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Grief and terror engulf Bihar village of street vendor killed in Jammu & Kashmir

October 18, 2021

A mix of grief and terror has engulfed this nondescript village in central Bihar which has lost one of its residents, a 30-year-old street vendor, to militants’ bullets in Jammu and Kashmir.

The wails of Sunaina Devi pierced the shocked silence that suffused the Monday morning air at the village in Banka district, nearly 300 km from state capital Patna, as the bullet-riddled body of her son Arvind Kumar Sah arrived, two days after he was gunned down near Srinagar.

Sunaina Devi had been making plans for getting Arvind, the youngest of her five sons, married. She had called him up on a fateful day a few hours before he was killed.

“Arvind had been working hard, selling golgappas and saving money, with the dream of a better future. He hung up telling his mother that he was getting late for work and promised to call back in the evening. The evening never came,” recalls Devendra Sah, the bereaved father, making futile attempts to look composed before bursting into tears.

The year has been a double whammy for the family, which also lost Babloo, an elder sibling of Arvind, to COVID 19 a few months ago.

“All our hopes are dashed. The state government has announced a solatium of Rs two lakh. We request that they realise the gravity of our predicament and the amount be raised to Rs 50 lakh, and a government job be provided to one of our sons so he may take care of the family while living here,” he said. ”We cannot allow any member of our family, henceforth, to risk his life in a far-off dangerous place. I have been told that my son was shot at point-blank range after the attackers checked his identity, ascertaining that he was an outsider. I am told that an Indo-Pak cricket match will be played. It should be called off,” he added.

Many residents of the village are still eking out a living in Jammu and Kashmir and there are apprehensions about their well-being in the aftermath of terrorists targeting outsiders and non-Muslims.

“Our village comprises nearly 300 households. Most of these have at least one member or more in Jammu and Kashmir. We are very, very scared of them. Why does the government fool us with claims of peace having returned to the valley when it is incapable of providing security?” asks Om Prakash Yadav, a villager, angrily.

Local BJP MLA Ram Narayan Mandal, who visited Lakhpura Parghari to console the bereaved family, however, asserted the apprehensions of the villagers will be squarely addressed.

“My appeal is that they retain their faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government. Those responsible for the dastardly act will get exemplary punishment, and rehabilitation of the bereaved families (of Bihari migrants killed by militants in Kashmir) will get top priority,” he said.

COVID vaccination certificate scam has expanded to 29 countries all over the world

Vaidehi Taman

October 18, 2021

An employee of one of the biggest Municipality Hospital of Mumbai told Afternoon Voice under the condition of anonymity, “Looking at the rumours and reports of the side effects of the COVID vaccination many people avoid getting injected but at the same time they want a certificate to enter various places. They pay a handsome amount to the hospital employee; the employee genuinely books their appointment for an available slot. The person receives a genuine message, the catch here is the said person arrives for vaccination but without getting injected completes the formality and gets a certificate. Scan a barcode or do whatever the certificate is not fake so its official pass for travelling across.”

Check Point Research (CPR) report says the demand for fake test results and COVID-19 vaccine certificates in the black market has increased because of those who do not wish to be vaccinated. The study found that the fake vaccine market has expanded to 29 countries all over the world.

Recently the Maharashtra health department wrote a letter to the central government demanding the cancellation of certificates issued to victims of the Mumbai vaccination scam. In its letter, the Maharashtra government’s health department has asked the Centre to cancel CoWIN certificates of all people who received jabs during the fake vaccination drive that took place in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai.

India’s record of over 2.5 crore Covid vaccinations on September 17, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday, several people who had not received their Covid shots somehow seem to have been issued vaccination certificates. Once data is deleted from the CoWIN site, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will then get all the victims vaccinated, said the Maharashtra government health department official.

Mukund Thale, a government-run Hospital employee said “In the first place no prime minister has celebrated his birthday with so much fanfare by getting attention with gifts by state governments that too making vaccination random, it’s sad that the lack of proper planning and right administration has failed to result in fudging of vaccine certificate on records just to please one person. Some dead people also received Vaccination certificates months after their death.”

