Yavatmal: A 9-year-old boy allegedly sexually assaulted a minor girl studying in his class with the help of another female classmate in the toilet of their school in Maharashtra’s Yavatmal district, police said on Tuesday.

Accused The Case

The accused boy and the 9-year-old girl, who allegedly abetted the crime, have been detained and sent to a juvenile remand home, they said.

The victim, aged 8, and the two accused were students of Class 3 at a Zilla Parishad school in Babulgaon town, where the alleged incident took place on August 1, the police said.

A few days back, the victim complained of pain in her private parts following which her mother took her to a hospital. Doctors at the hospital found injuries on the victim’s private parts, a police official said.

As per a police complaint lodged by the victim’s mother, her daughter told her that a boy from her class assaulted her in the school toilet with the help of another girl, the official said.

The victim’s mother approached the police on August 9 with a complaint against the boy and the girl and a case was subsequently registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the police said.

Yavatmal Superintendent of Police Kumar Chintha said the police have received a complaint about a 9-year-old boy assaulting an 8-year-old girl in Babulgaon.

Another girl, aged 9, helped the boy (in the crime), he said.

The two accused children have sent to a remand home, police said.

Mumbai: The much-anticipated third phase of Mumbai’s Metro-3 Aqua Line, connecting Worli to Cuffe Parade, is set to miss its scheduled Independence Day inauguration, with officials now targeting a launch by the end of August.

Reason Behind Missing August 15 Deadline

The 9.1-km underground stretch was initially slated to open on August 15. However, a Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) official confirmed that construction at two crucial Kalbadevi stations is still underway. Work in the densely populated area has faced delays due to congested layouts and logistical challenges. “We are targeting an inauguration by the end of August.

The Metro-3 Aqua Line is expected to majorly ease north-south travel in the city once operational. The first two phases have already improved connectivity between Aarey and Worli, while the final leg will link commuters directly to Cuffe Parade in South Mumbai.

Meanwhile, on the eve of Independence Day, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will preside over the inauguration of several other infrastructure projects across Mumbai. These include a 2.75-km flyover between Mumbai University and Vile Parle to ease the Santacruz bottleneck, a new bridge connecting Kalanagar and Dharavi for better east-west access and a Metro motormen training centre at Mandale to reduce dependence on outstation facilities.

Fadnavis will also inaugurate MMRDA staff quarters at Malvani and symbolically hand over keys to 556 tenants from the redeveloped BDD chawls in Worli, marking the completion of the project’s first phase. In addition, the International Experience Centre at Dabbewala Bhavan in Bandra West will be opened to celebrate Mumbai’s famed lunchbox delivery network.

While the city will benefit from the slew of new transport and housing initiatives, the delay in Metro-3’s completion means daily commuters will have to wait a little longer for seamless underground connectivity from Worli to South Mumbai.

Mumbai: In a comprehensive briefing on Mumbai’s security landscape, Police Commissioner Deven Bharti on Monday detailed the city’s readiness to counter threats ranging from terrorism and cybercrime to drug trafficking and urban Naxalism. He assured citizens that the force is fully equipped and unwavering in its commitment to safeguarding Mumbai.

Bharti emphasised that despite the passage of time, Mumbai continues to face a persistent threat of terrorist attacks. He stated that ensuring preventive measures and strengthening the city’s security remains the department’s top priority. “Mumbai, being the financial capital of the country, remains on the radar of terrorist elements. We are constantly working to safeguard it,” he said.

Police Commissioner Deven Bharti Acknowledges The Presence Of Urban Naxal Elements In The City

Acknowledging the presence of urban Naxal elements in the city, Bharti revealed that a dedicated unit monitors and acts against such threats daily. He also disclosed that over 1,000 illegal Bangladeshi nationals have been deported in recent months as part of intensified action against unlawful residency. Bharti assured that all threat calls received in Mumbai will be treated seriously, with each incident being thoroughly investigated. Over 90% of the hoax or real threat cases have resulted in arrests, he said.

Following the recent firing at comedian Kapil Sharma’s cafe in Canada by the Bishnoi gang, the Mumbai Police have taken all necessary precautions and have provided adequate security to Sharma and his family, he pointed out. The Commissioner pointed to the long-standing issue of drug trafficking and the rapidly rising cases of cybercrime as two major challenges for the city.

Special efforts are being made to curb both these threats, he claimed. In the last two years, the Mumbai Cyber Cell has prevented financial frauds worth over Rs 300 crore and has arrested several accused. The department receives over 2,000 cyber fraud-related calls daily, and nearly 60 lakh bank accounts have been frozen as part of ongoing investigations. Bharti underlined that increased focus will be given to ensuring women’s safety across Mumbai.