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Six arrested for destroying mangroves in Vashigaon

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As many as six suspects have been detained in a joint operation by the Vashi Police and the Mangrove Protection Cell of the forest department in Navi Mumbai on Monday for allegedly destroying mangroves on a large area of about three hectares near the Vashi Creek and then encroaching on the land where they had built hutments and rented them out to slum dwellers. Senior police inspector for Vashi Ramesh Chavan stated, “The Range forest officer Sudhir Manjare had registered a complaint at Vashi police station on Sunday alerting them that a significant area of mangroves had been damaged in Vashigaon and wanted police protection to conduct a raid.

As a result, we offered police protection on Monday during the operation, during which six suspects were detained. The six accused belong to the Sutar, Bhoir, and Patil families and are local citizens. The NMMC anti-encroachment department would demolish the slum dwellers’ encroachment on the mangrove zone in Vashigaon on Wednesday, according to Inspector Chavan. According to documents obtained by sources, the letter sent to the JMFC court in Belapur on November 8 by the office of the Range Forest Officer, Mumbai Mangroves Conservation Unit, Navi Mumbai, states that up to 10 people have engaged in mangroves destruction and illegal debris dumping at survey numbers 17 and 840 at Turbhe, where 3.88 hectares has been encouraged upon by the accused and they are conducting fishing activity and crab farming in addition to seizing property.

The paper also states that the accused has allegedly damaged 10,888 mangrove plantations on 2.54 hectares of mangrove land. “The Mangrove Cell personnel have showed some spine and moved against this big land grab on mangrove zone,” said BN Kumar, director of NatConnect Foundation. The infringement has been occurring for a while, and we actually reported about it back in June 2020 when the passage of the tide water was being obstructed. Instead of allowing the infraction to spread out across such a vast region of over three hectares, it should have been stopped in its tracks.”

Since these illegal activities occur at night, Kumar said, “It’s about time the mangrove protection cell installed CCTV camera surveillance with night vision. To stop such environmental crimes, a full-fledged control room supported by a fast response team is urgently needed. Only six of the 10 suspects, including two women, were shown before the JMFC court in Belapur on Tuesday, according to Sudhir Manjare, RFO, Navi Mumbai. In accordance with section 64 of the Indian Forest Act, the magistrate granted them personal bond bail.

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Navi Mumbai Police Arrest African National With Rs 1 Crore Worth Of Cocaine In Ulwe

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The Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) of Navi Mumbai Police arrested Jeorge Ocante DaSilva, a 35-year-old native of Guinea, on Monday for possessing 410 grams of cocaine, allegedly intended for illegal sale. Acting on a tip-off, API Alka Patil of the AHTU led a raid at RM Heights Building in Ulwe, where DaSilva was found in possession of the narcotics.

Around 2:30 p.m. on October 28, officers discovered 410 grams of cocaine, valued at approximately Rs 1,02,50,000, hidden in DaSilva’s bedroom. Authorities also seized a mobile phone, a black Tabata weighing scale, scissors, plastic packaging bags, and a sky bag, bringing the total seizure value to Rs 1,02,55,610.

An FIR was filed at Panvel City Police Station under Sections 8(a) and 21(a) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Dasilva was presented in court and remanded to police custody until October 31, 2024. Investigations are ongoing, with the Crime Branch seeking potential accomplices and sources of the narcotics. Notably, Dasilva has a prior NDPS case registered at Nahar Police Station in Mumbai.

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Taloja Society Chairman Detained For Allegedly Abusing Residents And Objecting To Diwali Decorations

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The chairman of a housing society in Taloja Phase One has been detained by Taloja police following allegations of verbal abuse toward residents, including women, and objections to Diwali lighting in the complex. The incident occurred on Tuesday night, sparking outrage among residents.

According to the police, the chairman is accused of abusing a woman with intent to insult her modesty, provoking a breach of peace, and engaging in criminal intimidation. A formal complaint was filed, and the chairman was promptly taken into custody.

The situation intensified after a video of the incident went viral on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), showing a group of men, allegedly from the housing society, verbally abusing residents and threatening to halt Diwali decorations. The video received widespread attention, with users expressing shock over the treatment of residents.

Police officials confirmed that the chairman’s detention is part of an ongoing investigation into the incident. Residents are awaiting further action as authorities work to address the disturbance and ensure the safety of the community amid Diwali festivities.

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Thane Sees Surge of Nomination Filings for 2024 Vidhan Sabha Election

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The final day for filing nominations for the 2024 Vidhan Sabha General Election witnessed a surge of candidates in Thane district, with a total of 281 applications submitted across 18 assembly constituencies. This high turnout signals a competitive race for seats in the upcoming election.

Among the nominees, 114 candidates represent various political parties, while 167 have filed as independents, reflecting a diverse array of participants aiming to represent Thane’s voters. Nominations were filed throughout the day with election decision officers at each constituency, marking an essential step in the electoral process.

Collector and District Election Decision Officer Ashok Shingare announced that the scrutiny of these nomination forms is scheduled for October 30, 2024. Following this verification process, candidates who wish to withdraw their names from the race may do so until November 4, 2024.

As the election date approaches, Thane’s political landscape appears more dynamic than ever, with a record number of candidates ready to contest the assembly seats, making for an engaging electoral season for voters and candidates alike.

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