Check Point Research (CPR) experts claim there were nearly 1,000 vendors of fake vaccine certificates as of August 10 on Telegram. Earlier these fake Covid certificates were available on Telegram for USD 85. However, now by paying a few thousand you can acquire it from hospitals.

Dr Deepak Sawant said, “Fake vaccination or fake certification should be considered as a serious crime because you are playing not only with your society but with your own family you can be super spreader so there should be strict vigilance on this.”

“There should close watch on airports, people travelling by Domestic and international flights, there must be a use of artificial intelligence to keep vigilance government is preparing smart card but there is a lot of mistake in the registration of vaccination dates one should allow single vaccination to get entry,” Dr Sawant further added.

Dr Vishal Sawant, a Psychiatrist in Mumbai, said “Would be difficult to do a health census. Will have some people more vulnerable and thus people in contact with them who might be compromised health-wise. They could decide whether they want vaccination though and then they travel with the testing done regularly. As some of their decisions have an effect on the community as a whole.”

Dr Deepak Chaturvedi

Dr Deepak Chaturvedi, “Any strict law (rule) brings opportunities to notorious brains. The same is happening with the rule of Compulsory Vaccination Certificate for a Travel pass. This has indeed opened up a black (Gray) market for the Fake vaccination certificate racket. This is going to harm as a double-edged sword. Think about somebody who is COVID positive and doesn’t get his/her RT-PCR test because of the possession of the fake vaccination certificate. Now this person when travels unrestricted due to the possession of a travel pass, will spread the infections to distant places. Similarly, somebody who is in possession of a fake vaccination certificate (and travel pass), when comes in contact with an infected passenger will also have a high chance of getting the infection. The probability of these two situations is very high and keeps on rising exponentially. The biggest matters of concern in this situation are the avoidant nature of the people, negligent nature of the government and mischievous brains of the conmen around. If any rule is made then it becomes the duty of the citizens to follow the rule and the responsibility of the government to get the rule implemented and executed. Provision for strict punishment should be there for the offenders including the people in possession of fake vaccination certificates and the people engaged in the business of issuing fake vaccination certificates. To prevent the pandemic to explode again as the third wave we all need to be consciously awaken.”

Dr Varun Dixit says, “Wrongly issued certificates due to technical error is pardonable and rectifiable. The data can be cross-checked and the concerned person can be informed. On the other hand, “Fake-genuine” certificates being issued to people without vaccination is not only foolish and short-sighted on behalf of the person obtaining it but also a serious dent in the global effort to counter the Covid pandemic. Not wanting to get vaccinated may be a choice that some people may like to exercise but that leaves them as a potentially vulnerable portion of society which will lead to the spreading of the virus as well as the development of variants of the virus which would, in turn, infect larger portions of the population. These “resourceful cheaters” would be the cause for not only the much dreaded third wave but also for avoidable 4th, 5th and subsequent waves.”

Dr Dixit further said, “The overall credibility of the national vaccination drive and the vaccination certificates issued thereof will take a huge hit. It is an impossible task for the government to “police” every person getting the vaccine. It is the responsibility of each and every citizen of the country, to be honest to themselves and their brethren. It is a problem of both demand and supply… Both parties must be penalised and punished.”

“There may be some incidences here and there. No system is perfect. Corruption can bring a bad name to the vaccination programme. It’s up to society to co-operate with the government Both the public and the vaccination workers must be made aware that vaccination is the most potent tool against COVID 19. I can understand hesitancy in the initial days of the vaccination programme, but data of about 100 crore shots speak that vaccination is safe and there is no need to worry. An awareness campaign should continue to be run and efforts should be made to catch the culprits by identifying it on CCTV,” Dr Anshuman Manaswi.

One way of staying safe from coronavirus is to get vaccinated and governments have been urging citizens to get vaccinated as soon as possible. Several medical centres are now coming up with vaccine certificates to monitor who has been vaccinated, and who still needs to get a shot. However, the infamous black market seems to have found its grip on that too now.

