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Time of India
20 hours ago
- Time of India
FIR against criminal for threatening & extorting farmer
Kolhapur: A criminal on police records was booked on Monday on the charge of threatening and extorting a farmer from Sangli's Retre Dharan village on Aug 1 while he was transporting cattle for sale. The farmer transporting four cows to Kolhapur for sale was stopped by the accused, who claimed to be gau rakshak, in the Shiroli police station area. "He falsely accused the farmer of heading to slaughter the cows and demanded Rs 1.5 lakh to let him go. The farmer paid part of the amount in cash and Rs 30,000 online, after which the accused allowed him to leave," an officer said. MLC Sadabhau Khot, president of Rayat Kranti Sanghatana that is part of the BJP-led alliance, visited the police station to register a complaint against the accused. "Several farmers have been intimidated by the accused and others, warning them not to file complaints or they would face harm or even murder. Given the accused's history as a criminal and the potential threat to witnesses, I personally oversaw the registration of the case," Khot said. The case under sections 351(2) and 352 has been registered. Sunil Gaikwad, assistant police inspector, said, "We have registered a non-cognizable offence now. We are going to charge the accused for extortion under Section 383 of BNS. We will arrest him once we get more details from the complainant." Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
BJP MLC opposes cow slaughter ban act, gau-rakshak activities
Mumbai: The aggression of cow vigilantes has exposed internal differences in the Mahayuti alliance's stance on the issue. Ruling MLC from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Sadabhau Khot has expressed his anger against banning the slaughter of cows, bulls, and bullocks, and said that the ban should be limited to Indian breeds. Earlier, deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar had met top police officers after which the police issued a circular saying that only they could take actions against illegal cattle transport. Sadabhau Khot of Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana's of Madha candidate interact at Madha in by Uday Deolekar Sangli. (Uday Deolekar) The cow slaughter ban and activities of gau-rakshak's (cow protectors) have become a matter of dispute in the state. In the monsoon session of state legislature, the Mahayuti government led by the BJP cited complaints of beef smuggling and said that it would strengthen the law banning cow slaughter by enhancing the punishment for repeat offenders. In July, the Qureishi community, involved in cattle trade, protested the alleged harassment by the police and self-proclaimed gau rakshaks who not only seize vehicles but also attack the people involved in transporting cattle. After that, deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar held a meeting with top police officials and following the meeting police issued a circular underlining that private individuals have no authority to inspect transport vehicles. Amid this, the BJP's own MLC Sadabhau Khot spoke up against the act banning the slaughter of cows, bulls and bullocks. Khot said, 'For farmers dairy is a secondary source of income and contributes to their financial ecosystem. Earlier farmers used to sell unproductive cows and bulls, but now with this act farmers can't do so as there are no buyers.' He added that farmers are now deprived of this extra income and have to take the extra burden of feeding unproductive cattle. Khot explained, 'For increasing milk production farmers used to import cows from other states like Rajasthan and Gujarat. They also used to sell or import bulls for milk production.' However, after attacks and raids from gau-rakshak groups, transporting cattle has become difficult and is affecting the economy of milk production. Khot alleged that many gau-rakshak have become extortionists. 'This cow slaughter ban act should be limited to Indian breeds of cows. There is no point in including hybrid-jersey cows in it,' said Khot. He explained that 90% of cows owned by farmers are jersey-hybrid cows and only 10% are an Indian breed. He also demanded that Gaushalas (cow sheds) should purchase the cows from farmers at market price instead of taking it free of cost. Khot said he could no longer keep quiet as he came from a farming background. Having lived amid farmers he said he could not ignore the grief and financial stress caused by cow slaughter laws. 'For the government, farmers are nothing but the slaves and slaves have no right to raise their voice,' said Khot. 'I live in Bharat, where the farmers live, and not in India which is far away from the problems faced by farmers,' he added.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
BJP MLC slams cow vigilantes, says anti-slaughter Act is against farmers
Days after Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar held a meeting with top police officials on the growing menace of gaurakshaks (self-styled cow vigilantes), ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLC and farmer leader Sadabhau Khot on Sunday said that the Maharashtra Animal Preservation (Amendment) Act, 2015, that prevents the slaughter of cow, bulls and bullocks is against farmers. Speaking to The Indian Express, Khot said, 'Let's be very clear. No farmer would part ways with productive cows. Dairy is a supplementary business of lakhs of farmers in the state. The earning from this is now being spent on taking care of unproductive animals as transfer of these animals is not only banned but under threat from these so-called gaurakshaks. The Act (against cow slaughter) is actually turning against farmers…' About cow vigilantism in the state, he said, 'These gaurakshaks resort to extortion from genuine farmers and traders, bringing the transport of animals to a complete standstill.' Khot, a farmer leader from western Maharashtra's Sangli district, said that as a farmer leader he feels that if the present act (to prevent cow slaughter) threatens the livelihood of farmers, then it should be 'torn apart'. 'This (the act) is not even helping desi cows as those are getting replaced by Jersey cows. The transfer of newer breeds from different states has totally stopped due to fear of these cow vigilantes. The so-called gaushalas (cow shelters promoted by the state government) should pay the market price to farmers for unproductive cows and must come forward to rescue the farmers,' he said, adding that he was 'ready to pay any price' for his stand. Last week, The Indian Express had reported that Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Ajit Pawar held a meeting with top police officials in the state over the demands raised by the Qureishi community, which has been complaining against cow vigilantes who allegedly beat up and extort money from animal traders. Following the meeting, state police issued a circular, clarifying that private individuals have no authority to inspect vehicles that transport animals but only police can act against them. Terming the circular issued by Maharashtra police an eyewash, Maharashtra Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said, 'The circular says that only police can take action against illegal animal trade. But it does not say what action will be taken against the private individuals if they are take law in their hands? The majority of these so called cow vigilantes are linked to BJP and RSS and this issue is used for the politics of polarisation.'
