Police foils bid to smuggle narcotics
Banihal/Jammu: Police on Monday foiled a bid to smuggle narcotics by seizing 1,000 kg of poppy in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ramban district, officials said. A police party led by Sub-Inspector Wasim Mehraj conducted a surprise check at Gund-Tethar on the national highway, officials said. A truck heading out of Kashmir was stopped for checking and thoroughly searched, they said. During the search, officials recovered gunny bags filled with poppy weighing about 1,000 kg that was being smuggled outside the union territory, they added. The vehicle was seized and its driver Nirmal Singh, a resident of Punjab, was arrested. A case was registered against the suspect at Banihal police station and an investigation is on to ascertain whether any other person is involved, officials said. The menace of drugs among the youth is spreading at an alarming rate which is a big cause for concern, police said. To ensure such crimes do not get repeated, a special drive has been launched by Ramban police against drug abuse. Police said they will not leave any stone unturned to curb drug smuggling and requested the public to strengthen their hands to weed out such social evils from society. (PTI)
Sena MP’s car runs over spotted deer
Mumbai: A car belonging to Shiv Sena MP Rajendra Gavit knocked down and killed a spotted deer at the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) here, an official said on Monday. Gavit, the Lok Sabha member from Palghar near Mumbai, was not in the vehicle when the incident took place last Wednesday evening near the main gate of the park, he said. The spotted deer was crossing a road near Trimurti station, a part of the Van Rani narrow gauge train route in the national park, when it was run over by the vehicle, the official said. The animal was then rushed to a veterinary hospital where it was declared dead, he said. “We have registered an offence against the SUV’s driver under provisions of the Wildlife Act. The car belongs to MP Rajendra Gavit though he was not in the vehicle at the time of the incident,” SGNP Director Anwar Ahmed told PTI. The vehicle has been seized, he added. Another forest official said there is a speed limit of 20 kmph for vehicles using the narrow roads within the sprawling park, but motorists often violate it, endangering the lives of wild animals. Spotted deer is listed under Schedule III, as being of ‘least concern’, under the Wildlife (Protection) Act. (PTI)
Pet dog tortured;13 booked
Agra: Police have booked 13 people for allegedly torturing and killing a pet dog after picking it up from outside its owner’s home here. Jagdishpura Police Station House Officer Rajesh Kumar Sharma told PTI that they gathering evidence in the matter and “appropriate action will be taken against those involved”. Police said the dog, named Twinkle, was allegedly picked up on Sunday from outside its owner’s home in the locality by some persons. According to the complainant the dog owner made a complaint to the People for Animals (PFA) in New Delhi after the pet was found dead. It was at the behest of the organisation that an FIR under Section 429 (killing of an animal) of the India Penal Code was registered against 13 people, three of whom have been named, he said. Under section Section 429 of the IPC, if it is proved that an animal whose worth is more than Rs 50 has been tortured and rendered useless or even killed with a mischievous intention, the accused could be sentenced to five years in prison, police said. (PTI)
CBI books postal officers for bribe
New Delhi: Premier investigation agency CBI, which is known to uncover big-ticket scams, did not mind registering an FIR against postal officers in Uttar Pradesh’s Pratapgarh district for their alleged demand of a bribe of Rs 100 from an agent, officials said on Monday. The probe agency has registered an FIR on the basis of a complaint from the husband of a commission agent who has alleged that Superintendent Santosh Kumar Saroj and Postal Assistant Suraj Mishra had sought a bribe of Rs 100 on every Rs 20,000 deposit by him. A CBI official said, “No case is big or small for us, we treat all cases equally.” The complainant said that his wife collects postal savings from villagers and deposits them in sub-post office in Kunda, Pratapgarh, and he helps her in the work. The complainant alleged that the postal officer duo had earlier taken Rs 500 and Rs 300 on November 25 and November 26 when he had gone to make deposits in the name of “suvidha shulk (service charge)” for which he had made an entry in spite of opposition from Saroj and Mishra. He alleged that the duo had demanded Rs 100 on every Rs 20,000 deposit brought by him else asked him to stop work. They had also threatened him to stop his work and create disturbances if he does not pay them, he had alleged. (PTI)
UP cops finally bids adieu to 303 rifles
Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh Police has finally bid adieu to the 303 Lee-Enfield rifles that had been in use since Independence. The force will now use Insas (Indian Small Arms System) and SLRs (Self-Loading Rifles). The state’s Director General of Police O.P. Singh said that the Lee-Enfield rifles were prone to failure and required a lot of maintenance. “In order to strengthen the state’s law and order, 63,000 Insas and 23,000 SLRs have been sent to police stations all across Uttar Pradesh and the police personnel have been instructed not to use the Lee-Enfields. “If a police station staff is found using the Lee-Enfield, the reserve inspector of the concerned district police line as well as the police station staff will face departmental action,” he added. The 303 Lee-Enfield rifles were introduced in 1914 during the First World War. The range of this rifle was about 2,000 metres. The Uttar Pradesh Police received this rifle in 1945. Earlier, the police used the Musket .410 rifles. In the 80s, the police received the SLRs. In the Kargil War, the Insas rifle proved very effective, so it was also adopted in the police service. (IANS)
Transportation app launched
Dehradun: Uttarakhand Governor Baby Rani Maurya on Monday launched the state’s first eco-friendly transportation mobile application. ‘Green Rabbit’ aims to make commuting easier for the public within the city at an economical price. The user can choose from the fleet of e-rickshaws, e-bikes, cabs, taxis or auto rickshaws by using the application which can be downloaded for free from Google Play Store. The application comes with a special feature called ‘Pink Rabbit’ where women can book a ride with female drivers only. This feature aims at promoting women empowerment by providing them more employment opportunities. “With the launch of Green Rabbit, the people of Uttarakhand can now travel anywhere at an economical price and can help reduce carbon footprint. I really hope it is received well by the masses,” Maurya said at the lauch held at the Raj Bhawan. (PTI)