Latest news with #VDCs
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Time of India
Criminal cases against 4 VDC members for illegal auction of toddy, liquor vends in Adilabad
Hyderabad: In yet another instance of the growing menace of the so-called ' village development committees ' (VDCs), Adilabad police have booked cases against four persons for allegedly resorting to extortion. In Ankoli village of Adilabad Rural, VDC members on Sunday organised an auction for permitting the sale of toddy and an unlicensed liquor shop in the village. In the illegal auction , the VDC members received 3 lakh for permitting a toddy shop and 3.90 lakh for an unlicensed liquor shop to be set up. With the Adilabad district police administration directing local police to take stern action against the illegally operating VDCs, which are resorting to extortions, a case was booked against four persons, Kanaka Ramanayya, Erram Prabhakar, Erram Ashok, and Etikala Bhumanna. "We understand that there were more persons involved in this and will bring in their names also into the case once they are identified," an officer at the Adilabad Rural police station told TOI on Monday. Cases were booked on Sunday under the Section 308 clause B of the BNS, which might get the guilty punishment of up to five years. Police said that as of now, the cases were booked, and after due investigation, those named would be arrested and prosecuted as per the law. Earlier, cases had been registered in Boath, Ichoda, Jainath, and Bela police stations against the so-called VDCs for imposing their rules in the village and permitting shops in bidding and auction. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Ative o software antivírus do seu computador Clique aqui Undo The Adilabad police on Friday said five cases have been registered so far against VDCs in Bela, Jainath, Boath, and Ichoda police station limits. The cases involve VDCs attempting to resolve civil disputes and extorting money from tractor owners transporting sand. On April 30, a VDC member, Bhuma Reddy, was booked in Jainath for extortion. In April, the Goud community in Tallarampur in Nizamabad district had rebelled against the VDC, which demanded that they pay a certain amount of money for tapping toddy. The community, while refusing to pay, said hardly anyone was tapping toddy but also pointed out that the trees were on their own land and questioned why they had to pay money to the VDC. In retaliation, the VDC allegedly asked other villagers not to 'cooperate' with the Goud community and have no dealings with them. Some supporters of the VDC members then approached police, saying that the charges of excommunicating the Goud community were false.
Indian Express
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
After Operation Sindoor, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann cancels programmes, to stay put in Chandigarh
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann Wednesday cancelled two scheduled programmes following India's Operation Sindoor against Pakistan, and the government also deferred its Nasha Mukti Yatra to be launched across the state. CM Mann was to launch a Nasha Mukti Yatra from Jalandhar, a programme under the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government's ongoing Yudh Nasheyan Virudh campaign. Under the campaign, Mann was to visit Jalandhar and later Nawanshahar Wednesday. Sources in the government said CM Mann announced the cancellation of the programme in the morning after India's strike on Pakistan. 'He will be in Chandigarh the whole day. He has been in touch with the Union government since morning. Communication has been ongoing,' said a source. The sources added that the programme will be held back for a few days, and a new schedule will be released. On Tuesday, CM Mann said the state would carry out mock drills in different districts to ensure the safety of residents if the situation escalates. He also said the Centre had not yet asked the Punjab Government to evacuate those in villages bordering Pakistan. As many as six districts of Punjab share the border with Pakistan. The Punjab Government had said it would launch the Nasha Mukti Yatra in all villages and wards of the state, to be undertaken in May and June. The drive will closely involve the village defence committees (VDCs) to organise district-wise meetings across the state. Besides all members of VDCs, the campaign will also be attended by the village sarpanches, civil and police administration, along with others.
Time of India
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Police warn village committees against acting as parallel authorities
Hyderabad: Police have cautioned Village Development Committees (VDCs) against functioning as extra-constitutional bodies and directed them to stop settling disputes or enforcing their own rules in villages. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Though informal in nature and originally intended to aid village development, some VDCs have taken the law into their own hands. In April, police intervened after the Goud community in Tallarampur village, Nizamabad district, alleged they were being discriminated against for not complying with VDC orders. The committee had reportedly imposed social boycotts on those who defied them. The Adilabad police on Friday said five cases have been registered so far against VDCs in Bela, Jainath, Boath, and Ichoda police station limits. The cases involve VDCs attempting to resolve civil disputes and extorting money from tractor owners transporting sand. On April 30, a VDC member, Bhuma Reddy, was booked in Jainath for extortion. Adilabad superintendent of police Akhil Mahajan said VDCs were initially formed 15 years ago to support development activities. However, many have since begun operating like kangaroo courts, passing judgments on land disputes, marital issues, and family matters. Some committees have even prevented villagers from approaching the police or judiciary for redress. The SP added that VDCs are also exerting control over local businesses by auctioning shop permits and threatening excommunication to those who defy their mandates. He urged residents to report any harassment by VDCs to the police without hesitation.
