Washington D.C., Mar 2: The 'all for one, one for all' team is back as the 'High School Musical 4' is officially happening. Reported by newKerala.com 22 hours ago.

Reported by IndiaTimes 19 hours ago.

People's stress levels are increasing every day, and research students at Indian Institute of Technology Bombay are no exception. The Research Scholars' Companion Program (RSCP) at IITB in association with the counseling centre at the institute has organised a stress management programme for PhD students on campus.

The programme specifically addressed the issues faced by a research candidate which causes stress. Aspects such as frustration with the selected topic of research, troubles due to inconclusive study, explaining situations to family and friends while others are moving ahead in their life, were discussed in the session.

Pratyusha T, Coordinator of the RSCP, told *mid-day*, "We have been working to ease lives of those coming to IITB for research. Pursuing PhD is a time-consuming process which requires much patience. Students need help in terms of guidance from seniors on aspects such as time management and stress management. We keep organising such events to help research candidates."

Shivani Manchanda, from the counseling department of the institute, said, "Stress in student life is very common irrespective of which course are they pursuing. with academics there are also personal life issues which are generally common. We have been taking efforts to reach out to students so that more and more students can take help of counseling facility. Conducting such workshops is a way to reach out."

http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/mar/aditi-ops-s.jpg

Suffering from the rare congenital heart disease, medically termed as Anomalous Left Coronary Artery from Pulmonary Artery (ALCAPA). However, 10 days after undergoing a nine-hour surgery at Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital on February 22, Aditi has been pronounced stable by the doctors and is set to be discharged in a day or two.*Four-month-old Aditi Gilbile *

Explaining the rare condition, Dr Shivaprakash, Chief Surgeon and Head of Paediatric Heart Centre, HNRF said that the there was a lesion, caused by an abnormal origin of the left coronary artery (the artery that carries blue (impure) blood to the lungs). “In the case of a normal baby, pressures in the lungs normalise seven days after birth. But in Aditi’s case, the lesion diverted the pink (pure) blood, thereby severely reducing the supply of pure blood to the heart. It resulted in the so-called ‘frequent and silent heart attacks’ that damaged the heart muscles,” said Shivprakash.

Born on October 20, 2015, Aditi’s parents, Pramod and Preeti, said that she started showing symptoms of the disease on the tenth day after her birth and they immediately took her to their family doctor.

“She would cry continuously for three hours and sweat profusely. We took her to Dr Chandrakant More, an MBBS peadiatrician, who immediately diagnosed that the baby had irregular blood pumping issues,” said Preeti.

Preeti, who is from a small village as Barshi, in Solapur, said that they decided to take their girl to Pune for treatment. “They said there is only a 5% chance of survival and the cost of the surgery would come up to Rs 6 lakhs. After that we came to know about HNRF and brought her here,” said Pramod.

Dr Shreepal Jain, paediatric cardiologist of RF Hospital, said such children usually die of heart failure before their first birthday. According to him, this defect is extremely rare – one in 300,000 deliveries – and hence, is often missed by doctors. “A simple ECG can diagnose the defect but its usually not picked up early. We did a 2D echo to confirm the defect and immediately decided to operate on the baby the next day,” said Jain.

The surgery lasted nine hours. The artery was disconnected from its abnormal origin, and was reimplanted at its right place in the aorta. The area from where it was harvested was reconstructed with a patch of the tissue covering the baby’s heart.

The doctors also converted the bypass circulation to left heart 30 minutes, so that the weak side of the heart could take the load of the blood circulation gradually. Doctors confirmed that Aditi’s condition stabilised after five days.

“The child’s heart was really weak after surgery, and needed all the medicines, including levosimendan (used only for very poorly functioning heart). Immediate post-operative period is very critical and requires exceptional degree of surveillance,” says Dr Amish Vora, chief of Paediatric Intensive Care and a core member of the team that takes care of babies following congenital heart surgeries.

For three days post-surgery, Aditi had stiff lungs. Thereafter, she started stabilizing, says Dr Vilson, chief of Paediatric Cardiac Anaesthesiology. The baby initially received support for her heart, lungs, and kidneys, but has gradually been weaned off them.

http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/mar/Metro-map-s.jpg*The basic alignment map for the Dahisar-Andheri East Metro corridor prepared by MMRDA*

The company is expected to study the route and provide MMRDA a detailed design plan for which they will be paid around R11 crore. MMRDA Joint Project Director Dilip Kawatkar said, “We have invited tenders to appoint Detail Design Consultants for the Dahisar (East) to Andheri (East) metro-7 corridor. The consultant will have to oversee the depot design, proof-check designs for civil work and architectural finishing and station roofs including electrical and mechanical work.”

While constructing the VAG corridor, the MMRDA had to face issues like resettlement and rehabilitation of people, utility shifting, change in design of the piers etc, which had resulted in not only delay but also cost escalation. The consultant will also look after designing the car depot, re-checking the engineering designs of the alignment.

“This corridor is aimed at connecting areas that don’t have railway connectivity. Each metro train will have eight coaches.” said Kawatkar.*About Metro-7*
The Dahisar-Andheri East corridor, also called Metro- 7, will be 16.5 km long and will have 15 stations, claims MMRDA. Once operational the expected daily ridership by 2021 is estimated to be 5.29 lakh and per hour around 18,086 people will use the corridor. Since Western Express Highway witnesses traffic jams during peak hours, this corridor is also expected to reduce traffic congestion, save fuel, time and provide a hassle-free journey.

*Stations on the route*
Dahisar (E), 
Shrinath Nagar, 
Borivali Omkareshwar
Borivali Bus Depot 
Thakur Complex
Mahindra & Mahindra
Bandongri, Kurar Village
Veet Bhatti Junction
Aarey Road Junction
V Nagar 
Hub Mall
Bombay Exhibition 
JVLR Junction
Shankarwadi 
Andheri (E)

http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/jan/03-construction_s.jpg*Representational pic*

The division bench of Bombay High Court, on Monday, stayed new construction because the state government and BMC have failed to comply with the Municipal Solid Waste (Management and Handling) rules at the Deonar and Mulund dumping grounds, which are working well past their capacity.

Builders feel they are being targeted for no fault of theirs. “The government and the BMC should be penalised. They have collected more than Rs 10,000 crore in form of development fees, premium on FSI and other such things, and still haven’t been able to find a new dumping ground. Why should builders suffer for their fault,” questions Rajesh Vardhan, Managing Director of Vardhaman builders.

Another builder added that the situation for real estate developers is bad anyways, with low sales across the city and this is a dampener, especially during the Gudi Padwa festival. “During Padwa, we builders launch our new projects. But, when the builders are not going to be issued IOD or CC, how will we launch new projects? This will spoil not only our market, but will also affect the home buyers, who wait for festive season to purchase a home,” said another builder.

Arqam Shaikh, architect from ARC associates, claimed that, if IOD and CC are not issued, then no construction in Mumbai will take place. “IOD and CC are most important aspects for starting real construction of the building. Unless one gets it, the construction cannot commence. Submitting a file to the BMC won’t make any sense, if IOD and CC aren’t issued. This means no construction work will start in Mumbai in the near future,” he said.

Builders fear that this will unnecessary burden them, as many have bought land on interest and more the delay, more they will suffer financially.

Rais Shaikh, Samajwadi group leader in BMC and the corporator from Deonar area, said, “It’s because the Sena-BJP led BMC and the state government didn’t find solution for the dumping ground issue that the whole of Mumbai’s development has got stuck now.”

http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/mar/Zoo-budget-s.jpg*Civic officials said fish tanks at the new aquarium in the zoo will be similar to those on display at Taraporewala Aquarium. Pic for representation*

However, this scaling down has come at a cost. While the proposal to bring in six Humboldt penguins remains, others like the 5D theatre and robotic zoo have been put on the backburner. The proposal to bring penguins courted controversy after many perceived it as an unnecessary and expensive addition to the zoo.

Last November, civic body floated tenders for construction of the penguin enclosure, construction of an exploration centre, a 5D theatre and a robotic zoo at a total cost of Rs 106 crore. The final cost of the revamp was later pegged at Rs 113 crore. But Mehta expressed his displeasure and asked officials to reduce the expenditure. Following his directive, the budget was brought down to Rs 63 crore. The project now proposes construction of a ground plus two-storeyed structure, hosting an aquarium and the penguin enclosure on the ground floor, and an administrative office on the second floor. Besides, the ground floor will also have a seminar hall with a seating capacity of 150-200 people.

http://images.mid-day.com/images/2014/dec/19crank-caller-s.jpg*Representational pic*

A source claimed that one of their accomplices, who is on the run, called the ACPs of Pydhonie, Goregaon and Samata Nagar divisions. After introducing himself as the Zonal DCP, he secured the numbers of wireless operators (police constables).

*Modus operandi*
“The fraudster then called the constables and told them his men had laid a trap to nab a dreaded criminal and his men urgently needed talktime top-ups. He asked the constables to deposit money into an e-wallet account. He assured them that the amount would be refunded once the operation was over,” a police officer said.

He added that the fraudster would not disconnect the call until the constable had transferred the said amount. “A junior officer will never question a DCP-rank officer. The fraudster exploited the chain of command. Two of the three constables fell prey to the con and deposited Rs 60,000 and Rs 30,000 respectively. But the third constable smelled a rat and refrained from following the instructions. The fraud came to light after the constables informed their ACPs about the phone call,” the officer said.

Based on the complaint filed by the constable from Pydhonie police station, an offence was registered at the Cyber crime cell in BKC following which Crime Branch (Unit-2) launched a probe into the matter.

http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/mar/Pragati-s.jpg

*Also Read: SSC exams: Messed up hall tickets cause chaos on Day 1 in Mumbai*

She was going to her coaching institute to take last minute tips for her SSC exam. However, it was later found that she never went to the institute, which is located is near her residence. Instead, she was found injured on the railway tracks between Badlapur and Vangani stations.*A female cop observes an exam hall at the NKT college in Thane. Pic/Sameer Markande*

A student of Khamkar School in Badlapur, Pragati was a bright child. She left her house on Monday at around 2 pm to go to her coaching institute – Creative Academy. The institute is close to her home.

*Read Story: Mom and teen daughter tackle SSC papers and the kitchen*

Around 30 minutes after she left, the Chavan family received a call, informing them of her body being found on the railway tracks between Badlapur and Vangani station.

*Suffered blood loss*
Shocked after knowing the news, the Chavans rushed to the spot. Pragati was immediately taken to Bhagawati Hospital. But due to a lot of traffic, she suffered major blood loss, which lead to brain damage.

“We were asked to take her to Fortis Hospital in Kalyan as Bhagawati Hospital was not equipped to handle her case. At Fortis, we were first asked to pay Rs 50,000 so that her treatment can begin. We could not afford it, so we shifted her to Meera Hospital in Kalyan, where she died during the treatment at around 8.45 pm on Monday,” said Prateek Chavan, her brother.

“She was to appear for her SSC examination beginning on Tuesday. It was me who insisted her to go to her class to take last minute tips. She did not want to leave the house,” he added.

The Chavan family is demanding a police investigation in the case because they are unable to understand what Pragati was doing in a train when the institute she was going to was near their home.

They also cannot believe that she would have fallen off the train, as the time of the incident was not the regular peak hours, when trains are crowded.

*‘No way she was stressed’*
Prateek added, “She was a bright student. She scored 87 per cent in Std IX. There was no way that she was stressed due to the board examination.”

Prateek also mentioned that Pragati was upset because her friends were not talking to her since the past few days for reasons that he is unaware of.

Talking about Pragati, Nikhil Khamkar, IT department head of the Khamkar School in Badlapur, said, “Pragati was a bright student who was very interested in studies. She was not a rote-learner, but would understand concepts. She visited us recently to get a few doubts cleared before her SSC exam.”

*Cop speak*
Senior Police Inspector Anant Rane, Kalyan Government Railway Police, said, “We have registered an accidental death case. We are probing it further.”

When asked about the allegation made by Pragati’s family, Rane said, “The family has not told anything to us yet.”*HSC student faints in class, dies*
A class XII student, appearing for the Higher Second Certificate (HSC) examination died after fainting during her paper on Tuesday.

Sabilabano Mushtaq Ahmed injured herself after she fell on a bench after fainting. She was rushed to a nearby hospital where she was declared dead.

Ahmed was a science student from the Young Boys’ School in Dhule, and was appearing for her Chemistry paper at the National Urdu High School.

http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/mar/Tour-bags-s.jpg*Entering the green channel without declaring the dutiable items (if any) will stand for a fine. Pic/Thinkstock*

This change, which will be effective from April 1, will bring down the number of such forms collected at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport every night, which is around 13,000 currently.

http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/mar/02-Arun-Jaitley-s.jpg*Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. Pic/PTI*

But made it clear that PPF will continue to be tax exempt. Earlier in the day, Revenue Secretary Hashmukh Adhia said only 60 per cent of interest on contributions made after April 1, 2016 will be taxed and that the principal amount of contribution will remain untouched at the time of withdrawal.

http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/mar/SSC-students-s.jpg

*After the paper, while several students were seen discussing the papers with their friends, we spotted this lone ranger. Pics/Nimesh Dave*

While the board was informed about the mistakes after schools observed them, the students did not receive new hall-tickets. Instead, school principals were asked to make corrections on the hall-tickets with a red pen and their signature and stamp for validity.

*No new hall-tickets*
A teacher from a Goregaon-based school said, “There were many students in our school whose hall-tickets had mistakes in either the name, exam centre etc. After the board was informed, they asked for the corrected information. But new hall-tickets never arrived.”*Who was happily checking his book riding backwards on a bike*

“School principals were allowed to make changes after re-inquiring with the board on what needs to be done about the mistakes. We made the correction for our students. Being an exam centre, we also saw students who came for the exam with hall-tickets corrected in red-ink.”*While the board was informed about the mistakes after schools observed them, the students did not receive new hall tickets and had to appear for the exams with tickets corrected with a red pen by their school principal*

An in-charge of an exam centre in Andheri said, “There were many students who had hall-tickets with corrections in red-ink. But when we inquired with the board about it, we were asked to verify the hall-tickets and allow these candidates to appear for the examination.”

*Panic over timetable*
Additional chaos on day one was regarding confusion over the timetable. Helplines received several frantic calls from students and parents to verify the timetable. The first paper yesterday was for students having vernacular languages as their first language. Several English medium students who have the paper of the same language for their second or third language exam, got confused and reached the examination centre, after making panic calls to state board help-line.*A police inspector at the Sri Ma English High School in Thane wishes a student good luck for the exam. Pic/Sameer Markande*

Shrikant Shingare, who was attending the state board help-line on Tuesday morning, told mid-day, “Several students and parents were calling frantically to know about their exam. The main paper today was Marathi, for students from Marathi medium. But since English and other medium students also have Marathi as a subject, they got confused. They have their Marathi paper much later. This just shows the communication gap between schools and students.”

http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/mar/Shrutika-Kshitija-s.jpg

*Also Read: SSC exams: Teen leaves for coaching class, dies after falling from train**(From left) While Sarita and Shrutika’s SSC exam began yesterday, Kshitija’s HSC exams began on February 18. Pic/Shadab Khan*

Residents of Wageshwari Nagar in Sewri, the Zagade family have become a talking point for many. Sarita, who had to leave her education after Std IV, has restarted it and is appearing for SSC examination through Kirti Night School in Sewri.

While Kshitija’s exams have already begun, for Sarita and Shrutika’s board papers started yesterday. The Zagade women have segregated their kitchen chores in accordance with the timetable. When there is an HSC paper, Sarita and Shrutika take turns and Kshitija looks after the household during the SSC papers.

*Read Story: SSC exams: Messed up hall tickets cause chaos on Day 1 in Mumbai*

Sarita’s husband Vishwanath Zagade’s encouragement has been the source of motivation for her. “I was not able to complete my education. I was in class IV when my father died. We were four sisters and one brother. Us sisters then got together to earn money to run the household,” said Sarita, who worked as a domestic help to earn for the family.

Vishwanath, who works with the Tax Appellate Tribunal, is a graduate and always wanted Sarita to complete her education. “I kept convincing her and she finally agreed two years ago. She then took admission at a night school. I want her to study further as much as she wants to,” said Vishwanath.

Sarita said, “I thought I should give it a try after my children are old enough to take care of themselves. At first, I was uncomfortable because I felt like a misfit in a class full of children.” Sarita and Shrutika study together since most of their subjects are the same.

http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/mar/Yellow-tree-cafe-s.jpg*Now defunct Yellow Tree Cafe*

Available throughout March, the special menu includes Bacon Wrapped Prawns, Blue Cheese Steak as well as the café’s signature Chicken Stroganoff. What’s more, these will be available at the same prices listed on the menu two years ago as the co-owner Nicky Bedi says, “It’s our way of expressing gratitude to our loyalists.”

*May I touch it?**Pic/Pradeep Dhivar*

Artist Jitish Kallat is all ears as film-maker Anand Gandhi engages him post a talk held as part of Sightings, the artist’s latest exhibition at Chemould Prescott Road last evening.

*Hair care with Sapna Bhavnani*
“To donate your hair, it needs to be of a certain length (12 inches or just a little less than that) and we don’t have someone walk in every day to do that,” says hairstylist Sapna Bhavnani, who is a regular donor, will be part of a hair donation camp at Jaslok Hospital on Women’s Day (March 8).*Pic/Pradeep Dhivar*

All hair collected will be donated to the NGO Hair Aid to make wigs for cancer patients. “They are doing a really nice job; what got me interested was that the hair collected is not just utilised for women. It’s Women’s Day with a difference; otherwise, everything has become too commercial,” she says. With Bhavnani giving away haircuts for free, great dos are guaranteed. If the cause appeals to you, RSVP 66573069.

*Style-ben ups the ante*
We hear that after cricket and football, it’s fashion that’s keeping Nita Ambani busy. Ever since Reliance Industries formed a joint venture with New York headquartered global sports and lifestyle management firm, IMG, in India, Ambani has been keeping a close watch on the venture’s premier style event, Lakme Fashion Week.*Nita Ambani*

With the next edition scheduled for later this month, key players from IMG Reliance have moved base to her Altamount Road fortress, Antilia, so she can keep one eye on designer line-ups. The last time the usually elegantly dressed Ambani made fashion news was when she customised an 8kg '40 lakh saree to wear to her firm’s CEO Parimal Nathawani’s son’s wedding.

Woven in Chennai, it had 11 Raja Ravi Varma paintings infused in the design, and made it to the Guinness World Records for the most costly saree ever made.

*Photo op with William Dalrymple*
Writer, traveller and historian, William Dalrymple has shifted focus. Before you imagine that he might have switched canvasses, relax.*William Dalrymple*

He is set to release his first book of photographs, The Writer’s Eye, later this month. The black and white photographs have been shot over two years and are documents of landscape, conveying potent solitude and brooding strokes.*An image from The Writer’s Eye by William Dalrymple, published by HarperCollins India, March 2016*

Dalrymple returns to the visual medium he first worked with back in college. The limited-edition book has been curated by bestselling writer and Sensorium Festival co-founder, Siddharth Dhanvant Shanghvi. The Writer’s Eye will launch in Goa at Sunaparanta: Goa Centre for Arts this month, followed by one more in Delhi and another in London later this year.

*Green lens*
RiverMarchers, an organisation striving to rejuvenate Mumbai’s rivers held a Marchathon last Sunday. Photographer and visual communicator Aslam Saiyad added a stream to their flow with his photography workshop.

The idea was to contribute to the cause underlying RiverMarch and support the community under his initiative PhotoCycle. Saiyad conducted a workshop at Mahim Nature Park and donated participation fees towards the Rejuvenation of Dahisar River.

http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/mar/Dehradun-tea-garden-s.jpg

Look around you and try and fathom why politicians will not talk about climate change without as many ifs and buts as they can manage. There’s a heat wave going on in parts of India now. This is early March. Usually, this is when the weather is pleasantly wonderful, when the fan whirrs at a comfortable 3 or even less, if you are the sort of person who wears a monkey cap in Mumbai in December.*Citizens of Dehradun have been fighting to save an over-1,000-acre tea garden in the heart of town, where tea had first arrived in India. The government had proposed to build a ‘smart city’ there instead*

Here, in the Himalayan foothills where I live, we started using the fan in February. This is almost unheard of — it’s still rain and snow time. The truth is that there has been almost no rain since last August and precious little snow. Where this summer’s water is going to come from is anyone’s guess.*On the Oscars stage, Leonardo DiCaprio had spoken about climate change and the politics of greed. Pic/AFP*

Expensive cars have become more expensive in this budget but the price of petrol came down on the same day. But why blame cars alone? Almost everything we do it seems is impacting the planet negatively.

Developing nations quite rightly point to the West and to developed nations for their profligate lifestyles. But all too often they use this as an excuse not to do enough themselves. It’s an easy out — why should I make any changes until you do.

