facebook

Maharashtra Serial Killer Who Murdered 2 Women Caught After 3rd Attempt Fails

Anil Govinda Sandanshiv was arrested in Jalgaon for murdering two women and trying to kill a third. He lured victims with romance, killed them, and stole their belongings.

News18 28 Jul 2025 5:53 pm

Ignored for ministerial post as I am from Maratha community: NCP MLA

CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJINAGAR: Maharashtra NCP MLA Prakash Solanke has claimed he has been ignored for a ministerial berth in the state government as he belongs to the Maratha community. Speaking to reporters in Beed on Sunday, the four-time MLA from Majalgaon also claimed Marathas have been the Nationalist Congress Party's (NCP) strength in Beed district, but they are ignored when it comes to giving a cabinet or guardian minister post to a member from the community. He was responding to a question on Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP head Ajit Pawar on Friday saying party leader and former minister Dhananjay Munde will be given an opportunity if he is absolved in an inquiry against him. Pawar was apparently referring to the last year's Beed sarpanch murder case following which Munde, the MLA from Parli in Beed, had to quit the Devendra Fadnavis government in March this year. Notably, Marathas, under the leadership of activist Manoj Jarange, have been agitating for reservation in government jobs and education under the Other Backwards Classes (OBC) quota. Asked about the speculation of Munde's return to the cabinet, Solanke claimed, Leaders like (NCP-SP chief) Sharad Pawar, Ajit Pawar have always given priority to the OBC community in Beed district. The Maratha community has been an NCP supporter in Beed. But OBCs and backward communities were given preference in Beed district in the past 45 years. This is due to the party's policy of following the ideology of (social reformers) Jyotirao Phule, Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj and BR Ambedkar, he said. But the community which gave strength to the party has been away from the post of cabinet or guardian minister. The party should think of it, said the NCP leader, who previously served as minister of state (MoS) in the Maharashtra government. Asked about the possibility of his inclusion in the cabinet, Solanke said whenever the cabinet is formed, various names come up for discussion, but what the party superiors think is important. But I think my caste comes in between me and the post of minister. I would have got a bigger chance if I would have been born in an OBC community (family). But I was born in a Maratha community family and I think it is my fault, he said. Solanke further claimed the Maratha community in Beed district has been ignored. No one after Sundarrao Solanke (referring to his father) was made the cabinet or guardian minister of Beed in the past 45 years, and this is a reality, he said. A chance was given for the post of minister of state (apparently referring to himself when he served as MoS). The Maratha community thinks this post is a little higher than the MLA's post. In this thought process, the Maratha community has been ignored in the Beed district, the NCP leader claimed.

The New Indian Express 28 Jul 2025 12:07 pm

Bittersweet homecoming for Jalgaon man acquitted in 2006 Mumbai train blasts case

Asif Khan, one of the 12 men acquitted by the Bombay High Court on July 21, returned to his home in Jalgaon after 19 years of incarceration. But what began as a long-awaited reunion turned bittersweet with the death of his newborn granddaughter

The Hindu 24 Jul 2025 1:20 am

One dead, 12 injured in two separate road accidents

KAJALGAON/TEZPUR, July 22: One person was killed and 12 others were injured in two separate road accidents in Assam on Tuesday, officials said. In a chain accident involving six vehicles in Chirang district, one person was killed and five others were injured, while seven more people sustained injuries in Sonitpur district in a head-on collision []

thehillstimes 23 Jul 2025 4:10 am

Maharashtra BJP minister's aide Praful Lodha arrested in honey trap case; opposition demands probe

MUMBAI: Andheri Police have arrested Praful Lodha, close aide of Maharashtra BJP minister Girish Mahajan, in a honey trap case. Lodha was already arrested twice: for allegedly sexually abusing two minor girls and raping a woman on the pretext of getting her a job; the recent accusation has dragged the names of Minister Mahajan and many other leaders into limelight. 72 people are said to be involved in the honey trap case. Praful Lodha is a businessman from Jamner in Jalgaon, the hometown of Girish Mahajan. Police have seized his laptop, mobile and pen drive. NCP SP leader and former minister Eknath Khadse claimed that Praful was arrested in a honey trap case, because he has confidential details regarding the case. Mr Lodha may reveal unknown details about many leaders, including BJP minister Girish Mahajan, and therefore, he was trapped and arrested in a honey trap case. We demand that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis constitute a special investigation team (SIT) to probe this case, Khadse demanded. Shiv Sena (UBT) Lok sabha MP and spokesperson Sanjay Raut shared on social media a video of Lodha claiming that he has incriminating videos of Girish Mahajan, and by pressing one button, Mahajan's career can be destroyed. Four ministers in Maharashtra have been caught in a honey trap. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis knows which ministers are involved in the honey trap case. Praful Lodha is involved in a honey trap case, gets arrested, and is in police custody. Lodha, in his video, claims that if he presses one button, he will ruin the career of Mahajan. But he is keeping mum due to some reasons, Raut said, demanding a high-level probe in the honey trap case. Reacting to this, BJP minister Girish Mahajan said, Lodha is an all-party worker and he does not only belong to BJP. He said Lodha has photographs with all party leaders including Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray, Jayant Patil, Supriya Sule, and others, but that does not mean that they have any connection with the honey trap case.

The New Indian Express 22 Jul 2025 2:27 pm

Maharashtra: Another rape case lodged against Jalgaon native Praful Lodha

According to police, a 23-year-old woman has come forward alleging that Lodha called her to a hotel in May, promised to help secure employment for her husband, and then coerced her into sexual acts in exchange

Mid Day 22 Jul 2025 11:40 am

Three killed as car overturns in Maharashtra's Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJINAGAR: Three persons were killed and two others injured after their car crashed into a road divider and overturned in Maharashtra's Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, police official said on Wednesday. The incident took place at around 11 pm on Tuesday on Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar-Jalgaon highway near Bilda village in Phulambri tehsil when five friends were returning here in the car. The speeding four-wheeler hit a road divider and overturned, an official said. Three car occupants, identified as named Syed Maruf (18), Arfat Bagwan (20) and Rehan Syed, all local residents, died on the spot, the official said. The two other persons were injured and the Phulambri police sent them to a government hospital for treatment, he said.

