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SC grants interim protection to journalists alleging assault by MP Police

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New Delhi, June 9: The Supreme Court on Monday granted interim protection from arrest to two journalists from Madhya Pradesh who were allegedly assaulted and abused at the instance of Bhind’s Superintendent of Police over their reporting on “illegal sand mining” in the Chambal river.

However, a Bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Manmohan told the petitioners, Shashikant Jatav and Amarkant Singh Chouhan, to approach the Madhya Pradesh High Court for further relief within two weeks.

In the meantime, the petitioner journalists will not be arrested, ordered the Justice Mishra-led Bench, clarifying that it would be open for the Madhya Pradesh High Court to consider the petitioners’ prayer for extension of interim protection.

On June 4, a bench of Justices Sanjay Karol and Satish Chandra Sharma of the top court issued notice on the writ petition filed by the two journalists but declined to pass any interim order protecting them from any coercive action.

The Justice Karol-led Bench remarked that before passing any interim order, the facts should be brought by the Madhya Pradesh government as well. “Suppose you commit a crime like murder, can we grant you no coercive action order? We don’t know what crime has been registered against you,” remarked the apex court, asking the petitioners’ counsel to add Bhind’s SP as a party to the petition.

The duo claimed that they were forced to flee their hometown due to the intensity of these threats after they exposed “illegal” sand mining in the Chambal River, allegedly carried out with the support of local police.

In their writ petition filed before the Supreme Court, the petitioners named IPS officer Asit Yadav and his subordinates as key perpetrators of the abuse, claiming that the targeting is retaliatory, stemming from their investigative work.

They alleged custodial assault, caste-based abuse, kidnapping, and continued harassment by the Bhind police.

Meanwhile, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has also taken suo motu cognisance of the brutal manhandling of two journalists, allegedly facing grave threats to their lives and liberty from the Bhind police.

The apex human rights body issued a notice to the Madhya Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP), calling for a detailed report on the matter within two weeks. Taking note of a press release issued by the Press Club of India, the NHRC said that the contents of the press release, if true, raise a serious violation of the human rights of the victim journalists.

Maharashtra

Mira Road Slab Collapse: 4-Year-Old Killed, Father Injured Near Mumbai

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A heartbreaking incident was reported in Mira Road today after a slab from the Noorjahan-1 building, located opposite Zudio, collapsed. The mishap claimed the life of a four-year-old child, while the child’s father sustained injuries and has been admitted to Wockhardt Hospital.

The 40-year-old structure has long been flagged for redevelopment, but the project has remained stuck for nearly a decade due to incomplete documentation and disputes with the developer. Residents allege that repeated delays and negligence have left several such buildings in dangerous conditions.

Local citizens are now questioning the inaction of the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) and builders in addressing unsafe and dilapidated structures across the city.

The incident has sparked anger and grief within the community, with many warning that unless urgent measures are taken, more lives could be at risk.

Navi Mumbai: Woman Left Bleeding As Slab Crashes Down In Nerul Flat Amid Relentless Rains

A woman was injured after a portion of a slab collapsed inside a flat at Vighnaharta Society, Sector-1, Nerul, on Wednesday afternoon. She was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she is currently undergoing treatment.

A video of the incident, shows the woman bleeding and visibly shaken following the collapse.

According to civic officials, the structure had already been in a deteriorated state and the recent spell of heavy rainfall further weakened it, leading to the accident. “The slab gave way due to long-standing damage, made worse by continuous rains in the city,” an official confirmed.

The incident has once again raised concerns about the safety of ageing housing societies in Navi Mumbai, many of which have been flagged for urgent repairs.

Authorities must carry out a structural audit of the building in the coming days.

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National News

Mumbai Metro: First Trial Of Green Line 4 & 4A Successful; Train Coaches Arrive At Anand Nagar In Thane

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Thane: Mumbai Metro activities have officially begun in the eastern suburbs. On August 25, the first trial train coaches were lifted and placed on the tracks near Anand Nagar in Thane, starting from midnight. Trial runs are expected to commence in September 2025.

These are not the final trains, but they match the final specifications. The rolling stock (train) contract for Mumbai Metro Green Line 4 and 4A was awarded in February 2025 to a joint venture of Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and Alstom, as reported by Midday.

A 10.5-km stretch covering 10 stations from Gaimukh to Cadbury Junction, which includes Line 4A and part of Line 4, is expected to open by February 2026. This will be the longest among the partial launches. The stations on this stretch include: Cadbury, Majiwada, Kapurbawadi, Manpada, Tikuji-ni-Wadi, Dongari Pada, Vijay Garden, Kasarvadavali, Gowaniwada, and Gaimukh, as reported.

In other news related to Mumbai Metro, in view of the upcoming Ganeshotsav celebrations, the Aqua Line Metro, also known as Metro Line 3, will extend its operational hours till midnight from August 27 to September 6. During this period, services will run daily from 6:30 AM to 12:00 AM, ensuring smooth travel for devotees and commuters throughout the festivities.

Currently, a 22 km stretch between Aarey (JVLR) and Worli is operational. The entire corridor spans 33 km, with the final phase up to Cuffe Parade (Colaba) slated to open soon.

Currently, trial runs are ongoing, and the remaining stretch is awaiting certification from the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) before commercial operations can commence.

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National News

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis Calls Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi A ‘Serial Liar’ While Rejecting Vote Theft Allegations

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Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday dubbed Congress MP Rahul Gandhi as a “serial liar” while rejecting the latter’s allegations of “vote theft” against the BJP.

These “lies” of the opposition leaders are only meant to convince themselves, Fadnavis told reporters here

“I have said it earlier also that Rahul Gandhi is a serial liar. He has been spreading lies relentlessly. It pains me to see that even some leaders from Maharashtra have suddenly realised that Rahul Gandhi is speaking the truth,” he said.

Responding to Gandhi’s charge that votes were “stolen” by the BJP, CM Fadnavis said false information never has any foundation.

“A fort built on lies crashes. Unless they realise that to win the votes of people, one has to go to the people and earn their trust, their lies are only meant to convince themselves,” the senior BJP leader said.

Gandhi has alleged that votes were stolen in Karnataka, Maharashtra and Haryana, and that attempts were being made to “steal” votes of the people in Bihar, ahead of the upcoming assembly polls there, by the ruling BJP at the Centre in collusion with the Election Commission.

Some of the other opposition parties, including the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), have also raised the issue of “vote theft” and asked their party workers to check the electoral rolls to assess bogus voters.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray has also said he had been talking about “vote theft” since 2016, and the Election Commission should have conducted a probe when both Rahul Gandhi and BJP leader Anurag Thakur alleged voter list fraud.

CM Fadnavis on Sunday said leaders alleging vote theft were doing so to provide solace to their workers for their defeat in polls instead of introspecting about their loss.

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