But the suffering is going to be shared. Until we figure out how to live without food, clean air and water, we are looking at doom. Is that too dramatic? Is it fair to talk about an apocalyptic dystopian future when the TV is showing the programme you want to watch and the pizza delivery will arrive in 10 minutes?

And yet, all you have to do if you live in Mumbai, is think back to three weeks ago when nobody could breathe because a dumping ground that is miles away from you caught fire. Even worse, imagine what life is like for those who live close to the dumping ground. And in a nightmarish scenario, try and imagine that wasteland with garbage piled several storeys high. And there was Delhi the month before that, in a similar situation.

Where I live, the oncoming storm is very visible. Thanks to the “politics of greed”, every open space in this once quiet green town is being captured. For two months, the citizens of Dehradun have been fighting to save an over-1,000-acre tea garden in the heart of the town, which was where tea first arrived in India. The state government wanted to build a ‘smart city’ there, which is just official speak for handing green spaces over to developers.

The mind boggles over why, when a town has little infrastructure, no public transport to speak of, very minimal sanitation and healthcare systems, the government would want 250 acres of open area to create a ‘smart city’. Of course, you are right. The mind does not boggle. Every Maharashtra government has tried to grab pieces of the Borivli National Park, and as anyone who goes to that area knows, the borders of Aarey and Powai have been lost to giant buildings over the past two decades.

And yet, it is the environmentalists who are tagged “anti-national” by this and other earlier governments. If you fight for the rights of tribals displaced by mining companies, you are anti-development and anti-national. If you try to save forests and water bodies, you are anti-development and anti-national. So be it.

At the end of the day, we’re living together on this spinning ball. National boundaries are not going to protect us when the planet explodes or implodes. But there is always hope. The hills around me were once painted green so as to disguise the effects of limestone mining from the then prime minister Indira Gandhi, or so the story goes. Luckily, she could tell a tree from a lick of paint and set up an Eco Task Force where the army successfully reforested the hills around Mussourie.

Meanwhile, the Uttarakhand government has decided to give up on encroaching on the tea gardens, for now at least. Maybe the politics of greed doesn’t have to win every time?

*Ranjona Banerji is a senior journalist. You can follow her on twitter @ranjona* Reported by Mid-Day 14 hours ago.

My son is not a terrorist and the entire world will know it soon, said JNU students union president Kanhaiya Kumar's mother Meena Devi, elated over her son being granted bail today in a sedition case.

"My son is not a terrorist and the world will know it soon. I have faith in him, he will fight the opponents who have framed him. For every mother her child is great, if he has committed mistake punish him but do not call him a terrorist. He is not one, he never will be," Devi told PTI over phone from Bihar.

Meena, is an Anganwadi worker in Bihar's Begusarai district, earning Rs 3,500 per month, while her 65-year-old husband has been bedridden for seven years due to paralysis. Kanhaiya's  brother Prince said, "the last few days have been very stressful for us but his bail has come as a big relief. We hope things will be sorted soon and he will come out clean".

Kanhaiya, was arrested on February 12 in a sedition case in connection with an event on campus against hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru during which anti-national slogans were allegedly raised. He was today granted interim bail for six months by the Delhi High Court which said that he has to cooperate in the ongoing investigation and has to present himself before the investigators as and when required.

The JNUSU president, who has been popular among students right from the day of the presidential debate held before JNUSU elections, had asserted a day before his arrest that he did not need a "certificate of patriotism from RSS". Kanhaiya studied in R K C High School in Bihar's Barauni area before joining College of Commerce in Patna in 2004. After completing his graduation from Nalanda Open University, Kumar moved to Delhi and subsequently joined JNU for his M.Phil in 2011. He is now a third year Ph.D student in the School of International Studies. 

ReportIndiaPTINew Delhi

· JNU Row
· JNU
· Kanhaiya Kumar
· Delhi High Court

Wed, 2 Mar 2016-10:28pm
Date updated: 
Wednesday, 2 March 2016 - 10:28pm
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From Print Edition:  Reported by DNA 13 hours ago.

I bet the last time you found yourself making a pie chart was when you had just upgraded from the display board in high school and were using PowerPoint. But other than those projects in school that you're still trying to figure out why you were forced to do, pie charts are now only serving one purpose: to point out hilarious and accurate things about life. Check out all the funny pie charts below:
Via Imgur

*And one more accurate pie chart: Things You Do During A Red Light: A Pie Chart*

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments Reported by Asylum 16 hours ago.

Reported by Breaking News 4 hours ago.

*Business Wire India*Hilton Worldwide announced that it was selected as one of the 2016 Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For, by global research and consulting firm Great Place to Work® and Fortune Magazine. This list recognizes companies that have exceptional workplace cultures.   This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160303005975/en/  
 
The selection process includes an employee survey and an in-depth questionnaire about company practices and programs. Great Place to Work® then evaluates each application using its unique methodology based on five dimensions: credibility, respect, fairness, pride and camaraderie.   “Our Team Members are the heart and soul of our business,” said Christopher J. Nassetta, president & CEO of Hilton Worldwide. “We succeed when they succeed. Respecting, recognizing and rewarding them creates an environment where – together – we have created the world’s best hospitality company.”   Creators of the methodology behind the list, Great Place to Work®, have found that employees believe they work for great organizations when they consistently trust the people they work for, have pride in what they do and enjoy the people they work with.   Hilton Worldwide listens closely to its Team Members to help create the benefits and programs that matter most to them. Examples include industry-leading parental leave policies that provide ten weeks of fully paid leave for mothers, as well as paid time off for fathers and adoptive parents. In 2015, the company introduced a new GED Assistance program to help employees in the U.S. earn their high school equivalency diploma. In addition, the company provides 10-day advanced scheduling for hourly Team Members and continues to expand remote workforce opportunities. Read more about how Hilton Worldwide is creating exceptional careers for its Team Members.   “Now more than ever, it is important for companies to prove they are great workplaces,” said Michael Bush, CEO of Great Place to Work®. “Top talent expects as much as they seek new opportunities, and customers are demanding it as well as they decide where to spend their dollars. The 100 best workplaces are at the top of the heap in demonstrating they have a high-trust, high-performing culture.”   To see the complete 2016 Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For® list, to learn more about applying to be certified and recognized as a great workplace, and to learn more about how to build a high-trust culture, click here.   *About Hilton Worldwide*   Hilton Worldwide (NYSE: HLT) is a leading global hospitality company, comprised of more than 4,600 managed, franchised, owned and leased hotels and timeshare properties with more than 758,000 rooms in 100 countries and territories. For 96 years, Hilton Worldwide has been dedicated to continuing its tradition of providing exceptional guest experiences. The company's portfolio of 13 world-class global brands includes Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Canopy by Hilton, Curio - A Collection by Hilton, DoubleTree by Hilton, Embassy Suites by Hilton, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton by Hilton, Tru by Hilton, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton and Hilton Grand Vacations. The company also manages an award-winning customer loyalty program, Hilton HHonors®. Hilton HHonors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to benefits including free standard Wi-Fi, as well as digital amenities that are available exclusively through the industry-leading Hilton HHonors app, where HHonors members can check-in, choose their room, and access their room using a Digital Key. Visit news.hiltonworldwide.com for more information and connect with Hilton Worldwide on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Flickr, LinkedIn and Instagram.   *About Great Place to Work®*   Great Place to Work® is the global authority on high-trust, high-performance workplace cultures. Through proprietary assessment tools, advisory services, and certification programs, including Best Workplaces lists and workplace reviews, Great Place to Work® provides the benchmarks, framework, and expertise needed to create, sustain, and recognize outstanding workplace cultures. In the United States, Great Place to Work® produces the annual Fortune "100 Best Companies to Work For®" list and a series of Great Place to Work® Best Workplaces lists including lists for Millennials, Women, Diversity, Small and Medium Companies and over a half dozen different industry lists.   Follow Great Place to Work® online at www.greatplacetowork.com and on Twitter at @GPTW_US.      
  View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160303005975/en/
MULTIMEDIA AVAILABLE :
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160303005975/en/ Reported by Business Wire India 2 hours ago.

*Chandel District (Manipur), Mar. 4 (ANI): Vehicular movement along the Imphal - Moreh Section of National Highway 102 came to a grinding halt from Pallel area due to the indefinite shutdown imposed by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) against the murder of TS. Thongkhogin Haokip, an assistant teacher of Molnom Junior High School.* Reported by ANI News 21 hours ago.

*Guwahati/Jorhat: *About 600 answer scripts of the Class X matriculation exam conducted by the Secondary Education Board of Assam (SEBA) were destroyed in a fire at a school in Jorhat town, prompting the government to order a CID probe into the matter. 

The incident has evoked statewide protests by student organisations, matric examinees and their parents and the public at large even as SEBA said the affected students may be required to write the test again in only one subject within this month.

Results of the Board exams would be declared as per schedule for awarding of the High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC), it added. 

As irate crowds gheraoed the SEBA office in Guwahati and took out processions and burnt effigies in protest, a senior Jorhat district official said the fire which was discovered this morning was the handiwork of miscreants.

The incident occurred in a school in the upper Assam town of Jorhat, SEBA said.

Sankardev Seminary School had received 459 packets of answer scripts for safe-keeping and 98 of those were destroyed in the fire, it said. Officials are trying to ascertain from which examination centres these answer scripts were collected. 

The affected answer scripts are of the subjects of English, General Mathematics, Assamese MIL, elective papers of Sanskrit, Additional Maths, Geography and Computer Science. 

SEBA said that its Examination Committee today decided that the affected examinees may need to take the test again in only one subject within this month.

For those not willing to sit for a retest, the average of the marks obtained in the five other major subjects will be taken as the score in the affected script, it said.

Meanwhile, describing the incident as an act of sabotage, Jorhat district Deputy Commissioner Solanki Vishal Vasant said the fire was started by miscreants via a sky window near the table on which the scripts were kept.

He said the room in which the answer scripts were kept was a "safe one" and ruled out suggestions that a short circuit having caused the fire. A CID inquiry has been ordered into the incident, Vasant said.

Members of the influential All Assam Students Union (AASU) led a gherao of the SEBA head office demanding that it immediately take a call on whether retests would be held for the affected students.

http://images.mid-day.com/images/2015/apr/BEST-s.jpg

*Representational picture*

The immediate reaction of the political parties – be it the opposition parties of Congress, NCP, MNS and SP and the ruling parties of Shiv Sena and BJP from the BEST Committee – was to discontinue collection of Transport Deficit Loss Recovery (TDLR). This is the component that has earned BEST Rs 2600 crore in three years from 10 lakh electricity consumers.

The opposition wore white Nehru caps with slogan written on them ‘TDLR bandh jaalaych pahije’ as they stated that common men should not be made to pay for these buses. “I order the BEST administration to withdraw the TDLR from their petition made by them from the ARR. None of the political parties are in support of this,” said Arvind Dudhvadkar, chairman, BEST Committee.

The petition regarding the possible electricity charges for the next four years has been made to the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC). “We can only present the views when the technical validation of our ARR is made with the MERC,” said Jagdish Patil, General Manager, BEST without commenting whether administration would withdraw the ARR completely.

*New buses*
Nearly after more than 7 years – last time was the Undertaking procured was the Kinglong AC buses – the BEST will be getting new kind of buses for its fleet. This time around 303 number of single decker buses of Euro-IV standard, which is coming in for the first time. On the external the buses will be longer by 1 meter – these are 12 meters long while the existing ones are 11 meters – with tubeless tyres.

On the internal, there are several changes inside this 180 horsepower (HP) engine diesel bus. It will have automatic transmission gears, power steering, and self-starter. Apart from this the authorities are looking of the possibility to include WiFi, forced ventilation, and mobile charging points, more leg space for the 45-seater bus and entertainment.

The cost is a big factor here as off the cost of Rs 50.75 lakh behind each bus, the Undertaking will be paying public money of Rs 12.42 lakh as taxes and duties. “We have been asking the state government and BMC to reduce the burden of taxes, but nothing has happened,” said Ravi Raja, BEST Committee member.

When calculated, for the 303 buses the taxes amount to a humongous Rs 37.64 crore while they are spending Rs 153.77 crore in total including the taxes and duties. The BEST pays 12.63 percent as Excise duty, VAT of 12.50 percent and Octroi of 4.50 percent while procuring these buses.

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Nitish Kumar made the remarks after ending a two-day visit to Nepal, and a day after Kanhaiya Kumar was released after being in jail for 20 days on sedition charges.*Nitish Kumar*

The Janata Dal-United stalwart said the student leader, who is from Begusarai in Bihar, had been framed.

Nitish Kumar praised Kanhaiya's long speech at the JNU campus on Thursday night in which he attacked the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and raised issues of intolerance, hunger and poverty.

Nitish Kumar said the Modi government did not like the outspoken students of JNU who questioned the government's policies and raised issues that embarrassed it.

Student leaders like Kanhaiya Kumar will strengthen democracy in the country, the chief minister said. Reported by Mid-Day 18 hours ago.

*Array Madrid:* Real Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane has some good news for his side's home game against Celta Vigo on Saturday afternoon after Welsh forward Gareth Bale completed his recovery from a calf injury.

The Welshman can be expected to play at least some role as Real Madrid look to build on their 3-1 win away to Levante and calm at least some of the nerves of the home fans angry at another disappointing season, reports Xinhua.

Former youth team players, Borja Mayoral, Lucas Vazquez and Nacho Fernandez were key in midweek, but may find life tougher against a Celta side which is pressing for a top-six finish and has a rapid and potent attack consisting of Iago Aspes, Nolito and Fabio Orellana.

Fourth-placed Villarreal are also in action on Saturday and looking to confirm a place in next season's Champions League against a Las Palmas side which has won their last two matches to climb out of the relegation zone.

Seven straight defeats, including a 0-4 thrashing to Las Palmas in midweek have seen Getafe fall in the other direction and coach Fran Escriba knows his side has to start scoring goals after not hitting the target in their last five matches if he is to keep his job.

Getafe welcome Sevilla to their Alfonso Perez Coliseum knowing that although Sevilla are currently fifth in the table they have not won away from home in the league all campaign. Unai Emery's men may well consider this as their best chance of ending that surprising run of results.

Saturday ends with Deportivo la Coruna looking for their first win of 2016 at home to a well-organised Malaga.

There is an Andalusian derby to kick off Sunday's action as Granada look for their third win under new coach Jose Gonzalez at home to Betis, who themselves took a big step towards safety with a 3-0 win away to Espanyol on Thursday.

Sunday afternoon sees Barcelona defend their eight-point lead at the top of the table away against Eibar in the Ipurua Stadium and Barcelona head coach Luis Enrique will no doubt look to move his squad around to ensure he keeps as many players fresh as possible.

The only players not to rest are strikers, Luis Suarez, Neymar and Lionel Messi, although Arda Turan, who scored his first league goal for the club on Thursday, could make a start as Neymar is suspended for the trip.

Athletic Club Bilbao coach Ernesto Valverde can celebrate his contract extension with the Basque football club if they win away against struggling Sporting Gijon. Athletic will be led by 35-year-old Aritz Aduriz, who scored his 28th, 29th and 30th goals of the season in the 4-1 win at home over Deportivo on Wednesday night.

Real Sociedad should return to winning ways at home against bottom of the table Levante, whose coach Rubi, could be in trouble should they lose, before second-placed Atletico Madrid could once again complicate matters for Gary Neville at Valencia in what could be a tense affair.

http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/mar/St-Andrews-s.jpg*The blueprint of the St Andrew’s artificial turf project. On the left are the four five-a-side football turfs, while the hockey turf is on the right*

The Bandra school will have a swanky, new astro-turf surface, which is likely to be functional later this month.

According to the plan, there will be four FIFA-approved football turfs (5400 sq feet each) to facilitate the five-a-side format and one FIH-approved 11-a-side hockey turf (24,000 sq feet). Both turfs have been imported from ACT Global, a Netherlands-based company.*A worker watches over the new artificial turf at St Andrew’s High School in Bandra. pics/suresh karkera*

According to sources, the project being executed by the school in conjunction with sports infrastructure company, Infinite Sportss, is estimated to be around Rs 4 crore.

Mumbai currently has only two full size artificial hockey turfs — one at the Mumbai Hockey Association in Churchgate and the other at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) Complex in Kandivli.

*St Andrew's School principal Fr Magi Murzello *

St Andrew’s school principal Fr Magi Murzello said it was a huge relief to see the project nearing completion, having been in the pipeline for half a decade. “We were looking to have an artificial turf for the last five years, but were unable to find the right partners. Also, some of the people in the neighbourhood were against us having an artificial surface. I am glad we’ve finally got it,”

Fr Murzello told mid-day recently, adding that talks with Infinite Sportss began in January last year, but a formal agreement only came about in November and work began this January.

The turfs have an efficient drainage system to ensure usage in all seasons. The project also includes floodlights, changing rooms (six), washrooms and stands for spectators with 180 bucket seats) and team dugouts.

http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/mar/05Virender-Sehwag-Zaheer-s.jpg*Comedian Vikram Sathaye (left) with Zaheer Khan (centre) & Virender Sehwag during a promotional event on Thursday. Pic/Pradeep Dhivar*

To start with, Sathaye expressed the general view among fans that the Indian team can lose to anyone, but not Pakistan. Sehwag recalled: “My kids would tease me a lot if we lost to Pakistan.

“They would be worried about their friends teasing them the next day in school. So, imagine the pressure on me from my kids when I used to bat.” Everyone in the hall was in splits.

Sathaye also mentioned something he has been noticing recently. "Shoaib Akhtar has been praising Indian players a lot these days," exclaimed Sathaye, to which Sehwag said, "that’s because India main business chahiye (they want business in India). They know India is a huge market for cricket. If they talk good about Indian cricket, they will get business. Sab paise ka chamatkar hai yeh (it’s the power of money)."

"Rana-ul-Naved is also talking a lot of good things about our cricket," remarked Sathaye.

“He may be taking a cue from Shoaib, hoping that Star Sports or someone will pick him. You see all these ex-Pakistani cricketers want some business from India,” remarked Sehwag as the applause grew louder.

http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/mar/messi-s.jpg

*Barcelona’s Lionel Messi celebrates a goal against Rayo on Thursday. Pic/Getty Images*

Two goals in as many minutes midway through the first-half killed the game as a contest as Ivan Rakitic and Messi netted before Diego Llorente saw a straight red card for a high challenge on Rakitic.

Messi completed his hat-trick either side of Manucho’s consolation for Rayo. Luis Suarez also missed a penalty after Manuel Iturra was also sent-off for the hosts before Arda Turan rounded off the scoring with his first Barca goal. Barca now lead Atletico Madrid by eight points with Real Madrid a further four points adrift in third with 11 games remaining. “We played very well and when we are at this level in terms of attitude and intensity, it is very hard for the opponents,” said Barca boss Luis Enrique.

*Rayo’s unbeaten streak*
Rayo were unbeaten in their seven league games themselves and forced Barca ‘keeper Claudio Bravo into a smart early save as the Chilean international flew to his right to turn away Adrian Embarba’s drive.

However, Rayo’s high defensive line was offering plenty of encouragement to the European champions and it seemed only a matter of time before Barca took advantage as Carlos made a good save at his near post to deny Messi. The opener arrived in unusual fashion for Barca, though, as an aimless ball punted into the box was dropped by Carlos and Rakitic was on hand to sweep into an empty net.

The visitors’ second two minutes later was straight out of the Barca textbook, though, as a brilliant one-two between Neymar and Messi freed the Argentine to slot home from close range.

Llorente let Rayo’s frustration boil over three minutes before the break when he lunged in studs up on Rakitic and was rightly shown a straight red card.La Liga’s Top Three goal-scorers Reported by Mid-Day 41 minutes ago.

*Thane:* Thane massacre accused Hasnain Warekar, who mercilessly butchered 14 members of his family before ending his life, had heavily borrowed money from his relatives and was steeped in a huge debt of Rs 67 lakh, investigators probing the mass murder said on Saturday.

According to a senior police officer of Thane Police, Hasnain had borrowed around Rs 67 lakh from his close kin on various occasions under the pretext of doing business. He was also into share trading and police is probing whether he suffered any losses in it, he said. In addition, police have also learnt that he had taken a room on rent in the nearby Majiwada locality a few months before the killings but the purpose for which he made the move is a matter of investigation, the officer said on condition of anonymity.

Also, forensic reports are awaited only after which several details in the case can be confirmed, he said. Earlier this week, during searches at his house, certain medicines pointing to psychological symptoms/illness were recovered, which police said is likely to give some leads into Hasnain's state of mind before the macabre killings.

Besides, police is also trying to locate the pharmacist from where the medicines were procured and the doctor who prescribed them.

Investigators are also burning midnight oil to explore the possibility of Hasnain suffering from a 'split personality' disorder that might have drove him to slaughter his family.

