Delhi fire: Factory collapses during rescue operation, several feared trapped

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January 2, 2020

Delhi fire factory building okaya,Delhi, fire, factory, building, okaya,peeragarhi — Image Courtesy: ANI

A major fire broke out at a warehouse storing batteries in outer Delhi’s Peeragarhi in the wee hours of Thursday. During the rescue operation a portion of the building collapsed which led several people including three firemen who had entered in the building to douse the flames, got trapped.

I hope and pray that no life is lost. #udyogvihar #industrial #peeragarhi #fire pic.twitter.com/JDOBmdTpk7

— Mehar Bhagat (@MeharBhagat) January 2, 2020

As per recent report, thirty-five fire engines are on the spot. Also a team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is at the site for the rescue operation.

According to the fire brigade, they have received a call around 04:23 am that a fire had broken out in a factory at Udyog Nagar in Peeragarhi. Initially they have sent seven fire engines to the factory.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, “V sad to hear this. Am closely monitoring the situation. Fire personnel trying their best. Praying for the safety of those trapped.”

V sad to hear this. Am closely monitoring the situation. Fire personnel trying their best. Praying for the safety of those trapped https://t.co/sIQBPe98Zj

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) January 2, 2020

New year, New Shock – Hike in rail fare, LPG cylinder impacts common man

By

Afternoon Voice

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January 1, 2020

On the very first day of the year, the government hiked railway fares while it has increased the prices of LPG gas cylinders in a big way and also the cost of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) by 2.6 per cent. The railway has announced a fare hike across its network effective from January 1.

While the suburban commuter have been spared, the fares of ordinary non-AC, non-suburban trains have been increased by 1 paise per km of the journey.The railways also announced a two paise/km hike in fares of mail/express non-AC trains and four paise/km hike in the fares of AC class. The fare hike will also be applicable to premium trains such as Shatabdi, Rajdhani and Duronto.

Ronald D’souza who travels from Virar to Churchgate by first class on a monthly ticket said, “I heaved a sigh of relief when I heard that the railways have spared the suburban train commuters as far as the hike in train fares are concerned.”

The statement of the Railways reads:

1) For all AC classes, the hike is 4 paise per kilometre travelled.

2) All non-AC classes and the unreserved segment will see a 1 paisa per kilometre hike.

3) On long-distance mail/express trains, the hike will be 2 paise per kilometre.

4) Railways have decided to keep the fares of the suburban classes unchanged.

5) The fare hike is also applicable to premium trains such as Shatabdi, Rajdhani and Duronto, as per the order.

6) According to the order, there will not be any change in the reservation fee and superfast charge.

7) The increase in fare will be on tickets bought on or after 1 January 2020 and no excess fare (difference of fare) will be charged from passengers who have booked tickets before this date.

Let’s take the case of the Delhi-Kolkata Rajdhani Express which covers a distance of 1,447 km. The hike at the rate of 4 paise per km will sum up to around Rs 58.

When AV spoke to Dharmendra Singh who frequently travels between Mumbai and Delhi by Rajdhani Express, he said, “The rise seems to be nominal. The railways have admitted that they will use the said revenue generated by the “marginal” increase in fares for the modernisation of the network.”

According to a Railway ministry order, there will not be any change in the reservation fee and superfast charge and the hike in fares will not be applicable to tickets already booked.

The last such hike was announced in 2014-2015 when fares of all classes of trains were raised by 14.2 per cent and freight charges by 6.5 per cent. However, since then, the railways introduced the flexi-fare scheme which significantly raised fares on select trains and launched trains like Vande Bharat Express and Tejas Express which have relatively higher fares. Trains with dynamic pricing like Suvidha Express were also introduced.

“Indian Railways has continuously endeavoured to augment passenger experience through modernisation of coaches and provision of improved facilities over stations. Further, the burden of 7th Pay Commission on Indian Railway has necessitated the rationalisation of the fares. In order to expand passenger amenities and facilities at various railway stations and trains, it has become imperative to increase the fare marginally without over burdening any class of passengers. Fast modernization of Indian Railways will be achieved through this fare revision,” the railways said.

The increase in the fare will be on tickets bought on or after January 1, 2020 and no excess fare (difference of fare) will be charged from passengers who have booked tickets before this date.