The New Indian Express 25 Jun 2025 10:56 am

18 dead, 65 injured in 24 hours across Maharashtra amid heavy rainfall and multiple accidents

MUMBAI: In the past 24 hours, 18 people have lost their lives and 65 others were injured in various incidents across Maharashtra, including road accidents, short circuits, wall collapses, and drowning cases. According to the Maharashtra Disaster Management report, among the 18 fatalities, four people died due to drowning following a bridge collapse in Pune. Three others drowned in a separate incident in Raigad, while another three died in Jalgaon as a result of a short circuit. Additionally, six animals also perished due to short circuit-related incidents in the state. The India Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for Mumbai, Thane, and Raigad districts, warning of very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall. An orange alert has been declared in Palghar district. In the last 24 hours, Mumbai city received 100.4 mm of rainfall, the Mumbai suburbs 86.0 mm, and Ratnagiri district recorded the highest with 112.7 mm. In the bridge collapse incident at the Indramani River in Pimpri Chinchwad, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) successfully rescued 54 individuals, although four lives were tragically lost.

The New Indian Express 16 Jun 2025 5:42 pm

How Eknath Shinde's delayed takeoff became the lifeline for a kidney patient racing against the clock

Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde aided Sheetal Borde, a woman needing an urgent kidney transplant, by offering her a seat on his chartered flight after she missed her commercial flight from Jalgaon to Mumbai. Shinde, delayed due to his pilot's illness, ensured Borde reached Mumbai in time for her surgery, arranging for an ambulance upon arrival.

The Economic Times 7 Jun 2025 6:35 pm

Eknath Shinde Flies Kidney Patient To Mumbai After She Misses Her Flight

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde came to the rescue of a woman patient in need of a kidney transplant by taking her on board his chartered plane from Jalgaon to Mumbai after she missed her flight from the North Maharashtra.

NDTV 7 Jun 2025 6:24 pm

Woman kidney patient misses flight, Shinde drops her from Jalgaon to Mumbai in his chartered plane

Thane, Jun 7: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde came to the rescue of a woman patient in need of a kidney transplant by taking her on board his chartered plane from Jalgaon to Mumbai after she missed her flight from the North Maharashtra city to the state capital. The incident occurred at the Jalgaon airport on Friday night, a release issued by Shindes office here said on Saturday. Deputy CM Eknath Shinde was on a visit to Muktainagar (in [] The post Woman kidney patient misses flight, Shinde drops her from Jalgaon to Mumbai in his chartered plane appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Daily Excelsior 7 Jun 2025 5:24 pm

Why Shinde flew a stranger on his chartered flight

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde came to the rescue of a woman patient in need of a kidney transplant by taking her on board his chartered plane from Jalgaon to Mumbai after she missed her flight from the North Maharashtra city to the state capital.

Rediff 7 Jun 2025 3:57 pm

Eknath Shinde's flight delay turns lifesaver for kidney patient

A delay in taking off of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shindes chartered flight from Jalgaon to Mumbai on Friday night proved to be a blessing in disguise, as it enabled the timely airlifting of a kidney failure patient who needed urgent medical attention in Mumbai. Shinde, according to reports, was in Jalgaon to attend the Palkhi Yatra (religious procession) of Sant Muktai in Muktainagar. His return to Mumbai was delayed when the pilot of his flight initially refused to fly, citing a breach in the duty hour regulations. The pilot had reportedly completed 8 hours and 45 minutes of his permitted 9-hour shift and required clearance from the authorities to proceed. However, after the necessary approvals were obtained from the company and the authorities, Shinde took off at 9:45 pm from Jalgaon airport. During the delay, a request was made to Shinde's office regarding a patient in urgent need of transport to Mumbai. The patient, Sheetal Borade, was suffering from kidney failure and had missed her earlier scheduled flight. She needed to reach the hospital by midnight to be eligible for a kidney transplant. According to a statement from Shindes office, the patients family reached out through Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan. Shinde immediately responded, arranging for two party workers to give up their seats so that Borade and her husband could board the flight. He also ensured a special ambulance was ready at Mumbai airport for their swift transfer to the hospital. Girish Mahajan added that apart from regulatory delays, the pilot was also experiencing a minor health issue, which was resolved after consultation with the aircraft operating company. The Borade family expressed heartfelt gratitude to Shinde for his timely intervention, which allowed the patient to receive the critical treatment she needed. The delay, though unplanned, turned into a life-saving opportunity, said Gulabrao Patil, water supply and sanitation minister.

The New Indian Express 7 Jun 2025 3:28 pm

Eknath Shinde Stuck At Airport As Pilot Refuses To Fly Beyond Duty Hours

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's travel from Jalgaon to Mumbai was delayed by nearly an hour on Friday, when the pilot of his aircraft refused to take off, citing the end of his duty hours.