Earlier, a senior police officer, who is a member of the probe team, had said that they are trying to put together all the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle to figure out the behavioural pattern of the 35-year-old accused with the help of several mental health experts and criminologists to arrive at a conclusion as to what led him to execute the mass murders and whether he was a victim of spilt or multiple personality.

In the last couple of days, the police team has been recording statements of Hasnain's relatives and friends besides the caretaker of the Pardesi Baba Darghah which he used to visit often.

Police are also probing into the black magic angle to ascertain whether he was influenced by any such practise or followed any self-styled godman. Among those murdered were Hasnain's parents, wife, sisters and children.

On February 28, the accused slit their throats with a knife after offering them drinks laced with sedatives at the family house in Kasarvadawali area on Thane outskirts, and then committed suicide by hanging himself. Only his 22-year-old sister Subiya survived the murderous attack to recount the horror that befell the family.

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*Also read: Oshiwara senior citizen's murder: Absconding security guards detained in Kashmir**70-year-old Mumtaz Badshah’s grandson found her blood-soaked body with her throat slit, at her residence in Rizwan Apartment *

Shockingly, the accused, 28-year-old Chaudhry killed the woman just because he wanted to prove to the society that if he were removed from the job, then such incidents would occur in the society. The accused wanted the society members to realise that he is the best guard to secure the people living at Rizwan Apartment. Cops claim that this is what the accused had told them in preliminary investigations. They are, however, not buying this theory and are interrogating him round the clock to know the exact truth.

*Modus operandi*
He targeted Mumtaz, because he was well aware of her being alone in her house from 9 am to 3 pm. On the day of incident, he was on duty at the C wing but he went on the terrace of C Wing and crossed into the D wing, where Mumtaz’s home is located.

He reached Mumtaz’s house, and since he knew her well, she did not object to his entry into her flat. But, minutes later, he allegedly murdered her with a kitchen knife. After killing her, he went back to the D wing terrace once again and later crossed into the C wing and reached the entrance, where he was posted on duty.

*Suspect # 2?*
During the course of the investigation, cops noticed that one Mohammed Kaki alias Rail Wali Mohammed Chaudhary, who worked as a helper with the society went missing on February 21. His activities on the day and time of the murder were found to be suspicious as well. Hence, a team of officers and men were immediately dispatched to Gujarat to look for him. However, he remains untraced.

Since Chaudhry was already a suspect, a second team of officers was immediately dispatched to his native place at Darhaal, located in J &K’s Rajouri district. During the course of investigation, the blood-stained clothes worn by the accused while committing the offence have been taken in under a panchnama. The accused was produced before the court today and was remanded in police custody for eight days, police added.

*CCTV footage*
An investigating officer in the case said, “After going through the CCTV footage we found that the security guard was missing for around 50 minutes in front of the CCTV installed at the entrance of C wing.”

http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/mar/John-Nora-s.jpghttp://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/mar/St-Andrews-s.jpg*The blueprint of the St Andrew’s artificial turf project. On the left are the four five-a-side football turfs, while the hockey turf is on the right*

The Bandra school will have a swanky, new astro-turf surface, which is likely to be functional later this month.

According to the plan, there will be four FIFA-approved football turfs (5400 sq feet each) to facilitate the five-a-side format and one FIH-approved 11-a-side hockey turf (24,000 sq feet). Both turfs have been imported from ACT Global, a Netherlands-based company.*A worker watches over the new artificial turf at St Andrew’s High School in Bandra. pics/suresh karkera*

According to sources, the project being executed by the school in conjunction with sports infrastructure company, Infinite Sportss, is estimated to be around Rs 4 crore.

Mumbai currently has only two full size artificial hockey turfs — one at the Mumbai Hockey Association in Churchgate and the other at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) Complex in Kandivli.

*St Andrew's School principal Fr Magi Murzello *

St Andrew’s school principal Fr Magi Murzello said it was a huge relief to see the project nearing completion, having been in the pipeline for half a decade. “We were looking to have an artificial turf for the last five years, but were unable to find the right partners. Also, some of the people in the neighbourhood were against us having an artificial surface. I am glad we’ve finally got it,”

Fr Murzello told mid-day recently, adding that talks with Infinite Sportss began in January last year, but a formal agreement only came about in November and work began this January.

The turfs have an efficient drainage system to ensure usage in all seasons. The project also includes floodlights, changing rooms (six), washrooms and stands for spectators with 180 bucket seats) and team dugouts.

http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/mar/05Virender-Sehwag-Zaheer-s.jpg*Comedian Vikram Sathaye (left) with Zaheer Khan (centre) & Virender Sehwag during a promotional event on Thursday. Pic/Pradeep Dhivar*

To start with, Sathaye expressed the general view among fans that the Indian team can lose to anyone, but not Pakistan. Sehwag recalled: “My kids would tease me a lot if we lost to Pakistan.

“They would be worried about their friends teasing them the next day in school. So, imagine the pressure on me from my kids when I used to bat.” Everyone in the hall was in splits.

Sathaye also mentioned something he has been noticing recently. "Shoaib Akhtar has been praising Indian players a lot these days," exclaimed Sathaye, to which Sehwag said, "that’s because India main business chahiye (they want business in India). They know India is a huge market for cricket. If they talk good about Indian cricket, they will get business. Sab paise ka chamatkar hai yeh (it’s the power of money)."

"Rana-ul-Naved is also talking a lot of good things about our cricket," remarked Sathaye.

“He may be taking a cue from Shoaib, hoping that Star Sports or someone will pick him. You see all these ex-Pakistani cricketers want some business from India,” remarked Sehwag as the applause grew louder.

http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/mar/05-Azad_s.jpg

Days after Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu rekindled hopes for the Churchgate-Virar and CST-Panvel elevated corridors in his Budget speech, another project seems to be following suit. It has been learnt that officials are reconsidering execution of the proposed rail link between Churchgate-CST. The project was first proposed in 2009 by the then railways minister Mamata Banerjee. This time, however, the proposed link will terminate at Azad Maidan instead of Churchgate.*Illustration/Uday Mohite*

Sources from Central Railway (CR) claimed that officials are studying the possibility of extending the suburban lines till Azad Maidan, opposite the BMC building. Based on the ring road method, the same rail line will go back to CST from Azad Maidan. Sources added that the Rs 1,500 crore underground extension will decongest the existing lines.

“The two slow lines can be rerouted on this extension. Instead of terminating at CST, it will circumvent Azad Maidan and head towards Masjid Bunder station,” said a CR official, adding that the existing platforms at CST could then be used for operating Harbour line, fast line and the fifth and the sixth lines and diverting long-distance trains.

*Going underground*
Sources said the tracks would start going underground after Sandhurst Road station. “It will be at a gradient 1:50. This will ensure that descend isn’t too steep for the trains. The tracks will be installed at a depth of 20 meters underground,” said SK Sood, general manager, CR. The Sandhurst Road station has an elevation of 1:37 gradient, which according to railway officials is steep.

*Protecting heritage*
CR authorities ensured that the proposed line would be built at a safe distance from the CST building premises so that the construction work doesn’t damage the building.

*Project history*
Terming it economically unfeasible, the Railway Board shot down the Churchgate-CST line in 2011. As per the initial proposal, this line was supposed to merge with the proposed R24,000 crore Colaba-Bandra-Seepz Metro-3 line at Azad Maidan. Sources claim despite alteration of the original project, merger is possible at Azad Maidan because the Metro-3 is partially underground and people can switch lines using escalators. 

http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/mar/05-Bar-dancers_s.jpg*Bar dancers celebrate the 2013 SC verdict that dismissed the government’s appeal to ban dance bars. FILE PIC*

“The money was better then, but I am respected more now,” she says. With dance bars set to make a comeback, Karishma says she is excited, but that is tempered by scepticism. In the past too, there were rumours of dance bars being re-opened, but they never fructified.

“I am going to wait till dance bars actually start functioning and take off in a big way, then decide if I want to go back. I have been dancing since I was four years old,” says the 34-year-old, and “dancing makes me feel liberated. I used to make twice the amount of money I do now, also, there will be no fear of cops raiding the bars,” she said.

Though money would be the big lure to get back on the dance floor, her past keeps coming back to haunt her. Karishma remembers, “There was a man who regularly came to the bar, and he would keep masturbating as I danced. Some men also used to tail me till I reached home. The new rules of railings on the stage were much needed.

“We were paid by the cops to keep them informed about certain people they were chasing. I have managed to help cops bust a drug racket too,” she proudly said.

One of the few dancers who has been rehabilitated, it has been extremely tough going for her. Former bar dancers still have to bear the brunt of considerable stigma, and Karishma is no exception.

“I was working at a cosmetics shop soon after the ban on bars was implemented, but when my employer found out I used to be a bar dancer, he asked me to leave. I don’t want the same to happen here,” she says, as she signs off, rushing to finish hemming a dupatta.*Railings will keep bar dancers safe, says activist*
Varsha Kale, president of the Bhartiya Bargirl’s Union held a meeting on Thursday at their Dombivali office, post the recent decision. Kale said that some girls, who were rehabilitated and are still enthusiastic, are eager to dance agian, while some have moved on.

"There are some dancers who are now older or have children and who don’t want them to go back into the profession. I met some of the girls from our Union on Thursday, and as of now, I know of at least 800 bar dancers who are waiting eagerly for the bars to open," she said.

The activist said she is happy with the modified rules of having three-foot high railings between the stage and the patrons, since it will ensure that the girls are safe.

"In the past, men used to climb up on the stage and grope the women at times. This railing will help them feel safer."

Kale said that while the government and police fear that re-opening bars will attarct anti-social elements in the city, they should up their ante in nabbing them, instead of blaming the bars. "The CCTV cameras at the entrance of the bars should suffice in helping them," she finished.

--------------------

*Also read...*

*Dance bars set to open in Mumbai, but no CCTV cameras*

*Comply with modified conditions, and get licence: SC to dance bar owners in Mumbai*

*SC seeks reply of Maharashtra Police on objections by dance bars*

*Maharashtra government promoting dance bars by dropping licenses: NCP*

*Maharashtra government is not in favour of reopening dance bars: Devendra Fadnavis* Reported by Mid-Day 23 hours ago.

The Jimmy Fallon Show is possibly one of the most popular talk shows in America. And guess who was his guest for the week? Priyanka Chopra! Yes, our desi girl was the first Indian ever to be on the show and she absolutely nailed it.

In a sexy black LBD, Priyanka looked stunning but wait for it, her answers brought her more cheers for sure. Witty, funny and intelligent, here's a list of 7 interesting rebelations PC made while being on the show! 

*Baywatch mein cameo kiska?*
She's the main villain in Baywatch, which is also her debut Hollywood project. But she revealed that there's someone who will make a special appearance in the film. "David Hasselhoff will be doing a cameo in Baywatch. He had to do a cameo. There is no way we could do Baywatch without him. I mean, we could, but it's great that he is doing it," Priyanka smiled. 

*Jimmy doing the Namaste!*
 "I want to give a big shoutout to people in India. I miss you! Namaste India," she said right in the beginning. Not just that, Priyanka also taught Jimmy how to greet the people in Hindi. And he was quite a sport.

*New York isn't new!*
For everyone who feels that PC is just starting off as a newbie to American culture, she has one thing to say. What's that? "I was studying in New York, flushing Queens. I was in Robert F Kennedy High School. I want to prove I was actually there or people will say I am just saying things. "

*Miss India? Thank my mom!*
Priyanka's success story started after she won the Miss India contest years back. "My mom thought I had grown pretty so she sent my pictures to Miss India. I won that, then they sent me to Miss World and I won that too," she said. 

*Two for Quantico*
If you've loved Alex Parrish and her show Quantico, then you'll be glad to hear that the show has been picked up for its second season. Yay! An excited PC revealed, "While I was on my way to Jimmy Fallon is when I got the text message saying Quantico is renewed for another season."

*Nothing's changed*
While in New York for studies, PC said she used to love to gorge on pizzas and hot dogs. And that hasn't changed even now. Sample? "My favourite thing about New York is the food. The pizza, the hot dogs. Today, the first thing I did was have a hot dog at a hot dog stand," claimed foodie Piggy Chops!

*#FallonInIndia*
After making her appearance on Jimmy's show, she made it very clear. Fallon has to visit India now. "We have to bring you to India," she said. Hope that happens soon. 

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Sat, 5 Mar 2016-06:57pm
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From Print Edition:  Reported by DNA 18 hours ago.

150 women students, who are earning and studying in a Pune-based school meant for adult education have proved that age is no bar for learning.

40-year-old Rajani Ohal, a resident of Marketyard was thrown out of her home 12 years ago when she was six months pregnant. She returned home after delivering a baby boy only to be thrashed by her husband, who also threatened to kill her and her son. He went on to marry another woman. Rajani initially approached a lawyer but was turned away as she was illiterate. She then started living with her son and her brother. She worked as door keeper in a private school to make ends meet and would wash utensils in other people's houses.

Rajani recalls, "From childhood I was keen in studies but our parents were poor and could not afford education to three siblings. Later, I quit my education and assisted mother as a hawker. After I turned 18 my mother forced me into marriage. After spending two years with my husband I realized he was not a decent man and would torture me a lot. He threw me out of the house six months after our son was conceived. Later after my delivery he didn't accept me. My brother was my strength and told me that I have to live for my son Nikhil, who is our only ray of hope. Accordingly, I worked day and night so that I won't be a burden to my brothers for my son's education."

She went on, "Initially I earned Rs 3000 and was able to afford for his education. But now as he is growing up his fees are increasing. When I would go for a job interview, I'd be denied a good position as I was not even tenth pass. Later, I went to various schools to requested them to grant me admission but was denied. It was then that I came to know about the Ramabai Ranade school. I took up admission in class eight and now I am in tenth standard. My son Nikhil, who is 12-years-old is also studying in class eight. Initially, when I tried to teach my son he would claim studies are very difficult and to show him it's not I became a student. Now we both study together. He helps me in English and Marathi grammer while I help him in Mathematics."

She added, "On Saturday, I had my English board examination between 11 am to 2 pm. It was fine. Daily after my examination, my son would check my papers after coming home and tell me wheather I have written it right or wrong. He claims that I have written my paper well and can score 60 marks. He is my biggest strength and now acts like a father to me when it come to studies. After my tenth, I want to pursue college and study law. My dream is to become a lawyer and help other women like me."

51-year-old Kaushalya alias Kavita Pasalkar-Jagtap, who is currently studying in class sixth topped the exams last years with 78 per cent. Her elder son Pawan has appeared for his HSC exams in the commerce stream and her daughter Tejaswini is preparing for her SSC examinations. Kaushalya's husband Dattatraya works as a painter.

Kaushalya gets up early in the morning and leaves her house around 8.30 am to work as a domestic maid in six houses and later leaves for school around 11.30 am and returns home at 5.30 pm. After cooking for her husband and children she studies late at night. She topped her class last year in class fifth.

Kaushalya recalls, "I come from a poor background where girls weren't allowed to study. Somehow my parent struggle a lot to teach me and I could gain education till fourth standard. Later I quit my education for my brother who was handicap and he studied. Later I married but still somewhere in corner It hurted me that I wanted to study.”

She went on, "I work as a domestic maid in other people's houses so that my children can obtain the best education. Two years ago, my husband, who is a painter took me to this school and admitted me there claiming it was a gift on the occasion of our 20th anniversary. Last year I was in the fifth standard and had difficulty understanding science and mathematics. I was able to understand history and civics easily thanks to historical TV shows and Bollywood films."

She added, "My children help me with my studies and I teach my husband what I learnt today and that how its easy for me to understand and grab equally. I have made a point to study daily which helps me lot."

Smt. Ramabai Ranade High School for Adult Women is being run by the Sevasadan Society society in Pune. It's a Marathi medium school where admission is free of cost and female students from age 14 to senior citizens are studying from class first till tenth. The school has gained a stellar reputation as all students, who have appeared for the Std X board exams since the last four years have passed.

The school's Principal Swati Walimbe said, "It's a really difficult task to teach them as most of the women are between 35 to 40 years. The entire schooling is free as its government funded. It's challenge and our numbers have been increasing. To teach students at such an advanced age we employ a trick where we teach them basic information that they observe on a daily bases and this helps us. In case of children once the a chapter is taught it's not repeated but for such students the same chapter is taught thrice as we also have to finish the portion. I am glad that in four years all our batches, who were in tenth board examination have passed with flying colours. Some women wear uniform but we haven't made it compulsory as many are working and some of them still hide the fact that they are studying from their family."

http://images.mid-day.com/images/2014/nov/fraud-s.jpg*Representational picture*

The case was registered on Wednesday in Bharati Vidyapeeth police station after the victim Diksha Dattatraya Purale’s father, who is a policeman, noticed that she didn’t have her gold chain and rings on. She then told him all about the accused — Micky Jadhav (23) and his accomplice Chetan Patil (25) — who said with the help of their contacts in the education board they could get her marks increased if she paid them R1 lakh.

“I had scored 66 per cent marks in my HSC exams last year and that was too less to become a doctor. My classmate Suraj Uneha had introduced me to Micky on June 30, who assured me he could get my marks increased and would charge Rs 25,000 for each per cent increase,” said Diksha while adding that after negotiations the accused settled for Rs 20,000 a per cent and she asked them for a 5 per cent raise.

Diksha gave them Rs 5,000 she had received as pocket money but after two days when Micky asked for more claiming that he had to give it to a corrupt board employee, she gave him her gold chain. “I had no money and I did not want to burden my parents. So I gave him the gold chain my grandmother had gifted me on my birthday. But they kept on demanding more. They had said they would get me the desired result by August 2015,” added Diksha.

“When I asked Micky about the delay, he said that through the board employee the cops can get to me. But they said that if I paid them extra they could make it all go away. So I ended up giving them my gold rings,” said Diksha, a resident of Narhe in Sinhagad Road.

http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/mar/Tree-fall-s.jpg*Akshay Bhalshankar*

The incident took place at around 4.20 pm near Pune International Airport in Viman Nagar. While Akshay was declared dead by doctors, Santosh is undergoing treatment at Rakshak Hospital in Yerawada. A case of accidental death has been registered with the Viman Nagar police station, which falls under Pune city police jurisdiction. *The place where the incident took place*

Inspector Sanjay Kurundkar, in-charge of Viman Nagar police station, informed, “The deceased, Akshay was an electrician. Around 3.30 pm on Wednesday he came from his workstation and was playing games on his mobile handset while his neighbour, Ram, was watching him play games on his newly purchased mobile handset. Suddenly, lighting struck, and both Akshay and Ram collapsed. They were rushed to hospital, but Akshay died as he had received 80 per cent burn injures. Ram has 40 per cent injuries, is stable but in the intensive care unit.''

Speaking to mid-day, Ram said, “We all were playing cricket on the ground. Akshay came with his new smartphone. He was playing a new game, and I was watching it. Many friends were insisting we play cricket as Akshay was the best cricketer from our area, but he preferred to play the game on his mobile. Suddenly, the clouds started thundering and a huge lighting fell on us. I can’t recall what happened after that.”

Akshay’s father Vijay, who works as a car driver, lamented, “My son was the only hope for both of us to live, but today he is no more. He had got his first salary on Monday and had given to me, and his mother. On Monday evening, while having dinner, he said to us that he would draw a bigger salary soon. But, we didn’t knew that this would be his first and last salary.''

http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/mar/Fire-bus-s.jpg

The incident took place at Old Katraj Tunnel around 5 pm when the state transport bus was heading from Pune to Gujawane.

http://images.mid-day.com/images/2015/jun/27crime-s.jpg

The injured have been identified as Sampa Sinha (54) and her daughter Samiksha (25), from Kora village in Chhattisgarh. They had boarded the train from Bilaspur on Sunday and were seated at sleeper coach S-5. Both were rushed to a hospital by three Good Samaritans, local residents from Daund, who were waiting to board the train to Pune. They also approached the Railway Police. The victims are undergoing a treatment at Pyramid Hospital in Daund.

Narrating the incident, Sampa said, “From Sunday, we were travelling in the train. My daughter was sleeping, and I had kept my belongings in a bag, which I hung in an area near the berth. After that, I also slept. Usually women reservation seats are near the door, and toilet, which makes them a soft target for robbers. Around 5.15 am, someone opened the berth doors. I thought some person had kept it open for ventilator as the train had halted, and was waiting for the signal turned green. But, I realised that some unidentified person in the age group of 20-25 was pulling my bag lace.”

Sampa added, “I got up instantly, but before I could ask him anything, he started stabbing me with a sharp knife. Initially, I thought, there was only robber, so I held his hand tightly, but another boy came and can slit my hand. No one from train helped me. My daughter got up and she too was trying to nab them, but they were just stabbing us. There were three robbers in all, and they escaped with our bag. Later, when the train halted at the railway station platform at Daund, three boys helped us. One of the youths had his examination, still he helped us.”