As more and more countries are adopting vaccine certificates, the black market for fake vaccine certificates has increased ten times in the past few months.

Pawar to Power: Sharad Pawar is the saviour of Maha Vikas Aghadi

Vaidehi Taman

October 17, 2021

Replying to a recent attack on Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray, NCP president Sharad Pawar said he had insisted that Uddhav Thackeray become chief minister of Maharashtra after Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) was formed two years ago, hours after BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis claimed Thackeray covertly nurtured ambitions to become a CM but kept talking about installing a “Shiv Sainik” on the post.

Rather Pawar pulled state opposition party BJP for “keeping mum” on the issue of rising prices of fuel and accused the saffron party of not lowering rates of petrol and diesel despite a fall in the international prices of crude. Pawar successfully handles everyone and time to time keeps them in their place.

When the MVA was formed the leaders held a meeting to discuss the leadership of the alliance, Pawar was the one who insisted Uddhav Thackeray become the chief minister. Pawar is very closed to the Thackrey family, he has seen these people since their childhood. Balasaheb Thackeray and Pawar might have political differences but they were very pally with each other. Maratha strongman Sharad Pawar, who established the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) 20 years ago and brought it into power forging a coalition with the Congress in Maharashtra, has always been guarding Thackeray.

Moreover, Sharad Pawar will never let lose anything. The experience of NCP-Congress and manpower of ShivSena can become a lethal combination in this state and others may follow the same pattern in upcoming elections. These three have broken the ice and made it very embarrassing for BJP and Modi’s wave.

The alliance of Sena-NCP-Congress will last long as Sharad Pawar and Sanjay Raut two powerful leaders are holding the string and they will not let it collapse. If Shiv Sena is forced to forego its core Hindutva ideology of Congress forced to dilute its secular credentials etc., will not end the alliance. Uddhav made it loud and clear that his Hindutva is nationalism but not divisive political agenda.

Maharashtra is a big state with the largest Economy in India so Congress would not try to withdraw power and moreover, after losing Karnataka they would be happy with this Consolation price. The financial capital of India will be run by a hardcore Mumbaikar. Sharad Pawar will run a remote-controlled government. Alliance with Shivsena will help NCP to gain a foothold in areas Like Mumbai and Konkan and Sharad Pawar is known as a Friendly politician who would be happy working with Thackrey’s. Congress is practically run by NCP leaders so it’s like NCP has 98 MLAs which is Enough for a strong govt until something strange happens and Govt Falls. Well, let us leave this debate to the time ahead.

Right now, important to notice is the slap given to arrogant BJP by all others. With just a day left for Shiv Sena’s Uddhav Thackeray to take oath as the new Chief Minister of Maharashtra, a senior BJP leader and former state minister has in hindsight suggested the BJP should not have taken into confidence Ajit Pawar, the nephew of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar. Ajit has always wanted to break free from the Congress shadow, while Pawar senior, given his national ambitions, has not Pawar senior still commands way more respect from his party than Ajit dada does, and what is more, the young-old man holds an iron grip over his party’s rank. With that, for the umpteenth time in three decades, Pawar, the uncle, prevailed over his nephew Ajit Pawar, and tactfully made him fall in line. Pawar probably knew of his nephew’s awkwardness with the three-party coalition, but may not have gauged his intentions to revolt and cross over to the BJP in the manner he did. The latest bid was, by far, one of the most serious attempts by Ajit to come out of the shadow of his uncle and wrest control of the NCP. But the attempt failed for the same reasons which have existed for the past two decades since the formation of Pawar’s regional outfit, with the addition of some more.

In a political career spanning over five decades, Pawar has engineered ruptures in political parties, including his own. He has lived through defections. Ambitions are a part of political life; deceit to acquire power too – he knows it and has seen it all. What was new this time around was that the lessons from his playbook came visiting him – a split in his close-knit family and a political camp that was stopping him from forming a government in Maharashtra.

