Mumbai, July 29 (IANS) Former Mumbai Police ‘encounter specialist’ Pradeep Sharma’s wife Swikruti Sharma along with her two daughters Ankita and Nikita joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena here on Monday, months ahead of the Assembly elections in Maharashtra.

Swikruti runs a non-governmental organisation by the name of PS Foundation.

CM Shinde welcomed them into the party fold as he hailed PS Foundation’s work, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Chief Minister also promised that the state government would address the various issues prevailing in the western suburb of Andheri.

Sources said Swikruti may contest the upcoming Assembly elections from Andheri East on a Shiv Sena ticket. The constituency is currently represented by Shiv Sena (UBT) legislator Rutuja Latke.

Pradeep Sharma, who was one of the 10 persons arrested in 2023 by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with the ‘Antilia’ terror threat case and the murder of Mansukh Hiren, had unsuccessfully contested the 2019 Assembly elections on a Shiv Sena (united) ticket from the Nalasopara constituency against Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) founder Hitendra Thakur.

In May this year, the Supreme Court granted bail to Sharma in the 2006 Lakhanbhaiya fake police encounter case.

–IANS

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Mumbai, July 29 (IANS) In the run-up to the Assembly elections scheduled later this year in Maharashtra, the ruling MahaYuti on Monday evening announced the allotment of a whopping Rs 270 crore for launching a special publicity campaign for its slew of welfare and development schemes.

The General Administration Department issued a government resolution (GR) in this regard, days after Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who also holds the finance portfolio, announced a slew of freebies and sops for all sections while presenting the state Budget.

The populist schemes included Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, Pink e-rickshaw scheme, mass marriage scheme, Mukhyamantri Annapurna Yojana, free higher education to girls, free power up to 7.5 horsepower for agricultural pumps, Mukhyamantri Tirthdarshan Yojana (pilgrimage visit), and Mukhyamantri Karya Prashikshan Yojana, among others.

A media blitzkrieg will now be carried out through newspapers, TV channels, radio, and social and digital media to spread information about the schemes.

According to the government resolution, of the Rs 270 crore, Rs 136.35 crore has been earmarked for publicity through private and public hoardings, digital flex banners, hoardings at state transport bus stands, BEST bus stops, suburban railway stations, metro railway stations, airports, housing complexes, and others.

The government has earmarked Rs 51 crore for publicity through social and digital media, SMS, bulk OBD calls, WhatsApp chatbot, and WhatsApp messaging, etc.

A total of Rs 39.70 crore has been allotted for publicity through Doordarshan, All India Radio, private FM channels, community radio channels, cinema halls, audio jingles, local cable networks, and public announcements in supermarkets and railway stations, etc.

The government has also allocated Rs 40 crore for publicity through newspapers and Rs 3 crore for publicity through short films, documentaries, TVC with celebrities, and audio and visual clips.

Sources said the state government’s move aims to counter the opposition’s ‘fake narrative’ calling the welfare schemes ‘election Jumla’.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has also slammed the opposition for questioning the funds needed for the implementation of the schemes, especially those aimed at empowering girls and women.

Ajit Pawar, on his part, has said the government is ready to spend any amount for the financial independence, self-reliance, and overall empowerment of women to increase their respect, dignity, and self-esteem.

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

Navi Mumbai, July 29 (IANS) Shiv Sena-UBT Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Council Ambadas Danve on Monday called on the family of Yashashri Shinde who was brutally murdered last weekend. Her mutilated body recovered from an isolated spot in Uran town.

Danve said he had come to offer support to the victim’s kin and assured them of getting justice for their 22-year-old daughter even as a police team was despatched to track the prime suspect reportedly hiding somewhere in Karnataka.

“The SS-UBT has assured the family that we are with them. We urge the government to track and give the most stringent punishment to the accused,” Danve later told the media, accompanied by others – Deputy Leader Kishori Pednekar and Raigad District chief Manohar Bhoir.

Identified as a history-sheeter Daud Mohamed Shaikh, the absconder-suspect was in a relationship with the girl but her family was against it, while the Bharatiya Janata Party has termed the incident as an instance of ‘love-jihad’.

On July 25 evening, Yashashri left her home in Belapur ostensibly to meet a friend, but failed to return even the next day, after which her family lodged a missing complaint.

Two days later (Saturday), her body was found in a mutilated state with multiple injuries and stab wounds in the bushes near the Uran railway station, with the family accusing Shaikh, a driver by profession.

As the incident appeared to snowball into a political issue, a police team was formed to probe the crime under the direct supervision of Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone II) Vivek Pansare.

According to police, Shaikh has a previous criminal record, including a 2019 complaint by the deceased girl for molestation, and a crime under the POCSO Act, for which he was out on bail, and is believed to have fled to his native Karnataka.

Highlighting the incidence of growing crimes against women in Navi Mumbai, Danve said that recently a 30-year-old homemaker was allegedly gangraped by three temple staffers in Koparkhairne, and her body was dumped in a deep ditch on July 9, and alleged a breakdown of the law-and-order situation in the state.

Labelling the latest incident as ‘love jihad’, BJP ex-MP Kirit Somaiya and Uran BJP MLA Mahesh Baldi also visited the victim’s family and urged Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis to ensure justice in the matter.

–IANS

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Jammu, July 29 (IANS) Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Jammu Zone Anand Jain said that there is a need for offensive operations and to reinforce the border deployment in the wake of the recent terror attacks in the Jammu division.

“We should reinforce the border deployment grid and secure the police and army establishments. There is also a need for offensive operations alongside the preventive measures in other districts,” said ADGP Jammu while chairing a high-level meeting ahead of Independence Day.

The security force officials provided an extensive overview of the current security assessment and potential threats during the meeting while a thorough discussion was also held on the inputs shared by intelligence agencies including the Army, CRPF, BSF, and CID.

The ADGP instructed the intelligence agencies to ensure a coordinated approach to address the security concerns.

“To address the latest trends in terror activities inter-agency cooperation is a must to mitigate these threats,” the ADGP said.

He instructed the officials to establish joint checkpoints at vulnerable locations while the security of inter-district boundaries must be also taken up.

“Prepare for the 15th of August function and maintain a high level of alertness. Also, ensure that the ongoing Amarnath Yatra is conducted peacefully,” the ADGP said.

He also directed officers to remain vigilant in border areas and the hinterland to prevent any infiltration attempts.

“Special attention must be given to countering the increasing use of drones by terror outfits for illicit activities,” the ADGP told the officials.

–IANS

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New Delhi, July 29 (IANS) The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Monday formed a committee to inquire about the Rajinder Nagar coaching centre incident in Delhi wherein three UPSC aspirants died in a basement following heavy rain in the national capital on Saturday.

“We have constituted a committee to inquire about the unfortunate incident at a coaching centre in Old Rajinder Nagar in New Delhi. The committee will inquire into the reasons, fix responsibility, suggest measures, and recommend policy changes,” the MHA said in a post on X.

According to the MHA, the committee will include the Additional Secretary (Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs), Principal Secretary (Home) Delhi, Special Commissioner of Delhi Police, Fire Advisor, and the Joint Secretary (MHA) as the convener.

“The committee will submit its report within 30 days,” the MHA added.

On Saturday evening, three UPSC aspirants lost their lives after heavy rainfall led to waterlogging in the basement of a coaching institute in Delhi’s Rajinder Nagar area, which was being used illegally as a library.

The incident trapped 17 other students for several hours, highlighting the dire safety issues in these establishments.

The basement of the coaching centre was used as a library in violation of the rules since the space was allowed to be used only for parking and storage purposes.

–IANS

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