Mumbai, July 11 (IANS) The state government on Thursday tabled the Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill, 2024 in the Assembly to check ‘urban Naxalism.’

Tabled in the run up to the Assembly election, the Bill proposes more effective prevention of certain unlawful activities of individuals and organisations and banned 48 frontal organisations.

The Bill is crafted on the lines of the Public Security Act passed by Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha for effective unlawful activities of Naxal frontal organisations or similar bodies.

The Bill was tabled by state minister Uday Samant.

The government has said the legislation was necessary to control the unlawful activities of frontal organisations by effective legal means as the existing laws are ineffective and inadequate to tackle the Naxalism menace.

“The seized literature of Naxals shows safe houses and urban dens of the Maoist network in cities of Maharashtra.

“The activities of Naxal organisations or similar organisations through their united front are creating unrest among the common people to propagate their ideology of armed rebellion against the constitutional mandate and disrupting public order in the state,” reads the Bill.

According to the Bill, unlawful activity means any action which constitutes a danger or menace to public order, peace and tranquility or interferes or tends to interfere with maintenance of public order or interferes or tends to interfere with administration of law or its established institutions and personnel.

“Further, unlawful organisation means any organisation which indulges in or in pursuance of its objects abets or assists or gives aid or encourages directly or indirectly through any medium, devices or otherwise, any unlawful activity.

“If a member of an unlawful organisation takes part in meetings or activities of any such organisation or contributes or receives or solicits any contribution, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years and shall also be liable to fine up to Rs 3 lakh.

“Those who manage or assist in the management of an unlawful organisation or promote or assist in promoting a meeting of any such organisation or any member who indulges in any unlawful activity shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years and liable to fine up to Rs 3 lakh,” it adds.

It further states that those who commit or abet or attempt to commit or plan to commit any unlawful activity of such unlawful organisation shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years and also be liable to fine up to Rs 5 lakh.

“If the organisation has been declared an unlawful organisation by the government and later confirmed by the Advisory Board, the District Magistrate (DM) or the Commissioner of Police (CP) may notify and take possession of places used for the purpose of unlawful activities and evict any person found in this connection.

“The DM or CP while taking possession of notified places shall also take possession of movable property including money, securities or other assets.

“Further, the government will have powers to forfeit funds of an unlawful organisation if it is found in the enquiry that money, securities or other assets are being used or intended to be used for the purpose of an unlawful organization,” it states.

The government will have powers whereby the officer selected may enter upon any premises of the person to whom the order is directed, examine the books of moneys, securities or other assets which are being used or are intended to be used for unlawful organisation.

“A copy of an order may be served as per the provisions of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.

“All offences under the legislation shall be cognisable and non-bailable and they shall be investigated by the police officer not below the rank of a Sub Inspector.

“The Advisory Board comprises three persons who are or have been or qualified to be appointed as Judge of the High Court.

“The government shall appoint the members and designate one of them as the Chairperson.

The Advisory Board shall have the same powers as vested in a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 for summoning and enforcing the attendance of any witness and examine him on oath, the discovery and production of any document or other material object producible as evidence, the reception of evidence on affidavits, the requisitioning of any public record from any court or office and the issuing of any commission for the examination of witness,” it added.

Meanwhile, former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan took serious objection against the motion to table and pass the Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill, 2024 on Thursday.

”The Bill has not been circulated in advance so the members should be given a day to read and discuss its provisions,” he said.

He appealed to Speaker Rahul Narwekar not to take up both the Bill and its passage as mentioned in the day’s agenda.

(Sanjay Jog can be contacted at sanjay.j@ians.in)

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New Delhi, July 11 (IANS) The Centre’s Department of Fisheries is organising the Fisheries Summer Meet 2024 at Madurai in Tamil Nadu on July 12 which will bring together fish farmers, researchers, industry experts, entrepreneurs and policymakers to share experiences, and explore prospects for the sustainable development of fisheries, according to an official statement issued on Thursday.

Fisheries Summer Meet 2024 will also highlight the achievements of various schemes with a special focus on Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana. All States and UTs will share their progress, challenges, opportunities and chalk out the future course of action.

The key highlights will be a fisheries exhibition, State / UT wise discussions by Ministers, virtual inauguration of Fisheries’ Projects and interaction with fishermen/fisherwomen, distribution of KCC to beneficiaries and PMMSY achievement award letters to beneficiaries, felicitation of Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) and on boarded Fish Farmer Producer Organization (FFPOs).

Fisheries and aquaculture is a promising sector that provides livelihood and employment opportunities to about 3 crore fishers and fish farmers at the primary level and many more along the fisheries’ value chain. India is also the 2nd largest fish producing country with around 8% share in global fish production. Globally, India also stands 2nd in aquaculture production, is one of the top shrimp producing and exporting nations and 3rd largest capture fisheries producer.

“Recognising the immense potential of the fisheries and aquaculture sector and for focused and holistic development, Central government approved the highest-ever investments in fisheries and aquaculture sector,” the official statement said.