On the other hand, Jet fuel or Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) price was on Wednesday hiked by 2.6 per cent while that of non-subsidised cooking gas LPG has been increased by Rs 19 per cylinder on the back of a rise in international rates. The two back-to-back increases have pushed jet fuel prices to their highest since June 2019.

Rashmi Deshmukh a Borivali resident said, “The government has been increasing the price of LPG cylinder since last five months. If prices continue to increase in this manner then it will adversely affect my monthly budget. It will become difficult for me to make both ends meet.”

Price of ATF, used to power aeroplanes has been raised by Rs 1,637.25 per kilolitre (kl) or 2.6 per cent to Rs 64,323.76 per kl in Delhi, according to a price notification of state-owned fuel retailers.

This is the second straight monthly increase in rates warranted due to firming up of prices in the international market. India is dependent on imports to meet 84 per cent of its oil needs while prices of domestic fuels are at par with benchmark international prices.

ATF price was on December 1 increased by a marginal Rs 13.88 per kl.

This is the fifth straight monthly increase in cooking gas prices since September 2019. In all, non-subsidised cooking gas prices have gone up by Rs 139.50 per cylinder in the last five months. Non-subsidised LPG is the gas that consumers buy after exhausting their quota of 12 cylinders of 14.2-kg at sub-market or subsidised rates of Rs 495.86.

Make stringent law to curb milk adulteration

By

Vaidehi Taman

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January 1, 2020

Adulteration in milk is not a new thing. I remember when I was a small child, a milk man used to carry those typical measurements and a big milk can on a bicycle to deliver milk door-to-door. My grandmother used to pour a few drops on the floor by questioning the milkman “Aaj bhi doodh me paani milaya kya? Doodh patla lag raha hai.” (Have you added water in the milk as its consistency is thin). This was a repetitive question to the milkman. Since childhood, we knew that the milk is most commonly diluted with water – this not only reduces its nutritional value but contaminated water can also cause additional health problems. But as the time changed and we adopted modern ways of storing or packing milk, the adulteration has gone on dangerous levels. The other adulterants used are mainly detergents, foreign fats, starch, sodium hydroxide (caustic soda), sugar, urea, pond water, salt, maltodextrin, sodium carbonate, formalin, and ammonium sulfate.

It has been a cause of concern for both the Government and the Dairy Industry. The Indian Council of Medical Research has reported, “Milk adulterants have hazardous health effects. The detergent in milk can cause food poisoning and other gastrointestinal complications. Its high alkaline level can also damage body tissue and destroy proteins. Other synthetic components can cause impairments, heart problems, cancer or even death. While the immediate effect of drinking milk adulterated with urea, caustic soda and formalin is gastroenteritis, the long-term effects are far more serious.”

Contaminated milk continues to be sold in Maharashtra despite crackdown measures taken by authorities. The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (fda), had, in a study, found that 20 per cent of the milk is adulterated. Though the study prompted immediate action and licences of 21 dairies to be suspended, yet, there is no respite. In another study, the NGO Consumer Guidance Society of India (CGSI) Mumbai, found that over 37 per cent samples were either sub-standard or unfit for human consumption.

India produces a little over 105 million tonnes (mt) of milk annually and out of this, Mumbai consumes 1.65 mt. Of that, 0.61 million tonnes is substandard & adulterated. The problem is not restricted to just within the state. In 1999, Ahmedabad-based Consumer Education and Research Centre tested 28 brands of packed milk and two samples of loose milk from Ambawadi and Ambica, local dairies. All the 30 brands failed in microbiological parameters specified by the Bureau of Indian Standards. Most brands had coliform and EColi. Twenty-one samples failed fat content standards and four failed solid non-fat parameters. Preservatives were found in 12 samples and pesticide residues in 27. Heavy metals such as copper, lead, zinc, arsenic, cadmium and mercury were also found. Milk from Gujarat comes into Maharashtra.

Milk adulteration takes place in the open in areas like Antop Hill, Saki Naka, Kurla, Kurar village, Dahisar Baithi chawl and Dharavi in Mumbai. In September 2005, the then deputy chief minister R R Patil along with the then Mumbai police crime branch had seized 10,000 litres of adulterated milk from the slums in Kapaswadi (Andheri), Khar Danda, Vatsala Naik Nagar (Kurla) and Babhai Naka (Borivali) and arrested 39 people who were charged with adulteration and forgery. Later on, they all were released on bail by paying some fine and back to the same business. The laws are weak and that is the reason such practices are not stoppable. Moreover, FDA does not have a dedicated food testing laboratory of its own. It has asked the state government to set up six such laboratories in six divisional headquarters. The FDA now has to depend on the state public health department laboratory in Mumbai and Pune and MCGM’s laboratory at Dadar where testing sometimes takes more than the stipulated 40 days. About two years ago, the state legislature had come with a proposal to make milk adulteration a non-bailable offence but it is still in the draft stage.