NDTV 7 Jun 2025 11:14 am

Stories from Attari border

CHANDIGARH/BHOPAL/JAIPUR/RAIPUR: The stalemate over visa cancellations post-Pahalgam attack ended on Tuesday, with 70 Pakistan national women possessing long-term visas and No Obligation to Return to India (NORI) certificates permitted to cross over into India at the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at the Attari border. Initially, the Centre revoked all visas issued to Pakistan nationals visiting India. As a result, spouses of Indian citizens with Pakistani passports faced an emotional situation; those currently visiting or residing in India had to return to Pakistan, leaving their children behind if the latter were Indian citizens. Indian nationals currently visiting Pakistan could return to India but not with their children if the latter held Pakistan passports. However, the Centre revised the visa guidelines allowing those on Long-Term Visas to stay in the country. So, on Tuesday, Pakistani immigration authorities allowed women holding Pakistani passports and married to Indian nationals and having NORI certificates and long-term visas to cross over to India, sources said. In total, 240 people from Pakistan, including more than 70 NORI visa holders, entered India, and 140 people from India returned to Pakistan via the Attari border. Saba Kiran, a Pakistani national married in India, bids goodbye to her daughter as she is being deported to her country through the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at the Attari-Wagah border, near Amritsar, Tuesday, April 29, 2025. Vignettes from Attari Family members waiting at the border post were relieved after the decision. Dr Vikram Udasi, from Jalgaon, Maharashtra, had been waiting at the Attari border since April 25 to receive his wife Priya, a Pakistani national, and child Ahan, who were in Pakistan visiting family. They were reunited after both crossed over. Finally, after the long wait, I have met my wife and child, and now we are returning to our home town. She has been on a Long-Term Visa for the past eight years, which is valid until 2026, he said. A Pakistan national, and his family members wait to cross over to their country Rishi Kumar from Kolhapur in Maharashtra, was equally happy. He was waiting for his wife and children at the Attari border for the last few days. His wife hails from Balochistan, a Pakistani national, while her two children are Indians. The three went to Pakistan to visit family. She was ultimately allowed to return to India along with her children. Edge of uncertainty In Madhya Pradesh, the fate of nine children with Pakistani passports and short-term visas hangs in balance. The state government has sought the Centres advice on nine children born to Pakistani fathers and Indian mothers, who are now with their mothers. The kids are between one year and 11 years of age. Four, aged between four and seven, are with their mother in their maternal home Indore, three others in Jabalpur and two in Bhopal. Komal, right, from Rajasthan gets emotional as her brother and sister-in-law leave for their home country Pakistan through Attari-Wagah border check-post following curbs imposed in the wake of Pahalgam terror attack, near Amritsar, Tuesday, April 29, 2025. In the Jabalpur case, the mother brought the children on short-term visas last month because of financial difficulties, as their father was unemployed in Pakistan. There were 14 Pakistani nationals in MP, including the nine children with their Indian mothers in Indore, Bhopal and Jabalpur. Also, a young man (from the Sindhi community) was on a short-term visa in Bhopal. He had applied for a long-term visa just a few hours before the Centre ordered the revoking of 14 categories of visas and asked those Pakistani nationals to leave India by April 27. Weve sought the central governments advice and guidance in all these cases of the 10 Pakistani nationals, including the nine kids, a senior state police officer told this newspaper on Tuesday. Pakistani woman gets emotional while leaving for Pakistan as her husband is barred. Three of the 14 Pakistani nationals who had to leave the country by April 27 have already left and crossed the international border into Pakistan. In the case of a six-year-old kid, a Pakistani national, who had come with the Indian mother to the maternal grandparents place in Indore, the matter of both going to Pakistan is reportedly being looked into by the Foreigners Registration Office in Delhi. The Centre revoked the 14 categories of visas on April 25 in the wake of the ghastly April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, and Pakistan nationals who were in India on such visas were asked to leave the country by April 27. In a communication to all state governments, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), however, added that the order would not apply to Long-Term Visa (LTV) holders besides diplomatic and official visa holders Pakistani nationals. Who stay, who dont In Rajasthan, security agencies have deported 129 of the 400 Pakistani nationals residing in the state. According to official sources, 109 individuals were sent back by April 27, and an additional 20 were deported on April 28. However, several others currently remain untraceable, and efforts are underway to locate them. In a parallel development, after the Centre said in an updated directive that Long-Term Visa holders are not required to leave the country, 362 Pakistan nationals in Rajasthan have had their LTVs approved and formally registered in the last three days. Officials clarified that applicants whose LTV cases are pending or under consideration are exempt from deportation. Radha, right, a Pakistani national who was living in Jammu & Kashmir, with her relative as she is being deported to her country through the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at the Attari-Wagah border, near Amritsar, Tuesday, April 29, 2025. Notably, Pakistani Muslim women married to Indian citizens and residing in India on LTVs are also not being asked to return to Pakistan under the revised rules. A significant number of Pakistani refugees, especially Hindus, have settled in the border districts of Rajasthan, including Jaisalmer, Barmer, and particularly Jodhpur. In many cases, families have been split due to cross-border marriageswhere one half of the family is in India while the other remains in Pakistan or faces pressure to return. In at least three to four reported instances, mothers hold passports from one country, while their children have obtained citizenship in another, typically due to birth circumstances. These families now face the emotional and logistical burden of separation until new regulations are introduced or the situation stabilises. Fate of a few In Chhattisgarh, the Raigarh police have arrested two Pakistani citizens who acquired Indian voter identity cards through fraudulent means and by providing fake information. The district police said Iftekhar Sheikh (29) and Armish Sheikh (25) are brother and sister. The duo stayed in the Kodatarai area of Raigarh district, about 230 km east of Raipur. Additional SP (Raigarh) told this newspaper, Their father, Yakub Sheikh, is Indian and stays in Raigarh. He married a Pakistani woman who died during the Covid-19 pandemic. The two children were born in Pakistan but were raised and schooled in India. appu Kumar, a Pakistani national who was living in Jammu & Kashmir, shows a copy of his identification card as he is being deported to his country through the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at the Attari-Wagah border, near Amritsar, Tuesday, April 29, 2025. Both are here on valid Long-Term Visas, and, at present, they cant be deported. But they furnished wrong information and procured Indian voter ID cards, following which a case has been registered against them. The police had launched a drive to ensure no Pakistan nationals were found staying illegally in the district, and both the Pakistan nationals were traced during the intensive verification campaign, said Jutemill police station in-charge Prashant Rao. The police have registered the case against both under sections 199, 200 (false statement made in declaration), 419 (cheating by impersonation), 467 (forgery of valuable security, will), 468 (forgery to cheat) and 34 (common intention) of the IPC. Fate of nine children in MP hangs on the edge In Madhya Pradesh, the fate of nine children with Pakistani passports and short-term visas hangs in balance. The state government has sought the Centres advice on nine children born to Pakistani fathers and Indian mothers, who are now with their mothers. The kids are between one year and 11 years of age. Four, aged between four and seven, are with their mother in their maternal home Indore. 362 Pak nationals in Raj get LTVs approved in 3 days After the Union government said in an updated directive that Long-Term Visa holders are not required to leave the country, 362 Pakistan nationals in Rajasthan have had their Long-Term Visas approved and formally registered in the last three days. Officials clarified that applicants whose LTV cases are pending or under consideration are exempt from deportation.