Sampa informed that the youths saw them with blood stains and rushed them to the hospital in an auto. “I am really traumatised and never excepted such a thing to happen in Maharashtra,” she lamented.

Assistant Police Inspector Shyam Paware, of Daund Railway station, said, “The incident took place on Tuesday between 5-5.20 am when the train halted at Manmad side and was waiting for the signal to turn green. We rushed them to hospital along with three local residents. The victims are undergoing treatment. They are stable, but in trauma. “

Added Paware, “Samiksha completed her three-year fashion designing course from Pune. In February, she had come to her parent’s house after her examination was over. Sampa had travel to Pune to collect her daughter’s belonging, and they were to return back to their hometown on Friday.”

He added, “Soon after the incident, we, with the sniffer dog, tried to trace some clues. Some 30 feet away, we found the complainant’s bag and a few more feet away, we found her PAN card. We are probing the case, and will arrest the culprit soon.”

http://images.mid-day.com/images/2015/mar/17crimes-against-women-s.jpg

The incident took place on Saturday at around 10.15 pm at Salunke Vihar Road when Kaira, a German national who has been in Pune from October last year on a tourist visa, reached her place in Kondhwa with her boyfriend Anuj Anilkumar Saxena (30), a psychiatrist, and was looking for space to park their motorcycle. “A man in a car behind us began honking fiercely. When we asked him to move along, he started cursing and abusing Anuj. We tried to explain why we were on the road, but he began assaulting Anuj,” she said.

When she tried to intervene and stop the accused, identified as Edward, a bakery shop owner, he attacked her. “I tried to stop him but he manhandled me, pressed my neck and pushed me. I am not familiar with Indian law but I know that was manhandling. Later, Anuj approached Kondhwa police chowky and we assumed that they had filed an FIR. But when we got the copy of the complaint the next day we found that it was an NC.

This was upsetting and we again went to the cops, who asked us to call his superior, whose number was switched off. It’s when I threatened the police of informing the media and the German embassy, that they converted our complaint into an FIR.” added Kaira, who plans to stay in Pune till April.

*Police says*
Senior Inspector Rajendra Mokashi in-charge, Kondhwa police station, said they had no idea about Kaira being manhandling when they had registered the NC. “Initially, we had filed the NC based on Anuj’s statement about the fight and we were not told about Kaira. On Monday, Kaira told us that she was manhandled and claimed it should be a case of molestation. But the case does not fit the IPC sections for molestation. We will soon arrest Edward who is on the run,” said Mokashi.

Initially, the cops had filed an NC under Section 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) of IPC but in the FIR they added Sections 326 (Voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means), 352 (assault or criminal force otherwise than on grave provocation), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) and 506 (criminal intimidation).

http://images.mid-day.com/images/2015/dec/new-stop-rape-s.jpg

The Mundhwa police is probing the case and, based on the survivor's statement, has arrested all the accused on Sunday afternoon.

*
*
*Picture used for representational purpose only*

Inspector Pathan in-charge of Mundhwa police said, ''We are investigating the case. She is working in a BPO company situated at Hinjewadi IT park. She is on a high rank while one of the accused is working in the same company for the last one month. We are in a dilemma whether all the accused are involved in the crime or not. It will be confirmed only after completing a medical test of all the suspects on Monday at the Sassoon General Hospital.''

Inspector (crime) Rajendra Chavan of Mundhwa police station, said, "On Saturday, the company had organised an in-house party at their campus between 2 pm to 10 pm. The survivor knew the accused and had come to Gunjan Chowk in Yerawada to pick him up. The duo had gone to Mundhwa-based restaurant in the survivor's car. They had had alcohol and cocktail drinks at the restaurant. Thereafter, the girl was not in a position to drive back home, so the boy decided to accompany her till her home at Dhanori. By then, family members of the girl were calling on her mobile; however, she preferred to not receive the calls. They reached Dhanori area when the boy decided to visit his friends' flat as he too was drunk and did not want to go in such situation.''

He added, ''Accordingly, both the survivor and the boy had gone to the flat. At that time, others suspects were present in the flat.''

"As per the survivor's statement, she alleged that while leaving the flat, her body's private parts were aching. She had seen all other suspects in the flat. Based on her statement, we have arrested all the suspects on Sunday under relevant sections of IPC, 1860." Chavan informed.

http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/feb/Anil-Jaysinh-Kale-s.jpg*Anil Jaysinh Kale*

On Thursday night, a government employee died after two men, linked to the sand mafia, dashed into the scooter he was riding. The men who were in the Tavera attempted to flee but were chased down for two kilomteres by the police officers patrolling the area for the bandobast.

The arrest comes in the face of recent raids conducted on the mafia, which illegally dredges sand from the river banks, using mechanical boats.

Anil Jaysinh Kale (55), who worked as a driver for tehsildar Suryankant Yewale, has been identified as the deceased. The incident took place on Thursday, around 7 pm, when Kale was driving back home. After the Tavera crashed into him, Kale was rushed to the hospital, but was declared rbought dead.

The police have arrested Sachin Pandurang Mane and Navnath Kisan Ekad, who are from Bhatnimgoan in Indapur. A case of murder, rash driving and drinking under the influence of liquor has been registered against them. Inspector Madhukar Shinde in-charge of Indapur police station who is also investigating the case said, “For the past two months, the revenue department has been conducting various raids and penalising the sand mafia. Tahsildar Yewale and Kale would often visit the sand mafia’s secret operations and trap them. Yewale has received death threats by Ekad and his family members.”

http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/feb/Purnet-Moirangthem-s.jpg*Purnet Moirangthem (standing) is not familiar with dogs and admits he is wary of Labradors, “though it’s just psychological”. Pics/Mitali Parekh*

Students who have left their pets behind at home, gather for a cuddle and game in and out of the hostel. Dollar (black) and Pound (fawn) are housed in room number 243 of the boys’ hostel at the Yewale campus. After they grow a little, Pound will live at the girls’ hostel. The hostel wardens — Manisha Gaikwad and Ravindra Bodake — walk them every morning and evening for 45 minutes and 30 minutes respectively and oversee medication and feeding. There is a sign tacked to the board that prevents them from walking out, saying the dogs are not to be picked up. “The students kept picking them up and we noticed signs of discomfort, especially in Pound just after he had eaten,” says Lt Colonel (Retd) S Atholi, campus administrator of the Hill Top Lavale campus, who sent out a circular requesting students to not feed the puppies and refrain from picking.

*Dum dum, the stray campus pup who passed away, has been commemorated on the university’s student design project, including this varsity jacket; Pound hangs around the boys’ hostel on the Lavale campus*

“The campus has 1,500 students and they play with the puppies from 6 pm to 10 pm. Labradors need five km to eight km of walking every day, and when they grow up, just the walk from the Hill Top campus to the Hill Base — which is 2.5 km one way — will provide enough exercise.”

This is great in theory, and many people do gather to the boys’ hostel to play with the puppies, who at 1.5 months of age, spend most of their time sleeping. But, a breed of intuitive dog lovers are just as happy playing with the Indie and pariah dogs who live on the campus, including Amrutha Moorthy, Zarna Thakker and Akshay Julka. “The strays are as loved as these purebreds,” says Zarna loyally, who is studying for an MBA in innovation. She’s talking about Shakira who hangs around the hostels. She recently gave birth to a litter of six pups, all but one of which died due to a heat-related illness.

The last serving puppy, Dum Dum, recently succumbed to gastroenteritis. Zarna, who used to intern with a veterinarian during her college years, took it to the vet, but it was too late. Dum Dum has been commemorated on a design project of memorabilia and tchotchkes for the college.

Amrutha Moorthy, from Bengaluru, who is pursuing an MBA in Brand Communication, also spends time with the dogs who live on the campus. She reasons that pedigree dogs, who have been kept with the specific purpose of interaction with students, could assuage fears of those not used to dogs. Purnet Moirangthem from Manipur, who is doing a Masters degree in Film, confirms this. He hasn’t grown around animals and says, “I don’t know how a stray dog will react to a human. I have seen them behave violently. They must be terrified of what a human can do to them and since I don’t know how to read them, I am afraid I might threaten them unknowingly. So, I am more comfortable around a pedigree.”

Yerwadekar, who has a labrador at home, says she chose the breed because they are more docile. “They are easier to maintain. We brought them from a friend and have ex-Army officers on campus who will take care of them and give them domestic training so that they remain friendly and learn some commands.” She says there are strays on various campuses that they have “practically adopted,” with members of faculty taking charge of their vaccinations.

“Local dogs play the role of a therapist, without the formal designation or recognition,” says canine behaviourist Shirin Merchant, who is the only person outside Europe to be accredited by the Kennel Club of England in advanced Companion Dog training and Behavioural Training.

“People will tell you of a dog in their colony whom the watchman takes cares of, but who also gives them love and acts as a stress buster. For this role, you need a dog who truly enjoys human company and not just tolerates it,” she says. “It could belong to any breed. Local breeds such as pariahs and InDogs have an advantage over delicate purebreds in that they are more suited to the climate and have a stronger constitution. They also have an edge of innate intelligence — they know how to cross a road or to keep away from a human’s plate of food because they rely on this skill; pedigree dogs have to be taught this. Put a Labrador on the road and it will head straight for the traffic.”

Buying of dogs encourages an unregulated breeder eco-system that NGOs are trying to fight. The reasons are unethical and abusive methods of breeding and an unhygienic environment in which the puppies and parents are kept. Another concern is that of population control, especially with the number of dogs abandoned each week when humans can’t cope with their growth activity such as teething and hyperactivity. Yerawdekar says she hasn’t really thought about their sterilisation “since they are just puppies”.

http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/feb/Vijay-Kamble-s.jpg*Chaturshringi cops survey the spot at Hauman Tekdi where Vijay Kamble (below) raped the girl on Wednesday evening*

Acting on her complaint, police officials swung into action and picked up eight youths and finally arrested the culprit last evening. The accused was identified as Vijay Kumar Kamble (21), a resident of Pandav temple area in Wadarwadi. Kamble was booked under sections 376 (rape) and 380 (thief) of the Indian Penal Code and will be produced in the court today.

A police officer said the survivor hails from West Bengal and had come to Pune last July to pursue higher studies. A first-year student of BSc (Economics), she resides in a rented apartment with her classmate. She is currently undergoing treatment at the Sassoon General Hospital.

*Cop speak*
Inspector Arun Sawant, in-charge of Chaturshringi police station, said, “She attends college from 8 am and 2 pm. After lunch, she exercises at the campus gym from 4.30 pm to 6 pm. She then visits Hanuman tekdi to meditate, followed by a reading session at the pagoda. In the past, we had informed college authorities to ask students to avoid visiting such secluded spots, as there are chances of getting mugged or other untoward incidents.”

He added that the incident took place on Wednesday around 7 pm when the survivor was reading. “Someone hugged her from behind and then gagged. Later, he asked her hand over all the money she had. After the girl gave her bag, the accused dragged her for about 20-feet towards an isolated spot and raped her. When she tried to scream, he once again gagged her. Upon hearing footsteps approaching in their direction, the accused fled the spot with her bag containing a cellphone, an ATM card, shoes and headphones.”

Sawant said a duo, which had come for its evening walk spotted the girl. But she informed them only about the robbery. “Despite chasing Kamble, he managed to escape. Later, the girl went home and informed her roommate, who then informed her parents. It was the girl’s her father who suggested they lodge a police complaint. Based on the girl’s description of the accused — a man in his early 20s, wearing a white-coloured shirt and trousers — we detained eight for their past involvement in mischievous activities on the tekdi.”

Investigating officer PSI S B Patil said investigation lead them to Kamble, a history-sheeter.

She added, “He has a record of targeting people at the tekdi. He was missing when we went to his residence for questioning. We got a tip-off that he was trying to sell the girl’s handset at the same tekdi. We immediately laid a trap and nabbed him. Investigation revealed that a robbery case has been registered against him at Deccan Gymkhana police station in 2015.”Related stories...*Woman raped by gym instructor during Valentine's Day party*

*Woman allegedly raped in Infosys campus in Pune, 2 arrested*

*Pune: Woman murdered, raped by alcoholic son*

*Crimes against women in Maharashtra shot up by 46%*

*Pune school to face action in 6-year-old's rape case*

*Pune Crime: Robbers assault, gang-rape newly-married 19-year-old*

http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/feb/Sanjay-Dutt-crowd-a-s.jpg

*Also Read: Sanjay Dutt feels his wife Maanayata suffered more than him*

*Fans swarmed around the actor after he was released from jail. Pic/Pradeep Dhivar*

What he did next was very much like a scene from one of his movies — “Dutt took the money and kept in his shirt pocket. He said, ‘Mahatma Gandhi is with me’ ”, recalled an official in the prison industry department.

*Photos: Sanjay Dutt is back home, Bollywood friends and family meet him
**One of the many letters Sanjay Dutt wrote as he stayed up on his last night in prison*

Sources said everybody at the jail will miss the jaadu ki jhappi he would give inmates whenever they were missing their families. Even on the night before he left, he did forget his fellow prisoners. Anxious to get home, Dutt didn’t sleep a wink the entire night, and used the time to write little letters of encouragement and appreciation for fellow inmates and others who had helped him.

“He had bought chart paper, soap, shampoo, powder pens and a ruler. Through the night, he was busy scribbling out letters on the chart paper. Dutt also wrote about some of his memories from prison. He kept asking for the time every 15 minutes,” said an officer deputed outside Dutt’s cell.

*Also Read: Cops beat up photographers covering Sanjay Dutt's visit to temple*

He added, “Around 8 am, Dutt handed over around 50 colourful slips of chart paper to Superintendent Pawar, in which he had written letters. Some of them were for jail officials like constables and sentries, others were for those who volunteered to help needy prisoners.”

One such person who received a hand-written and signed letter from Dutt was Pune-based lawyer Aatish Landge, who is a volunteer with the Pune District Legal Service Authority (see pic).

“Dutt had kept his bag packed since Tuesday. By 7 am, he was ready to go out. He had cleaned his room and watered the sapling he had planted near his cell. Around 7.20 am, he was summoned by the prison authorities was taken to the administration room,” said the official.

Dutt’s biometrics were checked and he underwent a medical check-up.

“His weight was down by 10 kg and his waist was five inches smaller. Officials checked and gave him his belongings like his blanket, plate, mug and bucket,” said a jail official.

When Dutt’s name was announced and he began to exit, other prison inmates called out ‘Sanju Baba’ and clapped — this is a prison tradition for when an inmate is set free.

http://images.mid-day.com/images/2014/nov/20-Sanjay-Dutt_s.jpg*Sanjay Dutt*

"He was not willing to wear prison uniform during his initial stay at the Arthur road prison. He, however, complied after being told in stern words," said Deputy Inspector General, Prisons (jail administration) Swati Sathe recalling the Bollywood celebrity's stint as a convict behind bars.

Asked to describe Dutt's daily routine at Yerawada Central Prison (YCP) where he spent most of his five-year sentence under the Arms Act, Sathe said he followed the same drill meant for other prisoners.

"This meant getting up at 5.30 AM, offering morning prayers, exercise, tea, breakfast, and then work cut out for the day. While other prisoners went to the work shed to undertake their prescribed work, Dutt, assigned cane work and making of paper bags, did it in his own cell for security considerations," she added.

The officer said Dutt played his part in entertaining the inmates doing the role of "Radio Jockey" for the inner circuit YCP radio, compeering songs with the script.

Dutt served 42 months in Yerawada as a part of his five-year sentence in the bomb blasts case. The 56-year-old actor had at the time of his arrest served 18 months in jail and later in May 2013 he surrendered to serve the remainder of his sentence. His release today is 103 days ahead of the end of his full prison term.

--------------------

*Related stories...*

*Sanjay Dutt walks free: Bollywood actor released from Yerawada Jail*

*Sanjay Dutt's home run: All the dope from actor's last day at Yerawada Jail*

*Sanjay Dutt to have 'relaxed day' with family after release*

*Manoj Bajpayee, Rajkummar Rao 'delighted' at Sanjay Dutt's release*

*Sanjay Dutt's daughter Trishala is excited about her father's release from jail*

*Why leniency only to Sanjay Dutt? Prisoner files PIL*

*Here's a low-down on Sanjay Dutt's homecoming plans*

*Sanjay Dutt earned a grand total of Rs 440 in 3.5-year jail stint*

*Mumbai restaurant to offer 'Chicken Sanju Baba' free to celebrate actor's freedom*

http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/feb/25-Sanjay-Dutt-home-2-s.jpg

Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt walked out of Pune's Yerawada Jail on Thursday morning at 8:35 am, after serving 42 months of his five-year prison term at Yerawada Central Prison following his conviction in a case related to the 1993 serial blasts.

*Sanjay Dutt with his wife Manyata and kids at a press conference at his building Imperial Heights in Bandra Pic/Atul Kamble*

Whether it was the aiport in Pune or in Mumbai, fans turned up everywhere to cheer for the actor, who is now a free man ahaving served his sentence.

His well-wishers also reached the Siddhivinayak temple, where devotees gave him a rousing welcome.

*(View pictures: Sanjay Dutt visits Siddhivinayak Temple)*

A horde of the actor's admirers also gathered outside the flower-decorated Imperial Heights building in Pali Hill here, adding to the celebratory spirit of the surroundings, which had myriad posters featuring Bollywood's beloved 'Munna Bhai'.

*Sanjay Dutt in the company of his family. Pic/Atul Kamble*

Fans danced to the beats of dhol outside the gate of the house of the actor, who was dressed in a blue shirt and a pair of denims. The 56-year-old made his way to his house through a sea of fans who raised their smartphones up in the air to capture the moment. Even as the "Khalnayak" star walked amid security, the fans showered their love by decorating him with garlands.

*Pic/Atul Kamble*

Sanjay, who was very close to his parents, also sought their blessings. Before heading home, he visited his mother's (Nargis) grave in Marine Lines here, and later at his residential building, he stood with folded hands in front of a portrait of his father, Sunil Dutt.

***Watch the video of Sanjay Dutt's release from Yerawada Jail*

 

Dutt (convict number 16656) was serving his sentence housed in a solitary cell at Yerawada near the hanging yard since May 22, 2013.

Present to receive him outside the jail amidst tight security were his wife Maanayata and their children, sister and former MP Priya Dutt and her family, film director Rajkumar Hirani, thousands of fans, a huge media contingent from across India and abroad.

256 days were waived off from the 56-year-old actor's sentence due to good behaviour in prison.*Fans, policemen and members of the media gathered outside Pune's Yerawada's Central Prison as Sanjay Dutt walks out. Pic/Chaitraly Deshmukh*

Sanjay Dutt boarded a chartered plane at Pune International Airport with his family. The actor is believed to have said, "Zulm Karke kisi ka bhala nahi hoga (No one benefits after committing crimes)", before boarding.*A large team of police officers were stationed outside Yerawada Jail before Sanjay Dutt's release*

The actor landed in Mumbai airport around 11:15 am, from where he proceeded to the famed Siddhivinayak Temple to offer his prayers. The next stop was the Baba Kabrastan where the grave of his mother, the late actress Nargis Dutt, is located. He prayed there too.

Dutt sported a dark blue shirt and jeans, minus his traditional sunglasses, salt-pepper sparse hair and a stubbly beard, appearing physically weary but mentally relaxed.

Near his Bandra home, there was a contingent of drummers who played a deafening welcome tune for Dutt.

Ther were also large posters and huge banners welcoming the actor, and a special poster welcoming 'Papa' and 'Uncle' and 'Bro' from his wife and kids, sisters, nieces and nephews.

There were celebrations of different types organised by his fans and well-wishers.

These include a free meal of 'Chicken Sanju Baba' at south Mumbai's Noor Mohammadi Hotel, 50 percent discount on all meals and free servings of a specially created item 'Bhai-Baba Chal Mere Bhai' at the Bhaijaanz Restaurant in Bandra, while an autorickshaw driver Sandeep Bachche offered free rides in Bandra to mark his freedom.

Of the five-year sentence, Sanjay Dutt has served more than 50 months in two installments, excluding the parole and furlough he was granted at various times on different grounds.

He spent 18 months in jail as an undertrial before he was granted bail and later, following a Supreme Court order in May 2013, he was sent to the Yerawada Jail to serve the remaining 42 months of his five-year sentence.