Abdul Karim Telgi scam: Emerged from dormant after 15 years

Afternoon Voice

October 17, 2021

All is not well between Subodh Kumar Jaiswal and the Maharashtra government since he spoke up against the alleged lobbying for postings by IPS officers with then Home Minister Anil Deshmukh. In December last year, Jaiswal, the then DGP of Maharashtra, went on central deputation as DG CISF and was later made the director of CBI.

Recently, things have worsened when the CBI under him issued summons to Maharashtra Chief Secretary Sitaram Kunte and DGP Sanjay Pandey. The Mumbai Police in turn issued summons to Jaiswal to appear before them in connection with the FIR registered in the data leak case, where purported call recordings of IPS officers lobbying for posts were leaked.

Subodh Jaiswal, after 15 years of the scam approached the Bombay High Court against strictures passed against him by a Pune court in 2007, the Maharashtra government for the first time filed a reply to Jaiswal’s petition last month, effectively reviving a matter that had gone dormant.

In 2007, when Jaiswal had approached the HC, the strictures passed against him in connection with the probe in the Abdul Karim Telgi case have stayed, and the case has remained there since then. Now, with the Maharashtra government’s reply, with the prayer that the “hearing be expedited”, the case could be taken up again, for a decision on whether the strictures against Jaiswal should be expunged.

It has now emerged that on September 27, the state government through Assistant IG (law & order) M Ramkumar filed an affidavit in the appeal filed by Jaiswal to expunge strictures against him. The affidavit states, “I say the petitioner has filed the above petition for expunging remarks made in para 50 and 65 of the order dated 26.06.2007 passed by Special Judge under MCOCA, Pune… It is further stated that observations were also made by the Supreme Court in para no 61 and 80 while granting bail to the intervener vide order dated 27.04.2005…”

“It is further submitted that the Bombay High Court on August 13, 2007… directed that until further orders no adverse action will be initiated against the applicants on the basis of the observations which are under challenge in the present application.”

“In the circumstances, the Government of Maharashtra has not initiated any action on the said observations, pending the decision of the Hon’ble High Court in the said matter. It is also humbly prayed that the hearing of the above petition may be expedited in the interest of justice.”

Advocate Shyam Dewani, the lawyer for the intervener R S Sharma, former Mumbai Police Commissioner who was arrested in the Telgi case and eventually discharged, said, “The matter had been lying dormant for years. Earlier this year we brought it to the attention of the court and the state that a reply had not been filed.

The two paragraphs containing the strictures in the Pune court order of 2007 say that Jaiswal – who headed the SIT – had made no significant recovery of stamps or printing machines using which fake stamp papers were printed. He had neglected to recover the mobile phone of a constable using which the latter had alerted others of a police raid, the order said. It further said that some arrests were not made by Jaiswal and those who apparently helped Telgi were named as witnesses instead of accused.

The matter of the strictures came up in 2019 when a former ACP, Rajendra Trivedi, challenged Jaiswal’s selection as Maharashtra DGP on grounds that the Bombay High Court was hearing a case on this. Telgi, who died in a Bengaluru jail in 2017, was arrested in 2001 and sentenced to 30 years imprisonment in 2006 in one of the cases related to the multi-crore fake stamp paper. In 2018, he was acquitted in another case filed against him in connection with the fake stamp paper case. Telgi was accused of printing fake stamp papers in the government security press at Nashik and selling them at heavy discounts. Some of the cases are pending in courts at stages of trial and appeal.

Soon after the scam came to light, an SIT had been formed under the then DIG Jaiswal. Later, the Mumbai Police Commissioner R S Sharma too had been placed under arrest a day after his retirement in December 2003 and was eventually discharged in 2007. Eventually, the case was taken over by the CBI, which filed a chargesheet in 2005.

Asked why a reply had been filed in the court after so many years, an official from the Maharashtra Home Department said that, “The intervenor had reminded them that no reply had been filed on behalf of the state in the case.”