The New Indian Express 30 Apr 2025 8:18 am

Over 70 Pakistani women with NORI certificates return to India

CHANDIGARH: More than 70 Pakistani women married to Indian nationals who were having NORI (No obligation to return to India) certificate issued along with LTV (long-term visa) crossed over to India through the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari border. The Union Government had revoked all visas issued to Pakistanis after the Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 tourists. The Pakistani women who went to meet their parents in Pakistan were not allowed to come back to India and were stopped by Pakistani immigration despite holding valid documents. However, today immigration authorities of Pakistan allowed those having Pakistani passports and married to Indian nationals with NORI certificates and long-term visas to cross over to India, said sources. It is learnt that following discussions, an exception was made. In total, 240 people from Pakistan, including more than 70 NORI visa holders, entered India. Meanwhile, 140 others from India returned to Pakistan via the Attari border. Dr Vikram Udasi from Jalgaon, Maharashtra, who had been waiting at the Attari border since April 25 to receive his wife Priya, a Pakistani national and four-year-old child Ahan, who had gone to meet her family in Pakistan, finally re-united with his wife and child. Finally, I have met my wife and child after the long wait and now we are leaving back for our home town, thank god, he said and added that they got married in 2017. She has been on a Long Term Visa (LTV) for the past eight years, which is valid until 2026, he said. Another Indian national, Rishi Kumar from Kolhapur in Maharashtra, has also been stranded at the ICP Attari for the past few days, waiting for his wife and children. He expressed his gratitude to the authorities as his wife, Savita, who hails from a town in Balochistan and had gone back to meet her family along with her 10-year-old twins, Saysha and Revansh, returned. Initially, the authorities told that only the children can enter India as they are Indian passport holders. I knew they will have to give permission and I can come back to India, said Savita. I have been married for the last 12 years, and I have gone to Pakistan three times. I have never encountered such a problem before, she added. Rishi said that he is thankful to the authorities that he was able to reunite with his family. Another Pakistani national, Asma, who had gone to Pakistan two months ago to visit her parents, said she was happy that she was allowed to cross over to India as she was holding the NORI certificate and long-term visa (LTV). The NORI certificates are issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) for brief visits to Pakistan, and holders are allowed to return to India without any restrictions. Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (PSGPC) president and Member of Provincial Assembly of Pakistan, Punjab, Ramesh Singh Arora, claimed that he had raised this issue with the Pakistan Government.

The New Indian Express 29 Apr 2025 3:55 pm

Maharashtra govt will not ask Hindu-Sindhi Pakistani citizens to leave the state, short-term visa holders must exit

MUMBAI: The Maharashtra Government has decided not to ask Pakistani citizens from the Hindu-Sindhi community to leave the state, as most of them are either staying on long-term visas or have applied for Indian citizenship. These individuals will be given protection in India. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated that Pakistani citizens belonging to the Hindu-Sindhi community will not be asked to leave the state. According to official data, there are a total of 5,053 Pakistani citizens currently residing in Maharashtra. Of these, the highest number2,458are in Nagpur, followed by 393 in Jalgaon, 293 in Navi Mumbai, 290 in Pimpri-Chinchwad, 117 in Amravati, and just 14 in Mumbai. In the wake of the recent Pahalgam terrorist attack, the Central Government has decided to ask Pakistani citizens to leave India by April 30 of this year. In Maharashtra alone, there are over 5,000 Pakistani nationals residing on long-term and SAARC visas. The state government is currently identifying and verifying these individuals as part of the ongoing process. There are many Pakistani citizens from the Sindhi community staying in Maharashtra on long-term visas. Some have already applied for Indian citizenship. These Hindu-Sindhi Pakistani citizens will not face any issues in the state. However, those who are in India and Maharashtra on short-term visas must leave the country within the next 48 hours or face deportation. We have already asked such Pakistani citizens to leave, said CM Fadnavis. He further mentioned that a list of these individuals has been prepared and submitted to the Central Government. We are monitoring and tracking Pakistani citizens in Maharashtra who are here on both short-term and long-term visas. Local police stations are in contact with them and are keeping a close watch, he added. CM Fadnavis also clarified that no Pakistani citizen currently residing in Maharashtra is untraceable. This clarification comes after Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde previously claimed that 170 Pakistani citizens were missing in the state. Sometimes, officers provide incorrect briefings to ministers, leading to such statements. Its not the fault of DCM Eknath Shinde, but rather a case of incorrect data provided by officials. Therefore, we have decided not to release any precise data until our verification process is complete. We are still sanitizing the data, CM Fadnavis said.

