YEH MERA INDIA

Illegal bars, lodges mock authorities

The twin-city of Mira Bhayandar has earned for itself a dubious distinction of having a record number of notorious bars and lodges in its jurisdiction. The brutal murder of a local journalist by the notorious bar mafia has yet again exposed the murky world behind the glittering neon-lit institutions which have sprung in each nook and cranny of the twin-city. While most of the lodges which located adjacent or above ladies orchestra bars facilitate prostitution activities, some of them have sprung up without adequate permission from the civic body. And those who managed to secure sanctions have carried out blatant structural changes to convert the premises into multiple miniature rooms to carry out their nefarious activities. The Mira Road division of the Thane (rural) police, on their part, claim to have carried out more than 400 raids in the past couple of years invoking sections including 294 (vulgar acts) and Immoral Trafficking Act (PITA). 

However, this has not deterred the mafia from carrying out with their shady business. Fearing problems in maintaining law and order, the then Superintendent of Police had dashed of a letter in 2012 to the revenue, excise and other concerned department recommending suspension of licenses to some of the notorious bars and lodges operating in the region but in vain.  Mocking at all norms, additional floors to lodges and even secrete cavities in bars have been constructed to hide bar girls during police raides. Although the issue has been discussed at length in several civic general body meetings, apart from formal notices, no concrete action has been taken so far. 

On the contrary administration has been issuing fresh licenses to lodges even after a resolution is passed in this regard a few years back. 

ABC trapped Over 600 till August

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) this year (till August) has trapped 209 policemen and officers, 110 talathis, 41 egineers, 29 teachers, 14 doctors, five lawyers, four corporators and mayors, nine village sarpanchs and another 64 women for allegedly accepting bribes. Also this year the ACB caught 121 government servants who took bribes even from complainants who are from scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. The 121 officials also include those who took bribes from two disabled persons and 22 women. The ACB received about 6,948 phone calls on its number 1064 and has trapped 67 persons after receiving complaint on it. 

SWATCH BHARAT- Church shows the way

Mumbai: Over the past few weeks, the priests at St Joseph Church in Vikhroli have been living the maxim that every drop of water contributes to make the mighty ocean. They have distributed reusable bags to all families to persuade them to avoid plastic. They have replaced all conventional lights in the church with LED bulbs and installed rainwater harvesting system in the church and social buildings. As a result, they no longer utilize BMC water for the garden and toilets.

Taking a big leap forward the parishioners along with the members of the Bombay Catholic Sabha, plan to adopt Vikhroli railway station and work towards cleanliness and beautification of the premises. “We are awaiting permission from the BMC and railway authorities,” says parish priest FR Rocky Banz. “Ours is the church closest to the station, and our youth members studying in Class XI and XII are enthused by the plan.”

This will be the first time a church, or any religious institution, has adopted a railway station in Mumbai. The priests have taken a cue from Pope Francis’ change which urged the flock to protect the earth, its “common home”.

St Joseph’s has around 8,000 parishioners, mostly young working couples, who participate wholeheartedly in all spiritual programmes and church associations. Interestingly, the church is also correlating the nine days of the ongoing novena to nine themes on the environment. The feast marking the nativity of Mother Mary will be held on September 8. “Every day since August 30, preachers have been using the homilies to create awareness. We have discussed the pollution of land and water resources, its impact on human life and what we can do to stem the decline,” Fr Rocky says. Children of St Joseph’s School joined in enthusiastically to display a large banner in support of the cause. 

Criminal Dishonesty of Police: Medically Confirmed rape of Minor ignored in FIR

Mumbai: A minor was kidnapped in December 2012 in the Shivaji Nagar area and brutally raped by her abductor.She was found roaming the streets the next day, bleeding and severely injured. A medical report from JJ Hospital confirmed the girl had been raped, but the police decided not to add the offence in the FIR. Three years on, her abductor is yet to be identified.

Hearing a plea filed by the girl’s grandmother, the Bombay high court expressed shock at the police inaction and directed them to immediately add charges of rape, under section 376 of the Indian Penal Code.

A bench of Justice Ranjit More and Justice Rajesh Ketkar also directed the state to file a report detailing the provisions of the Manodhairya scheme, launched by the Maharashtra government in 2013 to provide financial, medical and legal aid, and rehabilitation to victims of rape and child abuse.

 The girl’s grandmother told the court that three years after the incident, the police were yet to make arrests.She said despite her constantly pursuing them, the police refused to add the offence of rape in the FIR, even though their own investigation had confirmed that the child had been raped. The girl lives with her grandmother, as her parents abandoned her after the incident. As the FIR did not record rape, the girl has got none of the government aid that rape victims are entitled to.

According to the girl’s grandmother, medical expenses cost her Rs3 lakh- the girl had to undergo two reconstructive surgeries.

She said without aid from the state, she and her grandchild are forced to live off the little money she makes working as a domestic help. When quizzed by the court, the state’s council confirmed the police investigations had also said the girl had been raped.

“We are shocked,” the bench said. “What is the reason for such inaction? Add the offence of rape to the FIR immediately and tell us which government schemes can help the victims.” The HC has given the state two weeks to submit a plan.

Drunk Policeman: Is it a news!

New Delhi: A video clip purportedly showing a drunk policeman travelling in Delhi metro has gone viral on social media, raising concerns about safety of commuters and violation of the DMRC rules.

The undated video, posted on Facebook by a user, has been shared over 6000 times and shows the constable in inebriated state struggling to hold on to a pole while swinging back and forth inside a coach.

The 36-second clip also shows the disheveled policeman with his shirt untucked and trying to find his way around the coach in drunken stupor.

As the train brakes to a halt at Azadpur station on yellow line, the cop comes crashing down on the floor and is helped up by fellow passengers, reports PTI. Delhi Metro does not allow drunk commuters to board the trains if they create a nuisance, neither passengers are allowed to carry alcohol with them.

According to DRMC rules, any person found drunk on Metro premises shall be fined up to Rs500 and can be removed from the train or the station by an official.

Delhi Metro Officials refused to comment on the video saying the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), is in charge of the security.

“If a person is in uniform, he is allowed to travel in metro if he is in senses” a CISF official said, adding, the issue is being looked into. Delhi police officials say the issue has not been reported to them and the video is yet to be verified.

“The video is yet to be verified. If the matter is reported to us we will definitely take an action,” a senior police official said.

In 2013, the Delhi Police had prosecuted 5,587 people for travelling drunk in the Metro.

Earlier in June this year, a video of a man who was allegedly urinating inside the metro had gone viral. In 2013, a video clip of couples getting intimate at metro stations was also extensively shared on the internet. CISF is yet to find the culprit who leaked the video, though probe was launched by the agency to trace the sources behind the leak. There was no involvement of external probe agency than CISF is responsible for security affairs of Delhi Metro.