Reports of substandard and adulterated food frequent the front pages of newspapers. Samples of items we consume daily like milk, pulses, oils, vegetables, sugar, among many others have been rated sub-standard. While it is difficult to track the production process and locate the item’s source, simple tests can help you distinguish a pure sample from an adulterated one.

To find out water in milk, put a drop of milk on a polished, slanting surface. Pure milk either stays or flows slowly leaving a white trail behind. Milk adulterated with flow immediately without leaving a mark.

To find out detergent in milk, take 5-10 millilitres (ML) of milk sample and equal quantity of water and shake the mixture thoroughly. If the milk is adulterated with detergent, it forms dense lather pure milk will have a thin layer of foam.

Detecting starch in milk and milk products, boil 2-3 ML of the sample (milk, khoya, chenna or paneer) with 5 ML of water for other ghee and butter. Water need not be added. Add 2-3 drops of tincture of iodine after letting it cool

The formation of blue colour indicates the presence of starch. Food adulteration is a global concern and developing countries are at higher risk associated with it due to lack of monitoring and policies. However, this is one of the most common phenomena that have been overlooked in many countries. Unfortunately, in contrast to common belief, milk adulterants can pose serious health hazards leading to fatal diseases. Just reading the news and condemning the act is not enough, we as responsible citizens need to be more alert and smart in diagnosing what we receive and consume.

Stay healthy and stay fit.

(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@www.afternoonvoice.com)

Khaali Peeli FIRST still: Ishaan looks all cool while Ananya look tensed

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Web Team

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January 1, 2020

One of the fresh pairings of the New Year 2020 is Ishaan Khattar and Ananya Panday is all set for their upcoming film Khaali Peeli. Recently the duo shared the movie wrapped up picture on social media. After keeping their fans intrigued for a long time now after announcing the movie and the first look, the makers of the film have now shared the first still from the movie.

Ishaan took to Instagram to share a still in which Ananya can be seen turning passenger for his taxi. The young actress can be seen clad in traditional attire as she takes the backseat of Ishaan’s car. While Ishaan can be seen clad in the uniform of a taxi driver, he is seen looking at her from rear-view mirror. Ananya tense look from the movie and her worried expression will surely leave you intrigued about the film. Ishaan shared the photo along with a caption, “#KhaaliPeeli.”

View this post on Instagram

#KhaaliPeeli ??

A post shared by Ishaan (@ishaankhatter) on Dec 31, 2019 at 10:42pm PST

On the other hand Ananya captioned the picture “Driving into 2020 ??❤️ #KhaaliPeeli.”

View this post on Instagram

Driving into 2020 ??❤️ #KhaaliPeeli

A post shared by Ananya ?? (@ananyapanday) on Jan 1, 2020 at 1:14am PST

Reportedly the shoot of the film has been done in the bylanes of Bhendi Bazaar in Mumbai. The film is helmed by Maqbool Khan and produced by Ali Abbas Zafar and Himanshu Mehra. The movie promises a young, edgy roller-coaster ride that kick-start one night, when a boy meets a girl. Apart from Ananya and Ishaan the movie also stars Jaideep Ahlawat in key role. Khaali Peeli is scheduled to be released on June 12, 2020.

BMW falls into well at Aurangabad 2 killed and 3 injured

By

Hema Singh

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January 1, 2020

After their BMW fell into a well, two persons were killed while three others were injured in a ghastly accident that took place in Maharashtra’s Aurangabad city. A report says that the mishap took place at 2 am on Wednesday near the Daulatabad Fort when all of them were returning after attending a New Year party.

According to the police, one among the five friends who was driving the car apparently lost control following which the vehicle fell into a roadside well. A passerby noticed the car plunging into the well and altered the locals who later informed the police about the incident.

The deceased have been identified as Saurabh Vijay Nandapurkar (29) and Virbhas Kasture (34) (all residents of the area). The three injured people who are admitted to the government hospital have been identified as Nitin Shishkar (34), Pratik Kapadia (30) and Madhur Jaiswal (30).