The New Indian Express 28 Apr 2025 9:49 pm

Heartbreak amid exodus: Separations on both sides

CHANDIGARH: The heart-wrenching stories of separation following the Pahalgam attack are not limited to the Indian side, similar narratives are emerging from across the border as well. The ordeal is not confined to Indian women married to Pakistani nationals, who find themselves stranded at the Attari-Wagah Integrated Check-Post (ICP) due to immigration authorities denying them permission to leave the country. Several Pakistani women married to Indian nationals are also stuck in Pakistan. Despite having valid documentation, they are not permitted to reunite with their husbands and families, as they hold Pakistani passports. Only children are being allowed to travel back as they possess Indian passports. Dr Vikram Udasi from Maharashtras Jalgaon is waiting at the Attari border for the past two days to receive his wife, Priya, a Pakistani national who went back to visit her family. Their four-year-old child has an Indian passport. She has been on a long-term visa (LTV) for the past eight years, which will expire in 2026. When the Indian authorities announced the suspension of visa services on April 23, they stated that holders of No-Objection Return to India (NORI) certificates with long-term visas could return. She had only gone to meet her parents about 20 to 25 days ago. Now, the Pakistani authorities are not allowing her to return to India because she holds a Pakistani passport, he explained. In a similar case, Rishi Kumar from Maharashtras Kolhapur has also been at Attari for the past few days to meet his wife, Savita, who is from a town in Baluchistan. They have 10-year-old twins, Saysha and Revansh. Savita travels back to her home every two to three years to visit her parents and family. She spent about 12 days there this time before he came to Attari to drop her off. She holds a long-term visa and will be eligible for Indian nationality once she completes the mandatory period, he noted. His wife informed him that about 50 Pakistani women married to Indian men were waiting at Wagah to cross into India but were not being allowed. As per sources, 75 Pakistan nationals crossed from Attari border on Saturday, while 335 Indians nationals returned home. Jharkhand minister sends salary to victims kin Jharkhand health minister Irfan Ansari has offered to donate his four-months salary as tribute to the families of the Pahalgam terror victims. Terming the attack a blight on humanity and the very soul of India, Ansari said This incident has shaken me deeply. I have decided that I will donate my four months salary as tribute to the martyr families. All Pak nationals deported: Bihar government Bihar government confirmed that all Pakistan nationals, who visited the state since January this year, have left for home before the deadline set by the Centre. The Chief Secretary said the 19 Pak nationals, in the state on tourist visas, left before April 27. Those on long term visas will have to exit before April 29, he added.

The New Indian Express 28 Apr 2025 7:32 am

Maharashtra: Retired CRPF SI shoots daughter, injures son-in-law over love marriage during during family function; attendees beats him up

A retired sub inspector of police from Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) shot at his daughter and son-in-law for their love marriage in Chopra in Jalgaon district of Maharashtra police said.

Web Dunia 27 Apr 2025 4:10 pm

272 Pakistan nationals left India through Attari-Wagah border in past two days

NEW DELHI: Around 272 Pakistani nationals have left India in the past two days through the Attari-Wagah border point, and a few hundred more are expected to exit on Sunday when the deadline for the 12 categories of short-term visa holders of the neighbouring nation ends, an official said. As many as 629 Indians, including 13 diplomats and officials, have returned from Pakistan through the international border crossing located in Punjab. The 'Leave India' notice to the Pakistani nationals was issued by the government after 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed by Pakistan-linked terrorists at Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22. The deadline for exiting India for those holding SAARC visas was April 26. For those carrying medical visas, the deadline is April 29. The 12 categories of visas whose holders have to leave India by Sunday are - visa on arrival, business, film, journalist, transit, conference, mountaineering, student, visitor, group tourist, pilgrim and group pilgrim. However, those having long-term and diplomatic or official visas were exempted from the 'Leave-India' order. According to officials, 191 Pakistani nationals left India through the Attari-Wagah border on April 25 and 81 more exited on April 26. As many as 287 Indians crossed into India from Pakistan On April 25, and altogether 342 Indians, including 13 diplomats and officials, returned from Pakistan through the Attari-Wagah border on April 26, officials said. Some of the Pakistanis might have left India through airports too, they said, pointing out that since India does not have direct air connectivity with Pakistan, they might have left for other countries. Officials said the highest number of Pakistanis with short-term visas were staying in Maharashtra. Their number was pegged at around 1,000, they said. The state's minister Yogesh Kadam on Saturday said the 1,000 Pakistani nationals with short-term visas have been asked to leave India. Around 5,050 Pakistani citizens have been living in Maharashtra and most of them are on long-term visas. Of these, around 2,450 were in Nagpur, 1,100 in Thane, 390 in Jalgaon, 290 in Navi Mumbai, 290 in Pimpri Chinchwad, 120 in Amravati and 15 in Mumbai, officials said. Interestingly, 107 Pakistani nationals, who were staying in Maharashtra were, untraceable, according to officials. Pakistani women married to Indians stranded at Attari-Wagah border amid visa row In the southern state of Telangana, police chief Jitender cited official records to say that as many as 208 Pakistani nationals were staying in the state, mostly in Hyderabad. Among them, 156 hold long-term visas, 13 short-term visas and 39 were with the travel document for medical and business purposes. There were 104 Pakistani nationals in the southern coastal state of Kerala, of whom 99 were on long-term visas. The remaining five, who were on either tourist or medical visas, have left the country. Central India's Madhya Pradesh had around 228 visiting Pakistani nationals, many of whom have left the country already, officials said. On the other hand, around 12 Pakistanis have been identified in Odisha and all of them have been asked to follow the deadline set for them to leave the country. Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has said three Pakistani nationals, who were in the state on short-term visas, have been asked to leave. Seven Pakistanis were in Gujarat on short-term visas -- five in Ahmedabad and one each in Bharuch and Vadodara. They have either left India or are leaving by Sunday, officials said. EXPLAINER | Pulwama to Pahalgam: Making Pakistan pay Besides, 438 Pakistani nationals are in the western state on long-term visas and they include Hindus who have applied for Indian citizenship. In the north, Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police Prashant Kumar said on Saturday that the process of sending back all categories of Pakistani citizens visiting the state who have been ordered to leave India has been completed. One Pakistani national is still in the state and he will depart for Pakistan on April 30, the DGP said. Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday called up the chief ministers of all states and asked them to ensure that no Pakistani stays in India beyond the deadline set for leaving the country. After Shah's telephonic conversations with the chief ministers, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan held a video conference with the chief secretaries and asked them to ensure that all Pakistani nationals whose visas were revoked must leave India by the deadline fixed. The already strained relations between India and Pakistan nosedived further after the Pahalgam terror attack, with New Delhi announcing a raft of retaliatory steps, including the cancellation of visas, and Islamabad hitting back with a string of tit-for-tat measures. 130 nuclear warheads, missiles targeted at India: Pak minister Hanif Abbasi makes open threat

