In his efforts to make the police more public-friendly and improve their image, Mumbai Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria has instructed all the police stations to display a board stating that complainant is an important person who is “doing a favour” by giving the police an opportunity to serve him/her.
Maria came up with this idea to make the police imbibe, and remind them, the basics of policing through the message board, said Deputy Police Commissioner (spokesperson) Mahesh Patil.
According to Patil, the Commissioner has instructed the officers to look at the victim as the most important person, and asked all the 92 police stations in the city to display a message, in both Marathi and English.
It reads: “A complainant is the most important person in our police station. He is not an interruption to our work; He is the purpose of it. He is not an outsider for our station; He is a part of it. We are not doing a favour by serving him. He is doing a favour by giving us an opportunity to do so.”
After taking charge as the commissioner last week, Maria, who hails from the city, promised service-oriented and public-friendly police force.
At a marathon meeting with police officers recently, he announced a slew of measures for safety and security of women and senior citizens, a drive against street crime, and against drug-supplying gangs, among others things.
The aim of the latest initiative is not only to make citizens or victims more comfortable visiting the police stations, but also to improve the image of the city police force, said senior police officers.
In a major seizure, two Sri Lankans have been arrested at the airport for allegedly trying to smuggle into the country gold bars weighing 20 kg.
Acting on intelligence, the duo were intercepted by customs officials after their arrival here from Mumbai on Friday.
On examination of their hand baggage, gold bars weighing 20 kg were found. They were carrying 10 kg gold each, a customs official said.
The value of the recovered gold is about Rs. 5.25 crore, he said.
The flight was coming from Muscat. The duo had boarded the flight to Delhi from Mumbai. The gold was hidden beneath their seats by their accomplice.
Customs officials were trying to identify the persons who had hidden the gold below their seats, the official said.
Last week, customs officials had seized gold bars valued at over Rs one crore from seven passengers, who were allegedly trying to smuggle it into the country, at the airport here.
These passengers had come from Dubai and Bangkok and were collectively carrying gold bars and jewellery weighing 4. 319 kg, customs officials had said.
The value of seized gold was assessed to be Rs. 1.10 crore.
In another incident, three persons were arrested on February 16 for allegedly trying to smuggle into the country gold bars valued at about Rs. one crore at the airport here.
The accused were intercepted by customs officials after their arrival from Sharjah.
On detailed examination of their baggage, gold bars weighing 3.932 kg was recovered, customs officials said.
A day after NCP chief Sharad Pawar targeted Narendra Modi on the 2002 Gujarat riots issue, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Prakash Javadekar on Sunday said the former has habit of making “communal” statements ahead of elections.
“For four years and nine months Pawar talks like a secularist. However, when elections draw closer he turns communal,” Javadekar said.
“We have seen Sharad Pawar oscillate between secularism and communalism before, just because he wants Muslim votebank,” he added.
Pawar on Saturday attacked the BJP prime ministerial candidate on the 2002 riots issue, saying the entire country has seen the “mass murders” that took place in Gujarat.
“They speak of changing the face of the country but the entire country has seen how mass murders took place,” Pawar said addressing a meeting to discuss the status of minorities, without naming Modi.
A massive fire gutted a tyre manufacturing unit, situated alongside Nahur suburban railway station near Bhandup in north-eastern Mumbai and also disrupted train services, officials said.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) disaster management cell said that as many as 10 fire tenders and an equal number of water tankers have been rushed to the spot, to extinguish the blaze, which is yet to be brought under control.
“Efforts by the fire brigade personnel are on to douse the blaze. There was still no details of any casualties or loss of property,” the BMC official said.
Electricity supply to the Nahur suburban railway station had to be shut down due to the fire in the Ceat tyre factory.
A senior railway official said that suburban local trains running towards Kalyan from Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) railway station, on the Central Line, were running late by at least half-an-hour after trains moving on the slow track had to be diverted onto the fast track beyond the Vikhroli suburban railway station.
Aam Aadmi Party leader Anjali Damania on Sunday alleged that NCP chief and union minister Sharad Pawar and spokesperson Nawab Malik were responsible for the attack on the AAP state party office in Mumbai on Saturday.
Damania told that barely three days ago, the AAP had exposed an alleged scam in the power department headed by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Sharad Pawar’s nephew Ajit Pawar.
“We exposed their power scam. They (Sharad Pawar and Malik) seem to have got angry and instigated the attack on our office,” Damania said.
However, refuting the allegation, Malik said in Mumbai that the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has already issued show cause notice to party activists for the attack on the AAP office and necessary action would be initiated against those responsible for it.
“Regarding the AAP’s agitation to sweep the NCP offices in the state, I appeal to them to sweep clean their respective homes instead so that their domestic help can get a day off,” Malik said.