*(With inputs from *IANS*)**Related stories...*

*Sanjay Dutt's home run: All the dope from actor's last day at Yerawada Jail*

*Sanjay Dutt to have 'relaxed day' with family after release*

*Manoj Bajpayee, Rajkummar Rao 'delighted' at Sanjay Dutt's release*

*Sanjay Dutt's daughter Trishala is excited about her father's release from jail*

*Why leniency only to Sanjay Dutt? Prisoner files PIL*

*Here's a low-down on Sanjay Dutt's homecoming plans*

*Sanjay Dutt earned a grand total of Rs 440 in 3.5-year jail stint*

*Mumbai restaurant to offer 'Chicken Sanju Baba' free to celebrate actor's freedom*

http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/feb/25-Sanjay-Dutt_s.jpg*Sanju returns: Sanjay Dutt will be released from the Pune prison today after he was granted remission in his five-year sentence. File pic*

Dutt (convict number 16656) has served 42 months of his five-year prison term at Pune’s Yerawada Central Prison following his conviction in a case related to the 1993 serial blasts. The 56-year-old will be released this morning after 256 days were waived off from his sentence due to good behaviour in prison.*Sanjay Dutt's sister Priya and her husband Owen Roncon discuss the actor’s homecoming preparations with the police. Pics/Pradeep Dhivar*
**

While Dutt started his day by mending his torn prison uniform, his family and an army of servants worked to decorate his residence at Pali Hill and make preparations for his homecoming. “During his bath, he realised his jail uniform had torn from the shoulder. He requested for a needle and thread, and mended his clothes,” said a source, adding, “Later at 11 am, he went to the prison radio station and began his show ‘Aap ki Farmaish’."

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As it was his last day in prison, many inmates had sent in requests for songs and dialogues from his movies, but apart from Chithhi aai hai, none of the songs were from Dutt’s films.*Dutt's Pali Hill residence and his car are prepared to welcome him home from prison.*

“Many demanded that the show be themed on him as a send-off, but we rejected this suggestion as he is an ordinary convict. We wanted to avoid any chaos resulting from a special show, in case other inmates got offended. We have appointed another jail inmate who will take over his role as RJ and to avoid any issues, we have made pre-recordings of five more shows with Dutt,” said a source.

An official added, “As per the process, the prisoner will be released in the morning. To avoid any chaos, we will complete the process and send him perhaps as early as 9 or 10 am.”

Deputy Inspector General (Prisons) Dr Bhushan Kumar Upadhyay told mid-day, “No special farewell has been arranged for Sanjay Dutt. He will be released from the first gate as per the prison manual.”

The police said that his family had arranged a private chartered plane. “We have requested the family not come to prison to greet him, and instead meet him at the airport. Security will be deployed outside the prison at 6 am and a huge police bandobast has been planned for the 2 km from the prison till the airport. No protection has been arranged for Dutt,” said a cop.*Last day in prison*
>> Dutt woke up early at 6.30 am, did some yoga and exercised for a while
>> He had breakfast, along with a few dry fruits he had ordered from the prison canteen with his pocket money
>> After his bath, he mended his torn uniform
>> He went on an hour-long stroll in the prison compound with 1993 Mumbai blasts convict Yusuf Nalwala, who occupies the adjacent cell
>> After smoking a bidi from the canteen, at 11 am Dutt proceeded to the radio station to work on his show
>> He also pre-recorded a few shows which will be aired after his release
>> He bid farewell to fellow inmates and began to prepare for his return home

*Sanju wants his chair*
In 2007, while Dutt was engaged in carpentry work at the prison, he made a bamboo chair. Initially, the prison authorities had planned to place the chair on auction, but changed their minds after they got an overwhelming response. The chair was used by the prison superintendent initially, but a month later, it was kept in the godown. Dutt has expressed a desire to purchase the chair and keep it in his bungalow, but the authorities are mum on this issue.

--------------------

*Related stories...*

*Sanjay Dutt to have 'relaxed day' with family after release*

*Manoj Bajpayee, Rajkummar Rao 'delighted' at Sanjay Dutt's release*

*Sanjay Dutt's daughter Trishala is excited about her father's release from jail*

*Why leniency only to Sanjay Dutt? Prisoner files PIL*

*Here's a low-down on Sanjay Dutt's homecoming plans*

*Sanjay Dutt earned a grand total of Rs 440 in 3.5-year jail stint*

*Mumbai restaurant to offer 'Chicken Sanju Baba' free to celebrate actor's freedom*

*Thursday mega release: Actor Sanjay Dutt to walk free on Feb 25* Reported by Mid-Day 1 hour ago.

150 women students, who are earning and studying in a Pune-based school meant for adult education have proved that age is no bar for learning.

40-year-old Rajani Ohal, a resident of Marketyard was thrown out of her home 12 years ago when she was six months pregnant. She returned home after delivering a baby boy only to be thrashed by her husband, who also threatened to kill her and her son. He went on to marry another woman. Rajani initially approached a lawyer but was turned away as she was illiterate. She then started living with her son and her brother. She worked as door keeper in a private school to make ends meet and would wash utensils in other people's houses.

Rajani recalls, "From childhood I was keen in studies but our parents were poor and could not afford education to three siblings. Later, I quit my education and assisted mother as a hawker. After I turned 18 my mother forced me into marriage. After spending two years with my husband I realized he was not a decent man and would torture me a lot. He threw me out of the house six months after our son was conceived. Later after my delivery he didn't accept me. My brother was my strength and told me that I have to live for my son Nikhil, who is our only ray of hope. Accordingly, I worked day and night so that I won't be a burden to my brothers for my son's education."

She went on, "Initially I earned Rs 3000 and was able to afford for his education. But now as he is growing up his fees are increasing. When I would go for a job interview, I'd be denied a good position as I was not even tenth pass. Later, I went to various schools to requested them to grant me admission but was denied. It was then that I came to know about the Ramabai Ranade school. I took up admission in class eight and now I am in tenth standard. My son Nikhil, who is 12-years-old is also studying in class eight. Initially, when I tried to teach my son he would claim studies are very difficult and to show him it's not I became a student. Now we both study together. He helps me in English and Marathi grammer while I help him in Mathematics."

She added, "On Saturday, I had my English board examination between 11 am to 2 pm. It was fine. Daily after my examination, my son would check my papers after coming home and tell me wheather I have written it right or wrong. He claims that I have written my paper well and can score 60 marks. He is my biggest strength and now acts like a father to me when it come to studies. After my tenth, I want to pursue college and study law. My dream is to become a lawyer and help other women like me."

51-year-old Kaushalya alias Kavita Pasalkar-Jagtap, who is currently studying in class sixth topped the exams last years with 78 per cent. Her elder son Pawan has appeared for his HSC exams in the commerce stream and her daughter Tejaswini is preparing for her SSC examinations. Kaushalya's husband Dattatraya works as a painter.

Kaushalya gets up early in the morning and leaves her house around 8.30 am to work as a domestic maid in six houses and later leaves for school around 11.30 am and returns home at 5.30 pm. After cooking for her husband and children she studies late at night. She topped her class last year in class fifth.

Kaushalya recalls, "I come from a poor background where girls weren't allowed to study. Somehow my parent struggle a lot to teach me and I could gain education till fourth standard. Later I quit my education for my brother who was handicap and he studied. Later I married but still somewhere in corner It hurted me that I wanted to study.”

She went on, "I work as a domestic maid in other people's houses so that my children can obtain the best education. Two years ago, my husband, who is a painter took me to this school and admitted me there claiming it was a gift on the occasion of our 20th anniversary. Last year I was in the fifth standard and had difficulty understanding science and mathematics. I was able to understand history and civics easily thanks to historical TV shows and Bollywood films."

She added, "My children help me with my studies and I teach my husband what I learnt today and that how its easy for me to understand and grab equally. I have made a point to study daily which helps me lot."

Smt. Ramabai Ranade High School for Adult Women is being run by the Sevasadan Society society in Pune. It's a Marathi medium school where admission is free of cost and female students from age 14 to senior citizens are studying from class first till tenth. The school has gained a stellar reputation as all students, who have appeared for the Std X board exams since the last four years have passed.

The school's Principal Swati Walimbe said, "It's a really difficult task to teach them as most of the women are between 35 to 40 years. The entire schooling is free as its government funded. It's challenge and our numbers have been increasing. To teach students at such an advanced age we employ a trick where we teach them basic information that they observe on a daily bases and this helps us. In case of children once the a chapter is taught it's not repeated but for such students the same chapter is taught thrice as we also have to finish the portion. I am glad that in four years all our batches, who were in tenth board examination have passed with flying colours. Some women wear uniform but we haven't made it compulsory as many are working and some of them still hide the fact that they are studying from their family."

http://images.mid-day.com/images/2014/nov/fraud-s.jpg*Representational picture*

The case was registered on Wednesday in Bharati Vidyapeeth police station after the victim Diksha Dattatraya Purale’s father, who is a policeman, noticed that she didn’t have her gold chain and rings on. She then told him all about the accused — Micky Jadhav (23) and his accomplice Chetan Patil (25) — who said with the help of their contacts in the education board they could get her marks increased if she paid them R1 lakh.

“I had scored 66 per cent marks in my HSC exams last year and that was too less to become a doctor. My classmate Suraj Uneha had introduced me to Micky on June 30, who assured me he could get my marks increased and would charge Rs 25,000 for each per cent increase,” said Diksha while adding that after negotiations the accused settled for Rs 20,000 a per cent and she asked them for a 5 per cent raise.

Diksha gave them Rs 5,000 she had received as pocket money but after two days when Micky asked for more claiming that he had to give it to a corrupt board employee, she gave him her gold chain. “I had no money and I did not want to burden my parents. So I gave him the gold chain my grandmother had gifted me on my birthday. But they kept on demanding more. They had said they would get me the desired result by August 2015,” added Diksha.

“When I asked Micky about the delay, he said that through the board employee the cops can get to me. But they said that if I paid them extra they could make it all go away. So I ended up giving them my gold rings,” said Diksha, a resident of Narhe in Sinhagad Road.

http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/mar/Tree-fall-s.jpg*Akshay Bhalshankar*

The incident took place at around 4.20 pm near Pune International Airport in Viman Nagar. While Akshay was declared dead by doctors, Santosh is undergoing treatment at Rakshak Hospital in Yerawada. A case of accidental death has been registered with the Viman Nagar police station, which falls under Pune city police jurisdiction. *The place where the incident took place*

Inspector Sanjay Kurundkar, in-charge of Viman Nagar police station, informed, “The deceased, Akshay was an electrician. Around 3.30 pm on Wednesday he came from his workstation and was playing games on his mobile handset while his neighbour, Ram, was watching him play games on his newly purchased mobile handset. Suddenly, lighting struck, and both Akshay and Ram collapsed. They were rushed to hospital, but Akshay died as he had received 80 per cent burn injures. Ram has 40 per cent injuries, is stable but in the intensive care unit.''

Speaking to mid-day, Ram said, “We all were playing cricket on the ground. Akshay came with his new smartphone. He was playing a new game, and I was watching it. Many friends were insisting we play cricket as Akshay was the best cricketer from our area, but he preferred to play the game on his mobile. Suddenly, the clouds started thundering and a huge lighting fell on us. I can’t recall what happened after that.”

Akshay’s father Vijay, who works as a car driver, lamented, “My son was the only hope for both of us to live, but today he is no more. He had got his first salary on Monday and had given to me, and his mother. On Monday evening, while having dinner, he said to us that he would draw a bigger salary soon. But, we didn’t knew that this would be his first and last salary.''

http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/mar/Fire-bus-s.jpg

The incident took place at Old Katraj Tunnel around 5 pm when the state transport bus was heading from Pune to Gujawane.

http://images.mid-day.com/images/2015/jun/27crime-s.jpg

The injured have been identified as Sampa Sinha (54) and her daughter Samiksha (25), from Kora village in Chhattisgarh. They had boarded the train from Bilaspur on Sunday and were seated at sleeper coach S-5. Both were rushed to a hospital by three Good Samaritans, local residents from Daund, who were waiting to board the train to Pune. They also approached the Railway Police. The victims are undergoing a treatment at Pyramid Hospital in Daund.

Narrating the incident, Sampa said, “From Sunday, we were travelling in the train. My daughter was sleeping, and I had kept my belongings in a bag, which I hung in an area near the berth. After that, I also slept. Usually women reservation seats are near the door, and toilet, which makes them a soft target for robbers. Around 5.15 am, someone opened the berth doors. I thought some person had kept it open for ventilator as the train had halted, and was waiting for the signal turned green. But, I realised that some unidentified person in the age group of 20-25 was pulling my bag lace.”

Sampa added, “I got up instantly, but before I could ask him anything, he started stabbing me with a sharp knife. Initially, I thought, there was only robber, so I held his hand tightly, but another boy came and can slit my hand. No one from train helped me. My daughter got up and she too was trying to nab them, but they were just stabbing us. There were three robbers in all, and they escaped with our bag. Later, when the train halted at the railway station platform at Daund, three boys helped us. One of the youths had his examination, still he helped us.”

Sampa informed that the youths saw them with blood stains and rushed them to the hospital in an auto. “I am really traumatised and never excepted such a thing to happen in Maharashtra,” she lamented.

Assistant Police Inspector Shyam Paware, of Daund Railway station, said, “The incident took place on Tuesday between 5-5.20 am when the train halted at Manmad side and was waiting for the signal to turn green. We rushed them to hospital along with three local residents. The victims are undergoing treatment. They are stable, but in trauma. “

Added Paware, “Samiksha completed her three-year fashion designing course from Pune. In February, she had come to her parent’s house after her examination was over. Sampa had travel to Pune to collect her daughter’s belonging, and they were to return back to their hometown on Friday.”

He added, “Soon after the incident, we, with the sniffer dog, tried to trace some clues. Some 30 feet away, we found the complainant’s bag and a few more feet away, we found her PAN card. We are probing the case, and will arrest the culprit soon.”

http://images.mid-day.com/images/2015/mar/17crimes-against-women-s.jpg

The incident took place on Saturday at around 10.15 pm at Salunke Vihar Road when Kaira, a German national who has been in Pune from October last year on a tourist visa, reached her place in Kondhwa with her boyfriend Anuj Anilkumar Saxena (30), a psychiatrist, and was looking for space to park their motorcycle. “A man in a car behind us began honking fiercely. When we asked him to move along, he started cursing and abusing Anuj. We tried to explain why we were on the road, but he began assaulting Anuj,” she said.

When she tried to intervene and stop the accused, identified as Edward, a bakery shop owner, he attacked her. “I tried to stop him but he manhandled me, pressed my neck and pushed me. I am not familiar with Indian law but I know that was manhandling. Later, Anuj approached Kondhwa police chowky and we assumed that they had filed an FIR. But when we got the copy of the complaint the next day we found that it was an NC.

This was upsetting and we again went to the cops, who asked us to call his superior, whose number was switched off. It’s when I threatened the police of informing the media and the German embassy, that they converted our complaint into an FIR.” added Kaira, who plans to stay in Pune till April.

*Police says*
Senior Inspector Rajendra Mokashi in-charge, Kondhwa police station, said they had no idea about Kaira being manhandling when they had registered the NC. “Initially, we had filed the NC based on Anuj’s statement about the fight and we were not told about Kaira. On Monday, Kaira told us that she was manhandled and claimed it should be a case of molestation. But the case does not fit the IPC sections for molestation. We will soon arrest Edward who is on the run,” said Mokashi.

Initially, the cops had filed an NC under Section 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) of IPC but in the FIR they added Sections 326 (Voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means), 352 (assault or criminal force otherwise than on grave provocation), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) and 506 (criminal intimidation).

http://images.mid-day.com/images/2015/dec/new-stop-rape-s.jpg

The Mundhwa police is probing the case and, based on the survivor's statement, has arrested all the accused on Sunday afternoon.

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*Picture used for representational purpose only*

Inspector Pathan in-charge of Mundhwa police said, ''We are investigating the case. She is working in a BPO company situated at Hinjewadi IT park. She is on a high rank while one of the accused is working in the same company for the last one month. We are in a dilemma whether all the accused are involved in the crime or not. It will be confirmed only after completing a medical test of all the suspects on Monday at the Sassoon General Hospital.''

Inspector (crime) Rajendra Chavan of Mundhwa police station, said, "On Saturday, the company had organised an in-house party at their campus between 2 pm to 10 pm. The survivor knew the accused and had come to Gunjan Chowk in Yerawada to pick him up. The duo had gone to Mundhwa-based restaurant in the survivor's car. They had had alcohol and cocktail drinks at the restaurant. Thereafter, the girl was not in a position to drive back home, so the boy decided to accompany her till her home at Dhanori. By then, family members of the girl were calling on her mobile; however, she preferred to not receive the calls. They reached Dhanori area when the boy decided to visit his friends' flat as he too was drunk and did not want to go in such situation.''

He added, ''Accordingly, both the survivor and the boy had gone to the flat. At that time, others suspects were present in the flat.''

"As per the survivor's statement, she alleged that while leaving the flat, her body's private parts were aching. She had seen all other suspects in the flat. Based on her statement, we have arrested all the suspects on Sunday under relevant sections of IPC, 1860." Chavan informed.

http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/feb/Anil-Jaysinh-Kale-s.jpg*Anil Jaysinh Kale*

On Thursday night, a government employee died after two men, linked to the sand mafia, dashed into the scooter he was riding. The men who were in the Tavera attempted to flee but were chased down for two kilomteres by the police officers patrolling the area for the bandobast.

The arrest comes in the face of recent raids conducted on the mafia, which illegally dredges sand from the river banks, using mechanical boats.

Anil Jaysinh Kale (55), who worked as a driver for tehsildar Suryankant Yewale, has been identified as the deceased. The incident took place on Thursday, around 7 pm, when Kale was driving back home. After the Tavera crashed into him, Kale was rushed to the hospital, but was declared rbought dead.

The police have arrested Sachin Pandurang Mane and Navnath Kisan Ekad, who are from Bhatnimgoan in Indapur. A case of murder, rash driving and drinking under the influence of liquor has been registered against them. Inspector Madhukar Shinde in-charge of Indapur police station who is also investigating the case said, “For the past two months, the revenue department has been conducting various raids and penalising the sand mafia. Tahsildar Yewale and Kale would often visit the sand mafia’s secret operations and trap them. Yewale has received death threats by Ekad and his family members.”

http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/feb/Purnet-Moirangthem-s.jpg*Purnet Moirangthem (standing) is not familiar with dogs and admits he is wary of Labradors, “though it’s just psychological”. Pics/Mitali Parekh*

Students who have left their pets behind at home, gather for a cuddle and game in and out of the hostel. Dollar (black) and Pound (fawn) are housed in room number 243 of the boys’ hostel at the Yewale campus. After they grow a little, Pound will live at the girls’ hostel. The hostel wardens — Manisha Gaikwad and Ravindra Bodake — walk them every morning and evening for 45 minutes and 30 minutes respectively and oversee medication and feeding. There is a sign tacked to the board that prevents them from walking out, saying the dogs are not to be picked up. “The students kept picking them up and we noticed signs of discomfort, especially in Pound just after he had eaten,” says Lt Colonel (Retd) S Atholi, campus administrator of the Hill Top Lavale campus, who sent out a circular requesting students to not feed the puppies and refrain from picking.

*Dum dum, the stray campus pup who passed away, has been commemorated on the university’s student design project, including this varsity jacket; Pound hangs around the boys’ hostel on the Lavale campus*

“The campus has 1,500 students and they play with the puppies from 6 pm to 10 pm. Labradors need five km to eight km of walking every day, and when they grow up, just the walk from the Hill Top campus to the Hill Base — which is 2.5 km one way — will provide enough exercise.”

This is great in theory, and many people do gather to the boys’ hostel to play with the puppies, who at 1.5 months of age, spend most of their time sleeping. But, a breed of intuitive dog lovers are just as happy playing with the Indie and pariah dogs who live on the campus, including Amrutha Moorthy, Zarna Thakker and Akshay Julka. “The strays are as loved as these purebreds,” says Zarna loyally, who is studying for an MBA in innovation. She’s talking about Shakira who hangs around the hostels. She recently gave birth to a litter of six pups, all but one of which died due to a heat-related illness.

The last serving puppy, Dum Dum, recently succumbed to gastroenteritis. Zarna, who used to intern with a veterinarian during her college years, took it to the vet, but it was too late. Dum Dum has been commemorated on a design project of memorabilia and tchotchkes for the college.

Amrutha Moorthy, from Bengaluru, who is pursuing an MBA in Brand Communication, also spends time with the dogs who live on the campus. She reasons that pedigree dogs, who have been kept with the specific purpose of interaction with students, could assuage fears of those not used to dogs. Purnet Moirangthem from Manipur, who is doing a Masters degree in Film, confirms this. He hasn’t grown around animals and says, “I don’t know how a stray dog will react to a human. I have seen them behave violently. They must be terrified of what a human can do to them and since I don’t know how to read them, I am afraid I might threaten them unknowingly. So, I am more comfortable around a pedigree.”

Yerwadekar, who has a labrador at home, says she chose the breed because they are more docile. “They are easier to maintain. We brought them from a friend and have ex-Army officers on campus who will take care of them and give them domestic training so that they remain friendly and learn some commands.” She says there are strays on various campuses that they have “practically adopted,” with members of faculty taking charge of their vaccinations.

