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Maharashtra

Shiv Sena (UBT) to Maharashtra CM, DyCM: Apologise for ‘caning’ Varkaris

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The Shiv Sena (UBT) on Monday demanded that Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis tender an apology to the people of Maharashtra for the unprovoked police caning on the pilgrims taking part in the annual pilgrimage of Saint Dnyanesh Maharaj from Alandi to Pandharpur.

Sena (UBT) MP and Chief Spokesperson Sanjay Raut said that both Shinde-Fadnavis must apologise to the people and the Varkaris (as the pilgrims are known) for the caning incident at Alandi.

“The CM performs the annual pooja at the Pandharpur Temple… This kind of treatment is an insult to the people and the Varkaris who were going on their annual pilgrimage from Alandia Unless the CM apologises, he has no right to perform the special pooja,” said Raut sternly.

However, Fadnavis and the police have flatly denied that there was any ‘lathi-charge’ and claimed it was a minor scuffle with some Varkaris who were allegedly attempting to barge inside the temple on Sunday afternoon, sparking a huge political row.

Congress state President Nana Patole, Chief Spokesperson Atul Londhe, NCP Working President Supriya Sule, state NCP President Jayant Patil, Leader of Opposition Ajit Pawar, Chief Spokesperson Mahesh Tapase, Sene (UBT)’s Raut, Sushma Andhare and other leaders have slammed the state government for the caning of the Varkaris.

Social media posts and TV clips show police personnel and some Varkaris in a tussle, with the cops resorting to a mild caning to deter the restless crowd, as over 8,00,000 devotees had gathered there for the annual event.

Some eyewitness reports said around 300-plus members of the Warkari Prashikshan Sanstha attempted to enter the sanctum sanctorum of the temple but were prevented by the police, leading to heated exchanges.

The pilgrimage involves a palanquin of Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj being taken in a long religious procession from Alandi (Pune) to Pandharpur (Solapur).

Pimpri-Chinchwad Police Commissioner Vinay Choubey and DCP Vivek Patil and other government officials contended that there was “no caning” of any devotes and the police had merely requested the Varkaris to avoid entering the temple without permission as the space in the sanctum sanctorum is very small.

As a precaution to avoid a near-stampede situation experienced last year, this year the authorities have restricted up to 75 member-devotees only per ‘dindi’ (palanquin procession), and passes have also been issued accordingly by the organisers.

Maharashtra

Zeb Zubair Ansari, accused of murderous attack on watchman in Mira Road, Nayanagar, handed over to ATS for investigation

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Mumbai: The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) will now investigate the murderous attack on two security guards in Mira Road, Nayanagar. At 4 am in Mira Road, Zeb Zubair Ansari attacked two security guards and admitted them to the hospital in an injured condition. The police had registered a case of attempt to murder in this case. Now the ATS will investigate it. The ATS will find out about the youth Zeb Zubair Ansari, how he became a militant and who were his contacts behind the militancy. The militant youth Zeb Zubair Ansari was influenced by ISIS. He had a letter from ISIS on the table in his possession, which mentioned the caliphate and jihad. The agency and the ATS will now investigate this letter as well. Since this case is a case of fundamentalism and a wolf wolf attack, the ATS is investigating it. The ATS suspects that the youth was brought to the path of militancy through online propaganda, so the investigation process related to militancy has also been started. ATS The ATS has confirmed in a press release that it has started investigating the case and the police have transferred the case to it, so the ATS has now obtained the remand of the accused. Investigation is underway on every aspect of this matter. The ATS has also taken possession of all documents including CCTV footage and documents related to the case and the investigation is also ongoing on this basis. Many more important conclusions are expected in the ATS investigation. The ATS will now re-interrogate the two injured guards, Rajkumar and Sabrosin, and record their statements. It will also find out why the accused asked the watchman to recite the Kalima and what was the motive behind it. In addition, his movements in the building where the accused was staying were also suspicious. He did not talk to anyone and the society members were not aware of him. This has been confirmed by society member Ijaz Khatib. He said that the accused lived in the room and did not even keep the garbage can outside. Along with this, we were also not aware of him. The society was unaware of his activities, while the room was provided to him only after his police confirmation.

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Maharashtra

‘Intention Of Targeting Hindus In Name Of Jihad’: Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis Flags ‘Self-Radicalised Lone Wolf’ Angle In Mira Road Stabbing Case

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Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis termed the Mira Road stabbing incident a suspected case of ‘self-radicalisation,’ stating that preliminary investigations indicate the accused acted with an intent to target members of the Hindu community in the name of ‘jihad.’ The case, which has shocked Maharashtra, is currently being jointly probed by the Anti-Terrorism Squad and the National Investigation Agency.

Speaking on the incident, Fadnavis said the accused, Zaib Zubair Ansari, had been living in the United States and had recently returned to India. “This appears to be a case of self-radicalisation. Some books and incriminating material were recovered from his residence. The investigation will not be limited to the accused alone but will also examine individuals or networks behind his radicalisation,” he said, assuring full cooperation from the state government.

The attack took place around 4 am on Monday near Asmita Grand Mansion in Mira Road East, behind Wockhardt Hospital. According to police, two security guards, Rajkumar Mishra and Subrato Ramesh Sen, were on duty when Ansari approached them, initially asking for directions to a nearby mosque. He left briefly before returning and allegedly initiating a violent confrontation.

Ansari first questioned one of the guards about his religion before attacking him with a knife. He then entered the security cabin and allegedly asked the second guard to recite the ‘Kalma’. When the guard was unable to comply, Ansari reportedly assaulted him as well, leaving both men seriously injured.

The victims were rushed to the hospital for treatment. Mishra is currently admitted at Wockhardt Hospital in Mira Road, while Sen also received medical attention. Officials said both are in serious but stable condition.

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Maharashtra

Fire Breaks Out Near Hancock Bridge In Mumbai Mazgaon; 7–8 Hutments Affected

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Mumbai: A fire broke out on April 28 at Ekta Nagar near Hancock Bridge in Mumbai’s Mazgaon. Visuals showed a large crowd gathering as thick black smoke billowed into the air. The fire was confined to ground-plus structures and partially to two-storey structures, comprising around 7 to 8 hutments in the area.

As information about the fire was received, the BMC Fire Brigade, Mumbai Police, BEST, 108 ambulance services, and BMC ward staff reached the spot. According to preliminary information, the incident took place at 11 am and was declared Level I (minor fire) by the BMC MFB. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported in the incident, however, the cause of the fire is not yet known.

Meanwhile, in another recent fire incident, a fire broke out at a scrap yard along Ghatkopar-Mankhurd Link Road in the Kurla scrap area of Mandala in Mankhurd. Fortunately, no injury was reported in the incident.

In Thane, a cat was killed, and household property was gutted after a fire broke out in a house. The blaze erupted in a room on the first floor of a two-storey chawl in the Shastri Nagar area around 10:43 a.m. While a woman who was in the room at the time escaped unhurt, her pet cat died on the spot.

Whereas in Govandi, at least 8-10 vehicles were gutted in a fire that broke out at an illegal parking site near the Ghatkopar–Mankhurd Link Road in Mumbai. The vehicles, reportedly old and lying unused at the site for a long time, were quickly engulfed in flames. Preliminary investigation suggested that a possible CNG cylinder blast must have triggered the fire.

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