Malik was referring to AAP leader Mayank Gandhi’s statement Saturday that party activists would adopt a Gandhian form of retaliation and “sweep clean” all NCP offices in Maharashtra with brooms, the AAP’s poll symbol.
On Saturday, police stopped AAP activists from proceeding to an NCP office and detained them for several hours.
On Sunday, there was a heated exchange and a minor scuffle between AAP and NCP activists when the former trooped down with brooms to sweep the NCP office in Aurangabad.
Prison authorities on Sunday seized a mobile phone during a surprise inspection of the cell in which Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal is lodged at the Sada sub-jail in Goa’s Vasco city.
The mobile phone was among nine phones seized by Sub-divisional Magistrate Gaurish Shankhwalkar during the surprise raid.
Headphones, MP3 players, cigarettes and tobacco packets were also seized from other cells.
An official said a mobile phone was found from cell no.14 where Tejpal and four other inmates are lodged.
Tejpal, however, told the officers that the phone does not belong to him.
Inspector General Prisons Mihir Vardhan confirmed the raid.
He, however, told news agency he has not got hold of the exact details.
Tejpal has been in judicial custody for nearly two months on charges of raping a junior colleague.
With the arrest of a 29-year-old man, the Thane police today claimed to have solved the mystery surrounding the murder of a college-going girl in Kalyan in Thane district.
The body of Rajani Rajkumar Verma, who had left home on Thursday for her classes, was found in the fields behind the Apsara Bar yesterday morning.
She had as many as 13 stab wounds, police said.
Today the police arrested Sarveshkumar Sambudayal Verma, who was employed in the tailoring shop run by her father.
He was related to the victim’s mother.
Additional Commissioner of Police Dr. Ravindra Singhal said that police suspected him after learning that Sarveshkumar had cut his finger recently.
His questioning revealed that he had a relationship with the victim, who had become pregnant. On Thursday, she called him to the spot as she wanted money for an abortion.
This led to a quarrel, during which he strangulated her with her scarf, and stabbed her, police said.
Aneel Murarka, Managing Director of Mirachem Industries & Active Committee Member of Alert India Campaign teamed up with Veera Rao to organise a lively Pankaj Udhas Ghazal Concert in aid of ‘Alert India’ (Association for Leprosy Education, Rehabilitation and Treatment-India) a voluntary charitable organization at Bhaidas Hall in Mumbai.
The evening was graced by the presence of Bollywood actress Ameesha Patel amongst others. Aneel Murarka felicitated Ameesha Patel amidst the thunderous applause of the packed gathering.
Speaking on the occasion, Aneel Muraraka observed that, “Music is a universal language that touches the heart and we hope that it well and truly spreads the message for organisations like ALERT INDIA.”
Pankaj Udhas gave a soulful renidition of some his all time popular hits that included Ghoongru Toot Gaye…, Chandi Jaisa Rang Hai Tera Sone jaise baal…, Ahishta Kije Baate… followed by the master piece Chiththi Aai Hai…
All the three Prime ministerial candidates were busy in political campaign on Sunday, BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi addressed a rally in Ludhiana. He was showing same attitude with same agenda that is to attack on Congress. Congress’s Rahul Gandhi seems to be maturing with time; he was very much focused, composed and to the point. AAP’s Arvind Kejriwal continued his campaign trail as the race to 7 RCR is gathering steam. While the Gujarat Chief Minister addressed ‘Fateh’ rally in Ludhiana, the Congress Vice President was in Dehradun. Rahul also reviewed reconstruction efforts in Uttarakhand’s flood-hit areas and met ex- servicemen. AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal launched the party’s national campaign for the Lok Sabha elections at a rally in Rohtak in Haryana. This was his first rally after resigning as Delhi’s chief minister. The rise of AAP and their questioning of BJPs policies almost every day has created an impression in the minds of common people that BJP is the party preferred by corrupt corporates like Ambani. Now, some people have started saying that BJP’s rule means another 5 years of Ambani rule. This perception may hit BJP hard in the next elections. Unless BJP does a course correction, it will soon lose the support of common people of this country. BJP’s attempt of blocking the anti-corruption bills in Parliament has further dented the image of the saffron party. Remember, the India Shining campaign (development plank) (completely forgetting Hindutva Plank) which backfired. The same perception that the BJP is hand in gloves with the corporates and works only for them was prevailing at that time also. That’s why, BJP lost the elections. Don’t make the same mistake again because of which BJP had to stay away from power for 10 long years. Kejriwal is a dummy and his party is a total spoiler for others. If he wanted to be an alternative, he should have proved himself when given chance in Delhi. He will end up doing worst due to his impatience rather than doing anything good for the people of this country. Moreover, Modi started his speech A for Adarsh and B for Bofors, but he completely forgot G for gas.
