Mumbai: The Thane Traffic Police have issued a traffic control notification for the Dombivli area ahead of the Gudi Padwa celebrations scheduled on March 19. Authorities expect large crowds to gather for a traditional welcome procession, prompting several traffic restrictions and diversions to ensure smooth vehicular movement and public safety.

According to the notification issued by Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Pankaj Shirsat of Thane City, the procession will begin at 6:30 am from Bhagshala Maidan in Dombivli West. The rally will proceed towards Shiv Mandir Road–Char Rasta via Kopar Bridge, eventually passing through Bajiprabhu Chowk and Phadke Road in Dombivli East.

The event is being organised by Shri Ganesh Mandir Sansthan, Dombivli East, as part of the Gudi Padwa New Year celebrations. Officials said the procession will include traditional cultural performances such as Lezim Pathak, Sanai Choughada, bhajans, and Dindi groups, along with participation from various social organisations and community groups. A large number of residents, including youth, women and families, are expected to take part in the celebrations.

Police have warned that heavy congestion is likely in areas including Tilak Road, Ganapati Mandir Road, Chheda Road, Phadke Road, Madan Thackeray Chowk, Bajiprabhu Chowk, Modern Café junction, Chintamani Jewellers Road, Agarkar Road and the IDBI Bank stretch. To manage the situation, entry restrictions and diversions have been imposed at multiple points.

Vehicular movement on Phadke Road between Bajiprabhu Chowk and Apadatar Chowk will remain closed. Vehicles approaching the stretch will be diverted via Nehru Road towards Dombivli Station and Lokmanya Tilak Road through Savarkar Road and Indira Chowk.

Entry for private buses and heavy vehicles heading towards Tilak Chowk from Kalyan Road via Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Circle in Dombivli East will also be restricted. Such vehicles will be required to take a U-turn at Gharada Circle and proceed towards their destination.

Additionally, vehicles moving from Nehru Road towards Ganesh Mandir Road will not be permitted beyond the Ganesh Mandir Gate on Nehru Cause Road. Motorists travelling via Chheda Road towards the Ganesh Temple will be stopped near Tulsi Sweet Corner and diverted through Ganesh Mandir Road, Apte Road, Shivaji Path and Dr Mukherjee Road.

Further closures will be enforced at Samrat Chowk, Nana Shankar Sheth Road and Samrat Ashok Chowk when the procession passes through these stretches. Vehicles will be diverted via Ghanshyam Gupte Road, MG Road and Retibandar Road depending on the location.

Traffic officials have urged motorists to avoid the affected routes during the procession hours and follow the designated diversions to prevent congestion. Commuters have also been advised to plan their travel accordingly as the procession is expected to attract large crowds across several key roads in Dombivli.

Authorities said the traffic arrangements have been made to ensure smooth movement of vehicles and public safety during the festive celebrations.

Dhaka, March 15: India has repeatedly raised concerns over the safety of the minority communities with Bangladeshi authorities, and expects thorough investigations and accountability. However, the responsibility to ensure the protection of all citizens lies with the government of Bangladesh, a report highlighted.

Citing rights groups, it stated that preventing recurring violence requires more than reactive policing; it demands “sustained legal protection, swift prosecution of offenders, and community reconciliation efforts”.

“Without transparent, independently verifiable data, the full picture remains contested. Yet the allegations alone underscore a broader concern: when minorities in any country face persistent insecurity, it challenges the region’s commitment to pluralism, rule of law, and fundamental human dignity,” The Morning Voice newspaper detailed.

According to the report, a recent disclosure in India’s Parliament revealed that nearly 3,100 incidents of violence targeting Hindus and other minorities took place in Bangladesh between August 2024 and February 2026, raising serious concerns about minority safety in the neighbouring country.

“Attacks allegedly targeted homes, businesses, and places of worship, with reports of killings and arson. If accurate, such acts would represent not only communal violence but also a grave violation of internationally recognised human rights principles, including freedom of religion, equality before the law, and the right to life and security,” the report stressed.

“The issue carries particular sensitivity for India, which shares a long and porous border with Bangladesh and deep historical, cultural, and demographic ties. Instability affecting minorities across the border can have humanitarian, diplomatic, and security implications, including displacement pressures and cross-border tensions,” it added.

The report further said that if verified, the violence against minorities would be more than just a domestic problem, emerging as a human rights concern that calls for sustained global attention.

Bangladesh witnessed escalating attacks on minorities, particularly Hindus, sparking grave human rights concerns, which intensified during the eighteen-month tenure of Muhammad Yunus-led interim government.

Mumbai: An FIR was filed against three hawkers after a video of them offering namaz at Malad railway station went viral online, the railway police said.

The RPF registered a case under Section 147 of the Railway Act for trespass, while the GRP filed another under BNS Section 168 following the station master’s complaint. After the video went viral, BJP leader Kirit Somaiya had also demanded action.

Slamming the viral video, BJP leader Kirit Somaiya had said that an FIR will be filed regarding all this. While speaking to news agency Media, “Openly, at Malad railway station in Mumbai, on top of the station platform, a small mandap-like structure has been made and namaz has started being offered there… An FIR will be filed regarding all this.”