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Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
CP Warns of MCOCA, MPDA Action on Criminals Ahead of Bakri Eid–Shiv Rajyabhishek Weekend
1 2 3 Nagpur: Commissioner of police Ravinder Singal has warned of strict against against the known troublemakers in the city, with plans to invoke MPDA, MCOCO and even externment orders ahead of Bakri Eid and Shiv Rajyabhishek, both of which fall on this weekend. Addressing a citywide peace committee meeting at the police headquarters, Singal interacted with peace committee members, community leaders, religious representatives, and citizens from various police stations. The meeting aimed to ensure communal harmony and a peaceful atmosphere during the upcoming celebrations. "We must not dwell on past incidents. Nagpur is a city of peace," said Singal, urging citizens to focus on building a stable and harmonious future. "We need to move on from previous riots and look ahead with unity," he added. Addressing members of the peace committee, Singal emphasized their critical role in maintaining law and order, calling them 'the eyes of the police'. He assured that all information and tip-offs from citizens would remain strictly confidential and encouraged the public not to hesitate in reporting suspicious or unlawful activities. "Tip-offs are the backbone of our operations," he said, revealing that many major crackdowns — including the recent Operation Thunder — were made possible because of vital leads from alert citizens. The commissioner informed that police have already begun identifying and warning known anti-social elements across the city. Legal proceedings under the Maharashtra Prevention of Dangerous Activities Act (MPDA) and the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) are currently in progress. Repeat offenders are also being considered for externment to ensure they cannot disrupt peace during the upcoming festivities. "Simultaneously, we're cracking down on the illegal sale of liquor," Singal added. "We are also initiating action against the misuse of prescription drugs, which is becoming a growing concern in certain pockets of the city." The police chief also urged citizens to engage positively during the festivities. He encouraged families to involve children in cultural and religious celebrations to promote harmony. Singal further called on youth and content creators to avoid provocative material and instead focus on making positive, culture-rich content and reels that celebrate the spirit of unity. During the meeting, several critical issues were raised by citizens and community leaders. These included the need for increased night patrolling, especially in Central Nagpur and areas like Ganeshpeth, which has eight to ten active mosques. Residents requested that two police personnel be deployed at every major chowk to maintain law and order. Another key concern was the improper transport of meat during the festival, with citizens urging that sacrificial meat be carried carefully to avoid blood dripping in public places, which has triggered tensions earlier. Clarifications were also sought on buffalo sacrifices, with community representatives stating that while the meat is legal, misunderstandings, particularly when it's mistaken for beef, often lead to unrest. Police were also urged to step up monitoring and enforcement around such situations and to increase public awareness about legal practices to prevent misinformation. Waste management emerged as another significant issue. Citizens expressed dissatisfaction with Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), citing delays in garbage collection and poor circulation of vehicles, especially in sacrifice zones. They requested increased deployment of NMC officials and vehicles to ensure cleanliness and hygiene during the festival. Info: Key Points * Police have initiated strict action under MPDA and MCOCA against known offenders ahead of Bakri Eid–Shivrajyabhishek weekend. * Social media activity is under close watch; police will act firmly against those spreading provocative or inflammatory content. * Citizens were assured that all tip-offs will remain completely confidential * CP urged the public to report any suspicious or unlawful activity without hesitation — "Tip-offs are the backbone of our operations." * Alerts from citizens have helped in major operations like Operation Thunder, and continued cooperation is vital
Time of India
26-05-2025
- Time of India
52% Surge In Murder Numbers Puts Nagpur Cops On High Alert