AAP vs Reliance
The gas pricing controversy and Modi’s silence over Ambanis has dragged BJP in bad light. I have read somewhere that the Kejriwal has not questioned Modi, he has asked for his view. The gas was supplied by Ambani at $1 and thereafter it was increased to $4. Now government is planning to increase the gas price to $8 from April 1. Kejriwal questions on the basis of sharp increase, the rate of $1 was on the basis of marginal costing and if we don’t get from Ambani, it has to be imported at $14 from abroad. Thus, he is justified in his stand. Kejriwal’s question was, in an atmosphere of monopoly, why will someone sell on marginal cost, that too Ambani? Is there any connivance? Based on the cost of production, it was priced at $4 last year. How can there be 100 per cent increase in one year? If your logic is based on international rate of $14 then within six months Ambani may peg it at $12. This is an issue where Kejriwal is asking for Modi’s view. And Modi has not given any answer to his question. Constantly, BJP was attacking Kejriwal over various issues and as we know, he is threat to Congress as well as BJP, but they had not converted threat into voting. The mass is with AAP, and somewhere people are fed up with Congress and BJP. BJP has to realise that, it is no longer a walk over. The development plan, media support and paid trolls will never help on the ground. Just hoping that a Modi wave will hide all BJPs shortcomings. BJP has to transform itself as a party of the common man. They should learn from their previous mistakes. If BJP fails to realise then their future is doomed. Anyway, this is high time; BJP needs to change their attack style, as Modi’s monotonous style is not much appealing to common public anymore.
Modi’s ABCD
Hitting out at the Congress over the rising levels of corruption, Modi lambasted the ruling government for saying that the BJP stalled the introduction of anti-graft bills in the Parliament. “Congress leaders are blaming other parties on corruption. I am surprised. ABCD is indicative of Congress’ corruption. A for Adarsh, B for Bofors, C for Coalgate. He also attacked Congress on the issue of the ‘One Rank One Pension’ scheme which has been approved in Parliament in its recently concluded winter session. He said that the Congress has no intentions of implementing the policy and it will be the NDA government which will eventually put the scheme to work. Speaking at his ‘Fateh’ rally, he made a pitch for improving the agriculture industry and proposed to split up the Food Corporation of India to improve efficiencies. He added that farmers, manufacturers and the workers belonging to the service sector are the three pillars to be focused on for the development of the country. Urging the people of the state to vote for the BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Modi assured that he will work towards the development of the people when he comes to power.
Morale boosting Rahul
On the other side, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi addressed a rally in Dehradun. He spoke to the point about various issues such as woman empowerment and Uttarakhand. He appealed to people, wherever you hear pain, please go there and help. In politics, there is no place for pride. One must quit pride to help others, to understand the pain of others. He put forward Congress’s vision, which is not short-sighted. He was very much poised while delivering his speech. Anyways, Gandhi family is known for connecting with people. Predicting the future of 2014 elections is bit difficult, but everyone is his best, at this moment.
Aam Aadmi Party launched its LokSabha election campaign in Haryana on Sunday where it tore into Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and accused him of being involved in corrupt land deals with Reliance.
Addressing a rally in Rohtak, which is the home turf of Hooda, Kejriwal called him a property broker. “Hooda is not the CM but a property dealer,” he said.
Kejriwal, who had earlier taken up issues of land acquisition and Congress President Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law Robert Vadra’s dealings in the state, accused Hooda of giving out land at cheaper rates to Reliance. “Hooda has given 8000 acres of land to Reliance for just a few lakhs,” he alleged.
Recalling that he is yet to receive a reply from BJP’s PM nominee NarendraModi on gas price hike, Kejriwal attacked BJP of being hands in glove with the Ambani brothers.
Hitting out at both Rahul Gandhi and Modi, Kejriwal quipped, “whether there is Modi or Gandhi, in reality it is the Ambanis who rule the nation.”
He questioned BJP’s silence on its attack on Reliance over gas pricing. For this he cited that the BJP was receiving monetary gains from Reliance for all their political rallies. He said, “I wrote to Modi thrice about gas pricing, about his party’s relation with Reliance and who is funding his mega rallies, he is yet to reply.”
In his efforts to make the police more public-friendly and improve their image, Mumbai Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria has instructed all the police stations to display a board stating that complainant is an important person who is “doing a favour” by giving the police an opportunity to serve him/her. 
A massive fire gutted a tyre manufacturing unit, situated alongside Nahur suburban railway station near Bhandup in north-eastern Mumbai and also disrupted train services, officials said.
Aam Aadmi Party leader Anjali Damania on Sunday alleged that NCP chief and union minister Sharad Pawar and spokesperson Nawab Malik were responsible for the attack on the AAP state party office in Mumbai on Saturday.
Aam Aadmi Party launched its LokSabha election campaign in Haryana on Sunday where it tore into Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and accused him of being involved in corrupt land deals with Reliance.