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TOI : SANGLI: Train robberies and dacoities on passenger trains are nothing new nowadays. But what happened at Miraj station on Friday was something unheard of.

Passengers on the Jodhpur-Bangalore train caught some thieves on the train and handed them over to the railway police at Miraj. However, even before the train left the platform, the police allegedly allowed the thieves to escape.

According to the passengers, a group of people, who boarded the train from Pune, threatened travellers with knifes and asked them to surrender their valuables. However, the passengers managed to overpower the thieves.

When the train reached Miraj, they handed over the thieves to the railway police. But, even before the train moved from the station, the thieves were allowed to escape.

When questioned by the passengers, the police failed to give a satisfactory answer.

The passengers staged a rail roko for nearly three hours, forcing the police to produce three suspects in front of them. “We assured that all the thieves will be arrested and requested the passengers to withdraw rail roko and board the train,” said Miraj railway police inspector Dilip Jadhav. However, he failed to give any satisfactory answer why the police allowed the thieves to escape. Print Save EMail Write to Editor Get personalised news s…More

TOI : SATARA: The Satara zilla parishad (ZP) has launched a new initiative -to impart sex education to newly-married couples. After launching a ‘honeymoon package’ scheme last year, which offered Rs 5,000 to couples delaying birth of the first child by two years and Rs 7,500 if the delay is of three years, the ZP officials are now busy educating newly-married couples on safe sex and use of condoms and pills to delay child birth.

“About 1,800 couples have registered their names under the honeymoon package scheme launched on August 15 last year.

However, couples, especially from the rural areas, were completely unaware of pregnancy-delaying methods and hence the ZP had to launch an education programme for them,” said district health officer V.H. Mohite.

The primary health centres are now education centres, he said. “The newly-married couples are given advice on safe sex and use of contraceptives. Along with contraceptives we are distributing booklets and pictures so that the couples could understand the importance of safe sex.” The ZP also plans to start regular health check ups for newly-married couples and nurses from primary health centres will be assigned the task to educate couples on sex- and health-related problems.

“We had never heard of any such thing which would prevent early pregnancy. After counselling at the primary health centres we came to know about condoms and pills. Moreover, for the first time we understood importance of safe sex and sexually transmitted diseases,” said Vikrant and his wife Varsha from Karad taluka. Print Save EMail Write to Editor Get personalised news s…More

TOI : PUNE: In a significant step towards academic reforms suggested at regular intervals by the University Grants Commission (UGC), the University of Pune (UoP) has decided to introduce a semester system at the post-graduate (PG) level at all its affiliated colleges from 2008-09.

The system is already in vogue at the 45 PG departments operating from the UoP campus. On Friday, UoP’s academic council decided in favour of extending the same to the affiliated colleges, besides deciding to introduce credit-based evaluation system from 2009-10.

Disclosing this to reporters, UoP vice-chancellor (V-C) Narendra Jadhav said that almost 50 per cent of the 474 affiliated colleges offer PG courses -some even operate four to five PG departments.

“The decisions for semester and credit systems are in keeping with the university’s march towards greater flexibility and future reforms like dual degrees, credit sharing with universities abroad et al,” he said.

The systems would eventually be introduced at the undergraduate level, he added. As was announced by Jadhav during UoP’s senate meeting in March, the academic council extended its formal nod to another important decision of “not effecting any hike” in the exam fees for the next two years. Print Save EMail Write to Editor Get personalised news s…More

TOI : PUNE: The Pune crime branch has busted a gang of robbers involved in 65 house-breaking cases, including 51 in Pune alone. Ornaments, other valuables and lethal weapons totally worth Rs 48.42 lakh were recovered from the gang.

The booty includes 2.37 kg of gold, 15 kg of silver, Rs 6 lakh in cash, diamond rings, computer, lap top, car, diamond detector, gas cutter and equipment for melting gold ornaments.

Those arrested have been identified as Munna alias Salim Ali Hussain alias Qureshi (34), his wife Asma Qureshi, Mohammed Akhtar Khalilbaba Qureshi (26), Janardan Govind Pradhan (22), Mohammed Khalil Mohammed Sohail Khan (28) -all from Govandi in Mumbai -and jeweller Prakash Dadasaheb Pol (32) of Nashik.

Additional commissioner of police Rajender Singh (crime) on Friday said that besides Pune, the gang has committed 12 crimes in Nashik and the remaining in Nagpur and Ahmedabad. The gang always struck at night, he said.

About two months ago, the police busted a gang led by Mansingh Sankpal and Hajidali Baig, both from Mumbai, which was allegedly involved in over 100 house-breaking cases in Pune.

Singh said that the police had received information that the gang led by Munna Qureshi was operating in Pune. The breakthrough in the investigation came after Munna’s image was captured on camera installed in an ATM centre in Pune while he was trying to withdrawn money with a stolen debit card.

A team led by inspector Sunil Pawar of the anti-dacoity squad raided Munna’s house in Govandi and Nashik, but he managed to give police the slip. However, his wife Asma was arrested in Hyderabad on March 31.

Under interrogation, Asma revealed that Munna was frequently flying to Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Mumbai. The police teams conducted searches in these cities, but failed to arrest Munna. Acting on a tip-off, a police team nabbed…More

TOI : PUNE: The Joshis, Pandyas, Vajpayees, Kalmadis, Iyers and Chattopadhyays may have different names and reside in different states but they have common Brahmin roots. And, all of them will likely converge on Pune next January for the fifth multilingual Brahmin convention.

Over 4 lakh Brahmins are expected to attend the convention in 2009. Organised by the Maharashtra Brahmin Sabha, Pune, on January 24 and 25, 2009, this unique convention will witness the participation of Brahmins from the Marathi as well as Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Gujarati and Malayalee communities.

They will discuss various issues pertaining to the overall development of the Brahmin community in the country. The multilingual convention will also turn out to be a solitary platform for Brahmins from different communities to share their views and feelings.

Sources in the organising committee said that the community was disturbed because of the increasing reservation and the fact that Brahmin students did not get admission to desired courses, despite securing in excess of 90 per cent marks.

Addressing a news conference here on Friday, Moreshwar Ghaisas who chairs the organising committee said, “With the participation of over 2 lakh Brahmins at recent conventions, this time, we expect the number to reach the four lakh figure.”

“This is a unique opportunity for the organisation as Pune is hosting the convention for the first time,” he added.

Ghaisas said, “At present the Brahmin community was getting fewer and fewer opportunities at various levels. Therefore Brahmins need to redefine their roles in the changing scenario. They will have to create their space in the community they live in and grab emerging opportunities. The convention will be a good platform throw light on these issues.”

Explaining the various pre-events outlined for the convention Ghaisas said, “The city will be hosting the entrepreneurs meet on May 12 at Yashvantrao Chavan auditorium….More

TOI : NASHIK: Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan paid a surprise visit to a theatre where his newly-released film, “Bhoothnath”, was being screened.

Big B, who was in the city for the past three days in connection with the shooting of a film, came to Cinemax theatre in the crowded college road locality on Thursday night to enjoy the movie with audience.

Excited audience cheered Big B while a large number of spectators had also gathered outside the theatre to steal the glimpse of the superstar. Print Save EMail Write to Editor Get personalised news stories on mobile. SMS TOI t…More