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Hans India
6 days ago
- General
- Hans India
Police raid godowns with explosive
Bhubaneswar: A day after recovering around 2.5 tonnes of gelatin sticks looted by Maoists in Sundargarh district, Odisha Police on Tuesday intensified raids on different explosive godowns and arrested two persons for allegedly violating Explosives Act. The raids on explosive warehouses were conducted in the mineral-rich and bordering police districts of Sundargarh, Rourkela and Keonjhar, DIG, Western Range, Brijesh Rai said. The DIG said Sraban Agarwal, the owner of a warehouse at Badagaon in Sundargarh district and the driver of a truck transporting explosive materials, were arrested by the Special Investigating Team (SIT). The arrests were made based on the detection of two explosive-laden trucks at a place in Raghunathpali police station area on Sunday. The police had found parking of explosive-loaded trucks near a petrol pump following which one driver was arrested. The materials were getting transported to some undisclosed place. The explosive materials were taken from Sraban Agarwal's warehouse, police said. Earlier, police had detained Agarwal in Rourkela and later arrested him following interrogations by the SIT. His Badgaon warehouse was sealed last week after the May 27 incident (Maoist loot of explosives), which raised alarms about explosive security and potential misuse. Police sources said three explosives-laden trucks left Agarwal's warehouse on May 27. While Maoists looted one truckload of explosives, Agarwal misled authorities by claiming the other two trucks were delivered to clients. However, police later on Sunday found two explosives-laden trucks parked suspiciously near a fuel station at Balughat in Raghunathpali area. About 116 packets of gelatin sticks, 416 detonators and 750 metres of charging electric wires were recovered from the two trucks, fuelling suspicions of a broader illegal trade. Police arrested Agarwal for illegally supplying explosives to stone quarries and mines by violating the standard operating procedure (SOP). The security personnel on Monday recovered around 2.5 tonnes of explosives during a search operation in jungles near Saranda forest on the Jharkhand border. On May 27, armed Maoists had hijacked the explosives-laden truck from Banko stone quarry in K Balang area of Sundargarh district.
Time of India
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Activists in Vasai Virar demand SIT probe into Illegal constructions
VASAI: Activists in Vasai Virar are calling for a Special Investigating Team (SIT) to investigate the continuous illegal construction activities in the region, following an RTI disclosure revealing 4,95,285 illegal units being charged property tax/house tax (gharpatti). These unauthorised structures are putting excessive pressure on the city's infrastructure, affecting water, electricity, and transport services for legitimate tax-paying residents. The senior officials of Vasai Virar City Municipal Corporation (VVCMC) have been criticised for their alleged negligent approach towards land mafia encroachment and non-compliance with court orders. Terence Hendriques, who filed a PIL regarding illegal construction in VVCMC jurisdiction, questions why cases under MRTP (Maharashtra Regional & Town Planning Act, 1966) aren't filed against developers when they submit self-attested affidavits acknowledging illegal construction whilst applying for gharpatti. He notes that despite the presence of approximately 5 lakh illegal units, the former municipal commissioner in March 2021 reported only 2,817 illegal structures to the court. Hendriques emphasises the need for the Maharashtra chief minister to establish an SIT to address this issue. Deepak Rao, who filed a PIL with the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to protect a water body in Chinchoti (Vasai Taluka), highlights what he called the casual attitude of VVCMC officials towards court cases and RTI applications. He mentions that AMC Rajendra Kadam was fined Rs 25,000 for delayed RTI responses. Despite ongoing court proceedings, illegal construction continues on a reclaimed water body allegedly controlled by Virendra Singh, a person with multiple FIRs against him. The complainants are compelled to seek legal intervention due to VVCMC's inaction against illegal construction and their reluctance to file MRTP cases against the land mafia. For instance, despite two MRTP notices, no FIR has been filed against Irshad Khan, who allegedly constructed illegal commercial establishments spanning 2-3 lakh square feet in Pelhar, Nalasopara. Additionally, approximately 30-35 acres of land in Wakanpada, Pelhar, Nalasopara East has been illegally developed after destroying hillocks, with forest land within VVCMC jurisdiction also being encroached upon.