New Year Resolution for 2020

By

S. Krishna Kumar

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January 1, 2020

Many people talk big about making a New Year resolution, but as days and months pass by, many people do not even remember them ! In today’s mechanical world with strenuous daily routines, one will certainly not be able to honestly abide by any resolution. My resolution always is not to have or follow any resolution. Because, I believe in living life as it comes, One should believe in living in the moment and take things as they come and face them according to situations.

I want to, in fact, leave the past behind and make the most of what lies ahead. And yes, if anybody asks me to have some resolution and what do I wish for, then I would rather say that we must resolve to make our planet peaceful, save nature, protect trees, mountains, rivers and the environment.

As a Mumbaikar, I hope that the city of Mumbai will be a place where everyone can co-exist peacefully. Our city should be kept clean, open spaces should not be converted into concrete jungles. Basic amenities should be available to all. I would urge the political parties to desist from the display of huge banners and the people to avoid plastics of all kinds. Let us protect the environment, nature and this planet. So, let us all strive to follow the basic principles of “Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan” and maintain cleanliness and hygiene at all times and at all costs and at every inch of our environment and society. Let us learn lessons from the recent natural calamities like floods and vow not to play or tinker with the nature. Let us all save the planet to save ourselves.

As far as my country is concerned, I would like to see a very peaceful year-2020. I would like to see total end to terror activities along the borders and would not like to see our soldiers getting martyred in the “proxy war”. Most importantly, I urge all the leaders of all the political parties, social activists, media and intellectuals to think about the nation and its welfare and development. Have a patriotic approach for the nation you stay in and not encourage the enemy nation and anti-nationals to act against our country, in any manner, by your unwarranted comments and acts. In this respect at least, I will be glad if all the leaders and countrymen stand united, to prove that “Mera Bharat is Mahaan indeed”. They can have differences of opinion in matters of central government’s policies, etc. But when it comes to India, it should always be “NATION FIRST”. JAI HIND !

I would like to conclude with a story for the New Year 2020.

When I started using pen in my primary school, and I made a mistake, I would try hard to erase it before submitting to my teacher. Sometimes, I use chalk to clean my mistake but it later re-appeared. So I began to use saliva, it worked, but only to leave holes in my books. My teachers then used to beat me for being outrageously dirty. But all I tried to do was to cover my error.

One day, a kind hearted teacher who loved me so much called me aside and he said, “Anytime you make a mistake, just cross it and move on.” He said further “Trying to erase your mistakes would only damage your book to nothing.”

I told him in protest that I don’t want people to see my mistake. My loving teacher laughed and said, “Trying to erase your mistake will make more people know about your mess and the stigma is for life.”

Have you made some mistakes in life? Cross it over and move on. Don’t expose yourself as a result of trying to cover your mistakes. Better things are ahead of you.

Strike out your 2019 mistakes and move into 2020 with a fresh note.

(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)

Bizman held for inserting candle in woman’s private part in Bandra

By

Web Team

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January 1, 2020

Salim Qureshi, bandra police — The accused Salim Qureshi

A 60-year-old business man who was allegedly inserting a candle inside a 25 year old woman’s private part was arrested recently. As per the Bandra police, the accused was identified as Salim Qureshi, a resident of Bandra area.

Police said that the victim who hails from Uttar Pradesh had come to Mumbai after she had an argument with his husband. Meanwhile she met the accused in Mumbai who offered her a job as a housemaid. Prima facie of the case says that the accused raped the woman repeatedly at his flat in Bandra over a period of the last 15 days. On December 28, when the woman was sleeping in the hall after finishing her chores, Qureshi took a candle and forcibly inserted the same in her private part. This caused bleeding.

After that, he took the victim to Bhabha hospital in Bandra. During the check upon Monday, the victim told the doctor about the incident following which an FIR was lodged against the accused. Police said Qureshi was produced before a Court on Tuesday.

Letters to the Editor: 01 January, 2020

By

Web Team

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January 1, 2020

New Year: A time for new beginnings

New Year to me is a time for new beginnings. It means fresh starts, the beginning of something new and being able to change something with yourself. This New Year, I would like to spend more time with my family and devote more time in prayer. I would also like to glorify my God much more than the previous years and give more tithes to the Church. I would also like to help the poor and the needy just like Mother Teresa when she was living on this earth.