The total investment of Rs 38,572 crore investment in the fisheries sector includes financial assistance for impactful projects and initiatives through Government of India schemes. These include Blue Revolution Scheme (Rs 5,000 crore), Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF, Rs 7,522 crore), Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY, Rs 20,050 crore) and a sub-scheme under PMMSY – Pradhan Mantri Matsya Samridhi Sah Yojana (PM-MKSSY, Rs 6000 crore) approved in February 2024.

–IANS

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Aizawl, July 11 (IANS) Pig farmers and rearers in Mizoram have suffered colossal losses of over Rs 20 crore due to the outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) since February causing the deaths of over 5,430 pigs and culling of over 10,300 pigs, officials said on Thursday.

Officials in the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary (AHV) Department said that as the ASF outbreak continues unabated on average over 100 pigs die every day while over 200 pigs are being culled every day in different districts due to the infectious disease.

The officials said that pigs in over 160 villages in six districts – Aizawl, Champhai, Lunglei, Saitual, Khawzawl and Serchhip – have been infected by the ASF outbreak so far after the disease was first reported on February 9.

The ASF first reported bordering Mizoram in 2021, when according to the AHV officials, 33,420 pigs and piglets died due to the contagious disease while 12,800 pigs and piglets died in 2022 and 1,040 in 2023.

The first case of ASF in Mizoram was reported in mid-March, 2021, from Lungsen village in Lunglei district along the Bangladesh border and since then, the disease has resurfaced every year.

Following the outbreak of ASF, the AHV department has declared various villages and localities in the six districts as infected areas under the Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Disease in Animals Act, 2009, officials said.

With the fast spreading of the infection, the department has barred the supply of pigs, piglets and pork from the infected areas.

The state government also banned the import of pigs and piglets from neighbouring states and countries where often ASF infestations are being reported, AHV department officials said, adding that the outbreak of ASF mostly occurs when the climate begins to warm up and pre-monsoon rain commences in the state.

The government has so far provided compensation to several hundred families for the loss of pigs due to the disease.

According to experts, the outbreak of ASF may have been caused by pigs or pork brought from neighbouring Myanmar, Bangladesh, and the adjoining states of the northeast.

Mizoram shares a 510-km-long unfenced border with Myanmar and 318 km with Bangladesh.

Pork is one of the most common and popular meats consumed by both the tribals and non-tribals in the northeastern region.

With heavy demand for pork in the region, its annual business is worth around Rs 8,000-10,000 crore in the northeast region, with Assam being the largest supplier.

–IANS

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Sultanpur, July 11 (IANS) A woman was allegedly hacked to death by an unidentified assailant in the early hours of Thursday in Maganganj village of Uttar Pradesh’s Sultanpur district.

The incident occurred when the victim was sleeping in the courtyard of her home.

Additional Superintendent Police (ASP) Arun Chandra said that the victim, Zarina ,45, was found dead by her family members when they woke up in the morning.

“It seems likely that she was attacked with an axe. It is suspected that a family member may have killed her because there is no sign of forced entry and no one recalls hearing anything,” said ASP Chandra.

The body has been sent for post-mortem and an investigation is underway, police said.

According to Zarina’s family members, they found her decapitated body early on Thursday.

–IANS

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New Delhi, July 11 (IANS) Supreme Court judge, Justice Sanjay Kumar on Thursday withdrew himself from hearing the bail plea of senior AAP leader, Manish Sisodia, in the alleged liquor policy scam.

At the outset, Justice Sanjiv Khanna, leading a three-judge Bench, informed senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Sisodia, about Justice Kumar’s recusal.

“Dr Singhvi, my brother Justice Kumar will not like to hear this matter for personal reasons,” said Justice Khanna.

Ultimately, the matter was directed to be listed in the week commencing July 15 before a different Bench after obtaining the directions of the Chief Justice of India (CJI), who is the master of the roster.

On Monday, senior AAP leader Sisodia’s counsel requested CJI, DY Chandrachud, to urgently list his pleas seeking bail.

He submitted that the top court had granted liberty to the senior AAP leader to revive his Special Leave Petitions challenging the denial of bail.

Last month, the apex court had disposed of the former Deputy CM’s plea seeking bail in corruption and money laundering cases after Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta, the second-highest law officer of the Centre, made an undertaking that the final charge sheet/complaint in the liquor policy case would be filed by July 3.

Earlier, the Delhi High Court had denied bail to the senior AAP leader, saying that he failed to pass the triple test for grant of bail in the corruption case and the twin conditions required under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.

A Bench of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma of the High Court, however, clarified that he could continue to meet his ailing wife every week, on the same terms as set earlier by the trial court.

In March, the Supreme Court dismissed the curative petitions filed by Sisodia against the dismissal of his review pleas against its 2023 verdict denying him bail in connection with the liquor policy case.

In its judgment delivered on October 30, 2023, the top court denied bail to Sisodia but said that if the trial proceeds slowly in the next three months, he may apply for bail afresh.

Special Judge Kaveri Baweja of Rouse Avenue Court had on April 30, refused to grant bail to Sisodia who was seeking regular bail a second time. During the trial court’s decision to deny bail, it was noted that delays in the case proceedings were largely due to actions attributable to Sisodia himself, dismissing his claims of undue delay.

Meanwhile, a Delhi court last week extended till July 15 the judicial custody of Sisodia in the excise policy case being probed by the ED.

–IANS

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