“Local dogs play the role of a therapist, without the formal designation or recognition,” says canine behaviourist Shirin Merchant, who is the only person outside Europe to be accredited by the Kennel Club of England in advanced Companion Dog training and Behavioural Training.

“People will tell you of a dog in their colony whom the watchman takes cares of, but who also gives them love and acts as a stress buster. For this role, you need a dog who truly enjoys human company and not just tolerates it,” she says. “It could belong to any breed. Local breeds such as pariahs and InDogs have an advantage over delicate purebreds in that they are more suited to the climate and have a stronger constitution. They also have an edge of innate intelligence — they know how to cross a road or to keep away from a human’s plate of food because they rely on this skill; pedigree dogs have to be taught this. Put a Labrador on the road and it will head straight for the traffic.”

Buying of dogs encourages an unregulated breeder eco-system that NGOs are trying to fight. The reasons are unethical and abusive methods of breeding and an unhygienic environment in which the puppies and parents are kept. Another concern is that of population control, especially with the number of dogs abandoned each week when humans can’t cope with their growth activity such as teething and hyperactivity. Yerawdekar says she hasn’t really thought about their sterilisation “since they are just puppies”.

http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/feb/Vijay-Kamble-s.jpg*Chaturshringi cops survey the spot at Hauman Tekdi where Vijay Kamble (below) raped the girl on Wednesday evening*

Acting on her complaint, police officials swung into action and picked up eight youths and finally arrested the culprit last evening. The accused was identified as Vijay Kumar Kamble (21), a resident of Pandav temple area in Wadarwadi. Kamble was booked under sections 376 (rape) and 380 (thief) of the Indian Penal Code and will be produced in the court today.

A police officer said the survivor hails from West Bengal and had come to Pune last July to pursue higher studies. A first-year student of BSc (Economics), she resides in a rented apartment with her classmate. She is currently undergoing treatment at the Sassoon General Hospital.

*Cop speak*
Inspector Arun Sawant, in-charge of Chaturshringi police station, said, “She attends college from 8 am and 2 pm. After lunch, she exercises at the campus gym from 4.30 pm to 6 pm. She then visits Hanuman tekdi to meditate, followed by a reading session at the pagoda. In the past, we had informed college authorities to ask students to avoid visiting such secluded spots, as there are chances of getting mugged or other untoward incidents.”

He added that the incident took place on Wednesday around 7 pm when the survivor was reading. “Someone hugged her from behind and then gagged. Later, he asked her hand over all the money she had. After the girl gave her bag, the accused dragged her for about 20-feet towards an isolated spot and raped her. When she tried to scream, he once again gagged her. Upon hearing footsteps approaching in their direction, the accused fled the spot with her bag containing a cellphone, an ATM card, shoes and headphones.”

Sawant said a duo, which had come for its evening walk spotted the girl. But she informed them only about the robbery. “Despite chasing Kamble, he managed to escape. Later, the girl went home and informed her roommate, who then informed her parents. It was the girl’s her father who suggested they lodge a police complaint. Based on the girl’s description of the accused — a man in his early 20s, wearing a white-coloured shirt and trousers — we detained eight for their past involvement in mischievous activities on the tekdi.”

Investigating officer PSI S B Patil said investigation lead them to Kamble, a history-sheeter.

She added, “He has a record of targeting people at the tekdi. He was missing when we went to his residence for questioning. We got a tip-off that he was trying to sell the girl’s handset at the same tekdi. We immediately laid a trap and nabbed him. Investigation revealed that a robbery case has been registered against him at Deccan Gymkhana police station in 2015.”Related stories...*Woman raped by gym instructor during Valentine's Day party*

*Woman allegedly raped in Infosys campus in Pune, 2 arrested*

*Pune: Woman murdered, raped by alcoholic son*

*Crimes against women in Maharashtra shot up by 46%*

*Pune school to face action in 6-year-old's rape case*

*Pune Crime: Robbers assault, gang-rape newly-married 19-year-old*

http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/feb/Sanjay-Dutt-crowd-a-s.jpg

*Also Read: Sanjay Dutt feels his wife Maanayata suffered more than him*

*Fans swarmed around the actor after he was released from jail. Pic/Pradeep Dhivar*

What he did next was very much like a scene from one of his movies — “Dutt took the money and kept in his shirt pocket. He said, ‘Mahatma Gandhi is with me’ ”, recalled an official in the prison industry department.

*Photos: Sanjay Dutt is back home, Bollywood friends and family meet him
**One of the many letters Sanjay Dutt wrote as he stayed up on his last night in prison*

Sources said everybody at the jail will miss the jaadu ki jhappi he would give inmates whenever they were missing their families. Even on the night before he left, he did forget his fellow prisoners. Anxious to get home, Dutt didn’t sleep a wink the entire night, and used the time to write little letters of encouragement and appreciation for fellow inmates and others who had helped him.

“He had bought chart paper, soap, shampoo, powder pens and a ruler. Through the night, he was busy scribbling out letters on the chart paper. Dutt also wrote about some of his memories from prison. He kept asking for the time every 15 minutes,” said an officer deputed outside Dutt’s cell.

*Also Read: Cops beat up photographers covering Sanjay Dutt's visit to temple*

He added, “Around 8 am, Dutt handed over around 50 colourful slips of chart paper to Superintendent Pawar, in which he had written letters. Some of them were for jail officials like constables and sentries, others were for those who volunteered to help needy prisoners.”

One such person who received a hand-written and signed letter from Dutt was Pune-based lawyer Aatish Landge, who is a volunteer with the Pune District Legal Service Authority (see pic).

“Dutt had kept his bag packed since Tuesday. By 7 am, he was ready to go out. He had cleaned his room and watered the sapling he had planted near his cell. Around 7.20 am, he was summoned by the prison authorities was taken to the administration room,” said the official.

Dutt’s biometrics were checked and he underwent a medical check-up.

“His weight was down by 10 kg and his waist was five inches smaller. Officials checked and gave him his belongings like his blanket, plate, mug and bucket,” said a jail official.

When Dutt’s name was announced and he began to exit, other prison inmates called out ‘Sanju Baba’ and clapped — this is a prison tradition for when an inmate is set free.

http://images.mid-day.com/images/2014/nov/20-Sanjay-Dutt_s.jpg*Sanjay Dutt*

"He was not willing to wear prison uniform during his initial stay at the Arthur road prison. He, however, complied after being told in stern words," said Deputy Inspector General, Prisons (jail administration) Swati Sathe recalling the Bollywood celebrity's stint as a convict behind bars.

Asked to describe Dutt's daily routine at Yerawada Central Prison (YCP) where he spent most of his five-year sentence under the Arms Act, Sathe said he followed the same drill meant for other prisoners.

"This meant getting up at 5.30 AM, offering morning prayers, exercise, tea, breakfast, and then work cut out for the day. While other prisoners went to the work shed to undertake their prescribed work, Dutt, assigned cane work and making of paper bags, did it in his own cell for security considerations," she added.

The officer said Dutt played his part in entertaining the inmates doing the role of "Radio Jockey" for the inner circuit YCP radio, compeering songs with the script.

Dutt served 42 months in Yerawada as a part of his five-year sentence in the bomb blasts case. The 56-year-old actor had at the time of his arrest served 18 months in jail and later in May 2013 he surrendered to serve the remainder of his sentence. His release today is 103 days ahead of the end of his full prison term.

--------------------

*Related stories...*

*Sanjay Dutt walks free: Bollywood actor released from Yerawada Jail*

*Sanjay Dutt's home run: All the dope from actor's last day at Yerawada Jail*

*Sanjay Dutt to have 'relaxed day' with family after release*

*Manoj Bajpayee, Rajkummar Rao 'delighted' at Sanjay Dutt's release*

*Sanjay Dutt's daughter Trishala is excited about her father's release from jail*

*Why leniency only to Sanjay Dutt? Prisoner files PIL*

*Here's a low-down on Sanjay Dutt's homecoming plans*

*Sanjay Dutt earned a grand total of Rs 440 in 3.5-year jail stint*

*Mumbai restaurant to offer 'Chicken Sanju Baba' free to celebrate actor's freedom*

http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/feb/25-Sanjay-Dutt-home-2-s.jpg

Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt walked out of Pune's Yerawada Jail on Thursday morning at 8:35 am, after serving 42 months of his five-year prison term at Yerawada Central Prison following his conviction in a case related to the 1993 serial blasts.

*Sanjay Dutt with his wife Manyata and kids at a press conference at his building Imperial Heights in Bandra Pic/Atul Kamble*

Whether it was the aiport in Pune or in Mumbai, fans turned up everywhere to cheer for the actor, who is now a free man ahaving served his sentence.

His well-wishers also reached the Siddhivinayak temple, where devotees gave him a rousing welcome.

*(View pictures: Sanjay Dutt visits Siddhivinayak Temple)*

A horde of the actor's admirers also gathered outside the flower-decorated Imperial Heights building in Pali Hill here, adding to the celebratory spirit of the surroundings, which had myriad posters featuring Bollywood's beloved 'Munna Bhai'.

*Sanjay Dutt in the company of his family. Pic/Atul Kamble*

Fans danced to the beats of dhol outside the gate of the house of the actor, who was dressed in a blue shirt and a pair of denims. The 56-year-old made his way to his house through a sea of fans who raised their smartphones up in the air to capture the moment. Even as the "Khalnayak" star walked amid security, the fans showered their love by decorating him with garlands.

*Pic/Atul Kamble*

Sanjay, who was very close to his parents, also sought their blessings. Before heading home, he visited his mother's (Nargis) grave in Marine Lines here, and later at his residential building, he stood with folded hands in front of a portrait of his father, Sunil Dutt.

***Watch the video of Sanjay Dutt's release from Yerawada Jail*

 

Dutt (convict number 16656) was serving his sentence housed in a solitary cell at Yerawada near the hanging yard since May 22, 2013.

Present to receive him outside the jail amidst tight security were his wife Maanayata and their children, sister and former MP Priya Dutt and her family, film director Rajkumar Hirani, thousands of fans, a huge media contingent from across India and abroad.

256 days were waived off from the 56-year-old actor's sentence due to good behaviour in prison.*Fans, policemen and members of the media gathered outside Pune's Yerawada's Central Prison as Sanjay Dutt walks out. Pic/Chaitraly Deshmukh*

Sanjay Dutt boarded a chartered plane at Pune International Airport with his family. The actor is believed to have said, "Zulm Karke kisi ka bhala nahi hoga (No one benefits after committing crimes)", before boarding.*A large team of police officers were stationed outside Yerawada Jail before Sanjay Dutt's release*

The actor landed in Mumbai airport around 11:15 am, from where he proceeded to the famed Siddhivinayak Temple to offer his prayers. The next stop was the Baba Kabrastan where the grave of his mother, the late actress Nargis Dutt, is located. He prayed there too.

Dutt sported a dark blue shirt and jeans, minus his traditional sunglasses, salt-pepper sparse hair and a stubbly beard, appearing physically weary but mentally relaxed.

Near his Bandra home, there was a contingent of drummers who played a deafening welcome tune for Dutt.

Ther were also large posters and huge banners welcoming the actor, and a special poster welcoming 'Papa' and 'Uncle' and 'Bro' from his wife and kids, sisters, nieces and nephews.

There were celebrations of different types organised by his fans and well-wishers.

These include a free meal of 'Chicken Sanju Baba' at south Mumbai's Noor Mohammadi Hotel, 50 percent discount on all meals and free servings of a specially created item 'Bhai-Baba Chal Mere Bhai' at the Bhaijaanz Restaurant in Bandra, while an autorickshaw driver Sandeep Bachche offered free rides in Bandra to mark his freedom.

Of the five-year sentence, Sanjay Dutt has served more than 50 months in two installments, excluding the parole and furlough he was granted at various times on different grounds.

He spent 18 months in jail as an undertrial before he was granted bail and later, following a Supreme Court order in May 2013, he was sent to the Yerawada Jail to serve the remaining 42 months of his five-year sentence.

*(With inputs from *IANS*)**Related stories...*

*Sanjay Dutt's home run: All the dope from actor's last day at Yerawada Jail*

*Sanjay Dutt to have 'relaxed day' with family after release*

*Manoj Bajpayee, Rajkummar Rao 'delighted' at Sanjay Dutt's release*

*Sanjay Dutt's daughter Trishala is excited about her father's release from jail*

*Why leniency only to Sanjay Dutt? Prisoner files PIL*

*Here's a low-down on Sanjay Dutt's homecoming plans*

*Sanjay Dutt earned a grand total of Rs 440 in 3.5-year jail stint*

*Mumbai restaurant to offer 'Chicken Sanju Baba' free to celebrate actor's freedom*

http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/feb/25-Sanjay-Dutt_s.jpg*Sanju returns: Sanjay Dutt will be released from the Pune prison today after he was granted remission in his five-year sentence. File pic*

Dutt (convict number 16656) has served 42 months of his five-year prison term at Pune’s Yerawada Central Prison following his conviction in a case related to the 1993 serial blasts. The 56-year-old will be released this morning after 256 days were waived off from his sentence due to good behaviour in prison.*Sanjay Dutt's sister Priya and her husband Owen Roncon discuss the actor’s homecoming preparations with the police. Pics/Pradeep Dhivar*
**

While Dutt started his day by mending his torn prison uniform, his family and an army of servants worked to decorate his residence at Pali Hill and make preparations for his homecoming. “During his bath, he realised his jail uniform had torn from the shoulder. He requested for a needle and thread, and mended his clothes,” said a source, adding, “Later at 11 am, he went to the prison radio station and began his show ‘Aap ki Farmaish’."

*
*

As it was his last day in prison, many inmates had sent in requests for songs and dialogues from his movies, but apart from Chithhi aai hai, none of the songs were from Dutt’s films.*Dutt's Pali Hill residence and his car are prepared to welcome him home from prison.*

“Many demanded that the show be themed on him as a send-off, but we rejected this suggestion as he is an ordinary convict. We wanted to avoid any chaos resulting from a special show, in case other inmates got offended. We have appointed another jail inmate who will take over his role as RJ and to avoid any issues, we have made pre-recordings of five more shows with Dutt,” said a source.

An official added, “As per the process, the prisoner will be released in the morning. To avoid any chaos, we will complete the process and send him perhaps as early as 9 or 10 am.”

Deputy Inspector General (Prisons) Dr Bhushan Kumar Upadhyay told mid-day, “No special farewell has been arranged for Sanjay Dutt. He will be released from the first gate as per the prison manual.”

The police said that his family had arranged a private chartered plane. “We have requested the family not come to prison to greet him, and instead meet him at the airport. Security will be deployed outside the prison at 6 am and a huge police bandobast has been planned for the 2 km from the prison till the airport. No protection has been arranged for Dutt,” said a cop.*Last day in prison*
>> Dutt woke up early at 6.30 am, did some yoga and exercised for a while
>> He had breakfast, along with a few dry fruits he had ordered from the prison canteen with his pocket money
>> After his bath, he mended his torn uniform
>> He went on an hour-long stroll in the prison compound with 1993 Mumbai blasts convict Yusuf Nalwala, who occupies the adjacent cell
>> After smoking a bidi from the canteen, at 11 am Dutt proceeded to the radio station to work on his show
>> He also pre-recorded a few shows which will be aired after his release
>> He bid farewell to fellow inmates and began to prepare for his return home

*Sanju wants his chair*
In 2007, while Dutt was engaged in carpentry work at the prison, he made a bamboo chair. Initially, the prison authorities had planned to place the chair on auction, but changed their minds after they got an overwhelming response. The chair was used by the prison superintendent initially, but a month later, it was kept in the godown. Dutt has expressed a desire to purchase the chair and keep it in his bungalow, but the authorities are mum on this issue.

--------------------

*Related stories...*

*Sanjay Dutt to have 'relaxed day' with family after release*

*Manoj Bajpayee, Rajkummar Rao 'delighted' at Sanjay Dutt's release*

*Sanjay Dutt's daughter Trishala is excited about her father's release from jail*

*Why leniency only to Sanjay Dutt? Prisoner files PIL*

*Here's a low-down on Sanjay Dutt's homecoming plans*

*Sanjay Dutt earned a grand total of Rs 440 in 3.5-year jail stint*

*Mumbai restaurant to offer 'Chicken Sanju Baba' free to celebrate actor's freedom*

*Thursday mega release: Actor Sanjay Dutt to walk free on Feb 25* Reported by Mid-Day 14 hours ago.

Jonah Hill has a horrible realization during a filmed sketch for Saturday Night Live on Saturday (March 5). The 32-year-old actor played a high school wrestler who wins a match against an undefeated opponent and is praised by everyone until he discovers it was all a charity stunt to make him feel better since he’s [...] Reported by Just Jared 2 hours ago.

The Save Aarey initiative’s battle continues. It seems that the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) will go ahead with its plan to construct the car depot for the Colaba-Bandra-Seepz Metro Line Three at Aarey Milk Colony, an eco sensitive zone in Goregaon. At the MMRC board meeting on Saturday, a new plan that involves building the depot on 24 hectares of AMC land was discussed. Sources from the MMRDA said, “The construction of the car depot was discussed at the meeting. Since the decision regarding the construction of the depot in Kanjurmarg has not yet been taken, considering the said land is under litigation, MMRDA doesn’t want the project to suffer. So, a new plan will be prepared for construction at AMC.”

This, despite an expert committee appointed by CM Devendra Fadnavis, advising that the depot come up at Kanjurmarg to avoid the environmental damage to Aarey. It was earlier discussed that a double-deck car depot be constructed on a 20.80 hectare land in AMC since this would require fewer trees to be felled. But since this posed technical challenges, a new plan involving the building of the depot on 24 hactares of land has been prepared. This will require close to 1,000 trees to be cut.

http://images.mid-day.com/images/2015/jun/5-minor-sisters-raped-s.jpg

*Mumbai crime: Ten-year-old raped in Dadar school toilet*

The accused, Peermohammad Vakil Abbasi is a resident of Ambedkar Nagar. Sources say he claimed to be lonely after his wife left him two months ago, and would often visit brothels.

On Thursday morning, on his way to the common toilet in the chawl, Abbasi spotted the girl outside her home. He lured her into the toilet and molested her. Before fleeing, he threatened to harm her if she spoke out. Scared, the girl went straight to school. In the evening, she narrated the incident to her family. On Friday, the family registered an FIR at the Worli police station. DCP Dhananjay Kulkarni (crime) said, “Investigations revealed Abbasi is the prime suspect. We went to his home to arrest him but he had gone missing.”

*Mumbai Crime: Seven-year-old boy sodomised in public toilet*

Unit 3 in-charge Sunil Mane said, “We arrested him on Saturday morning after receiving a tip-off that he was to meet one of his friends in Jijamata Nagar, Worli Naka.”

http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/mar/06-JJ-OPD_s.jpg*JJ OPD takes in 7,500 patients a day. Unavailability of senior doctors affects the clinical quality of treatment *

The response to an RTI application, filed in June last year by a JJ alumni, shows that across the state, 26 teaching posts at state-run hospitals have been lying in limbo for 23 years due to absenteeism by doctors on ‘leave’. These vacancies are largely of posts such as senior professors, assistant professors and associate professors. In a hospital, professors perform the dual role of conducting critical surgeries and guiding resident doctors in how to handle cases. This takes the work load off the head of the department.

At JJ Hospital, there have been vacant posts in critical departments such as paediatrics (two), neurosurgery (two), gyneacology and obstetrics (one), orthopedics (one) and preventive and social medicine (one).

When sunday mid-day contacted, Dr Tatyarao P Lahane, Dean of the Grant Medical College and JJ Hospital, he said that since November, the health department has been working towards conducting Departmental Enquiries (DE) against the missing doctors. “There were as many as 26 doctors in the state and we are in a process of sending them suspension letters. Many of them have already received the same,” he said.

Lahane added that the process of re-hiring can only begin once the suspension procedure is completed. “The report will be sent to the ministry. They will take up hiring accordingly,” added Lahane. These are not loose ends that are expected to be tied very soon.

The applicant, who didn’t wish to be named, said, “There is a high probability that the doctors didn’t want to join JJ and thus chose to go on leave.” The RTI response also mentions two other doctors who were transferred from JJ to other hospitals, who have been on leave since. Dr R S Haridas, professor at psychiatry and Dr Tirupama Patil, professor, radiology. Dr Haridas was transferred to Government Medical College, Aurangabad, and Patil to Swami Ramanand Teerth Rural Medical College, Ambajogai. While Haridas was transferred from the hospital on July 2, 2011, Patil was asked to join the medical college of Ambejogai on May 4, 2009.