Jubel D’Cruz

MVA is making its presence felt

The long-pending expansion of MVA government took place with the surprise inclusion of Aaditya Thackeray, grandson of Balasaheb Thackeray. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar was sworn in for a record fourth time as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra in the assembly. The long cherished ambition of Aaditya and Ajit Pawar are fullfilled in the ministry expansion. After considerable delay to make all adjustments now a settlement has been reached among the coalition partners. It is more or less fulfilling personal ambitions rather than working for the welfare of the people. At last, MVA is making its presence felt not for the good work but for picking up plum posts and thus revealing their personal interest and revealing vendetta politics on BJP.

Nickhil Mani

Standardize consumables in car-industry

Too many variants of any car-model confuse customers. There may be just two variants apart from the third with automatic gears, one basic Lx for economy customers and the other Vx with all company-fitted extra accessories and luxuries for affording customers. There is no sense in having too many confusing variants like Lx, Lxi, Vx, Vxi for same model. India being biggest consumer-market amongst nations with free economy, it has certainly power to dictate its consumer-friendly terms for global market-leaders collaborating car-manufacture in India.

Union government should induce standardization of common accessories like tyres and batteries so that same parts may be used in different models of cars produced by various car-manufacturers. It will heavily bring down cost of consumables through their bumper production in extra large numbers in some limited sizes and specifications. It can be achieved by merging some nearing sizes and specifications. Such guidelines though also mentioned in auto-policy of Union government, are never followed in actual practice.

Madhu Agrawal

Tinkering with GST rates is poor governance

GST revamp committee has come up with a two-tier GST scheme that would raise rates from 5% to 10 % and 18% to 20% which clearly indicates that the GST estimated targets are not being achieved by the govt. Top economists of the country too have voiced their concern and raising rates doesn’t necessarily mean rise in revenue. The tribe of tax evaders would only rise if rates are increased and government needs to think on practical terms for a permanent solution to raise revenues.

Loopholes in the system needs to be plugged so that evading taxes becomes impossible. Keep rates reasonable and business friendly so that nobody wants to evade taxes. Business opportunities should be improved so that increase in turnover means establishments can survive on lower margins as well. A tax structure needs to be simple, reasonable and stable for longevity as demands for tax cuts rise when government is willing to oblige!

S.N. Kabra

Nothing political in Army Chief’s statement

It refers to unnecessary criticism by opposition parties of statement of Army Chief General Bipin Rawat wherein he has questioned, and rightly so, on usual violence in University-campuses to protest on various issues more recently on Citizenship (Amendment) Act. There is no politics in the statement. Opposition is crying foul only because opposition parties are supporting students (may be provoking also) on the issue.

Statement of Army Chief is also based on practical aspects where at times army has to be called to control situation when it becomes alarming and beyond control of police. Otherwise also Army Chief like all other right-thinking citizens is pained on large scale damage to public property and resources in violent incidents including in university-campuses.

Subhash Chandra Agrawal

FDI of upto 100% in Indian Aviation is a welcome step

The recent announcement to allow FDI off upto 100% in Indian Aviation is welcome. The move comes at a time when two popular airlines Jet Airways and Air India are struggling to get out of its noose of debt owing to lack of interest from potential bidders and tougher regulatory framework otherwise hampering sale process. The FDI move will evince more interest from potential foreign players to invest heavily in aviation infrastructure.

The FDI move also comes at a time when the Aviation industry in India is witnessing challenges amidst competition between Low Cost Carriers and Full Service Carriers. While FDI in Aviation will otherwise throw open door to many players keen to operate in a robust manner in the Indian aviation market. It needs to be seen as to how well and quickly will the Government roll the red carpet to foreign investors to enable them to fly in the Indian skies.

Varun Dambal

Anger management in schools

The CBSE’s initiative asking all its affiliated schools to make schools ‘anger free zones and requesting all the stakeholders of these institutions to be part of this novel campaign is truly wonderful and will be beneficial in many ways. The CBSE has asked teachers, parents and administration staff to manage their anger and thereby set an example for children and teach them the value of “freedom from anger”. As the board says this would undoubtedly help students become mentally active and emotionally healthy.

