Patna, Nov 4: The election activity is intensifying in Bihar, with campaigning for the first phase of polling set to end at 5 p.m. on Tuesday. Before the silence period kicks in, Mahagathbandhan’s Chief Ministerial candidate Tejashwi Yadav on Tuesday made a series of major announcements at a press conference in Patna.

Tejashwi Yadav said that if the Grand Alliance forms the government, women will receive the entire Rs 30,000 annual assistance under the ‘Mai Bahin Maan Yojana’ in one single instalment (Rs 2,500 per month), which will be transferred directly to their bank accounts on January 14 — the day of Makar Sankranti.

He said this would ensure direct economic support to women.

Tejashwi also announced that Jeevika Didis (women self-help group members) and community mobilisers will be made permanent employees and given a monthly honorarium.

Interest on loans taken by these groups will be waived entirely, and each Jeevika Didi will get insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh, he said.

He added that if his government comes to power, the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) will be restored — benefitting teachers, health workers and police personnel.

Addressing a long-pending demand of employees, Tejashwi said postings would be ensured within 70 km of a worker’s home district.

He cited the example of nurses and government staff posted hundreds of kilometres away, leading to financial and family hardships.

The OPS offers assured post-retirement pension benefits to government employees.

Tejashwi Yadav has made a series of promises in his election manifesto called “Tejashwi’s pledge”, including government jobs for one member of every family, 200 units of free electricity, free electricity for farmers for irrigation purposes, and Jeevika Didis and contractual employees will be made permanent.

Campaigning for the first phase of elections — covering 121 seats across 18 districts — ends at 5 p.m. Voting will take place on November 6, and the result will come out on November 14.

Navi Mumbai: The Navi Mumbai Police’s Anti-Narcotics Cell has arrested Keyur Jayesh Gogri (29), son of Beena Gogri, National President of the BJP’s Bharat Raksha Manch, for allegedly selling hydro ganja smuggled from Thailand.

The arrest followed a raid at his residence in Kharghar Sector 19, where police seized 800 milligrams of hydro ganja worth ₹5,000.

Acting on a tip-off, a team led by Senior Police Inspector Sandeep Nigde of the Anti-Narcotics Cell conducted a raid on October 30 at Shivsai Building in Kharghar. During the search, police recovered plastic packets, a crusher, and a weighing scale from Gogri’s apartment.

A further inspection of his car led to the discovery of hydro ganja concealed under the seat.

According to officials, the contraband was reportedly smuggled from Thailand through illegal routes by two of Gogri’s friends. During interrogation, Gogri allegedly confessed that he had procured the substance from his friend Sharikh, a resident of Bhandup, who smuggled it from Thailand, and occasionally from Noman, who lives in Ulwe.

He admitted that he intended to sell the drug to local youths in the Kharghar area.

Following the seizure, the Anti-Narcotics Cell registered a case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at the Kharghar Police Station, leading to Gogri’s arrest.

Police have since intensified their search for the two suppliers linked to the Thailand-based drug network.

“The seized hydro ganja has a clear international trail connected to Thailand. We are tracing the two other suspects involved in this smuggling network,” said Senior Police Inspector Sandeep Nigde of the Anti-Narcotics Cell.

Mumbai: In a fresh twist, it has come to light that deputy commissioner of police (DCP) Datta Nalawade had contacted former education minister Deepak Kesarkar, seeking his help to negotiate with Rohit Arya on October 30 when he had taken 17 children hostage. “If the crime branch summons me for a statement, I will cooperate with the probe,” Kesarkar told this newspaper.

According to police sources, the DCP made the call around 2 pm and requested Kesarkar to speak with the hostage-taker, calm him down and secure the kids’ safe release. However, Kesarkar reportedly avoided a direct conversation with Arya, instead suggesting that Arya’s claim of pending dues could be settled in tandem with the department concerned. When contacted by the Free Press Journal, Kesarkar confirmed receiving a call from the DCP.

“Yes, Nalawade called me that day. However, I did not realise the situation was so grave. I was in a meeting at the time,” he said

The former minister added that Arya’s relief proposal was delayed due to incomplete documentation with the education department. Sources revealed that statements of the ATS officer Amol Waghmare, who fired at Arya, Powai police senior inspector Sonawane, and R A Studio owner Manish Agarwal have been recorded.

Police are also examining the phone and medical history of the dead hostage-taker and trying to ascertain from where he procured the airgun used in the incident. Preliminary findings indicate that Arya had invited several aspiring actors – five from Nanded, one each from Kolhapur, Sakinaka and Borivali, and three from Navi Mumbai – to R A Studio for auditions.