1 2 3 Nagpur: Grappling with a staggering 52% rise in murders over two years, police commissioner Ravinder Singal has launched a relentless 'zero tolerance' policy targeting violent criminals. With 44 murders recorded in the first five months of 2025, compared to 34 in 2024 and 29 in 2023, the city's 33 police stations and crime branch are on high alert, intensifying efforts to curb the alarming spike in violent crime. Commissioner Singal's strategy focuses on goons with a history of bodily offences, including murders, stabbings, assaults, and grievous harm. The police have rolled out regular night operations, house searches, and preventive measures to keep notorious criminals in check. "We are hitting them hard," said deputy commissioner of police (crime) Rahul Maknikar. He revealed that the crime branch is meticulously tracking jail-released offenders, externed goons, and those involved in arms-related activities. Over 500-700 criminals with violent records were checked in just one week, forcing many to abandon their homes to evade scrutiny. The police have also invoked stringent laws to dismantle criminal networks. Nineteen goons have been detained under the Maharashtra Prevention of Dangerous Activities (MPDA) Act, facing up to a year in prison. Four gangs were charged under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), with plans to apply it against perpetrators of a high-profile shooting at Godhani market earlier this year, which claimed another criminal's life. "We're targeting their income sources," Maknikar added, noting that many criminals have shifted to drug peddling. Undercover traps and swift actions are disrupting these illicit operations. Singal's no-nonsense approach extends to his own force too. He suspended six officers and an equal number of constables for failing to prevent a murder, signalling accountability at all levels. The commissioner himself leads several night operations, setting a hands-on example for his team. "Criminals are feeling the heat," Maknikar said, emphasizing that the crackdown is relentless and around 10 sharp weapons were seized in just two weeks. The murder surge has raised concerns among Nagpur residents, with the city's rising violence linked to organised crime and personal disputes. Singal's aggressive measures aim to restore public confidence, but the challenge remains steep. As police intensify their operations, the city watches closely to see if this 'zero tolerance' policy can stem the tide of violence and make Nagpur safer.
Time of India
13-05-2025
- Time of India
Four habitual offenders detained under MPDA Act in Beed
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: this week invoked the Prevention of Dangerous Activities (MPDA) Act against four arrested individuals who are accused of serious crimes in the decision to invoke MPDA, by Beed SP Navneet Kanwat (IPS), was approved by newly appointed district collector, Vivek four offenders were identified as Tarekh Khan (28) of Majalgaon; Vishal Dhambe (24) of Vadwani; Gajanan Jadhav (38) of Ambajogai; and Ganesh Giri (23) of Beed city. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Police said all of them are accused of committing serious .The district administration passed the MPDA detention orders on May 11, following detailed proposals that were submitted by police stations and approved by SP for the accused, police said Tarekh Khan, from Phulenagar in Majalgaon, has eight cases registered against him, including attempt to murder, grievous assault, criminal intimidation, theft, and unlawful assembly. He was earlier externed under Section 56(1) of the Maharashtra Police Act and booked under Section 126 of Dhambe from Vadwani has been named in five FIRs related to assault, molestation, intimidation, gang activity, robbery and offences under the POCSO Act. He previously faced preventive action under CrPC Section 110 and was externed under Section 55 of the Maharashtra Police Gajanan Jadhav, a resident of Radi Tanda in Ambajogai taluka, was arrested multiple times for producing, storing and selling illicit liquor. Five such cases were recorded against him, and he was earlier subjected to preventive action under Section 93 of the Maharashtra Prohibition Giri, from Indraprastha Colony in Beed's Nagar Road has four criminal cases against him, including extortion, property damage, arson, communal offences, and inciting riots. He was earlier slapped with CrPC Section 110 for preventive four were under police watch for extended periods of time and despite legal action against them continued criminal activities, instilling fear among local residents, police said, adding that people were even afraid to testify against the district collector Vivek Johnson passed an order to arrest the accused, the four were produced before the local court and sent to Harsul Central Prison in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Police sources said Khan and Jadhav were arrested on May 11 while Dhambe was arrested in Pune on May 12. Giri is currently in judicial custody in sources indicated that police were also planning to use MPDA and MCOCA against those engaged in illegal sand mining, gutka trade, black marketing or inciting communal disharmony.