The initiative is part of the board’s thrust on “joyful education and holistic fitness”. The board has put forward a list of positive activities to follow to keep anger away. Some of these being breathing exercises, yoga, adhering to good hobbies, habits and other joyful physical exercises. The board has advised the children not to be full time addicts to cell phones. It has also asked its schools to record their experience and announce on social media their endeavour to become an anger-free zone, using the hashtag “#cbsenoanger”.
According to the board’s secretary in the anger-free zone everyone will try to manage his or her anger, whether it is the school educators, parents, school personnel or other stakeholders and the best way to teach children the value of ‘freedom from anger’ is by the adults setting themselves as examples. Emotions like fear, disrespect, humiliation, negative thoughts, tension, frustration are all the by-products of anger. An anger free society will have an air of happiness and joyfulness lingering in the environment we live in.
Overcoming anger helps to build good relationship and thereby results in a society sans unwanted clashes, conflicts and violence. Children being taught to manage anger can help make them grow as responsible and compassionate adults. This good initiative must be emulated by other educational boards.

M Pradyu

(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)

New Year celebration with drugs and dhamaal in Mumbai

By

Vaidehi Taman

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December 31, 2019

Mumbaikars are enthusiastically planning celebrations to ring in the new year on 31^st December. Along with, the city’s infrastructure too is gearing up to ensure that the festivities are not marred by any untoward incidents. With the public sentiment still strong against the CAA and the NRC, the Mumbai Police will keep a close watch on the cyberspace for any indications of an impromptu protest. Senior police officers have informed that no permissions have been granted for any protests on Tuesday and action will be taken against attempts of unauthorised protests. The city as well as the Traffic police will also be out in full force to prevent incidents of eve teasing, theft, robbery, drug consumption and drunk driving.

As many as 20 extra buses were pressed into service for the revelers at popular spots like Colaba, Marine Drive and Juhu Beach. However, those planning to fly out for their year-end break may have to brace for delays in view of heavy fog in Delhi playing havoc with the flight schedules. If we look at the overall picture of the city, there is celebration, fun, security controls and foreign drug peddlers and parties that keep Mumbai police on their toes. Because we mumbaikars people are very tolerant to migrants; let it be Bangladeshis or Africans. From fraud mail, fishing, drugs, flesh trading and terror which is the hub right next door of Mumbai residents. They have localities and huge places allotted in their name. They have restaurants and trades in Mumbai. They are the representatives of fortune in faraway lands but the fount of those beckoning fraud emails that promise a lottery win in, all these scammers live in Mumbai’s very own backyard like Mira Road, Pila house, Nagpada and Byculla.

‘Nigerianwadi’ at a 20-minute walk from the Mira Road railway station is evidence they say, the IP addresses of almost all the computers from where these fraud emails originate are traced to Mira Road. Mira Road provides the fraudsters a perfect camouflage. A fast-growing suburb, Mira Road affords them the anonymity they desperately need and the inexpensive one-room rented flats that go for as little as Rs 3,000 a month. The word Nigerianwadi was coined by policemen who on several occasions were roughed up while trying to pick up a suspect in a scam or a drug case. Many of these Nigerians migrated to other areas including Nalasopara. But some of them stayed back. The two internet parlours near Nigerianwadi, as a result, are still doing reasonable business. Because the owners get atleast Rs 100 from each of these guys compared to the paltry Rs 10 the others pay. They sit here from morning to night. These Nigerians are not only drug addicts but violent much of the time. That is the reason why some policemen openly admit that they are scared to detain Nigerian suspects from the locality. There were times when we lured them as recipients of Nigerian scam mails and arrested them when they came out of the area. They are physically strong and go to any length to resist the cops.

Last year, forty policemen in three teams formed by the anti-narcotics cell hunted down drug peddlers. They took the help of local cabbies to catch nine Nigerian drug peddlers in Byculla and other areas. This is the first time the police have nabbed so many Nigerian drug peddlers at one go. Cocaine worth Rs 5 lakh and MD worth Rs 18,000 was recovered from them. After three years of chasing African drug peddlers, it was supposed to be a great victory for the police when they arrested nine of them this year, a few months ago. But now, it looks like the criminals may be the real winners after all. The Africans have either destroyed or hidden their passports and refuse to disclose their country of origin leaving the cops no way to know where to deport them. The African drug network has been notoriously difficult to tackle and more often than not, the dealers manage to give cops the slip. But running away from the police is not the only way the criminals have managed to hold on to the drug trade in Mumbai for so long. Following the example of illegal immigrants across the world, the African drug pushers tear up their passport as soon as they arrive in India to avoid deportation. The interrogation of the recently arrested nine dealers indicates that they too might have done something similar. The peddlers at a time refuse to disclose their nationality and despite searching their homes, mobile phones and other belongings, the cops hardly find any clues. The peddlers have even figured out that getting arrested can help them stay on longer in the country. Many of them try to get arrested on purpose since they cannot be deported until the investigation and the Court case ends. This could take several months or even years.

