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Maharashtra

Swachh Bharat Mission drives toilet cleaner usage in India by 53pc in 2024

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New Delhi, Dec 16 Swachh Bharat Abhiyan or Clean India Mission has driven toilet cleaner usage in Indian households by 53 per cent in 2024, according to a report.

The report by Kantar, a market research firm, showed that the country has seen a dramatic rise in the use of toilet cleaners and floor cleaners. From 19 per cent and 8 per cent, respectively of households using these in 2014, it more than doubled to 53 per cent using toilet cleaners and 22 per cent buying floor cleaners in 2024.

Launched by the government on October 2, 2014, the Swachh Bharat Mission is a country-wide campaign initiated to eliminate open defecation and improve solid waste management and to create Open Defecation Free (ODF) villages.

The report attributed the growth of toilet cleaner usage in households to the mission’s success, coupled with marketing efforts. It said the mission significantly improved hygiene awareness and product penetration, particularly in rural areas.

As per the report, over 128 million new households have been added in the toilet cleaners, and 52 million homes in the floor cleaners segment.

The report said the surface cleaner market is about Rs 4,200 crore, with toilet cleaners accounting for half the segment at Rs 2,000 crore.

Kantar said the category was largely urban-centric a decade ago — that’s changed drastically.

A decade ago, 82 per cent of households that bought toilet cleaners were in urban areas, it was 90 per cent for floor cleaners.

“Urban is no longer the dominant source of the category with rural contributing to 52 per cent,” said K Ramakrishnan, managing director, South Asia, world panel division at Kantar. “Clearly, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan drove the importance of cleanliness to the Indian households, and simultaneously helped manufacturers to drive penetration of household hygiene categories as well.”

Since its inception in 2014, the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan has led to over 500,000 villages achieving ODF (Open Defecation-Free) plus status with rural sanitation rising from 39 per cent to 100 per cent.

Crime

Mumbai Crime: 2 Criminals Externed Months Ago Arrested For Juhu Murder, Had Returned To City Seeking Revenge For Friend’s Death

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Mumbai: Two of the three men accused of murdering a 27-year-old man in Mumbai’s Juhu on Sunday morning had been externed from the city just months ago due to their repeated involvement in violent crimes, police said. Cops believe the duo returned to Mumbai specifically to settle an old score with the victim.

Juhu Police identified the arrested accused as Parmeshwara Devendra and Kishan Devendra, both residents of Nehru Nagar, located barely 300 metres from the police station. The third suspect remains on the run. According to officials, both Parmeshwara and Kishan have a history of serious offences, including assault and attempted murder and were ordered out of the city under preventive action.

The victim, Krishna Devendra, also from Nehru Nagar, had a turbulent history with the accused. Several years ago, Krishna was arrested for allegedly killing one of their friends. Although he was later released from jail, the animosity between the two sides persisted. Officers believe this long-standing enmity led the accused to return to Mumbai in defiance of the externment order to execute their plan for revenge.

The incident occurred at around 4 am on Sunday when Krishna was waiting at a bus stop. Armed with knives, Parmeshwara, Kishan, and the third accomplice allegedly attacked him without warning. Krishna suffered multiple stab wounds and collapsed on the spot. He was rushed to Cooper Hospital by locals, but doctors declared him dead upon arrival.

Following the attack, the Juhu Police launched an intensive manhunt. CCTV footage from the area and statements from witnesses quickly pointed to the suspects. Parmeshwara was tracked down and arrested from Vile Parle by Sunday evening, while Kishan was apprehended later the same night in the vicinity. The search for the third accused continues. Both arrested suspects are scheduled to be produced before the Andheri court on Monday.

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Maharashtra

Mumbai: BKC Police File FIR Against Illegal ‘Close Friends Traders’ Platform For Luring 500+ Investors; 2 Booked

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Mumbai: The BKC police have registered an FIR against ‘Close Friends Traders’, an unregistered trading platform, and two persons for allegedly cheating people.

The platform claimed to offer Demat accounts without documents and lured over 500 margins into trading with promises of high margins. The National Stock Exchange (NSE) discovered an advertisement for ‘Close Friends Traders’ in a Hindi newspaper on July 13, claiming it was India’s largest platform for margin trading and offering “dabba trading.”

The NSE found no registration for the platform and issued a notice on July 15, stating it was an illegal trading platform. The inquiry revealed the two mobile numbers were registered in the names of Raju Mataprasad and Hariprakash, both from Delhi. The police registered the case under the Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Act, 2019, and sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for cheating and common intention.

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Crime

Mumbai Crime News: Govandi Child Trafficking Racket Busted; Kingpin And Six Arrested For ₹5.5 Lakh Newborn Sale

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The Shivajinagar Police, investigating the Govandi child trafficking case, have arrested a total of seven individuals so far, including the prime accused, Mohammad Nabil Rizwan Shaikh alias Sameer (20), a resident of Rafique Nagar and a known repeat offender. Police have busted a racket involving the sale of a six-day-old infant for Rs5.5 lakh on August 6. 

Tip-Off from Social Activist Leads to Trap

According to the police, the breakthrough came after social activist Dr. Binu Verghese received a tip-off that Sameer was involved in the illegal sale of newborns. To confirm the information, Dr. Verghese enlisted the help of a Thane-based couple—Mayuri and her husband Lakshminarayan Vannam—who posed as potential buyers.

According to police sources, Sameer initially offered to sell a yet-to-be-born child for Rs4 lakh and demanded Rs50,000 in advance. The couple paid him Rs10,000 and stayed in contact. On August 6, Sameer informed them that a baby boy was immediately available and quoted Rs5.5 lakh for the sale.

Police Arrest Two Women at Lotus Junction

Dr. Verghese promptly alerted the police, who then laid a trap at Lotus Junction. During the operation, police arrested Nazima Aslam Shaikh alias Nasreen,35, and her mother Fatima Mehmoodali Shaikh,72, when they arrived with the newborn.

Infant’s Parentage and Hospital Link

Investigations revealed that the child belonged to a woman named Sumaiya Irfan Khan, Khan, who had delivered the baby on August 1 at S.N. Hospital, Shivajinagar. It later emerged that a nurse from a local hospital involved in handing over the infant to Nasreen and Fatima for sale. Both are believed to be connected to the larger trafficking network.

Larger Trafficking Network Suspected

The police are currently interrogating the arrested all seven accused—including five women—are currently in custody and conducting a thorough investigation into the broader network involved in trafficking newborns. Police suspect that Sameer had plans to sell more infants, and more arrests may follow. 

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