The Star
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Healing Malaysia and the world, one note at a time
Indra Selvarajah wants us to know — and use — the therapeutic powers of music. BATTLING Alzheimer's in his twilight years, Ronald Reagan was often found responding to familiar songs, sometimes singing along or tapping his foot, as the disease chipped away at the cognitive ability of the 40th US president. Reagan wasn't alone. Arizona congresswoman Gabby Giffords regained much of her ability to walk, speak, read and write despite being shot in the head, as doctors used a combination of treatments that included melodic and rhythmic elements of singing to stimulate language centres in her brain. Her recovery was another demonstration of the power of music in rewiring the neural pathways of humans. From celebrity to the ordinary, the sick can be helped in ways many do not know yet are possible in musical therapy. But Indra Selvarajah wants you to know. For more than 30 years, that's been her mission — a mission that took her from her Penang home to Bangor University in Wales, then UPM in Serdang and later Florida State University in Tallahassee. This was followed by a decade of wondrous work in Malaysia — putting together all that she learned — before a move again, to Singapore's University of the Arts, to explore new collaborations. In a two-hour chat over pistachios and piping-hot tea at her apartment in northeast Singapore, Indra ( left ) speaks little of her standing as Malaysia's only certified musical therapist, with a PhD from Florida State. She's quick to point out that a UPM student of hers, Racheal Yap, is pursuing a similar pathway at the Tallahassee university (more on Racheal below). Indra steers the conversation then to the musical therapy work done by her cohorts in Malaysia. Again, I notice that much of the work began from foundations laid by her. For instance, the Malaysian Music Therapy Association was founded by her. Topping it all, the World Federation of Music Therapy added her to its committee in 2020 — a first for a Malaysian. While such honours humble her, what really matters to Indra is the tri-dimensional journey she's been on since the mid-90s. It's a journey to first learn, then master and finally administer the wonders of music to those impaired by ailments such as Parkinson's, autism, stroke and other neural and cognitive disorders. As she worked her way through these, she built a community of like-minded musical educationists, practitioners, healthcare advocates and caregivers who were just a call or text away from providing anything she needed. They include luminaries like Paul Augustin, founder of the Penang Jazz Festival and curator of the one-time Penang House of Music, and Sara Lew, president of the MPDA, or Malaysia Parkinson's Disease Association, which has made life easier for countless people suffering from the degenerative disease (more on Sara and the MPDA below). Despite the sheer number of volunteers on her speed dial, Indria is someone who takes no one for granted. That's obvious to me because of the way her eyes well and her voice cracks each time she speaks of people who travelled unbelievable distances and hours to find her — just in the hope that she can make a difference to their loved ones. In return, Indra is willing to go any mile herself for such patients and their families. To her, no individual is too young to treat (she has worked with premature infants), nor too old (some of the elderly in her care are virtually on their deathbeds). 'Womb to tomb,' she says, describing the diversity of the ages she works with. But there's something else we ought to know … And that is, for all its wonders, musical therapy does not work too well in isolation. It may be simplistic thinking to believe that just being exposed to jazz or any other form of music throughout the day could completely cure someone of an ailment. Indra concurs, saying people usually need a combination of treatments. 'Aside from music therapy, they might require physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy,' she adds. 'On top of that, they need to continue with whatever medicine they have been taking and they need overall medical oversight for their condition.' A musical therapy session in the works The "healing" that's often stated in musical therapy can also be nuanced, and there's not always a 'complete cure', research shows. Yet, the general prognosis about musical therapy is that — administered properly — it can significantly alleviate multiple symptoms in people, enhance their motor functions and provide them emotional support. Some of the best case studies on this were carried out on war veterans returning from conflict zones with post-traumatic stress disorder. Through songwriting, instrumental improvisation and guided listening, these veterans can express emotions that are difficult to