Kickboxing players were greeted and cheered up by Maharashtra Guv Bhagat Singh Koshyari

Vaidehi Taman

October 16, 2021

kickboxing, governor, bhagat singh koshhyari, bhagat singh, koshyari, maharashtra governor, 'WAKO World Seniors & Masters Kickboxing Championships 2021 — Image Credit: Parag Kulkarni

In a unique gesture, Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari welcomed all the Kickboxing players across India who are representing the Country in ‘WAKO World Seniors and Masters Kickboxing Championships 2021’ to be held from 15 to 24 October 2021 at Venice, Italy. He garlanded all of them and personally greeted each one of them by cheering up the spirit.

Giving the significance of Dussehra, Bhagat Singh Koshyari told the players “Dussehra marks the victory in the famous Hindu epic Ramayana. You have come here on this auspicious day and I wish all of you this winning spirit, go and make our country proud.”

The overwhelmed players were not only boosted but they were humbled by the gesture of the honourable governor.

Monojit Singha a journalist from Assam who accompanied the players said, “It was so great of the honourable Governor that he not only greeted players but literally charged them with go get the spirit.”

Singha further stated that “Each player had to pay lakhs of rupees from their own pocket to play for the motherland. No one helped them with basic travel lodging and boarding expenses. Such ace players were treated like bonded labour. One bed was shared by four senior players, and food I just can’t explain.”

Monojit Singha said, “The local organizers were just busy taking credits and approval for their so-called sports organization. What they need is government grants but they have no basic sentiment for the players and their background. But at the end I was just moved by the humble salutation by the Governor of Maharashtra, this is what makes these players get-go.”

Hiranya Kumar Barua, President, Amateur Kick-Boxing Association Assam who is also one of the participants said, “Governor Sir’s blessing means so much to me, I feel more responsible and now coming back with a medal is my utmost aim, I will get a medal and greet him with victory.”

There were other kickboxing players Jumi Basar from Arunachal Pradesh, Tach Chanu – Arunachal Pradesh, Hura Gambo – Arunachal, Hame Shaniah – Meghalaya, Karthik, Arun Karthik and Rafeez from Karela, Vivek Yadav – Haryana, youngest and only female player Santoshi from Telangana, Omkar Rajesh from Maharashtra, Vivek from Kerala, Abilash from Tamil Nadu, Durga from Andhra Pradesh and Suresh Babu, who is the Chief Coach of India, accompanied them.

Celebrate the end of evil by the good, Happy Dussehra dear readers

Vaidehi Taman

October 14, 2021

Many people of the Hindu faith observe Dussehra through special prayer meetings and food offerings to the gods at home or in temples throughout India. They also hold outdoor fairs, food, fun, and large parades with effigies of Ravana. The effigies are burnt on bonfires in the evening. Dussehra is the conclusion of the Navaratri festival. Many Hindus also believe that it is lucky to start a new venture, project or journey on Dussehra. They may also exchange gifts of leaves from the Shami tree as a symbol of the Pandavas brothers’ exile in the Mahabharata stories. Dussehra celebrates the Hindu god Rama’s victory over the demon king Ravana and the triumph of good over evil. The epic Ramayana tells the story of Lord Rama who wins the lovely Sita for his wife, only to have her carried off by Ravana, the demon king of Lanka.

Ravana plays an important role in the Ramayana. Ravana had a sister known as Shoorpanakha. She fell in love with the brothers Rama and Lakshamana and wanted to marry one of them. Lakshamana refused to marry her and Rama could not as he was already married to Sita. Shoorpanakha threatened to kill Sita so that she could marry Rama. This angered Lakshamana who cut off Shoorpanakha’s nose and ears. Ravana then kidnapped Sita to avenge his sister’s injuries. Rama and Lakshamana later fought a battle to rescue Sita. The monkey god Hanuman and a huge army of monkeys helped them.

The Mahabharata is another series of Hindu stories that play a role in the Dussehra festival. The Pandavas were five brothers who fought evil forces with a set of distinctive weapons. They abandoned their weapons and went into exile for one year. They hid their weapons in a Shami tree and found them at the same place when they returned from exile. They then worshipped the tree before going to a battle, which they won.

