Ratnagiri: Protesters seek MCOCA

First India Bureau Mumbai: Several hundred journalists on Saturday held a protest in Ratnagiri against the murder of their colleague Shashikant Warishe earlier this week.

Warishe (48) was mowed down by an SUV allegedly driven by land dealer Pandharinath Amberkar on February 6 in Rajapur in Ratnagiri.

Amberkar, arrested for murder, allegedly used to threaten any person who opposed land acquisition for a proposed refinery in the area. The protests were held from 11:30am outside the tehsildar’s

Against Accused

First India Bureau

Mumbai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two successive city visits in a month has turned the heads of the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray).

On Friday, UBT said that the country’s top leader was campaigning for the forthcoming civic polls because the BJP’s state and local leadership were failures. It also wondered why the Prime Minister came down to Mumbai instead of answering questions raised at the Budget Session of Parliament.

Sena (UBT) spokesperson and Rajya Sabha

MP Sanjay Raut said the dedication of two Vande Bharat trains was just an excuse. In reality, the PM is out to woo voters. “They can-

BY PTI

Friday.

not win even if they bring the entire country here,” said Raut.

On Friday, PM Modi flagged off the trains and attended a function of the Dawoodi Bohras, which had the Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis sharing the dais with the community’s top religious leader at a foundation laying ceremony.

In addition to trains, the PM inaugurated some road projects in the city. In January, he had dedicated the Metro’s two lines and laid the foundation stones for some big ticket infra projects.

“I don’t want to criticize the PM, even though I can,” said Raut. “The PM could rent a home here or could even stay at the Raj Bhavan [to campaign],” he added.

office, with journalists taking part along with activists of Barsu Solgaon Panchakroshi Re-

SIT to be formed under high-ranking officer: Dy CM

First India Bureau Mumbai: A special investigation team will be set up to probe the murder of journalist Shashikant Warishe in Ratnagiri district earlier this week, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Saturday.

Warishe (48) was mowed down by an SUV allegedly driven by land dealer Pandharinath Amberkar on February 6 and died in hospital the next day.

Amberkar, arrested for murder, allegedly used to threaten any person who opposed

A Warm Welcome

land acquisition for a proposed refinery in the area.

A statement released from Fadnavis’ office said the police administration in the state has been directed to set up the SIT.

The SIT will be headed by a high-ranking official, the statement from the Deputy CM’s office said.

finery Virodhi Sanghatna’, which has been opposing the proposed refinery, and members of the ‘Kunabi Samaj’.

The protest went on till 2pm after which those taking part sub- mitted a memorandum at the tehsildar’s office. They sought the setting up of a special investigation team to probe the murder, slapping of Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against the accused, as well as a trial in a fast track court under a specially appointed public prosecutor. The protesters also said the state government must pay Rs50 lakh as compensation to the kin of Warishe. On Friday, journalists from Mumbai had protested near Mantralaya in the south of the metropolis against the murder.

Sanjay Raut speaking for publicity, says Maha minister

First India Bureau

Nashik: Maharashtra minister Girish Mahajan said Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut’s statements on the murder of journalist Shashikant Warishe in Ratnagiri as well as his letter to Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis were for publicity.

Mahajan said Raut’s letter spoke of criminals getting political patronage in the state.

“Yesterday, itself, Deputy CM and home minister Fadnavis said the incident will be probed thoroughly and speedily.

Raut is speaking to gain publicity,” Mahajan, who is the state medical education minister, said.

“If Amberkar had received political patronage, he wouldn’t have been arrested. There is no connection between Fadnavis’ statement about the Nanar refinery and Warishe’s murder. Raut should remember all that happened under the Maha

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Vikas Aghadi government,” Mahajan added.

Queried on alleged discontent in the MVA, which comprises the Shiv Sena (UBT), Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress, Mahajan backed Independent MLA Bacchu Kadu’s claim that 10-12 opposition legislators would join the Bharatiya Janata Party or Eknath Shinde’s Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena soon.

“There are two groups in Congress, one with state unit president and the other opposed to him. Anything can happen in the state.

The MVA is in disarray,” Mahajan claimed.

THREE INJURED AS FIRE BREAKS OUT IN MULUND RESTAURANT

Mumbai: A major fire broke out in a restaurant in the Mulund West area of Mumbai on Saturday afternoon, said a civic official. The fire was reported around 3.10 pm at Cowboy Barbeque restaurant in Ram Ratan Triveni Marg in Mulund West. As soon as the fire department got information about the blaze, several fire vehicles were pressed into action. The Fire tenders reached the spot and extinguished the blaze within minutes. Three people were reported injured in the incident, according to reports.

EX-DEPUTY MAYOR MANERA HELD IN ‘MOLESTATION’ CASE, GETS BAIL LATER

Thane: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and former Thane deputy mayor Naresh Manera was arrested in an alleged molestation case and later obtained bail. Leaders of the Sena (UBT) faction and Nationalist Congress Party accused police of filing false cases under the government’s pressure. Police on Friday registered a case against Manera and 12 others for allegedly beating up and molesting a woman. The alleged incident had taken place on Thursday night at the TMC ground on GB Road, Anand Nagar during the Maharashtra Mahotsav programme organised by Manera.

BANNED GUTKHA AND TOBACCO PRODUCTS WORTH

` 9.91 L SEIZED IN LATUR

Latur: After a swift action by the police, banned gutkha and scented tobacco products worth Rs9.91 lakh were seized in Latur district of Maharashtra on Saturday, police said. Acting on a tip-off, raids were conducted in Amhedpur town and rural areas where some persons were selling the banned products. Police detained two persons while two others managed to escape, an official said. A case has been registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006.