Mumbai: The sudden decision to shut down City International School in Jogeshwari West has triggered anxiety among parents of more than 600 students, even as the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) intervened and warned the management against closing the institution.

The English-medium school, located in the Oshiwara area, has been operating for nearly 25 years. However, the management recently issued a notice to parents stating that the school would be closed, reportedly due to a steep hike in rent demanded by the landlord.

The landlord has sought a payment of ₹50 lakh for the premises, where the school was earlier paying a monthly rent of around ₹35 lakh reported Media. Citing its inability to bear the increased financial burden, the school administration decided to shut operations.

The announcement has caused confusion and fear among parents, as the admission process for the upcoming academic year is already underway. Many families are now worried about their children’s future, as they may have to seek new schools at short notice.

Following complaints from parents, MNS Versova Assembly Division president Sandesh Desai visited the school premises and held discussions with the management. Desai warned that the party would not allow the school to shut down abruptly, especially if it results in academic loss for the students.

Desai stated that the party would launch a strong agitation if the management proceeds with the closure at the cost of the students. A delegation from the MNS met the school authorities on Friday to discuss the issue and seek clarity on the decision.

Meanwhile, parents have demanded immediate intervention from the education department. They have urged authorities to take cognisance of the situation and ensure that the students do not suffer due to the dispute between the landlord and the school management.

With the academic year approaching, parents are hoping for a quick resolution, while political intervention has added pressure on the management to reconsider its decision or provide a proper transition plan for the affected students.

Navi Mumbai, Feb 13: In a move to dismantle the drug network in the city, the Navi Mumbai Police have stepped up their efforts by announcing the establishment of an Anti-Narcotics Task Cell (ANTC) at every police station level. The initiative aims to intensify and streamline anti-drug operations, ensuring swift and effective action against drug mafias at the local level.

Instead of relying solely on the central Anti-Narcotics Cell, the police have decided to empower local units to combat the growing menace of narcotics.

The ANTC at each police station will focus on gathering intelligence about individuals involved in the sale and storage of drugs, conducting immediate raids without waiting for orders from senior offices once credible information is received, strengthening investigations with technical and legal backing, and maintaining a proper legal chain of custody of seized contraband to ensure successful prosecution of offenders.

The cell at each police station will function under the guidance of the Senior Police Inspector, while the Police Inspector (Crime) will hold direct responsibility for its operations. The teams will work in close coordination with the central Anti-Narcotics Cell.

Police Commissioner Milind Bharambe said, “Making Navi Mumbai drug-free is our top priority. Through the Anti-Narcotics Task Cell, we have expanded our policing network. Now, every police station will have a dedicated team working exclusively against narcotics. Citizens should not hesitate to inform the police if they notice any suspicious or illegal activities in their area. The identity of informants will be kept confidential.”

The training for the functioning of ANTC for the staff of police stations has been done, the Commissioner said.

Patna, Feb 13: The Civil Court in Buxar received a bomb threat via email on Friday, claiming that 14 explosions would take place at 1.15 p.m., triggering panic and forcing the suspension of all judicial proceedings.

The threat caused widespread alarm across the court premises, prompting the administration to evacuate the entire complex as a precautionary measure.

According to officials, the email explicitly mentioned that 14 bombs had been planted within the court premises and would be detonated at the specified time.

Following the alert, all lawyers, court staff and litigants were safely evacuated from the premises.

Soon after the threat was reported, Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) Avinash Kumar, Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Gaurav Kumar Pandey, and later Superintendent of Police (SP) Shubham Arya reached the spot with a heavy police deployment.

The entire court complex was cordoned off, and an intensive search operation was conducted with the assistance of the Bomb Squad, Dog Squad and technical teams.

The SDPO said the threat email was being taken seriously and that every suspicious object inside the premises was being thoroughly examined.

Although no explosives have been recovered so far, security agencies remain on high alert.

Meanwhile, District Bar Association General Secretary Bindeshwari Prasad Pandey coordinated with the administration to ensure a smooth evacuation, but raised serious concerns over court security.

Advocates J. Saifi and Tej Pratap Singh recalled past violent incidents, including shootings and murders within the court premises, and described the existing security arrangements as inadequate.

They demanded the installation of a permanent, technology-driven security system at all entry points to prevent such incidents in the future.

At present, the court complex remains under tight police surveillance.

Cyber and technical teams are working to trace the origin of the threatening email.

The district administration has assured that those responsible will be identified and strict legal action will be taken against them.

The incident has once again raised critical questions about security preparedness at judicial institutions.

Earlier this week, unidentified persons had sent emails threatening to blow up the Patna Civil Court on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, which later turned out to be hoaxes.