While the monthly salary for the posts mentioned starts at Rs 35000 and could extend to Rs 75,000, this amount is much smaller compared to what private facilities pay. However, the doctors who went on leave have not been receiving salaries all these years. Within the state medical circles, a suspension is as good as being fired. The doctor will not be allowed to work in public hospitals, however their medical license is not cancelled and they remain free for private practice.

On why it’s taken the state this long to move for suspension, a senior professor from JJ Hospital said that the procedure is an extensively long process, which is why the seats have remained vacant at JJ. “When a doctor who has a designation of professor, assistant professor or associate professor, terminating them from office isn’t an easy task. They are sent repeated reminders. It’s after several reminders go unheeded that a DE finalises their suspension,” said the doctor.

http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/mar/06-cycle_s.jpg*The city — sliced, diced and served with a dash of sauce*

While there is no guarantee that Arora won’t be pestered, his Facebook notice notwithstanding, Daily Dossier remembers how a cricket official up north used to get himself admitted to a hospital just before a one-day international in his city to avoid requests for complimentary passes. Another cricket administrator from southern India used to check into a dingy hotel for the better part of the day to avoid ticket requests.

Even sports editors of newspapers are not spared when it comes to passes so one of them printed a sheet and pinned it on his soft board of his cubicle: “I don’t have tickets/passes.”

*Jaya Jaitley helps the lion go desi*
BEFORE India took over Silicon Valley, its artisans and craftsmen had already made the world swoon with their intricately woven shawls and miniature paintings. And, this is something that Jaya Jaitley, former Samata Party president and founder of Dastakaari Haat Samiti, is hoping to impress upon the various ministries behind the PM’s favourite campaign “Make in India” with her own version “Handmade in India”.*A Make in India lion designed by Rajasthani artist Vijendra Bharti (below)*

Speaking to this diarist after attending an event in Lucknow, Jaitley says she has asked some of her craftsmen to rethink the Make-in-India logo, the lion, in their own version. While she has six now, she plans to get many more. Even 3D papier-mâché versions, “just for fun”. She hopes to appeal to the PM, Ministry of Textiles and Ministry of Commerce and Industry. “Well, more than an appeal it’s just a way of saying ‘hey! We are there too, don’t forget us’.” Tough to.

*A 6 lakh cycle ride*
The perception that the bicycle is a poor man’s savari can go take a hike. Because taking a hike is one of the things Worli resident Rajiv Bhatt plans to do with his brand new Madone 9.5. The 40-year-old has made it to newsprint for purchasing the costliest bike to be sold in India at R6 lakh from Firefox and Trek, Imperial Cycle Centre, Kurla. The businessman, who already owns a BMW trek bike and one by Fuji, says, “It’s the most advanced road bike today. I booked it two months ago and they had ordered it from the States.” Interestingly, the patent for the 600 series carbon, which this bike is made of, lies only with above firm and NASA. Pic/Atul Kamble

*Music talk: Get heard, get noticed*
MOVE over music festivals, it’s now the season of music conferences. The Exchange x AVA is going to be held at the Khar Social this Wednesday, and will bring together the best of Ireland’s music biz with Indian musicians. There are sessions on how to get your music into the right hands, which is usually the hardest part. Speakers include Paul Hamill, CEO of Inflyte App, which works with record labels like Diplo’s Mad Decent and Diynamic. There is also Sarah McBriar, who handles the AVA (Audio Visual Arts) Festival & Conference in Belfast, and will talk about what it means to build a festival from the ground-up. “This is a platform to discuss new ideas and to build relationships that will help not just individuals but also the scene,” said Hermit Sethi, director at Submerge, one of the key partners behind the conference. All sessions are free, but don’t forget to register. Change of career, anyone?

*Alka Yagnik’s daughter makes restaurant debut*
AFTER stints with Zomato in Dubai and JSM (Shiro and California Pizza Kitchen) in Mumbai, Syesha Kapoor, who is playback star Alka Yagnik’s daughter, joins hands with childhood buddies, Abhishek Goyal and Yash Sonthalia, owners of Boveda.*Syesha Kapoor*

When we ask her whether she sings, she says, “Not at all. I have not trained a single day. My mum never forced me. She said, if you try to do what you don’t love, it won’t last. Besides, I breathe restaurants!” The trio is all set to revamp the Andheri lounge, give it a new dining avatar and call it Boveda Bistro. “We want it to be a neighbourhood gourmet food destination,” says the 25-year-old, who has a bachelors degree in business marketing from the London School of Business. The managing director on this venture, adds, “The lane where Boveda is has tons of bars, but none are great with food. The potential sits immense and we want to strike.” We hear the menu will be created by Michelin star chef Gracian D’souza.

http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/mar/06smd-planner-s.jpg

*Sunday driver*

*Listen to duets*8.30 PM: Relive the romance of Valentine's Day with a musical evening that will bring some of the best duets from Bollywood. Right from the Golden Era to the 90s, this concert will surely make you hold hands and hum along. Singers Priyanka Mitra, Kavita Tiwari, Sarvesh Mishra and Alok Katdare, among others, will be performing.
*Where: Yashwant Natya Mandir, near Star City, Matunga Road West*
*EntryY: R150 – R1,000*
*Call: 24333225*

*Build a Lego tower*
11 Am - 6 PM: Nimble fingers and speedyminds need to work away at a marathon session at the LEGO Ninjago Building Event. No age restrictions here, so toy with 30,000 bricks and build a seven-feet- tall Ninjago.
*Where: Metro Junction Mall, Shil Road, Kalyan*
*Call: 9619814587*

*Try a herb-infused spread*12 PM – 12 AM: The United Sports Bar and Grill has launched a new menu, and we recommend their herb-n-spice cocktails, such as the thyme julep and chatpati chuski. The traditional chakna also gets a spice twist. But, the staples, like bacon-wrapped sausages and orange-infused chili chicken are there for the loyalists.
*Where: The United Sports Bar and Grill outlets in Ghatkopar and Thane*
*Prices: Rs 150 onwards*
*Call: 61701331*

*LOL with the 'average guy'*6.30 PM: Meet boy-next-door and funnyman Kautuk Srivastava, who will tickle your funny bones with an hour-long where he shares his ultimate quest: be crowned the Hot Guy or the Cool Guy once in his life. The show is full of astute observations and personal stories, delivered with his inherent goofiness.
*Where: Brewbot, Morya Landmark 1, New Link Road, Andheri West*
*Entry: Rs 200*
*Call: 40034448*

*Try Whatever Works*7.30 PM: Woody Allen had his run with a comedy play by Neil Simon, based on Chekov's stories, which now comes to stage under the direction of Pushpraj Singh Rawat. 'Seduction' and 'A Good Doctor', Chekov's works, have been woven together in Whatever Works, to tell a tale of what is and what should be. Watch out for Chekov's trademark endings in each story.
*Where: Jeff Goldberg Studio, Gazebo House, 133 Hill Road, Bandra West*
*Entry: Rs 200*
*Call: 7506906927*

*Get your dose of swag*2 PM onwards: It's yet another weekend of the ongoing Ballard Estate Festival, and there is tons to do this side of town. There are buskers set to soothe your soul, art installations, food and beverage stalls. But, what you want to hang around for is rapper Raftaar, the musician behind the record-breaking number Swag Mera Desi. We suggest you get your bling on for this evening.
*Where: JN Heredia Road, Ballard Estate*
*Entry: R150*
*Log on: www.bookmyshow.com*

*Let the kids play*2 PM: A little bit of education, and a whole lot of entertainment. Let your kids sing and dance along with the Chikaraks, a highly energetic group of musicians and performers. The unique musical storytelling format is packed with loads of dancing, props, costumes and singing, to help the little ones with DIY fun with mentors Chin2 Bhosle, Pratichee Mohapatra, Fiona D'Souza and Manav Dhanda.
*Where: Canvas Laugh Club, Palladium, Lower Parel*
*Entry: Rs 750 onwards*
*Call: 61701331*

*Watch a folksy Mahabharata*6 PM: Draupadi Kuravanchi tells the tale of Draupadi's dark quest to subvert the plans of the hundred Kauravas to eliminate their cousins, the Pandavas. Draupadi takes the form of a Kuratti in order to prevent them from carrying out funeral rites for her five husbands. The Kuratti is a member of the Kuravar clan famous for its fortune telling, knowledge of indigenous medicine and traditional tattoos. The six young actors and dancers include two girls, a historic innovation in a traditionally male-only form of theatre.
*Where: Museum Lawns, CSMVS, Kala Ghoda*
*Call: 22844484*

*Write your own comic scene*Three things can happen with comedy: it's so bad that you boo; it's tolerable and you laugh along; or, it's such a riot that you wonder how you can become a stand-up. Enter Anuvab Pal, stand-up comedian, and playwright. In a two-day comedy writing workshop, he will take you through the basics of writing a comic scene, the tools required to build a comedy and developing your characters.
*Where: The Barking Deer, Lower Parel*
*When: March 19-20, 10 AM*
*Entry: Rs 3,500*
*Log on to: www.bookmyshow.com*

*Sing like nobody's watching*MARCH 9, 8.30 PM ONWARD: Was the bathroom the only place where you thought you could be a rockstar? Time to come out and showcase your singing talent to the world. Hard Rock Café is hosting a karaoke night every Wednesday to give upcoming artists, bathroom singers and aspiring singers a platform to sing aloud. What's up for grabs? Two best singers get dinner coupons (R1,500) on their next visit to
Hard Rock.
*Where: Hard Rock Café, Bombay Dyeing Mill Compound, Pandurang Budhkar Marg, Worli*
*Call: 66511209*

*Dance your way to fitness*MARCH 12, 10 am – 8 pm: Imagine practicing Yoga, Zumba, Crossfit, Vogueing (Jazz in heels), belly dancing, Hip hop and Bhangra all in a day. Baffled? Don't be. You'll have professionals taking you through all of it in a fun session that will include 8-10 performing art and fitness forms. Interestingly, all the art forms have a fitness value attached and are known to strengthens our inner core. P.S This is just
for the ladies.
*Where: Beat n Bounce studio, 901 Crescent Royale, 9th floor, behind China one, off Link Road, Andheri (W)*
*Entry: R500*
*Call: 9930403026*

*Speak like a Spaniard*MARCH 12, 3 PM – 6.30 PM: Hola! For many of us, our knowledge of Spanish starts and ends there. But if you want to learn more, sign up for a Spanish learning class. The 12 new Spanish courses will be held every Saturday and taught by native Spanish teachers. Registrations are on.
Where: The Spanish School, 202, Venkatesh Chambers, Prescot Road, Fort
*Entry: Rs 18,000*
*Log on to: www.spanishschool.in*
*Call: 40020997*

*Watch a romantic Hindi play*MARCH 12, 7 PM: In NSD alumnus Aniruddha Khutwad's Hindi adaptation of William Shakespeare's classic, Romeo and Juliet, it is Juliet who takes centrestage. It is a Hindi translation of the original by Sangeet Natak Academy awardee Amitabh Srivastava. The play is from Juliet's point of view, where she still carries the burden of sacrifice that archetypal womanhood has long shouldered.
*Where: Marathi Sahitya Sangh Mandir, Dr Bhalerao Marg, Near St Theresa High School, Girgaon*
*Entry: Rs 200*
*Call: 23856303*

*The hills are calling*There might not be a better to time to visit Kasauli than this month end. The much-awaited music festival, Kasauli Rhythm & Blues Festival will be held on March 25-27, and will see live performances by eight of India's popular bands and artistes in the magical hills of Himachal. Gear up for performances by Shilpa Rao, Lesle Lewis, Mihir Joshi Band, Ustaad Fazal Qureshi and Ravi Iyer, Army Pipers and Army Jazz band and more. The proceeds of the festival will be used to support the treatment of children suffering from critical illnesses.
*Log on to : www.genesis-foundation.net/donor-card-message*

*Go, play football*MARCH 8, 7.30 AM – 12 PM: Ladies, it's time to take over the turf. To celebrate Women's Day, Kick has set aside all the slots free for girls and women to play football. So you can choose between three turfs spread across Powai and Malabar Hill and make the most of it. There's no age restriction. Time to kick some butt, eh?
*Where: Priyadarshini Futsal Kick, Priyadarshini Park, Opp. Kotak Mahindra*
*Bank, Napean Sea Road*
*Free*
*Call: 23636366*

*Glug a drink after work*3 PM – 1.30 AM: Drinking at the start of the week isn't always a bad idea. Certainly not when there's an offer on the cocktails. MeSoHappi at Khar has rolled out a special offer for the ladies, as part of a Women's Day celebration. Get a one-plus-one for R250. For R999, you get 4+4 cocktails and a veg or non-veg starter of your choice. The offer is valid till March 8.
*Where: Ground floor, B-Wing, Pinnacle Corporate Park, Bandra Kurla Complex*
*Call: 30150831*

*Treat your inner goddess*11 Am – 10 PM: UK-based luxury salon brand, Truefitt & Hill, that has been making men look like gentlemen, will finally open doors to women, but just for a day. As part of a Women's Day celebration, the ladies will have access to the restricted 'Men's Only' zone for a session of indulgence that includes therapeutic massages, manicures and pedicures.
*Where: Truefitt & Hill, (Palladium, Khar, Colaba, Peddar Road and Lokhandwala)*
*Entry: Charges apply*
*Call: 9833732877*

*Indulge your soul*6.30 PM: Since its debut in 1960, Alvin Ailey's Revelations has moved audiences around the world through its powerful storytelling and soul-stirring music. After touring 71 countries across six continents, it finally comes to Mumbai. The performance draws on African-American spirituals, song-sermons, gospels and holy blues.
*Where: Dance Theatre Godrej, NCPA Marg, Nariman Point*
*Entry: Rs 500*
*Call: 66223723*

*Watch gravity-defying acts*7 PM: The thrill of watching death-defying stunts and jaw dropping acrobatics is unmatched. If you haven't been to the circus in a while, we suggest you catch the acts at Rambo Circus. These feats will be performed by traditional Indian artistes as well as stalwarts from countries such as South America, Uzbekistan, Nepal, Ethiopia, Colombia, Azerbaijan and Ukraine.
*Where: Rambo Circus, JP Road, Model Town, Versova Metro Station*
*Entry: R400 – R800*
*Log on to: bookmyshow.com*

*Have a good laugh*9 PM: Listen to the Bharatiya Chinta Party, a product of comedy group,The Unglis, who talk about Bharat in a way you've never seen before. The Unglis are a fresh, young comedy collective that perform stand-up, sketch and musical comedy. Their YouTube channel had a sensational beginning, with their first three videos going viral, touching 1,50,000 views in the first four months.
Where: Whistling Woods, Andheri Base Sharyans, Hard Rock Café Building, Andheri (W)
*Entry: Rs 300*
*CALL: 30916003*

http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/mar/06-Fire_s.jpg* The fire broke out at a chemical plant in MIDC*

It took four hours, 18 fire tankers and 6 private tankers to douse the fire that broke out at Ultra Pure Chemical Company. Therefore also spread to an adjacent gas agency godown.

Loud explosions in the plant near Sandap village, Manpada Road created havoc among company workers and the nearby residents. Luckily, no casualties nor injuries were reported.

Suresh Shinde, the fire officers from Dombivli MIDC unit of Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation, said, “We received a call at 9.30 am. Around 125 officials were sent to the spot. After the
fire was doused, the cooling process went on till 5.15 pm,” added Shinde.

The spread across to an adjacent firm Jagruti Chemicals, which increased the strength of the fire. “Within half an hour, our firemen removed around 156 cylinders.

A chemical reaction in the boilers could have caused sparks that may have led to the fire,” added Shinde.

The Municipal Commissioner, Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation E Ravinderam along with other officers reached the spot and surveyed the place.

http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/mar/6Tailorbird-s.jpg*Vinod Goel*

Until January 2016, Delhi-based Goel, 60, served as a customs and excise service officer, and it was the luxury of time that retirement offered him, and a trip to Kanha National Park in 2004 that made him pick up the camera seriously. When we meet him, he is just back from a flamingo watching tour of Sewri Jetty, organised by his daughter and wildlife enthusiast, Nitya Goel. In a couple of hours, he will take a train to Delhi, but he "most certainly will squeeze in a couple of minutes to observe the gulls at Marine Drive". And so, he suggests we shift the venue of our interview to the promenade.

Braving the overhead sun, we walk the stretch and find a handful of gulls perched on the tetrapods. "You won't find too many at this hour," he says. "They are active from 8 am until 10 am. That's when visitors feed them chips and chivda." He admits that he is yet to figure their roosting hideout for the rest of the day.

In the last three weeks that Goel has been in Mumbai, he has divided his time between Hanging Garden (Malabar Hill), Sagar Upvan Park (Colaba), the Haji Ali promenade, the Byculla Zoo Marine Drive and Sewri jetty. He didn't set out with the intention of combing south Mumbai to observe birding activity. But luck introduced me to several avian varieties that I was surprised to find in the southern most tip of the megalopolis," he says.

It was an online article discussing the Purple-Rumped Sunbird that drew his attention to Mumbai. Here, he learnt that it could be spotted across various parks in the city. "It was a bird I hadn't seen in the 12 years I had been a photographer. I had to make a trip here."

Armed with a Canon 600 MM lens, Goel would start his day at 5 am and spend the latter part observing their behaviour. "You need patience when it comes to capturing birds. Before going on field, I usually spend time watching them, picking up behaviour cues, figuring how exactly I am going to get close enough to get a decent shot," he says.

In Delhi, Goel has spent three years capturing the life of the grey hornbill, right from courtship of adult pairs to the birth of young ones. For now, though, South Mumbai is his laboratory. He is already planning his next trip in the summer months to track the species that flood the city around that time.

*Tailorbird*
*Found in:* Deciduous forests, mangroves, open woodlands and gardens throughout India, except the desert
*This frame shot at:* Hanging Garden

It's measures 10-14 cm in length and has a long tail that it often holds upright. The upper plumage is green or grey while the underparts are shiny yellow white or grey. Normally built of cotton wool and grass stems, the nest of a tailor bird is not easy to spot. Tailorbirds are active when foraging for insects. Always hyper and restless, they are usually seen in pairs. The breeding season lasts from May to September.

*Brown-Headed Gull*
*Found in:* This is a small migratory Asian gull that breeds in the high plateaux of central Asia from Turkmenistan to Mongolia
*This frame shot at:* Marine Drive

They remain in Mumbai to breed until March, and later vacate the area for the high lakes of Ladakh. In the city, you are likely to spot them at Marine Drive in the mornings. They have a very wide ranging diet and feed on fish, shrimp, insects, slugs, worms and rodents. They also eat offal and are often seen at sewage farms. Sometimes, even plant material such as shoots and potatoes entice them.

*Indian Silverbill*
*Found in:* Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Iran and India. The Indian Silverbill inhabits dry, open, cultivated as well as sparse scrub-and-bush country. It avoids humid forests
*This frame shot at:* Hanging Garden

They feed on insects and have been known to visit nectar-bearing flowers. They are distinguished by their brown plumage, brownish-buff flanks and white rump. Like the sunbird, they roam in pairs and continue to raise their brood together year after year.

*Purple- Rumped Sunbird*
*Found in:* Sri Lanka, Bangladesh Meghalaya and Assam
*This frame shot at:* Sagar Upvan Garden, Colaba

http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/mar/06-Alhambra-bungalow_s.jpg*Alhambra bungalow. PIC/ SURESH KK *

The advocates of the new owners have issued a public notice investigating the title of the property, asking that anybody who has a claim to the property should inform them within 14 days. Post that, the new owner will go ahead with the transaction. The deal is said to be brokered by an international brokerage firm.

The two-storied structure was constructed in the 1950s. Since then, it has housed former chief executives of HUL, Manvinder Banga, Nitin Paranjpe and Doug Baille.

Alhambra consists of a residential building of ground plus two floors, measuring, 1747 square meters (nearly 18,000 sq ft) and stands on a parcel of government leasehold land, measuring 1387.96 square meters (nearly 15,000 sq ft).

According to Gopal Maheshwari, a leading real estate broker from South Mumbai, the plot’s ideal cost should be anywhere starting Rs 145 crore. Carmichael Road is a heritage precinct of South Mumbai and houses the RBI Governor Bungalow, the Port Trust chairman's bungalow and even the Municipal Commissioner’s residence.

An email sent to HUL response received the following response: We have no comments to offer.

