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Maharashtra

Mumbai varsity confers Doctorate on tabla maestro Zakir Hussain

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Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari said that by honouring legendary tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain with a Doctor of Laws degree, the University of Mumbai is honouring itself and the award for the legendary musician would inspire young generations to excel in life.

Governor Koshyari, who is also the Chancellor of Universities in the state – was speaking at a Special Convocation at the University of Mumbai to confer an honorary Degree on Hussain, 71, at the imposing Cawasji Jehangir Convocation Hall.

He also presented a Doctor of Literature to the doyen of polyester industry Shashikant Garware and a Doctor of Science to renowned scientist Mukund Chorghade.

Koshyari said that unlike politicians who do not like fellow politicians to go ahead of them, music Gurus are happy to see their disciples excelling and achieving greater glory in their chosen fields.

Stating that the National Education Policy allows students to pursue Music along with Science, the Governor expressed hopes that if implemented properly, universities will produce more talented people like Hussain and Garware.

Ustad Zakir Hussain termed the degree of Honorary Doctor of Laws as a blessing from the masters and dedicated the degree to his illustrious father and Tabla legend, the late Ustad Alla Rakha.

On the occasion, Minister of Higher & Technical Education Uday Samant announced the opening of the Bharat Ratna Lata Dinanath Mangeshkar College of Music & Museum in the University of Mumbai on September 28 – which is the birth anniversary of the late singer who passed away here on February 6 aged 92.

He said that the government of Maharashtra has already made a provision of Rs 100 crore for the College.

Samant sought the cooperation of Usha Mangeshkar, Ustad Zakir Hussain, Shankar Mahadevan and others in designing the curriculum of the programmes to be offered as courses by the College.

Vice Chancellor Suhas Pednekar, Pro-Vice Chancellor Ravindra Kulkarni, renowned artists Vijay Ghate, Satyajit Talwalkar, Pt. Vibhav Nageshkar, Rakesh Chaurasia and Shankar Mahadevan were among those present at the solemn ceremony.

Maharashtra

Massive Fire Erupts At Clothing Store In Thane’s Naupada, Causes Extensive Damage; No Casualties Reported

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Thane: A massive fire broke out at a clothing store in the early morning hours in Thane’s Naupada on April 20. The Prachi Fashion Store, a ground-plus-first-floor shop located below the Paradise Society building, was gutted in the blaze.

Visuals from the site showed thick black smoke coming out of the shop’s closed shutter. As information about the fire was received, three fire tenders, two water tankers, and one rescue vehicle were deployed to control the blaze.

The fire, which broke out at 5:40 am, was brought under control after three hours, at around 8:40 am. Though no injuries or casualties have been reported, the incident caused extensive damage, with the entire shop being gutted.

Meanwhile, in recent fire incidents, a blaze erupted at a shop in the Crawford Market area, prompting a swift response from the Mumbai Fire Brigade. Officials confirmed that no casualties were reported as cooling operations were held to prevent fire from reigniting. In another incident, a fire had broken out at a dyeing factory in Bhiwandi, Maharashtra, prompting the immediate deployment of fire tenders to the spot.

These incidents came just days after a fire was reported near DB Marg, opposite Reliance Mall in Mumbai Central. The Level I fire broke out late at night and was confined to shops and rooms within a chawl structure.

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Crime

NESCO Concert Drug Case: Security Guard Arrested As 10th Accused, Took ₹1,000 Bribes To Bypass Security Helped Facilitate Drug Access

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Mumbai: A 30-year-old security guard from Sion Koliwada was arrested by Vanrai Police on Sunday.

This marks the tenth arrest in the NESCO music concert drug overdose case.

The accused, Pradeep Gupta, worked as a contract bouncer through Safecure company, which was assigned security duties for the 999999999 ‘Acid Storm’ tour concert held on April 11 at NESCO centre in Goregaon East.

He allegedly facilitated unauthorised access by accepting bribes. Police said Gupta was in contact with other accused, Vineet Gerelani, 22, and Aayush Vicky Sahitya, 24.

They reportedly spoke five to seven times over the phone, and investigators claim to have evidence of these conversations.

Gupta allegedly charged `1,000 per person to allow entry without conducting proper security checks. He permitted at least five people to enter the venue bypassing protocols.

Gupta has been remanded to police custody till April 24. His advocate, Azad Gupta, stated that he could not recall the incidents.

According to investigators, Gerelani and Subh Agarwal (22) had entered the hard acid techno event without purch asing tickets by bribing gua rds `1,000 each.

They allegedly delivered ecstasy pills to MBA student Pratik Pandey, 24. Aayush Vicky Sahitya, the main supplier of drugs and the ninth accused, was arrested on Friday.

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Crime

Mumbai Crime Bureau Nabs Five With Illegal Firearms And 21 Live Cartridges From Pydhonie, Probes Bishnoi Gang Links

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Mumbai: The Crime Branch of Mumbai Police has arrested five persons from the Pydhonie area for allegedly attempting to sell illegal firearms and live cartridges without a valid license. Officials are also probing whether the accused have any links with the Bishnoi gang. All five accused have been arrested. They are aged between 19 and 26 years and are natives of Rajasthan and Haryana.The arrested accused have been identified as Surendra Amarlalji Minna (25), Rohit Ghanshyam Mina (24), Kartik Bijander Parcha (19), Deepak Kumar Chitarmal Bil (26) and Ronuronak Pannalal Merotha (25).

As per Sources told, Based on specific intelligence received from a confidential informant, the complainant verified the input and conducted a raid at the hotel premises in Nakhooda Mohalla, Pydhonie. During the operation, the five accused were found in possession of firearms and live cartridges without any valid license.Police said the accused were allegedly carrying the weapons in violation of the prohibitory orders issued by the Commissioner of Police, Brihanmumbai, regarding possession of arms.

According to officials, the Anti-Extortion Cell of the Mumbai Crime Branch received specific information from a confidential informant that a group of individuals would arrive in the Pydhonie area to sell firearms and ammunition illegally. Acting on the tip-off, a team conducted a raid at Hotel Elegant, Room No. 305, located on Narayan Dhuru Street in Pydhonie.

During the operation, five persons were found at the spot. Upon search, the police recovered three pistols along with magazines and a total of 21 live cartridges from their possession. When questioned about the license for the firearms and ammunition, the accused failed to produce any valid documents. They allegedly admitted that they had brought the weapons for sale.

Following the seizure, an FIR was registered at Pydhonie Police Station under Sections 3 and 25 of the Arms Act, along with Sections 37(1)(A) and 135.

Further investigation is underway to ascertain the source of the weapons and to determine whether the accused have any connections with organized criminal gangs, including the Bishnoi gang.

Accused Surendra Meena is resident of Bahura Dihod, Kota, Rajasthan, Rohit Meena of Tathed Dihod, Ladpura, Kota, Rajasthan, Kartik Parcha, of Asoda, Jhajjar, Haryana, Dipak Kumar Bil, is of Umedganj, Kota, Rajasthan and Ronu Ronak Merotha is resident of Tathed, Ladpura, Kota, Rajasthan. 5 silver-coloured firearms and 21 live rounds (cartridges) seized from accused.

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