It is observed on the tenth day in the month of Ashwin or Kartik, according to the Hindu calendar. The festival is known by different names in various parts of the country and is celebrated in a unique way everywhere. In the south, east and northeast India, it is called Durga Puja and remembers goddess Durga’s victory over the buffalo demon, Mahishasura. It is the path that goddess Durga took to restore and protect dharma. In the northern and western states of the subcontinent, the festival is known as Dussehra. In these regions, it marks the end of Ramlila and celebrates Lord Rama’s victory over the demon king, Ravana. On the same day or occasion, Arjuna single-handedly annihilated the whole of the Kuru clan that included warriors like Bhishma, Drona, Ashwathama and Karna. The victory of the good (Dharma) over the evil (Adharma) is common to all stories behind the festival.

The festival is celebrated differently across all the states in India. In most of northern and western India, it is celebrated in honour of Lord Rama. Drama, dance and music play called Ramlila, based on the tale as described in the Ramcharitramanas are performed at fairs (mela). Large effigies of Ravana, Kumbhakarna and Meganatha (his accomplices) are burnt signifying their end and the restoration of dharma. This traditional practice was even recognized as one of the “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity” by UNESCO in 2008. It describes the festival as being celebrated through songs, narration, recital and dialogue based on the text Ramcharitramanas by Tulsidas, particularly in historically important Hindu cities of Ayodhya, Varanasi, Vrindavan, Almora, Satna and Madhubani. In many regions of Southern India, the festival is dedicated to Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of knowledge, learning and arts. People maintain, clean and worship their instruments and tools of their livelihood and worship goddess Saraswati. In west India, both god Rama and goddess Durga are revered for their victory over evil. Celebrations include fasting and prayers at temples and Dandiya and Garba being played while wearing traditional dresses. In Maharashtra, the deities that were installed on the first day of Navratri are immersed in water and sweets are exchanged. On the other hand, the Gondi people, an Adivasi community spread over Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and many parts of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar celebrate Ravana by carrying an image of him riding an elephant and singing praises about him, as they consider the demon king as their ancestor and one of their gods. In east India, the festival is observed as Bijoy Dashomi. It is marked by clay statues being carried towards a water body for a farewell to goddess Durga. Bengali women mark their faces with vermilion (sindoor) on this day and wear some red clothing. The statue is immersed in water and the goddess is believed to have returned to Mount Kailasha with lord Shiva.

The festival, whether it is called Vijayadashami, Dussehra, Ram Navami, or Durga Puja, celebrates the end of evil by the good. Wherever it is celebrated or the manner it is celebrated indefinitely signifies the establishment of Dharma and the abolishment of Adharma. It marks new beginnings, the establishment of new and fresh ideas in society and freedom from negativity and evil that resides inside us. Through all the different stories, celebrations and enactments, the message that is propagated is liberation and emancipation from the present-day evils and taboos that are not in front of us personified in the form of a human or demon, but inside us in the form of biases, stereotypes and prejudices.

Mumbai Local trains to get fully air-conditioned by 2024

Afternoon Voice

October 14, 2021

The Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation will float global tenders and the rough idea is to start getting trains in the city by 2024. The decision could transform the way Mumbaikars travel. The fares proposed for Mumbai Metro are as low as Rs 10 for the first 3-km journey as compared to the present minimum fare of Rs 65 for the AC local train.

This is the first time that the Indian Railways at the Centre has given in-principal approval for lowering AC fares. As per discussions, the MRVC will procure 238 fully AC trains under the Mumbai Urban Transport Project 3 and 3A. Once the tender process starts the first new trains are expected to be manufactured within three years from now.

In a notable move, the Mumbai railways will now get only fully air-conditioned local trains with fare structures on the lines of the Mumbai Metro standards. The existing trains will continue and, as their life ends, be dispatched to other zonal railways or phased out.