The New Indian Express 27 Apr 2025 3:51 pm

Pakistani women married to Indians stranded at Attari-Wagah border amid visa row

CHANDIGARH: Indian women married to Pakistani nationals are facing a heart-wrenching ordeal, stranded at the Attari-Wagah Integrated Check-Post (ICP) after immigration authorities refused to let them leave the country. This follows the Union Governments order for all Pakistani nationals to exit India in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack . On the other side of the border, a similar ordeal is unfolding as many Pakistani women married to Indian nationals, who had gone to visit their families in Pakistan, are now stranded there. Despite holding valid documents, Pakistani authorities are not allowing them to leave the country and return to India to reunite with their spouses and families. Only their children with Indian passports are being permitted to travel back. Dr Vikram Udasi from Jalgaon, Maharashtra, is waiting at the Attari border to receive his wife, Priya, a Pakistani national who had travelled to meet her family. Their four-year-old child, who holds an Indian passport, has been allowed to return, but Priya remains stranded across the border. She has been on a Long Term Visa (LTV) for the past eight years, which is valid until 2026. While announcing the suspension of visa services on April 23, Indian authorities had clarified that NORI (No Objection to Return to India) certificate holders with LTVs could return, Udasi said. Maharashtra moves to expel over 5,000 Pakistani nationals after Pahalgam terror attack He added, She went to meet her parents about 20 to 25 days ago. Now, Pakistani authorities are not allowing her to return to India because she holds a Pakistani passport. No one is giving a clear reason. Our four-year-old child, who has an Indian passport, is stuck there with her. I request both governments to talk and resolve this confusion so that we can reunite with our families. They are saying only the child can return to India as he holds an Indian passport. He further said that they are suffering a lot and are deeply traumatised, as he has been waiting at the Attari border for the past few days to reunite with his wife and child. His wife flew from Karachi to Lahore on April 24, paying Rs 80,000 Pakistani currency for a ticket that normally costs Rs 25,000. She is now forced to spend Rs 4,500 per day on hotel accommodation in Lahore and an additional Rs 4,000 daily on taxi fares to travel to the Wagah border. Udasi, who is now staying at a hotel in Amritsar, is paying around Rs 2,500 per day for accommodation and another Rs 1,000 daily for taxi fare from Amritsar to Attari, with uncertainty looming over when he will reunite with his family. He had earlier spent Rs 16,000 on a flight to Amritsar. Another Indian national, Rishi Kumar from Kolhapur in Maharashtra, has also been stranded at the ICP Attari for the past few days. He said he rushed there after hearing about the 48-hour deadline, but Pakistani authorities are not allowing NORI certificate holders with long-term visas to cross into India, permitting only children with Indian passports to return. EXPLAINER | Pulwama to Pahalgam: Making Pakistan pay Kumar questioned how minor children can travel without their mothers. He said his wife, Savita, hails from a town in Balochistan, about a 12-hour drive from Lahore, and they have been married for 13 years, with 10-year-old twins, Saysha and Revansh. Savita travels to Pakistan every two to three years to visit her parents. This time, she had gone about 12 days ago, and Kumar had accompanied her to Attari to drop her off. She is a long-term visa holder and will be eligible for Indian nationality once she completes the mandatory period, Kumar said. He added that his wife informed him over the phone that around 50 Pakistani women married to Indian nationals were waiting at Wagah to cross into India, but Pakistani authorities were not allowing them despite their valid documents and visas, insisting that only Indian passport holders could cross over. The NORI certificates are issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) for brief visits to Pakistan, and holders are allowed to return to India without any restrictions, claimed both men. Meanwhile, sources said that on Saturday, 75 Pakistani nationals crossed into Pakistan through the Attari border, while 335 Indian nationals who were in Pakistan on valid visas returned to India. NIA takes over investigation into Pahalgam terror attack; intensifies evidence collection, identifies local terror aides

The New Indian Express 27 Apr 2025 12:22 pm

Maharashtra moves to expel over 5,000 Pakistani nationals after Pahalgam terror attack