verbalise, find a sense of calm, and build connections with others in a safe therapeutic setting. While it does not erase their PTSD altogether, music therapy helps them manage anxiety, improve emotional regulation, cope and move forward. Research shows autistic children also make significant progress in communication and social interaction through music therapy. A child who is non-verbal might begin to vocalise or even sing before speaking. Engaging in musical activities together can also foster eye contact, turn-taking and shared attention, all crucial for social development. Those in palliative care are particularly receptive to musical therapy too as it reduces the pain and anxiety they experience from terminal illnesses, providing comfort in their remaining days. Not just a nicety but a necessity Then, why does the average person know so little about all this, I asked Indra. Her reply was quite simple, related to the fundamentals of music: People still thought of it as entertainment — meaning 'nice, but not necessary'. 'It's also why musicians are taken for granted, sometimes looked down upon and not really valued because people don't see their obvious worth,' she adds. 'In music therapy though, we talk about music not just being a nicety but a necessity.' What's also necessary in this business — but isn't in the contract of any university — is a dedication beyond calculable hours that demands one to put task before self. Indra doesn't say it, but I get that much, based on the ever-evolving research, self-reflection and other energy she needs for her job. It's why, after a decade of highly-regarded work in Malaysia, she left her shores last year, for a third time, to teach at Singapore's University of the Arts. For Indra, the move was in the interest of both her craft and country. Singapore wants to create a regional hub for musical therapy. Indra's request was simple: Give me the opportunity to collaborate with Malaysia, and I'll come. The first of those alliances took place within months of her move in late 2024. By March, she invited her former colleagues at UPM to the Singapore university to join a week of evidence-based research and other learning in musical therapy guided by Petra Kern, former president of the World Federation of Music Therapy. The two universities have been exploring more cross-border work since. Different treatment approaches for special-needs people at Singaporean and Malaysian hospitals have also prodded Indra to think of a hybrid model of best musical therapy practices for such patients. Penang to Tallahassee: The making of a musical therapist Indra the musical therapist almost never happened. As a five-year-old, she had a piano teacher who used to rap her knuckles with a ruler each time she made a mistake, making the little girl detest the instrument and her music. 'At first, we didn't know why but she wasn't really showing much interest in practising and, at one point, I really thought of discontinuing her piano lessons,' Indra's mother Shirley Leong (left) recalled as she sat at the family's piano one afternoon when I visited their current home in Bangsar. But father V. Selvarajah, a fisheries department official in Penang, thought Indra ought to be given more time. A fan of classical music, he owned a large vinyl collection of Indian maestros (below) that filled their home with the sounds that became Indra's early foundation in musical diversity. There was someone else who absolutely believed in the young girl: Aunt Lucy, wife to Indra's eldest maternal uncle and a pianist herself. Eventually, the piano teacher was replaced with another called Ellen Nora Sinaga — a loving soul who helped Indra discover her innate musicality. The piano prodigy of the Selvarajah family was then born. Despite this, Indra wasn't sure if she was cut out for a life in music. For a while after school, she thought of becoming a pediatrician — indicating that healing work had always been a part of her. But when the acceptance to study music at Bangor came, the decision was sealed. Arriving at the university, Indra discovered the psychology department adjacent to the one for music. Her inborn trait for therapy pushed her to choose psychology as a minor. While the piano was her primary instrument, she also learned percussion to join the symphony orchestra at Bangor. Earning her Masters' in music there, Indra returned to take up a teaching job at UPM. It was the early 2000s and the university was working towards becoming the foremost ground for research in Malaysia. Indra found it to be an ideal platform to integrate her diverse training in research, ensemble performance and music psychology. The more she taught and the more she engaged with the community around her, the more she learned about music's impact on human behaviour and how it could influence one's well-being. Amid local interactions, she began reaching out to global