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RTI activist, who took on illegal constructions, shot dead

[email protected] (Agencies)
October 17, 2016

Mumbai, Oct 17: A Right to Information (RTI) activist was shot dead at his house in Kalina on Saturday night. Bhupendra Vira (72), who was known for taking on illegal constructions in his area, was shot by an assailant on his temple between 9.30 p.m. and 10 p.m.

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“His wife was present in the house, but was in another room, while he was watching television. We have launched a manhunt for the accused. Motive of the murder is yet to be clear,” said Virendra Mishra, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Zone VIII.

Mr. Mishra said the police are inquiring whether Mr. Vira had filed an FIR or complaint against anyone or had complained to the police about any possible threat to his life. “A murder case has been registered against unknown persons, and a few people are being questioned. No arrests have been made as of now.”

According to sources, Mr. Vira was pursuing cases of illegal constructions against an ex-corporator, and had opposed the nexus of civic officials and politicians.

In a letter to State Information Commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwad on Sunday, former Chief Information Commissioner Shailesh Gandhi asked him to take immediate steps to stop violence against RTI activists.

“I request you to direct public authorities with whom Mr. Vira’s RTI applications are pending to immediately release all information which he had sought. He had been filing RTI applications seeking information from the BMC, SRA and the Lokayukta. Directions must also be given to the police to provide security to his family,” said the letter by Mr. Gandhi.

Mr. Vira was a member of the Voice of Kalina ALM, which takes up issues related to illegal constructions, land-grabbing and encroachments.

“We all are victims of land encroachments. He was deeply involved in this fight. He had even secured an order from the Lokayukta to demolish illegal constructions, but nothing happened as civic officials kept the issue pending,” said Clarence Pinto, member of the ALM, adding that the victim had filed several complaints at Vakola police station. Mr. Pinto said Mr. Vira had finally tasted success on Saturday morning as the authorities had issued notices of demolition. “We all are living in danger as land mafia may target us. We need to come together and we expect the Mumbai police to immediately arrest the culprit.”

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Agencies
July 31,2020

Amaravati, Jul 31: Nine people have died after allegedly consuming sanitiser in Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh today, the police said.

Prakasam district Superintendent of Police Siddharth Kaushal said the people had been consuming sanitiser for the past few days, mixing it with water and soft drinks.

"We are also investigating whether they laced the sanitiser with any other toxic substances," the official said.

"Their family members say these people have been consuming sanitiser for the past ten days. We are sending the sanitiser stocks, being sold in the area, for examination," he added.

Kurichedu in Prakasam district has been under lockdown due to rise in coronavirus cases and hence, liquor shops have also been shut since the past few days.

Habitual drinkers were said to be consuming sanitisers that have alcohol content, apart from illicitly distilled arrack.

The police said two beggars near a temple were the first to fall victim on Thursday night. While one of them was found dead at the spot, another died in the government hospital in Darsi town, they said.

A third person was also taken to the Darsi hospital late on Thursday night after he fell unconscious but he was declared brought dead. Six others who fell ill after allegedly consuming sanitiser, died this morning.

Others who fell ill after consuming sanitiser are undergoing treatment at their residences in the village, the police added.

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Agencies
May 24,2020

Kanpur, May 24: Three persons onboard separate Shramik Special trains lost their lives due to various ailment, officials said here on Saturday.

"Family members of the deceased said all were suffering from serious ailment. The travel history of all the three deceased passengers was taken, Kanpur District Magistrate Brahma Deo Ram Tiwari said.

Giving details about the deceased, he said Naichinalyu Disang (23), a resident of Nagaland, was going from Delhi to Dimapur.

"She was suffering from liver ailments," Tiwari said. As she coughed and vomited in the train, other passengers got terrified, he added.

The district magistrate said the body reached Kanpur Central Station at around 10.00 am.

Sample has been taken to check for the presence of novel coronavirus. She was working at a spa in Himachal Pradesh, he said.

Tiwari said Rajendra Prasad (50), a resident of Unnao, died on the Lucknow-bound special train from Andhra Pradesh.

Munni Devi (80), a resident of Siwan district in Bihar, died onboard the special train going from Surat to Siwan, the senior official informed.

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News Network
March 12,2020

Mar 12: Three women were arrested for allegedly administrating fake coronavirus vaccines to villagers in Maharashtra's Jalna district, police said on Thursday.

The police on Wednesday arrested Beed residents Radha Ramnath Saamse, Seema Krishna Andhale and Sangeeta Rajendra Avhad, who allegedly posed as doctors and healthcare workers, an official said.

The trio met villagers of Pipalgoan in Ambad tehsil, informed them about a vaccine that could protect them from coronavirus and administered it to gullible locals, he said.

Some villagers informed Dr Mahadev Munde, a medical officer at a rural health centre, about this, after which a complaint was lodged, the official said.

Fake vaccines and bottles, which were seized from the accused, have been sent to the state health department, he said, adding that a case of cheating has been registered against the trio.

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