The design of the trains, to be made by private partners, will be changed to match international Metro trains. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw conducted a two-and-a-half-hour-long meeting with divisional railway officials and the Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC) to discuss various aspects of the issue.

Shailesh Goyal Western Railway Zonal Users’ Consultative Committee Official told media the first important thing is that the current AC local’s single journey ticket fare will be brought at par with the fares proposed by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) or Delhi Metro. The season tickets, that is monthly and other passes, however, will see no change in prices.

The second key decision is that no new non-AC train will be procured for Mumbai suburban railway. All trains will be full AC—a step that will upgrade the suburban railway. The third is that, as per Vaishnaw’s directions, all trains will be designed as per international Metro standards and will be manufactured by private players. The new AC trains will be made as per the design of international Metro trains.

Govt aims to make forensic teams’ site visit mandatory in crimes that attract over 6-year jail: Amit Shah

Web Team

October 14, 2021

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said the government aims to make it mandatory for forensic teams to visit the scene of crimes that attract imprisonment of more than six years.

He also said that there is a paucity of trained manpower in the field of forensic science, which affects the conviction rates and leads to piling up of cases.

Shah was addressing a gathering at the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) at Dharbandora village in South Goa.

“We need to create fear in the mind of hardened criminals that they will be behind bars. To do this, you need trained manpower in forensic science, which is in shortage,” he said.

The aim is to ensure that the visit of the forensic team would be mandatory in those crimes that attract more than six years of imprisonment, he added.

“To do this, we should have teams in all 600 districts of the country. In all the districts, there should be smaller forensic science laboratories and at each DySP-level (Deputy Superintendent of Police), there should be a mobile forensic van,” the minister said.

To set up this kind of infrastructure, there is a requirement of 30,000 to 40,000 people, he said. “How can we create such an infrastructure?… That is why we require institutions providing forensic education,” Shah said.

He said the world’s first forensic science university was conceived in Gujarat when Narendra Modi was the chief minister. “I am honoured that I was home minister (of Gujarat) at that time in his cabinet and even now when the National Forensic Science University is launched, I am home minister,” he said.

No relief to Aryan Khan: Releasing any accused will hinder investigation: ASG

Afternoon Voice

October 13, 2021

Aryan Khan’s newly-appointed lawyer Amit Desai on Wednesday told the special NDPS court that the NCB’s allegation that Aryan was part of an illicit international drug trafficking ring is absurd and being ‘dumped on his casually’ especially because the drug agency didn’t recover any contraband from him and has not even recorded his fresh statement since October 5.

The Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Anil C Singh argues in Court against Aryan Khan: “My contention is so far we have arrested 20 persons, and out of them, 4 are drug peddlers. Commercial quantity was found with them one of them. Aachen and Shivraj were drug peddlers. The reason I am pointing this out is that in a case of conspiracy, it is not necessary that with all the accused, commercial quantity is found or intermediary quantity is found Small, commercial, or no quantity, if Section 29 NDPS Act applies, then there is a conspiracy. When Section 29 is applied, the person who is charged with the offence will be punished with the same offence as the conspirator.”

“They are some young kids. In many countries these substances are legal. Let us not penalize in bail. Let us not make it worse for them. They have suffered enough; they have learned their lesson, if at all. They are not peddlers, racketeers, or traffickers” said Senior Advocate Amit Desai.

ASG Anil Singh for NCB told the court, “This is a responsible agency. The entire nation is concerned with drug issues, drug addiction. College students. It is not only crippling the economy but also otherwise. We have to find out who all are involved in this. We are told Aryan Khan was invited to the cruise but where is the invitation? As of today, Khan and Merchant arrest 20 persons including paddlers and communications with drug peddlers. I showed what Sapp chat with specific reference to bulk quantity. Obviously, someone will not refer to bulk for his own consumption.”

Initially, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), in its reply to the special court, said that Aryan Khan used to procure contraband from friend Arbaaz Merchant. The agency accused Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s 23-year-old son of being an integral part of a drug nexus. They added that Aryan is in touch with people who are a part of the ‘international drug network’ for the illegal procurement of drugs.