The Maharashtra government on Saturday began action to expel Pakistani citizens from the state, following central government instructions issued after the Pahalgam terror attack. The move comes a day after Union Home Minister Amit Shah directed chief ministers of all states and union territories to identify Pakistani nationals within their jurisdictions and ensure their immediate return. According to official data, there are 5,053 Pakistani citizens residing in Maharashtra. Nagpur city has the highest number with 2,458 individuals, followed by 393 in Jalgaon district, 293 in Navi Mumbai, 290 in Pimpri Chinchwad, 117 in Amravati, and 14 in Mumbai. Meanwhile, authorities reported that 107 Pakistani citizens in Maharashtra are currently untraceable. Notably, the Union government of India cancelled 27 categories of visas granted to Pakistani nationals for travel to India, effective from April 27, while state governments have been instructed to identify and facilitate the departure of Pakistani citizens. Maharashtra Home Minister Yogesh Kadam said police were conducting searches to locate Pakistani nationals across the state. We are trying to connect with the Pakistani citizens in Maharashtra. We have informed most of them, while some of them are still untraceable, Kadam said. We have informed Pakistani citizens who are on short Visa and SAARC visas to leave the country, while those are in medical visa, can stay here till April 30 and compete their treatment. We are still collecting information and therefore the final number of Pakistani citizens staying in Maharashtra can change, he added. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis confirmed that local police stations had begun verifying the presence of Pakistani nationals. Local police stations are working on it. Legal action will be taken against Pakistani nationals who overstay their visas in Maharashtra. We will not spare anyone, he said. Gujarat sets swift deportation in motion for 438 Pakistani nationals

The New Indian Express 26 Apr 2025 9:06 pm

'Must Have Done Something Good To Be Alive,' Says Jalgaon Woman Who Survived Pahalgam Attack

Pahalgam Terror Attack: Neha Waghulade was admiring the natural beauty of Baisaran meadows, a prime tourist location, when gunshots rang in the air on Tuesday afternoon.

News18 23 Apr 2025 2:58 pm

Forces Saved Our Lives, Recounts Jalgaon Tourist Who Escaped Pahalgam Attack

Kishori Waghdule, who had travelled to Pahalgam with her friend, says she was lucky to have survived the terror attack

News18 23 Apr 2025 9:38 am

Maharashtra gets Rs 1.73 lakh crore rail infra boost; Vaishnaw says 20 times jump from UPA-era funds

MUMBAI: Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on Friday announced that the central government has allocated Rs 1.73 lakh crore for railway infrastructure development in Maharashtra, covering key projects such as the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train, dedicated freight corridors, and the redevelopment of 130 railway stations, Vaishnaw said the Indian Railways is undergoing a major transformation under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, and Maharashtra will be a significant beneficiary of this nationwide push. Speaking at a pres conference in Mumbai, the Railway Minister said that this years central allocation marks a significant boost for Maharashtras rail infrastructure, with Rs 1.73 lakh crore set aside for key projects such as the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train, the redevelopment of 130 stations including CST, and expansion of the railway network across the state. Vaishnaw said over Rs 23,000 crore has been allocated this year for railway infrastructure projects in Maharashtra a significant increase compared to allocations during the previous Congress-led UPA government. When the INDI alliance, then called the UPA, was in power, only Rs 1,171 crore was allocated to Maharashtra. But now, Prime Minister Modi has given at least 20 times more than that, he said. As part of the plan, the Centre will undertake the doubling of the 240-km GondiaBallarshah railway line at a cost of Rs 4,890 crore. A new line from Jalgaon to Jalna, aimed at improving connectivity to the Ajanta Caves region, is planned with a budget of Rs 7,100 crore. The ManmadIndore railway line has been allocated Rs 18,000 crore, while Rs 3,500 crore will go towards the expansion of the BhusawalKhandwa section. For Mumbai, Rs 17,000 crore has been set aside for suburban railway upgrades and related infrastructure. This includes the introduction of 238 new air-conditioned local trains, the minister said. Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, who was also present at the press meet, described the GondiaBallarshah railway line as a vital link connecting Chhattisgarh and Telangana. He said Gondia, located near the border of both states, stands to benefit significantly from the project, which he termed strategically important for boosting the regional economy. Fadnavis also said that the Mumbai One Card will be launched soon. The integrated card will allow seamless travel across multiple modes of public transport in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, including suburban trains, metro rail, monorail, and BEST buses.

The New Indian Express 11 Apr 2025 9:12 pm

Young Siblings Drown In A Well While Playing In Maharashtra's Latur

Siblings Alina and Usman Sheikh drowned in a well near Bhuikot Killa, Latur, Maharashtra. Their bodies were found after a search. An unidentified body was also found in Bhusawal, Jalgaon

News18 11 Apr 2025 12:41 pm

Railway expansion gets major push in Modis third term

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi appears to be placing a strong emphasis on expanding infrastructure within Indian Railways, particularly during his third term in office. In cabinet meetings held so far during his third term in governance at the Centre, the Prime Minister has approved 23 railway projects worth Rs 86,507 crore. According to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the projects sanctioned by the Prime Minister will usher in significant developments across the country. The prominent railway projects approved by the Prime Minister at various Union Cabinet meetings include a new rail-road bridge in Kashi at an estimated cost of Rs 2,642 crore, the Errupalem-Amaravati-Namburu new line in Andhra Pradesh at an estimated cost of Rs 2,245 crore, the Manmad-Jalgaon fourth rail line worth Rs 2,773 crore, and the Tirupati-Pakala-Vellore doubling project in areas of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, estimated at Rs 1,332 crore. Official figures indicate that all 23 railway projects span a total of 2,869 km and come with a combined estimated budget of Rs 86,507 crore. The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, approved the doubling of the Tirupati-Pakala-Katpadi single rail line section, aiming to improve mobility and enhance operational efficiency in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. This multi-tracking project is expected to boost connectivity for approximately 400 villages, home to around 14 lakh people. It will also support easier access for pilgrims travelling to the Tirupati Venkateshwara temple, which receives about 75,000 visitors daily. According to the Railway Minister, the project will also create direct employment amounting to approximately 35 lakh human-days during construction. Under this project, there would be 17 major and 327 minor bridges, 7 flyovers and 30 underpasses. This will project shifting road traffic to train will save 20 crore kg CO2, the Minister said on Wednesday.