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It’s easy to walk right past Roy and Company, and we nearly do. The unassuming exterior gives no inkling of the 127 years that have passed since its inception. What gives it away is the musty smell of old books, the high ceiling, rows of teakwood cabinets, an old typewriter and walls dotted with sepia-tinted photographs. Welcome to the state’s oldest homeopathic pharmacy at Shamaldas Gandhi Marg, Princess Street.*A photograph taken in the 1920s shows the second generation of the Kulkarnis — Manohar Kulkarni (left) with a staff member — at Roy and Company Homeopaths*

As a slick pack of Roy and Co. hairdye jostles for space next to a brown translucent bottle of Arnica on the counter, it’s almost symbolic of the fine line between tradition and modernity that the pharmacy now toes. “This place is a labour of love of my great grandfather, Vishweshwar Kulkarni, who established it in 1889,” says Dr Tejaswini Kulkarni, a fourth generation member of the Kulkarni family that owns and runs the pharmacy. “So, we have tried to retain its old world charm in terms of decor. And, while we continue to to dispense authentic homeopathic drugs ranging from dilutions, mother tincture, Biochemic tissue salts and Bach flower remedies, we have branched out into more commercial products like toothpastes and shampoos to keep up with times. We also sell books on homeopathy,” she adds.*The pharmacy, started by Vishweshwar Kulkarni after he moved from Karnataka to Bombay, moved from Khetwadi to its present address in 1916. Pics/Bipin Kokate*

The pharmacy was originally located at Khetwadi, near Edward Cinema, and moved to its current address in 1916. At about 50-100 metres distance from Roy and Company, there are another six homeopathic pharmacies including the Zoroastrian pharmacy and Parsi homoeopathic pharmacy.*Dr Tejaswini Kulkarni (extreme right ) and her brother Jitendra (centre), the fourth generation of the family, manage the pharmacy *

In the early 1900s, the area around Kalbadevi was a thriving business hub. There was the cotton exchange, bullion and jewellery market in Zaveri Bazar, electrical goods market at Lohar Chawl and fabrics were sold at Mangaldas Jethabhai market. “So, being in an area like this, gave us access to more people,” says Jitendra, who manages the counter along with a loyal staff that’s been here for 40 years, including Dattanand and Anand Balwalli along with Bahadur Singh.

While we sit inside the clinic on sturdy wooden chairs that are at least half a century old, Tejaswini gets reams of A4-sized sheets out of her bag. “This is our family tree. And out of this clan, 28 members happen to be homeopathic doctors. So, when I say the love for homeopathy runs in our blood, it’s no exaggeration,” she laughs. Incidentally, other famous homeopathic pharmacies, Ray Brothers’ at Nana Chowk and Orient at Lamington Road belong to Tejaswini’s uncles, Dr Ashok and Dr Praful Ray Lakshman Kulkarni and Dr Ashok and his son Dr Deepak Kulkarni
respectively.

So, if the Kulkarnis are the owners, we are curious to know where the store gets its evidently Bengali name, Roy and Company from. “At that time, my great grandfather was given the title of Rai. The British officers pronounced it as Roy. Soon, people began addressing him as Roy, and he decided to retain it,” she says.

But, interestingly, its founder Vishweshwar Kulkarni was not a doctor by profession. “He had a job in the Post and Telegraph department in Vengurla, Karnataka. But, he would assist Dr Fellowitz, a German Jesuit priest and a homeopathic practitioner. When his compounder fell ill, my great grandfather was asked to fill in. That’s how he was initiated into the field,” reveals Tejaswini. Sharp and proactive, Kulkarni soon learnt the ropes by reading books on medicine and gaining hands-on experience. Fortunes changed when Kulkarni cured the ailing wife of a British officer. “In return, my great grandfather asked for a posting in Bombay, so that he could spread awareness about the field. Homeopathy was gaining ground in Calcutta, and its impact was being felt even in the city. So, he felt the time was ripe,” says the Bandra resident.

The challenge for Kulkarni was to prove the efficacy of homeopathy to people. “The basic premise of homeopathy: ‘like cures like’ — the same substance that could cause a reaction in a healthy person could also be a remedy for someone suffering from similar symptoms — was hard to buy. But in 1902, there was an epidemic of the pneumonic plague and many homeopathic practitioners treated most of the people successfully, which helped instill faith [in the therapy].”

By the 1920s, the second generation comprising Vishweshwar Kulkarni’s four sons were initiated into the business. Roy and Company soon became the chief importers of Mesers B & T (Boericke and Tafel) of America and Schwabe of Germany. Dr Cyrus Maxvell Boger’s treatise on homepathy called Boenninghausen Repertory was first published by Roy and Company in India. “He was the first to start manufacturing homoeopathic drugs in Maharashtra. He was also instrumental in starting the first Homeopathic medical college in the city, now known as CNPH (Chandaben Mohanbhai Patel Homeopathic Medical college) in Vile Parle. Even Mahatma Gandhi took treatment from him when he fell ill during a protest rally at Azad Maidan,” she says.

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At 8.30 am on Sunday, a crowd gathers at Chandru's for its dal pakwan. The Sindhi treat comprises a maida flatbread, fried in pure ghee. This is served with chana dal.*Chandru Samtani with daughter Rakhi. Pics/Ashish Rane*

"The royals of Sindh relished it. Today, Sindhis eat it at least once a week. It is a celebratory dish sent to loved ones on happy occasions," 60-year-old Chandru Narayandas Samtani tells us. From Sri Devi and Akshay Kumar to Manisha Koirala, Chandru's clientele is a loyal one. Samtani took over the shop after his father, who launched it in 1988. "At that time, there was nothing on Yari Road."

We break the crispy bread and take a bite. Samtani reminds us to dunk it in the dal. The dal cuts the monotony of the pakwan. The turmeric and masala are not overpowering. The pure taste of the pulse stands out. "If you get a bitter aftertaste, it means the makers have used a poor quality oil or ghee," he adds. Dressed in a pink tee and tracks, 50-year-old Gita Thakkar places a parcel order for dal pakwans. "No cooking today," she tells us. Thakkar drives up from Juhu every fortnight. "I have a fixed order, and it is heavy enough to serve as brunch."

A corner table is heavy with plastic bags. These are for those who don't like to wake up in the morning. "They leave an order the previous night. By 11, we are sold out. The late latifs come by 12 to pick up their parcels," says Samtani.

*Swati Snacks for jalebis and fafda*
*248, Karai Estate, opposite Bhatia*
*Hospital, Tardeo*
*Call: 65808406*
*Be there by: 7.30 am*

When we arrive at Swati Snacks on a Sunday morning at 8 am, groggy-eyed, there are about 15-odd customers already in queue at the takeaway window. It is the pull of the fresh, hot jalebi, fafdas and fafdis served between 7.30 am and 9.30 am that has lured them. What started out as a tiny hole-in-the-wall nearly 40 years ago, is today a swish restaurant serving regional food. Madan Singh Chauhan, from Rajasthan, has been has been preparing jalebis at the restaurant for 35 years.*Pics/Bipin Kokate*

"Back then, the jalebis were priced at Rs 70 a kilo. Today, it is R560. But the quality remains consistent," says the 70-year-old. Major Bhagwan Singh, who has been a loyal patron for the past decade, agrees.

"It's the fresh, juicy taste of the jalebis peppered with aromatic saffron strands that makes it so delicious," says the 86-year-old who has just returned from his morning walk. The panki, a rice pancake steamed in a thin banana leaf, is another hot-selling item.

*Olympia Coffee House for mutton masala*
*Rahim Mansion, No 1, Shahid Bhagat Singh Marg, Colaba*
*Call: 22021043*
*Be there by: 12 noon*

The mutton masala is so famous at this no-frills Colaba landmark, if you ask for kheema pao, they suggest you try the former. Which is what happened with Sujit Nadkarni, a first-time patron. And, he is quite happy with the dish.*Pic/Atul Kamble*

Long mirrors adorn the walls and the fossilised, marble-topped tables lend the place a quaint charm. "Not much has changed here in terms of food and décor since 1965," says its manager, Aamir Chowdhary. Jose Luis Jiménez Sánchez (in pic), a patron from Spain, agrees. Sanchez had visited the restaurant 20 years ago, while on a holiday.

"I remember loving the brain masala (bheja masala) and mutton curry. It's spicy, but delicious enough to make me return a second time," smiles the computer programmer, as he waits for his order.

*Aai Tulja Bhawani Prasann for poha*
*Next to Guru Nanak Hospital, Bandra East*
*Call: 9987320066*
*Be there by: 9.30 am*

A lanky, stooping old man mans the stall, Aai Tulja Bhawani Prasann, next to Guru Nank Hospital in Bandra East. We have got here at 11 am and are just in time to claim the last plate. "I start serving poha at 8.30 am and am usually done by noon. However, there are times when I am sold out in two hours. Then, I rush home, and ask my wife, Prabha, to make another batch," Ramchandra Kamble tells us.

The 58-year-old has been selling poha here for the last four years. "Before that, I was working as a salesman for a clothing company at Elco Market. The 12-hour shift was killing me. I quit and started this [stall]. Noon onwards, I sell veg biryani, which is over by 2.30 pm. Then I have the day to myself," says Kamble, coaxing us to try his chaas, spiced with green chillies and chaat masala.

"My wife trained with the Taj," says Kamble, showing us a laminated copy of her certificate. "I can't cook as well as her," he says, with pride.

*Fresco Bakery for kadak pav*
*29, Juhu Church Road*
*CALL: 26247295*
*Be there by: 5.30 pm*

At 5.15 pm on a sweaty Monday, we step into Juhu's most popular bakery, Fresco, and are welcomed by both —the aroma of freshly baked pav and owner (in pic) Sheila Fernandes' brilliant smile.
Laadis of kadak pav, each containing 12 conjoined pieces that are double baked for an hour in the oven, have come fresh out of the oven. Fernandes has been running the bakery, which her father-in-law set up in 1971, for 26 years. "My sons, Glen and Gavin, help me out," she says, as a customer comes forward to pay. She informs Fernandes about how her child fared in his exam, Sheila asks about her health — she'd caught the flu last week.

"People buy groceries once a week, but people come here for bread every other day. I know most of my clients by face. When I am not there, they ask after me," she says. By 6 pm, the quantity of kadak pav has dropped to half. "Sometimes, people buy an entire laadi, so it flies off the shelf. Those who come late complain we don't
make enough."

Jacinta Pereira is one such customer. "I have been buying the kadak pav from Fresco for 23 years. We eat it with butter, dip it in chai and even with Indian curries. I love its crunchy texture."

Another customer, Ayesha Hussain, comes all the way from Versova. "I used to live in Juhu for 10 years, so we don't like any other pav. We are also attached to the owner, Sheila, who greets us with love. It's like visiting a family member."

*Sangeeta Sweets and Farsan for samosas*
*Manoj Villa, DJ Road, Vile Parle Station West*
*CALL: 26102524*
*Be there by: 10 am*

Bhavesh Shah, 35, walks into Sangeeta Sweets and Farsan on the corner of DJ Road at Vile Parle, and asks for his usual — kachori and samosa. "Samosa cche ne? (Samosas are available?)" he asks Ramesh Thakkar (in pic) over the counter. "I live just around the corner and my office is also close by. Sometimes, I come here for two samosas when I don't want to go home for lunch," says Shah.*Pic/Sameer Sayyed Abedi*

The 40-year-old shop sells confectionary, Indian sweets like mango barfi, malai pedas and kaju katri, and savoury items like samosas, cutlets, and kachhoris. "Our samosas fly off the shelf. We start selling at around 10 am. By noon, they are over. We get a lot of corporate orders, so there are days you won't get a samosa at all.

Because of the popularity, we also started an evening sale from 5 pm to 7 pm," says Thakkar, who started the shop at the age of 16. His children, 22-year-old Kartik and 25-year-old Hemakshi are helping him expand. "We want to renovate, and add a seating area. We'll add cupcakes and cakes too, but samosas are our focus,"
Kartik says.

Stuffed with peas, mashed potatoes, cashewnuts, raisins and garam masala, they are fried in refined oil. "I have been coming here with my father since I was 10, and the taste has never changed," says Shah.

*Paris Bakery for kharis*
*278, Dr Cawasji Hormusji Street, Marine Lines*
*Call: 22086619*
*Be there by: 10 am*

It's easy to miss Paris in a narrow bylane of Marine Lines. But for those who have tasted the flaky khari biscuits brushed with butter, there's no forgetting this route. "I don't have customers from the neighbourhood. Most come from Walkeshwar, Carmichael Road, Tardeo and other areas of South Mumbai," says owner Danesh Irani when we meet him on a Tuesday afternoon.*Pics/Atul Kamble*

Irani is candid enough to admit that his steep prices make his snack accessible only to a privileged few. "The prices are high because quality is top notch." But Irani won't reveal the prices. "I tell customers too, don't ask me the price. First taste and then buy," he says. Along with the khari biscuits, the kharis twists, cheese batasas and garlic sticks are high-selling items.

The place has been serving patrons since 1963, and continues to exude an old-world charm, right from a quaint signboards that reads, 'Quality is never an accident' and 'We have no branches anywhere else'.

Kali Peshoton (83) is a loyal customer, even if it means he must face parking problems when he gets here. "I have to park at quite a distance and then walk it up, but it's worth it because you don't get soft, light kharis anywhere else." says Peshoton.

*Candies' for chutney sandwiches*
*5AA Pali Hill, next to Learners Academy School, St Andrews Road, Bandra West; ONGC Complex, Bandra Reclamation*
*Call: 26422324/26423513*

There's never an easy walk to the counter as hungry stomachs queue up to place their order at the Pali Hill and Reclamation outlets in Bandra. From the favourites — paneer makhani roll, to chicken patties, to burgers, pizzas and mini meals — the humble chutney sandwich is one of the fastest selling items at the café and bakery.*Pic/Suresh KK*

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After 'Shamitabh', I got umpteen calls and messages from Amitji and Jayaji, saying you better not wait another four years to make a movie. Start now!” laughs writer-director R Balakrishnan, 50, better known in the film fraternity as R Balki. It’s been a year since 'Shamitabh' released, and his next film, 'Ki and Ka', will be out next month. “I told them I was tired, I wanted to take a break. But they said, no way! Make a movie now. So, I sat right here…” he says, throwing a look around the Khar office he operates from, “and thought of an idea — a love story.”*R Balki. Pic/Suresh KK*

Starring Kareena Kapoor and Arjun Kapoor, 'Ki and Ka' follows what happens when established gender roles are reversed. Kareena plays an aggressive professional, while Arjun is a docile house husband, who chooses to “be this way, when he could have been whatever he wanted”.

With 'Ki & Ka', Balki is seeking to challenge the slots we have created in our minds and society. “I wanted to show a different side to love. I like starting my movies at a point different from anything seen before. How does a man express his love for a woman when he is doing what a woman does?” Before he casted for the film, he came across a picture of Kareena and Arjun in a magazine, and realised they would fit the bill. “I wanted a hunk of a man, as masculine as can be. And a girl who is the epitome of femininity. When someone who is out-there manly performs a feminine role, the audience could feel disconcerted, but eventually, they’ll relate to the characters. It turned out to be a fun, light movie.”

Balki, who is known for telling thought-provoking, but simple stories — 'Cheeni Kum' and 'Paa' — wants the audience to walk out of the cinemas feeling, “Maybe, we could live like this too”.

And yet, he admits, he doesn’t know what works for the audience. With decades of advertising experience (he is behind the hugely popular ‘daag ache hain’ campaign), and as Chairman and Creative Director of Lowe Lintas, you’d expect him to know what the audience ‘will buy’.

“I actually don’t. Nobody does. Some movies work, some don’t. God knows why 'Paa' worked and 'Shamitabh' didn’t. It’s a matter of what the movie-goer wants at that moment.” He says it’s the same for advertising.

“For instance, we made a Pepsodent ad in 2001. A musician played the ghattam, which is a matka played like a drum. A kid played the same kind of music by drumming his fingers on his teeth. This idea didn’t gel with the audience; they thought it was a Colgate ad, because Pepsodent had never associated itself with the image of a strong teeth, germ fighting toothpaste. I thought it was a brilliant ad, but it didn’t work.”

http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/mar/06coconut-oil-s.jpg*Accused Ajay Sonawane*

According to police sources, the trio had cheated scores of unassuming people and had made good money. The two arrested agents have been identified as Suresh Lokhande, 38, and Bhujang Dasorjogi, 33, both residents of Shrirampur district, Ahmadnagar, Maharashtra.

The police got on its case when a complaint was registered by Goregaon-based couple Yusuf Kanchwala, 78, and wife Phatima, 55. The two claimed they had been cheated of R2.40 lakh by Sonawane, who ran an Ayurveda clinic named Sanjivini Ayurveda Distributer, at Mitesh Apartments on SV Road, Malad (West).

According to police sources, Suresh Lokhande met Yusuf Kaanchwal last year at a mall in Goregaon. After Kaanchwala told him that he and his wife were suffering from joint pain, the accused claimed that Sonawane could heal them. Sonawane took R2.40 lakh and in turn offered the medicine. He wasn’t to be seen after that at the clinic.

Kanchwala lodged a complaint against the duo on February 18 at Malad Police station. According to police officer Hasan Mulani, “Lokhande and Dasorjogi used to strike a conversation with people, and if anyone mentioned an illness, they would refer them to Sonawane. In December, they vacated the clinic and disappeared. Kanchwala tried contacting them. Ever since, more people have registered complaints against the fake centre.”

The police has registered a case against Sonawne and the agents under Section 420 and 34 of IPC, and the Maharashtra Ayurveda Adhiniyam Act 1961.*Others cheated*
>> Pandurang Patkar from Andheri. His 22-year-old daughter had trouble speaking. He paid Rs 84,000 to Sonawane.
>> Jitesh Mehta from Kandivali. He had an eye ailment. He was charged Rs 80,000.
>> Haji Usman Sidtar from Malad. He paid R80,000 for a skin treatment.

  Reported by Mid-Day 23 hours ago.

*Even as private educational institutions are investing huge amounts of money and are coming up with a variety of facilities to attract students, government institutions in the district are not bothered about providing better facilities to students.*

The City Central Library (CCL), Mysuru has earmarked 52,296 old books and is waiting for government institutions to take the books under Integrated Tribal Development Project (ITDP) of the Social Welfare Department, Backward Classes Department and Public Instructions (PI) Departmentfor the past two years. The library had reserved the books only after several school heads requested for the books for their school libraries for the use of teachers as well as students.

'Letter sent to schools'

CCL Deputy Director BManjunath told Deccan Herald that 15 schools had approached the library two years ago, seeking books. "Of them, only five schools have collected 6,800 books and 45,496 books are still with the library. Even though we have written letter to the schools concerned and officials, the schools are reluctant to take the books. The library had issued circulars to schools in February 2014 and October 2015. Ihave written to the Public Instruction Department, Planning officer of ITDP, Deputy Commissioner (DC)for Backward Classes Welfare and District Officer of Social Welfare department," he added.

The CCLhas alloted 2,000 books to the Government High School, Kergalli; 2,300 books to Government Model Higher Primary School, Kalale in Nanjangud taluk; 5,000 books to Pailwan Basavaiah Government Higher Primary School, Jayanagara, Mysuru; 6,300 books to Government Primary School, Vontikoppal, Mysuru; 11,450 books to Gowtham Social Cultural Education Society in Gundlupet; and a few other schools.

However, the Government HigherPrimary School, Rangasamudra; Sri Siddeshwara High School, Ramakrishna Nagar, Mysuru; Government Higher Primary School, Harohalli; Government High School in GBSargur, H DKote taluk; and another aided institution have collected 1,700, 600, 1,500, 1,500 and 1,500 books respectively from the library authorities, Manjunath said.

The library has to replace old books with new ones as per the need and thus, it had asked the schools following their request to use the books instead of selling them to paper recycle units, he said.

Manjunath said, "The library will approach the authorities concerned once again and if they do not turn up, the books will be disposed of in other ways to accommodate new books."
Deputy Director for Public Instruction (DDPI) HRBasappa said he was not aware of the books reserved by the CCL for schools. "Ihave not received any intimation either from the CCL or the schools," the DDPI said. Reported by Deccan Herald 11 hours ago.

Monique Coleman is coming to television. The 35-year-old former High School Musical actress has joined the NBC legal soap, Deadline reports. Written/co-executive produced by Katie Lovejoy and executive produced by John Glenn, Miranda’s Rights centers on an idealistic group of lawyers who not only work together but live together at their start-up firm. Monique will [...] Reported by Just Jared Jr 5 hours ago.

The Chicago Board of Education on Wednesday voted unanimously to make computer science a graduation requirement for all high school students beginning with next year's freshmen. Chicago Public Schools has become a national leader in computer science education since Mayor Rahm Emanuel launched the Computer Science for All initiative for grades K-12 in 2013, the board said. Reported by MacNewsWorld 6 hours ago.

Sveta Nedelja, Croatia (AFP) March 6, 2016

He's the name behind the world's first electric supercar, winning international plaudits for his ingenuity. But for Croatia's 28-year-old Mate Rimac, it all started as a hobby in his garage. A keen techie since high school, Rimac was racing an old BMW when he blew the engine and decided to turn the car into an electric one starting with pieces he bought on the Internet. A decade later, h Reported by Energy Daily 3 hours ago.