Meanwhile, SRK’s manager Puja Dadlani filed an application before the court, requesting it to allow her in for a hearing as Aryan’s representative. The case came to the special court after a magistrate’s court rejected its plea on the ground that it did not have the jurisdiction to decide on the matter.

Mumbai Navratri was the source of earnings for struggling models

Vaidehi Taman

October 13, 2021

This year eight days of Navratri gone without glamour and Raas, people had to control their thrill cravings and got in a private event zone. COVID threat has faded every festival including this festival of joy. Navratri is not only the event but also a source of income for many. From fashion designers, tattoo makers to struggling models and beauty parlours this was a moneymaking month.

Navratri brings a lot of innovations and inventions like backless cholis, late-night merriment, drugs, alcohol, and a strong hint of sexual intimacy. It is in the air; it is in the music and the attires; it is in the sensuous dance, as the Raas – a form of Garba performed by all ages. From teenage girls who bank on Navratri for escapades with boyfriends to some young girls who make a quick buck out of the mood to middle-aged married women willing to pay a bomb for teenage escorts – the forbidden fruit is ever-present and basks in the glory of the nine festive nights of Navratri.

On the other hand, those strugglers in the film and modelling industry get lured into the flesh trade; they become contractual partners for outsiders who land up in glossy cities to spend their celebration nights. While none of this is new, but this year the Navratri was not much visible. Above all the constant raids by cops and NCB has taken out the sheen of this dance festival.

Lockdown and unemployment in the modelling and film industry guided many strugglers to escorting business. Many middle-aged women get young men to escort them for the night at private parties. While this happens around the year under wraps, during Navratri, this clan gets the gusto to wear their ‘able-bodied’ gains on their sleeve and flaunt them.

These models are paid 500 to 50000 depending on their body, fame, and performance. And unabashed fun is not limited to the elderly. For the young ones, Garbha provides a good excuse to sneak out and have fun. But sadly, they had to struggle this year.

Whereas the glamour industry is concerned, many aspiring actresses, struggling models, and side dances have pushed themselves to flesh trading. Many have joined those friendship clubs where the choices are picked up for one-night stands. Navratri used to be the earning event for these girls and guys because rich celebrities and business tycoons hire them as escorts.

This year even the wedding season was a low-key affair, so the business of attending weddings as paid hosts was also a remote chance. These youngsters walk into Bollywood and its colourful fringes — being clueless. They knock on various doors; some get some work, some get some role and maximum land up doing what they never thought of, because returning becomes a dilemma.

Young boys and girls with starry dreams arrive by the dozens every day. Only 3% of these strugglers ever make it to the glitzy side of the real Bollywood, but this depressing statistic never affects the surge of hopefuls who finally don’t even care if they make it in the film as long as they find some way of earning. In the struggle for perceived stardom and the mirage of megabucks, ethics and so-called societal values have no place. They call themselves aspiring models or aspiring actors as soon as they disembark in Mumbai. Bollywood’s sordid underside is not news anymore and is a matter of great concern.

Those who genuinely want a career in film and those who want to use their looks to make money. Most of the youngsters come here to make more money than a career. The struggle for the ‘strugglers’ begins right at the beginning — finding a roof in Mumbai to feed them and commute three big challenges. Their needs increase as the pockets get stretched, to fill this gap they force themselves to work in all those zones where money can be earned.

Given this parallel industry, for the genuine ones, it is often a struggle to ensure that one is not taken for a ride. Such as routine fake auditions, there are coordinators who come to offer help but with ulterior motives, auditions are sometimes euphemisms for ‘pleasure sessions’. Many moneyed people check out young, good-looking men and women through such auditions. Many strugglers are called often for parties and pleasure by some so-called socialists and film financiers.

With desperate aspirants willing to almost throw themselves at everyone’s mercy. According to insiders, things have only become more rampant of late because of the willingness of starlets to give in. One has to seriously think about this ongoing trend that has lured many youngsters in the flesh trade for the extra perks.

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