peers and was pleasantly surprised when commission members of the World Congress of Education, who met in Brazil in 2004, agreed to come to UPM two years later. That's when she met Alice-Ann Darrow, professor of music therapy at Florida State. Over a plate of chicken rice balls in Melaka, the professor asked Indra if she had thought of a Phd in music therapy. A plan for Tallahassee began to form in Indra's mind. But she was aware of the graduate entrance exam she had to pass and the cost of travel to Florida. To her amazement, the professor agreed to house her and give her access to her library so that Indra would have a place to stay and do research without worry. As expected, she sailed through that exam. Then came crunch time. Would UPM sponsor her PhD in Tallahassee? To her joy, her dean said yes. Arriving at Florida State, she had to do a master's level certification in music therapy before proceeding with her doctoral studies. She was there for seven years, during which her daughter was also born. Home and responsibility beckons As she was finishing at Tallahassee, Indra was offered an opportunity to stay on in the United States. Lori Gooding, who founded the University of Kentucky's musical therapy program, was taking up a position at Florida State and asked if Indra would work with her. 'I could have broken the bond with UPM and I could have paid it back because I would have been earning in dollars,' said Indra. 'But I felt a stronger responsibility to the people back at home who needed me. I just couldn't do it.' With her return to UPM in 2014, she immediately put to work what she had learned. The decade since had, particularly, been profound for her as she touched — and was touched by — countless ailing children and adults trying to coexist in a world that often showed little empathy or patience for their condition. An inclusion concert of UPM featuring multiple special needs groups 'Can you imagine how heartbreaking it is when you have kids watching their friends play in the playground, and they are not able to join and they are alone?' she asked, wiping a tear. 'I mean, that is one of the most devastating things if you are a child.' But she's also thankful for the 'angels' in society who try to make things better for the afflicted. 'There are always good individuals and NGOs on the ground, looking to offer solutions to affected families. Some of my strongest champions and allies are actually medical doctors because they see the benefits of my work. Without them, and the NGOs and the access these people give me to those under their care, my students and I will not be able to do what we do.' Channelling your 'inner Gaga' Some of her most memorable work was with her one-time colleague and current head of UPM's music department, Ang Mei Foong. A professional opera singer and soprano trained at the University of Melbourne, Mei Foong ( left ), worked on her PhD with Indra, her supervisor, to develop voice-based protocols that used Western classical voice training techniques and medical music therapy to support the needs of people with Parkinson's. Rachael, the second UPM student to pursue a musical therapy PhD at Florida State after Indra, wrote the 'Together We Conquer Parkinson's' anthem in 2018 and coached those with the condition to perform. 'Thanks to the amazing work done by Dr. Indra, Dr. Ang and their team, many people with Parkinson's today have found their voice, can project it and be proud of it,' Sara, the MPDA president named higher up in this story, told me over the phone. Widening their circle from Parkinson's victims, Indra and Mei Foong began adding people with autism, stroke and other health conditions to their "Hand in Hand" series of inclusion-themed concerts ( left ) aimed at bringing together people of diverse races and ailments. 'The idea was to celebrate all sorts of people with special needs in society,' Mei Foong told me over a video chat. One of the most joyous discoveries for Indra at this point was a stage-shy 13-year-old girl who happened to be a fan of Lady Gaga. 'Lady Gaga is fantastic because her music has all this ra-ra ga-ga-ga, which is great when you're working with non-verbal kids,' Indra recalled with amusement. 'I really developed a newfound respect for Lady Gaga after that because I could incorporate her songs into speech stimulation exercises with these kids.' 'And it was so fun for that little girl because it was the music she enjoyed and she got to be part of a rock band that we eventually formed.' In summation, Indra says musical therapy has incredible potential in Malaysia, but it can only progress as much as society and the government allows. 'There's a lot of work out there that we can do, but we lack the manpower and support. Also, sometimes too many things are delineated to the private sector, meaning that if people can't afford them, they won't have access to the services.'
