Ex-corporator among 2 held for RTI activist's murder

October 17, 2016

Mumbai, Oct 17: Two persons, including a former corporator, were arrested this morning by Mumbai Police in connection with the murder of a 72-year-old RTI activist.

RTI"Amjad Khan (53) and his father Razzaq Khan (78) were arrested today morning on charges of murder of Bhupendra Vira. Razzak was earlier a corporator in Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. It looks like a land dispute led to the Khans killing Vira," Mumbai Deputy Commissioner of Police Ashok Dudhe said.

Razzaq Khan is former corporator of Congress from Santacruz area. Vira, who had been fighting against land mafia, unauthorized structures and encroachments in and around Kalina, was shot dead at point blank range on Saturday night when he was watching TV at his residence in suburban Santacruz.

The shooter is suspected to have used a silencer, as Vira'a wife, who despite being in the house claimed that she did not hear anything, a police official involved in the probe said.

Police had earlier said they were inquiring if Vira had approached them with any complaint - that he faced threat to his life. The activist is survived by a daughter and two sons.

Social activist and former AAP leader Anjali Damania, who had worked with Vira, yesterday said he was attached to 'Voice of Kalina', an advanced locality management (ALM) body and a citizen's group.

Describing him as committed social worker, Damania had said, "Vira along with other members of the ALM were fighting against encroachments, illegal structures and land mafia in and around Kalina by filing RTIs. He had written several letters to authorities including, Lokayukta, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and police, seeking action against illegal structures."

According to her, several activists had received threats and many of them, including Vira, had filed several complaints at Vakola police station in this regard.

She said that on Saturday morning, Vira had persuaded the BMC authorities to issue four notices to a local goon living in the same area.

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January 16,2020

Cuttack, Jan 16: At least 15 passengers were injured as five coaches of the Mumbai-Bhubaneswar Lokmanya Tilak Express derailed and three more were displaced after colliding with a goods train amid heavy fog near Cuttack in Odisha on Thursday, railway officials said.

Railway officials had earlier said that 25 passengers were injured in the incident but later officers who reached the site reported that four passengers were found to have suffered major injuries and 11 had received minor injuries.

Passengers with major injuries have been sent to Cuttack Medical College. All passengers are stated to be out of danger.

Officials said the accident happened when the passenger train hit the guard van of a good train around 7 am between Salagaon and Nergundi stations.

The officials said there was heavy fog at the site but it was not clear what led to the accident. The speedometer of both the trains have been seized for inquiry, East Coast Railway Spokesperson J P Mishra said.

Buses have been arranged for all remaining passengers to move towards their destination.

Cuttack is around 10-12 km away and Bhubaneswar(Terminating station) is 35 km.

The accident disrupted train services in the area.

Five trains have been affected due to the accident where restoration work in underway. These include the Bhubaneswar-Mumbai LTT SF Express, the Puri-Rourkela Express, Dhanbad-Bhubaneshwar Rajyarani Express which have all been diverted via Naraj.

"East Coast Railway acknowledges with deep gratitude help of nearby locals and villagers who have displayed great humanitarian values and come to the rescue of injured passengers," Mishra said.

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April 5,2020

Nagpur, Apr 5: A 23-year-old man allegedly committed suicide in Imambada area in Nagpur on Saturday due to financial distress, police said.

Nikhil Gavhane, who worked in a grocery shop, hanged himself as he had taken money from a person and was stressed over repayment, an official said.

"He was depressed since a week," the Imambada police station official said.

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June 7,2020

Behrampur, Jun 7: A migrant labourer spent two days in jungle after allegedly being denied entry to a quarantine centre and his village in Behrampur.

According to a local from the village, no one helped the labourer. "He came from Chennai. He went to the police and block office but no one helped. Then, he went to the jungle."

Later, the police took him to the quarantine centre.

As per the Union Health Ministry, there are 2,608 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Odisha, including 996 active cases, 1,604 recovered/discharged/migrated and 8 deaths.

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