Indian Express
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Walk the talk' against drug menace: In Punjab, Governor Kataria, Mann govt announce foot marches
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab and Governor Gulab Chand Kataria are set to organise their respective foot marches to raise awareness against drug abuse. Governor Kataria Tuesday sent invites to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, his Haryana counterpart Nayab Singh Saini and Cabinet ministers of both states for undertaking a walk against drugs in Chandigarh on May 3. Meanwhile, the Punjab government announced its itinerary for an anti-drug awareness campaign, 'Nasha Mukti Yatra', scheduled to begin on May 2, covering every village and ward of the state in May and June. It is not the first time that Kataria and the government have undertaken foot marches to create awareness against drugs. Kataria undertook a foot march in Gurdaspur and Amritsar from April 3 to 8 against the drug menace. On April 3 itself, AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal flagged off a similar march in Ludhiana. Kataria and Chief Minister Mann share a cordial relationship, in contrast to the dynamic between the previous Governor, Banwari Lal Purohit, and Mann, who often clashed. However, despite being invited to the Governor's foot march in April, Mann chose not to attend. It remains to be seen if Mann will participate in the Governor's march on May 3. It will begin at Raj Bhawan, where participants will pay their respects at the gurdwara in Sector 8, Chandigarh. The event will end at Tiranga Park after a stop at the UT Secretariat. The Punjab government's march will begin in Amritsar on May 2. Sources said the AAP is planning to ensure Kejriwal's participation on May 2. In that case, CM Mann will also visit Amritsar. 'It is not yet clear whether Kejriwal and Mann will visit Amritsar. Their plan is yet to be finalised,' said a government source. The government has directed officials to involve village defence committees (VDCs) to organise district-wise meetings across the state from May 2 to 4 to serve as the official launch platform for the 'Nasha Mukti Yatra' campaign. Besides members of VDCs, village sarpanches, civil and police administration officers will also attend these meetings. CM Mann Tuesday directed deputy commissioners and senior superintendents of police to form VDCs in villages where these do not exist and invite them to these meetings. Similarly, ward defence committees (WDCs) will also be formed in each ward in municipal areas, and they will be invited to these meetings. Each district-level meeting will be chaired by a Cabinet minister to mobilise village-level leadership for community vigilance, strengthening coordination between VDCs/WDCs and the district administration to reinforce a collective stand against drugs at the village level, said a source. After these meetings, the second phase of 'Nasha Mukti Yatra' will be launched on May 7. In this yatra, a meeting will be held with all the people in each village/ward. The AAP government in Punjab has initiated a campaign against drugs in the state after it lost the Assembly elections in Delhi. Under the campaign, titled 'Yudh Nasheyan Virudh', the government has been on a spree of arresting drug peddlers and bulldozing their properties in the state. Gaurav Yadav, the Director General of Police, said two days ago that the drug menace, which has plagued successive governments in Punjab for over a decade, will end by May 31. Previous governments also launched several similar campaigns, but they had little success.
Hindustan Times
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Punjab to launch statewide ‘Nasha Mukti Yatra' from May
The Punjab government on Tuesday announced the launch of an anti-drug awareness and action campaign titled 'Nasha Mukti Yatra', which will cover every village and municipal ward across the state during May and June. A spokesperson from the chief minister's office said that the campaign will kick off with district-level meetings from May 2 to 4, to be organised in close coordination with village defence committees (VDCs). These meetings will serve as the formal launchpad for the initiative. In addition to VDC members, village sarpanches, civil and police officials, and other stakeholders will attend the meeting. The chief minister has directed deputy commissioners and senior superintendents of police (SSPs) to form VDCs in villages where they are currently absent and ensure their participation in the meetings. Similarly, ward defence committees (WDCs) will be formed in all municipal wards, the spokesperson said. Each district-level meeting will be chaired by a state cabinet minister and will aim to build community vigilance, enhance coordination between local defence committees and the district administration and reinforce a unified stand against drug abuse. The second phase of the Nasha Mukti Yatra will begin on May 7, with community meetings held in every village and ward. These meetings will involve VDCs, WDCs, sarpanches, and local officers, following a schedule prepared by the state government. Chief minister Bhagwant Mann said the campaign is intended to transform the fight against drugs into a mass movement. He called for public support to ensure drugs are eradicated from communities and help victims break free from addiction.
