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Mumbai: Over 5,600 women go missing in Maharashtra in first 3 months of year

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Mumbai: More than 5,600 women – most in the age category of 18-25 years – went missing in Maharashtra in the first three months of the year, data from the State Women’s Commission show

In January 1,600 women left their homes without telling anyone, in February 1,810, and in March 2,200, the chairperson of the commission, Rupali Chakankar, Told the News Press on Monday, calling it a matter of “deep concern”.

70 women in the 18-25 age group run off

“Such cases are increasing day by day. This is a matter of deep concern,” she said.

About 70 women in the 18-25 age group walk out on their families every day, the data show.

From 2020 onwards Maharashtra has had the maximum number of missing women in the country, Chakankar said.

More women in rural areas are reported missing than in urban areas, the data show.

Retired IPS officer Prem Krishan Jain said there are four main reasons why a woman chooses to disappear: A love affair with someone from outside their caste or community; strict restrictions at home; harassment from brothers and sisters-in-law after the parents have died; a desire to do something in life.

Jain said families often know the reason behind the women’s disappearance, but are wary of revealing it to the police.

Some women fall prey to human traffickers

Some women also fall prey to human traffickers, he said.

“Nowadays more people are getting married to persons of their choice,” a serving police officer said, requesting anonymity.

“If a girl wants to marry a person of her choice, and there is opposition from parents, she will sometimes leave her home to be with her lover,” he said.

“If a girl below the age of 18 goes missing, the police will register a case of kidnapping,” another officer said, requesting anonymity.

“On the other hand, if she is above 18, then a ‘missing person’ case is registered. If an adult woman has left her home of her own volition and married an adult man, there is nothing that we can do legally,” he said.

Anshu Khanna, president of a non-profit called ‘Maharashtra Mass India’, said parents must be more communicative with their daughters. “NGOs can organise counselling sessions with psychologists and the police to educate parents and young women,” she said.

Crime

Mumbai Police Seize ₹655 Crore Worth Of Drugs In Nine Months; Over 1,100 Arrested in 906 Cases

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Mumbai: The Mumbai Police have seized 1,342 kilograms of contraband and arrested 1,104 persons in connection with 906 drug-related cases registered across the city till September this year.

The total value of the seized drugs stands at a staggering ₹655.25 crore, marking a ₹170 crore increase compared to the same period last year.
Statistics revealed that ganja and mephedrone (MD) have been the most frequently seized narcotics in the city.

According to police data, from January to September 2025, authorities registered: 46 heroin cases, arrested 61 persons, and seized 2.01 kg valued at ₹5.98 crore, 19 charas cases, arrested 31 persons, and seized 23.25 kg worth ₹19.32 crore, 547 ganja cases, arrested 587 persons, and seized 1,049 kg worth ₹36.65 crore.

18 cocaine cases, arrested 30 persons, and seized 10.20 kg worth ₹76.90 crore, 211 mephedrone (MD) cases, arrested 290 persons, and seized 257.33 kg worth an enormous ₹513.23 crore.

Apart from trafficking, the police also registered 5,137 drug consumption cases, leading to the arrest of 4,284 individuals.

Officials said the department continues to strengthen its intelligence network and track illegal activity on the darknet, where drug deals often occur.

“We not only rely on our informant network to track drug trafficking in the city but also keep a close watch on the darknet, where deals take place clandestinely. Our efforts are focused on breaking the chain and dismantling syndicates involved in peddling,” said a police source.
He added that the department also conducts awareness campaigns to educate citizens, especially youth, about the health and social impact of drug abuse.

Heroin – Cases (46), Persons Arrested (61), Seized (2.01 kg)
Charas – Cases (19), Persons Arrested (31), Seized (23.25 kg)
Ganja – Cases (547), Persons Arrested (587), Seized (1049 kg)
Cocaine – Cases (18), Persons Arrested (30), Seized (10.20 kg)
MD – Cases (211), Persons Arrested (290), Seized (257.33 kg)

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Crime

Navi Mumbai Fraud: Panvel Police Arrest Couple From Pune For Duping Residents With Fake Discounted Grocery And Household Offers

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Navi Mumbai: The Panvel Taluka Police have arrested a couple who allegedly cheated several people of lakhs of rupees by promising to supply groceries, clothes, and household goods at discounted rates.

The accused, identified as Nawin Dhanaji Panchal (52) and Vidya Nawin Panchal (45), were arrested from Alandi in Pune and have been remanded in police custody till October 31 by the court.

According to the police, the Panchal couple rented flats in various housing societies across Panvel, where they initially gained the trust of residents by supplying groceries and household items at wholesale prices. Once they established credibility, they lured victims with offers to start a grocery business together, collecting large sums of money.

One such complainant from Panvel was cheated of Rs 5 lakh, after which the couple switched off their phones and vacated their rented home without delivering goods or returning the money.

Following a complaint, a case was registered against the duo under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code. Acting on technical intelligence, a police team tracked them to Alandi in Pune. Under the supervision of Senior Police Inspector Gajanan Ghadge, a team led by API Aniruddha Gije and PSI Harshal Rajput laid a trap and arrested the accused on October 27.

“During the investigation, we found that the Panchal couple used multiple mobile numbers, email IDs, and bank accounts to cheat people in the same manner in different cities. They were previously booked in similar cases in Nagpur and Kalyan and had been absconding. We suspect more victims may come forward as the probe continues,” said Senior Police Inspector Gajanan Ghadge of Panvel Taluka Police Station.

Police have appealed to citizens who may have fallen victim to the couple’s fraud to contact their nearest police station immediately.

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Crime

Father, son found murdered in Bihar’s Bhojpur; political angle suspected

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Patna, Oct 31: A sense of shock and fear gripped Belghat village under Mufassil police station in Bihar’s Bhojpur district on Friday after two persons — a father and his son — were found lying murdered on the roadside.

The deceased have been identified as Pramod Kushwaha and his son Priyanshu Kushwaha, residents of Belghat.

According to local sources, the duo had gone out for some work on Thursday afternoon but did not return home until late in the evening.

Their family launched a search, and at around 4 a.m. on Friday, both were discovered unconscious along the road.

Police, upon being informed, reached the spot and seized a motorcycle and three empty cartridges found near the scene.

Pramod Kushwaha is known locally as the owner of the Maurya Sweets shop in Piyania Bazaar and is also an active worker of the Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM).

The incident occurred at a time when the election campaign was underway in Bihar.

Due to his political affiliation, police are probing the case from both personal and political angles.

Mufassil Police Station SHO Deepak Kumar reached the site with a large police force.

A forensic team was called in to collect evidence, and several suspects are currently being questioned.

The local police recovered the dead bodies from the crime scene and sent them for the post-mortem in Sadar Hospital, Ara.

The incident has triggered panic in the area, with residents expressing fear over the brazenness of the attack.

Bhojpur Police suspect that the act could be a well-planned conspiracy and executed with precision, raising suspicions of an old enmity or an organised gang’s involvement.

An FIR has been lodged under relevant sections of the BNS Act against unidentified persons, and a detailed investigation is underway.

This disturbing incident once again highlights the lingering atmosphere of fear and lawlessness in parts of Bihar, where politics and crime often intersect.

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