The New Indian Express 10 Apr 2025 4:13 pm

'Shinde traitor' jibe: Bombay HC issues notice to police, Sena MLA on Kunal Kamra's plea against FIR

MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court on Tuesday issued a notice to Mumbai police and Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel on comedian Kunal Kamra's plea challenging an FIR lodged against him for allegedly passing a raitor jibe at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. A division bench of Justices Sarang Kotwal and S M Modak said it would hear Kamra's petition on April 16. The comedian has failed to appear before the Mumbai police for questioning despite three summons issued to him. Following a complaint by Sena MLA Murji Patel, the Khar police in Mumbai last month registered the FIR against Kamra under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 353(1)(b) (statements conducing to public mischief) and 356(2) (defamation). Issue notice to the respondents (police and Patel). They shall take instructions and respond to the plea, the HC said. Three FIRs registered against the comedian at Nashik Rural, Jalgaon and Nashik (Nandgaon) have also been transferred to the Khar police. Kamra's counsel Navroz Seervai informed the Bombay HC bench that the Madras High Court on Monday extended till April 17 the earlier interim transit anticipatory bail granted to the comedian. The petitioner has offered in writing thrice to the police to allow him to appear for questioning via video conference in light of the dangers and threat to his life, Seervai said. It seems that the police authorities are not so keen on recording his statement but more on bringing him here physically, the senior counsel claimed. Kamra is presently in Tamil Nadu where he has been residing since 2021, as per his plea. This is not a case of murder. It is an FIR that has stemmed from a stand-up comedy show. He (Kamra) is ready to cooperate with the probe but through video conference, Seervai said. The bench said it would consider all issues on April 16. During the show, stand-up comedian Kamra had taunted Shinde, without taking his name, using a modified version of a Hindi song from the film Dil To Pagal Hai where he called him a gaddar (traitor). The comedian went on to joke about how Shinde rebelled against Uddhav Thackeray's leadership (in June 2022). In his plea filed on April 5, Kamra claimed the complaints against him were violative of his fundamental rights of freedom of speech and expression, right to practice any profession and business and right to life and liberty guaranteed under the Constitution of India. He sought for the FIR to be quashed, claiming the allegations, even if taken at face value, do not constitute an offence. The comedian also sought the HC to protect him from any coercive action including arrest, seizure of his personal electronic devices and examination of his financial transactions and accounts. To permit the investigation to continue would constitute a frontal assault on the freedom of speech and expression. Should a citizen's right to comment on the political developments and actions of political leaders be criminalised in this manner? the petition said. Kamra said his remarks made regarding the split in the Shiv Sena, Shinde quitting Uddhav Thackeray's Sena faction and being sworn in as the chief minister at the time (in 2022) are all part of records. The plea said the FIR has been registered on a stand-up comedy performance, which provides satirical commentary on various social and political events of the country. There has been a gross abuse of process and the malafide deployment of the criminal justice machinery by a member of the state's legislative assembly, resulting in a patent violation of a citizen's fundamental rights, it claimed. As per the petition, Kamra wrote the show's script in July 2024 and performed it on 60 occasions between August last year and February 2025. A recording of the show was uploaded only in March 2025, pursuant to which case was lodged, it said. Kunal Kamra: Take it with a pinch of salt!

The New Indian Express 8 Apr 2025 12:17 pm

Jalgaon authorities cancel 43 forged birth and death document orders

On February 21, 2025, a person suddenly submitted a total of 50 birth and death document orders of the Tehsildar to the Birth and Death Department of the Municipal Corporation but when it was scrutinised, it was found that the signature on the order was forged.

The Hindu 8 Apr 2025 7:15 am

43 booked in Jalgaon over 'irregularities' in birth certificates

An FIR has been filed against 43 individuals for fraudulent practices in issuing birth certificates in Jalgaon, Maharashtra. These bogus certificates, potentially aiding illegal immigrants, included fabricated details and lacked necessary documentation. Stricter oversight and accountability in government processes are called for.

The Economic Times 6 Apr 2025 8:29 am

BookMyShow has removed Kamra from its artist list on platforms; Comedian skips third police summons

MUMBAI: Shiv Sena functionary Rahool Kanal on Saturday claimed BookMyShow has taken stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra off the sale and artists list from its platforms. Kanal, the social media in-charge of Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, thanked BookMyShoew CEO Ashish Hemrajani for keeping its portal clean and keeping such artist out of the list of pure entertainment. When contacted, BookMyShow team said they have no comments to offer as of now. I am writing to express my sincere gratitude for your continued support of you team to take the said artist out of your sale and promotion listing, thank you for even taking him out of the book my show search history. Your belief in maintaining peace and at the same time respecting our emotions has been instrumental, Kanal stated in a letter to Hemrajani. He said Mumbaikars love and believe in every form of art but not personal agendas. Your personal touch and guidance by your team were invaluable in navigating and reaching a solution. We deeply value your commitment to BookMyShow's values that align with the support, and customer experience, your vision and leadership are truly inspiring, thank you for giving us your team and getting this cleared at the earliest.Thank you, Kanal said. Kanal was booked along with Shiv Sainiks for allegedly vandalising the studio where Kamra had performed and alluded to Shinde while making a traitor jibe, which snowballed into a major row. Meanwhile, Kamra failed to appear before the Mumbai police on Saturday. This is the third time Kamra has given police summons a miss, an official said. Kamra shot a video lampooning Shinde over the split in the Shiv Sena, and party workers later ransacked the studio and the hotel in which it is located on the night of March 23. The official said the Mumbai police asked Kamra to appear before it on April 5, issuing summons to him for the third time. Earlier this week, a team from the Khar police visited his residence in Mahim after he skipped the second summons. The Madras High Court has granted interim anticipatory bail to Kamra till April 7. He is a permanent resident of Tamil Nadu. Three FIRs registered against the comedian at Nashik Rural, Jalgaon and Nashik (Nandgaon) have been transferred to Khar police station.

The New Indian Express 5 Apr 2025 3:02 pm