News

TOI : PUNE: Six years after it was set up to serve as a premier institute for research in defence and strategic studies, the National Centre for International Security and Defence Analysis (Nisda) at the University of Pune (UoP) continues to grapple with issues like inadequate space and lack of expert faculty.

Research initiatives have almost come to a standstill as Nisda awaits renewal of approval by a review panel of the University Grants Commission (UGC).

A visit by the UGC review panel is due since February 2007 considering that Nisda’s initial approval was for a five-year term. The centre went operational in February 2002.

Most expert faculties, who were appointed for the initial five-year term, have made an exit on account of lapse of term. Fresh recruitment is subject to UGC’s review and recommendation, Nisda director A.S. Dalvi told TOI on Tuesday

Nisda is in need of 10 research associates, including one reader, three lecturers and six research assistants. It is banking on a change following the UGC panel’s anticipated visit next month.

B…More

TOI : PUNE: The city police are leaving no stone unturned for the forthcoming Commonwealth Youth Games (CYG), starting October 12.

The Balewadi stadium premises will be monitored by around 100 CCTVs while the cameras have already been installed on all VIP roads. The police have received some of the security equipment with vehicles while the rest will reach in the coming days.

Besides supplementary staff from the office of the Director General of Police, paramilitary forces with specially trained commandos will be deputed during the mega sports event. “There will be 10 assault teams comprising 300 personnels to strike down any sudden attacks,’’ said additional commissioner of police (crime) Rajender Singh. Also, special teams comprising specially trained commandos will arrive from Delhi soon.

The Pune police had sought Rs 17 crore from state government for purchasing safety equipment. “We have purchased cars, jeeps, police buses and motorcycles to ensure smooth and timely movement of our policemen. Instruments like door-frame metal detectors, hand metal detectors and different types of barricades have also been bought. The police are awaiting X-ray scanners and modified bomb trucks,’’ Singh said.

“We have just one X-ray scanner, deployed at entrance of the police commissionerate building. More scanners and bomb trucks from abroad, which will reach here in due course of time,’’ Singh said.

Moreover the Balewadi campus, which has around nine stadiums, will be closely monitored by over 100 closed circuit

televisions (CCTVs). “The civic body has also put cameras on major crossings of the VIP routes from the airport to Balewadi,’’ Singh said.

Five Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) teams have been called in addition to the present five available with the city, said Singh.

The Pune police are expecting around 25,000 to 30,000 visitors on inauguration and closing day functions. On routine days, around 15,000-20,000 visitors are…More

TOI : PUNE: The traffic branch of the Pune police, which is expected to play a vital role in the movement of VIPs and visitors during the Commonwealth Youth Games (CYG), is short of assistant commissioners of police (ACP).

The traffic branch, headed by a deputy commissioner of police, has a strength of 650 policemen and 58 officers (nine police inspectors and 49 assistant police inspector and sub-inspector-level officers) but has just one ACP. There is, however, provision for four ACPs and 10 police inspectors.

Additional commissioner (crime) Rajender Singh said that they had asked for additional staff from the DGP office to strengthen the police force during CYG. “We plan in allotting some 300 to 400 staff, along with officers, to the traffic branch at this time,’’ Singh said.
“We are also trying to give ACP-level officers to the traffic branch as and when we get them,’’ Singh said.

The traffic branch is helped by an 500 or so traffic wardens to man the 1,400 big chowks in the city. During CYG, the traffic branch will be responsible for traffic management and movement of VIPs along with visitors. B…More

TOI : PUNE: A Chinchwad-based housemaid sustained 80 per cent burns after she was allegedly set ablaze by her two sisters-in-law during a brawl on Monday afternoon. In a similar incident, another woman, who was set ablaze by her husband on Saturday night in Sangvi, has sustained 60 per cent burns.

The housemaid in the first incident was identified as Mangal Tanaji Kusalkar (27). On Monday afternoon, Kusalkar had an altercation with her sister-in-law Renuka Navnath Devkar (20). Her other sister-in-law Sunita Eknath Gunjal (24) was not at home when the fight took place. When Gunjal returned, the three women again had an argument and, in a fit of rage, they snatched Kusalkar’s son and locked him in a room. Devkar then held Kusalkar by force and Gunjal poured kerosene on her. The duo then set Kusalkar ablaze with a match-stick.

Kusalkar’s mother-in-law rushed to the scene after hearing her cries for help. She poured water on her but to no avail. Taking advantage of the chaos, Devkar and Gunjal managed to escape from the scene.

Kusalkar was rushed to the YCM hospital from where she was shifted to Sassoon hospital on Tuesday. The Pimpri police confirmed that Kusalkar had sustained 80 per cent burns. “We have registered Kusalkar’s complaint and are investigating the matter,” they said.
In the second incident, Rekha Salve (36) was set ablaze by her husband, Ambadas (42). The couple has been married for 20 years, Sangvi police said. Rekha in her statement to the police said that Ambadas was an alcoholic and that he was suspecting
her fidelity.
Ambadas set Rekha ablaze on Saturday after he had a fight with her over some matter. She has been admitted to a private
hospital. B…More

TOI : PUNE: Former PCMC corporator Raju Anant Durge was recently sentenced to three months simple imprisonment in three different cheque bounce cases and was also told to pay a compensation of Rs 1,82,521 to retired teacher Abasaheb Dange by judicial magistrate first class Prashant Kale.

Durge is chairman of the Omkar co-operative credit society, where Dange had invested his hard earned money. Durge issued three cheques of various amounts to Dange after the maturity period, but all the cheques bounced due to insufficient balance.

As a result, Dange filed cases against Durge before the magistrate court under section 138 of the Negotiable Instrument Act. Durge said in defence that he had deposited the required amount at the district court and hence it was not binding on him to repay any amount to the retired teacher. But the magistrate rejected the plea and convicted him in the cheques bounce cases.

Advocates K.T. Aru, Pradeep Temgire and Sadhana Bhujbal appeared on behalf of Dange, meanwhile advocate R.V. Kulkarni represented Durge.

Inspector, others injured in mishap: A police inspector and two constables of the Pune rural police were injured when their vehicle was hit by a PMPML bus at Wakad on the old Pune-Mumbai highway early on Tuesday morning.

Inspector Bhausaheb Andhalkar, constables Mahesh Daundkar and Kamlesh Kusalkar and Nitin Sorte were in an Innova. According to the Hinjewadi police, they were heading towards Wakad in a private vehicle in order to conduct a raid after their official vehicle broke down. The PMPML bus, which was heading towards Wakad via Dange chowk, suddenly took a right turn and hit the Innova, which was coming from Kalewadi via the old highway around 6.20 am. The condition of the four in said to be stable. Sorte has registered a case against the driver of the PMPML bus.

Rickshaw driver gets RI for killing…More