Navi Mumbai: After receiving several complaints from residents about non-functional streetlights, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) discovered that copper wires from dozens of streetlight poles along the Vashi Link Road and Thane-Belapur Highway had been stolen. The thefts had plunged several stretches into darkness, raising safety concerns among commuters.

During intensified inspection rounds, workers from M/s Chaitanya Electricals, the agency responsible for streetlight maintenance, caught two men red-handed on October 27 stealing copper wires from poles near Kokilaben Hospital on Thane-Belapur Road. While one suspect fled, the other was detained with 48 meters of stolen wire. A formal FIR was lodged at the Turbhe Police Station.

According to NMMC’s Electrical Department, each streetlight pole contains around 48 meters of copper wire. Preliminary checks revealed that wires had been stolen from about 60 poles—approximately 2,880 meters in total. The large-scale thefts had disrupted power supply to several streetlights, particularly under the Belapur Flyover and near bus stops in Vashi village, where citizens had frequently complained of poor lighting and unsafe conditions.

Taking the matter seriously, City Engineer Shirish Aradwad and Executive Engineer Pravin Gade directed teams to increase surveillance and carry out frequent patrols in vulnerable areas. The swift action helped in nabbing one of the culprits, who was handed over to the Turbhe Police. Further investigation is underway.

An NMMC official said, “Theft of copper wires not only causes huge financial losses but also endangers public safety. We have stepped up monitoring and appeal to citizens to immediately report any suspicious activity near streetlight poles.”

Residents have been urged to contact the civic body’s toll-free helplines 1800-222-309 or 1800-222-310 to report such incidents and assist in maintaining the city’s infrastructure.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis led Mumbai’s Rashtriya Ekta Diwas celebrations on Friday, marking the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the Iron Man of India. Fadnavis humbly offered floral tributes to India’s first Deputy Prime Minister and Bharat Ratna at his official residence in Mumbai, honouring the leader’s monumental contribution to national unity and integration.

Mumbai witnessed several Run for Unity events that brought together citizens, police personnel, and local leaders in a collective display of patriotism.

The Mumbai Traffic Police flagged off their unity run from the Traffic Police Headquarters to Shaheed Tukaram Omble Chowk,“Run for the Nation. Run for Unity. Today on the occasion of #RashtriyaEktaDiwas, the #RunForUnity was organised to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the Iron Man of India.”

The MIDC Police Station in Andheri also organised a Run for Unity, covering the route from MIDC Police Station to Power Grid House and back.

Sharing glimpses of the event on social media, the station stated that police officers, personnel, and prominent citizens enthusiastically participated to celebrate Patel’s legacy of national integration and unity. The initiative underlined how Patel’s vision continues to inspire discipline, strength, and togetherness among citizens.

The DCP Zone 2, Mumbai, held a similar unity run within its jurisdiction. Officers, staff, and residents joined in large numbers, echoing slogans of solidarity. The zone’s post on X read,

“On the occasion of #EktaDiwas & the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, a ‘Run for Unity’ was organised in Zone 2, Mumbai. Police officers, personnel and prominent citizens took part in the event, celebrating his legacy of national integration & unity.”

Beyond the police-led runs, schools, government offices, and civic bodies across Mumbai marked the occasion with pledges for unity, discussions on Sardar Patel’s leadership, and patriotic programmes. Citizens paid homage to the man who played a crucial role in unifying over 500 princely states post-Independence, ensuring the territorial integrity of modern India.

Mumbai: The Mumbai Police have recovered a pistol, petrol, inflammable rubber solution, and a lighter from the Powai studio where Rohit Arya held 17 children and two adults hostage on Thursday. The Mumbai Crime Branch has taken over the investigation, registering a case under Sections 109(1), 140, and 287 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. A forensic analysis of the seized materials is currently underway, officials told Media on Friday.

Earlier on Friday morning, Arya’s body was brought to the JJ Hospital mortuary for postmortem by the Crime Branch team. The 50-year-old filmmaker from Pune was shot during the rescue operation and later declared dead at 5:15 pm on Thursday.

The three-hour hostage crisis unfolded around 1:30 pm at R A Studio, located in the Mahavir Classic building, Powai, when Powai police received an alert about a man holding children captive. The children, aged 10 to 12 years, had been attending auditions for a web series for the past two days.

Before police intervention, Arya released a video message explaining his motives. In the clip, he said he had chosen to take hostages instead of committing suicide, insisting he was ‘not a terrorist’ and had no demand for money. Arya claimed he only wanted to ask some moral and ethical questions and warned that any wrong move by the authorities could lead him to set the studio on fire, potentially harming the children.

“I want to speak to some people… I should not be held responsible if anything happens,” Arya said in the video, adding that after the conversation, he would walk out. His demands, however, remained vague.

The Mumbai Police swiftly mobilised teams from the Quick Response Team (QRT), Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad, Fire Brigade, and negotiators. According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone X) Datta Nalawade, officers entered the building through a duct using a ladder to reach the first floor, where Arya was holding the hostages.

During the rescue, Arya reportedly lunged toward the officers with an air gun and was hit by a police bullet during the ensuing scuffle. “All 17 children and two adults were rescued safely,” said Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Satyanarayan, confirming the operation’s success around 4:15 pm.