

The process of removing loudspeakers from Mumbai mosques has begun, BJP leader Kirit Somaiya has issued notices to mosques due to police pressure.

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Mumbai: The process of removing loudspeakers from mosques in Mumbai has now begun. BJP leader Kirit Somaiya, through the Loudspeaker Mukt Mumbai campaign, has now started removing loudspeakers from mosques in the city and suburbs, which is causing resentment among Muslims. Kirit Somaiya today visited Andheri and Kurla VB Nagar police stations and, citing the orders of the state government and the High Court, demanded action against the loudspeakers of mosques. Meanwhile, the police have assured that the loudspeakers of both the constituencies will be removed in the next 10 days. Similarly, action has also been started in Ghatkopar and Vikhroli, a northern suburb of Mumbai. Here, the police have given a notice to Hill No. 4 Madrasa Anjuman Risalat Haq in Ghatkopar, which said It has been ordered that the loudspeaker be removed from here. Citing the violation of noise pollution norms, instructions have been given to remove the loudspeaker and along with this, instructions have been given to install two box-shaped speakers. If the loudspeaker is not removed, legal action will be taken and the loudspeaker will be confiscated.

The process of removing loudspeakers from mosques in Mumbai city and suburbs has now started. Kirit Somaiya has intensified her campaign. Today, while visiting VB Nagar and Andheri police stations, she has also instructed the police to remove the loudspeakers. Mumbai Police has now started sending notices to remove loudspeakers from mosques, which has created a problem of law and order. Despite this, Kirit Somaiya is adamant about removing loudspeakers from mosques. In such a situation, it is also a big challenge for the newly elected Police Commissioner Deven Bharti to maintain law and order. Earlier, to control Kirit Somaiya’s mischief, the police had banned Kirit Somaiya from visiting the Muslim-majority area of ​​Bhandup, but despite this, Kirit Somaiya visited here. Now the atmosphere of hatred has increased so much that this campaign has also created a threat of communal tension.

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