Time of India
11-05-2025
- Time of India
Nanded range: Nearly 400 cases filed, illicit goods worth Rs 1.2 cr seized in a week
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Launching a crackdown on illicit businesses across the Nanded police range , a total of 394 cases were registered and 401 people were arrested within just in the first week of the ' Anti-Illegal Business Drive – I'. This resulted in the seizure of material worth over Rs 1.2 month-long campaign, which began on May 1 to mark Maharashtra Day, targets a wide range of illegal activities. These include the sale of illicit liquor, matka, gambling, online lottery, cricket betting, gutkha, narcotics, prostitution, sand excavation and transport, and unauthorised passenger transport. The operation is being carried out simultaneously across all four districts in the range — Nanded, Parbhani, Hingoli, and officers, including officers in charge of police stations, sub-divisional police officers, and additional superintendents of police, are actively involved in the drive. Local crime branch (LCB) teams and special squads are also contributing to the operations, while district superintendents are overseeing the implementation and progress of the to official data, Parbhani district reported the highest number of cases with 106 FIRs, 110 arrests, and seized articles worth Rs 60.19 lakh. Hingoli followed with 102 cases, 102 arrests, and seizures worth Rs 34.3 lakh. Nanded recorded 97 cases and 98 arrests, with seizures valued at Rs 6 lakh. In Latur, police registered 89 cases, arrested 91 individuals, and confiscated material worth Rs 20.2 significant actions, LCB in Hingoli raided a location in Hatgaon jurisdiction and seized ganja worth Rs 87,000. In a separate operation, LCB Parbhani recovered ganja valued at Rs 95,000 from the Gangakhed area. Both teams were lauded for their prompt action by deputy inspector general (DIG) Shahaji Umap, who heads the Nanded DIG has also directed that habitual offenders involved in these illegal businesses be booked under stricter laws such as the MPDA and the MCOCA, and externment proceedings initiated wherever applicable. Verification of criminal records of known offenders is currently in have been urged to support the campaign by reporting illegal activities either at their nearest police station or via the official website Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Launching a crackdown on illicit businesses across the Nanded police range, a total of 394 cases were registered and 401 people were arrested within just in the first week of the 'Anti-Illegal Business Drive – I'. This resulted in the seizure of material worth over Rs 1.2 month-long campaign, which began on May 1 to mark Maharashtra Day, targets a wide range of illegal activities. These include the sale of illicit liquor, matka, gambling, online lottery, cricket betting, gutkha, narcotics, prostitution, sand excavation and transport, and unauthorised passenger transport. The operation is being carried out simultaneously across all four districts in the range — Nanded, Parbhani, Hingoli, and officers, including officers in charge of police stations, sub-divisional police officers, and additional superintendents of police, are actively involved in the drive. Local crime branch (LCB) teams and special squads are also contributing to the operations, while district superintendents are overseeing the implementation and progress of the to official data, Parbhani district reported the highest number of cases with 106 FIRs, 110 arrests, and seized articles worth Rs 60.19 lakh. Hingoli followed with 102 cases, 102 arrests, and seizures worth Rs 34.3 lakh. Nanded recorded 97 cases and 98 arrests, with seizures valued at Rs 6 lakh. In Latur, police registered 89 cases, arrested 91 individuals, and confiscated material worth Rs 20.2 significant actions, LCB in Hingoli raided a location in Hatgaon jurisdiction and seized ganja worth Rs 87,000. In a separate operation, LCB Parbhani recovered ganja valued at Rs 95,000 from the Gangakhed area. Both teams were lauded for their prompt action by deputy inspector general (DIG) Shahaji Umap, who heads the Nanded DIG has also directed that habitual offenders involved in these illegal businesses be booked under stricter laws such as the MPDA and the MCOCA, and externment proceedings initiated wherever applicable. Verification of criminal records of known offenders is currently in have been urged to support the campaign by reporting illegal activities either at their nearest police station or via the official website Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Mother's Day wishes , messages , and quotes !