Most of the Nigerians even prefer to stay in a brothel, the sex workers find it safe keeping them around as they are physically strong and can protect these women against any nonsense. Loosing at these men and their violent approach the customers try to be grounded. The cost of keeping them is just a space in the corner and two time meals. These Nigerians pay a better amount than the local customers, the sex workers in Mumbai play crucial role in sheltering these drug peddlers.

Nigerians in India form one of the largest African communities in the country. As of now, there are about 70,000 Nigerians living and working in India. These Nigerians have a negative public image in Indian society as some of them are involved in illegal activities in India such as drug trafficking, drug abuse, prostitution trafficking, fraud and forgery of travel documents such as passports and visas, trafficking in stolen documents. There are also more than 500 known Nigerians in various jails across India. Nigeria itself treats its own people very poorly. They do not care for their people; why should other people care for them?

(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@www.afternoonvoice.com)

Mumbai celebrates New Year eve with a sense of caution

By

Afternoon Voice

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December 31, 2019

Mumbai is all prepared to celebrate the New Year with parties, drudges, dopes and babes. Party organisers, peddlers and call girls are all prepared to rock the event while the police is all prepared to hunt down such celebrations.

Shano (name changed) travelling from Mumbai to Bahrain with other girls told Afternoon Voice, as dance bars are partially shut, so many in the profession are heading to Dubai and other middle east countries whereas many girls from Bangladesh and Kazakhstan are coming to India as Indian men have a craze for white skin. Through social media and mobile, these bookings are done as agents are hyperactive in supply and demand.

In 2019 police raided many suspected drug peddlers who were caught with high quality Cocaine. The Investigation is still on and this being a sensitive matter, no other details can be revealed at this stage.

Though the police have strengthened their vigilance on social networking sites to crack down on the consumption and sale of drugs at New Year parties, Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) officials have informed that they are keeping a close watch on online websites especially on Facebook events’ pages, Twitter, WhatsApp groups and event sites. The police said organisers create a private event page on such sites where a select group of people are invited. They use code words and even spread misleading information such as ‘celebrities’ attending the event. An organiser of Rave party told AV that they have a huge data of earlier party attenders and they reach to their party birds through private sms services, spread word among groups to avoid police interference. Organisers don’t announce that a rave party is being held or drugs are up for sale. They use different terms which are known to group members. Some event pages ask invited guests to pay before the party or register via e-mail after which they will receive a code number that they have to display at the party to avail of services. Also, peddlers having a closed network do not widen it easily by involving unknown people.

Senior PI of Narcotics cell told AV that most of the time, Mumbai police is busy on patrolling, many are busy at high profile parties and events. Actually reaching to such events is not possible for the police unless until there is a tip. In some cases, police are aware but they don’t take action and you should know why. These days pubs and open spaces are never hotspots for such activities. They happen at private parties in hotels, rented bungalows by the beach or in apartments in the suburbs.

Apart from drugs and girls, the Mumbai police say that their main focus is on anti-terror operations. The Mumbai police aver that they have devised three-pronged strategy to avoid any untoward incident during the upcoming New Year celebrations.

DCP (Detection), Dhananjay Kulkarni said, “To loop in the new year, a large number of Mumbaikars gather at public places like the Gateway of India, Marine Drive, Chowpatty among others. We have deployed police at these places.” He said that the focus would be on women’s security, drunken driving and terrorist activities.”

“Many misfortunes occur in the city during the night of December 31. To curb such incidents, we would barricade various places. Drivers would be checked with the help of breath analysers and action would be taken against the offenders,” the DCP said. “Our focus is on anti-terror operations. Mumbai is always a target of terrorists. Keeping this in mind, we have not given permission for boat parties in the sea this year,” he added.

They are also giving priority to women’s security and have formed anti-eve teasing squad at every police station. They would be in civil dress and would patrol public places regularly to keep a tab on trouble mongers. Mumbaikars would be under CCTV surveillance during the New Year celebration. The CCTV project in South Mumbai is underway and the command center is in the control room of police headquarters. With its help, the police would keep an eye on anti-social elements and take action against the culprits.