Time of India
03-08-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
85,000 cases to be transferred to Kolhapur's circuit bench
Kolhapur: Starting Aug 18, a new circuit bench of the Bombay high court will begin operations in Kolhapur, taking on approximately 85,000 pending cases from as many as six districts. This move aims to significantly reduce the caseload at the main Bombay high court. The approved circuit bench will serve the districts of Kolhapur, Sangli, Satara, Solapur, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg. The new bench will be housed in three renovated halls of the old court building on Bhausingji Road. This historic building once served as the Supreme Court for the Chhatrapati family during pre-independence times, and more recently, as the district and sessions court until its relocation to a new facility in Kasba Bawada a few years ago. According to S S Khot, president of the Kolhapur District Bar Association, the transferred cases will include a mix of recent filings and older matters, all of which will receive daily hearings. "To ensure smooth operations, around 40 staffers will be transferred from the Bombay high court to the new circuit bench," he said. The administration has suggested 40 acres of Shenda Park, located just on the outskirts of Kolhapur city, to build the court infrastructure. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Most Beautiful Female Athletes Right Now Undo "This, however, will take four to five years," Khot said. The inauguration of the circuit bench will be held on Aug 16 at Mahasainik Darbar Hall. Khot said that chief justice of India Bhushav Gavai will preside over the function, and chief ministers of Maharashtra and Goa, chief justice of Bombay HC, and both deputy CMs will attend the function. Meanwhile, on Sunday, MLA and executive chairman of the state planning commission Rajesh Kshirsagar visited the under-renovation building at Bhausingji Road. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
The Age
01-07-2025
- Health
- The Age
Horror as 1000 children to be tested for STIs. Here's what comes next
The decision to mass-test children – at testing centres across the metro area – came after Brown tested positive for an STI, according to two police sources not authorised to comment. A Health Department spokeswoman said the department would not comment on the specifics of suspected exposure to protect children's sensitive health information. A government source, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said authorities wanted to rule out the possibility that the children had been exposed to infections such as syphilis given the spike in Victorian cases over the last decade. How long will parents have to wait? Dr Nisha Khot, the vice president of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said parents should know their child's health status relatively quickly. Loading 'STI screening results usually only take 24 to 48 hours, depending on what test is done,' she said. Khot said Victoria's health system had the capacity to conduct the tests the Health Department is urging for the children, but that the bigger question was ongoing support for alleged victims and their families. 'The children will need appropriately qualified clinicians to assess their needs beyond the tests.' The state government has established a dedicated advice hotline to assist families with health and screening information, as well as link them to specialist services such as mental health support. Will any infections be treatable? Doctors who spoke to this masthead said most STIs could be treated with antibiotics delivered either orally or administered as an injection. Khot said the exceptions were Hepatitis B and HIV, which can be managed with other treatments but not cured. If left untreated, gonorrhea, for example, can lead to permanent health problems involving scar tissue, long-term pain and infertility. Late-stage syphilis can cause brain damage, heart disease and even blindness. But Chief Health Officer Dr Christian McGrath said on Tuesday that affected families and the broader community could be reassured that any infections as a result of this case could be treated with antibiotics. 'There's no broader public health risk to the community,' he said. A suburban GP, who declined to be named due to the sensitivities of the matter, said childcare workers at the centres and police working on the case should monitor their mood over the next few weeks and speak to family, friends or a doctor if they notice any changes.
