Journalism of Courage
PUNE: A police probe has revealed that the alleged serial killer,suspected to have murdered six beggars in a span of six months in Shirdi,Ahmednagar district,committed the heinous act because he was looted by some beggars at the Pune railway station.
The police have identified the suspect as Sachin Ramdas Vaishnav (30),a resident of Maliwada in Aurangabad. The Shirdi police had nabbed him on Thursday based on clues obtained from CCTV camera footage and sketch image. He initially identified himself as Prakash Alkol. But his interrogation revealed that he was Sachin Vaishnav of Aurangabad,who worked at a private catering firm in Pune.
According to the Shirdi police,on July 8,two beggars were murdered at Shirdi railway station. One more murder took place on July 27. Then on July 28,three more beggars were stoned to death at different locations in Shirdi. Two beggars survived the attack.
Cops questioned several beggars in Shridi area during investigation. Sketches of the suspects were drawn. Video footage of the alleged killer was also obtained from CCTV cameras installed near murder spots and other locations.
Police inspector D P Pawar of Shridi police station said,Vaishnav admitted of the murders during investigation. Probe is on to confirm the exact motive behind his act and know his educational and family background. He told us that he used work with a private catering firm in Pune a few years before. He also told that he was beaten up robbed by beggars at Pune railway station. The court has granted him police custody till August 13 for further investigation.
36 Marathi schools approved in border districts
Pune: The state government has approved 36 secondary Marathi medium schools in the border districts of Nashik,Chandrapur and Sangli.
In its government resolution issued on August 7,the state government mentioned that there was a long pending demand for a secondary Marathi medium school in the border areas as the children had to go to far-flung areas to continue their education.
Moreover,as the border areas share their space with the neighbouring states,the villagers currently have schools of different mediums but not Marathi.
Permission will be granted to open new Marathi medium schools in these districts.
The regional education department will have to identify the villages from these three districts and have to approve one secondary school wherever its necessary.
The GR stated that if there are private institutions willing to open a school,such institutions are also encouraged. These schools initially will be given 20 per cent grants and later the grants will be given on the basis of their quality.
The school must have 20 students per class and will have the state board curriculum. The educational institutions that have been granted permission before the academic year can open these schools,and if the government approval has come after the start of the new academic year,then the institutions will have to wait till the next academic year, it stated.
The educational institutions will not be granted permission for handing over the schools or relocating the schools outside the current locations.
Womens wing of WZCC launched
Pune: The Pune Chapter of the World Zorastrian Chamber of Commerce (WZCC) announced the launch of its womens wing Women Entrepreneurs (WE) on Friday at a hotel on Tadiwala Road. WE is a forum for salaried,professional and entrepreneurial business women.
The theme of WZCC for 2013 is youth empowerment,but the Pune chapter picked women empowerment instead, says Mahrukh N Barucha,head of WE.
Following the footsteps of parent WZCC,which facilitates mentoring programs by established businessmen and networking opportunities,WE,according to Bharucha,plans to organize one year programmes,wherein the dynamics of business will be understood through case studies. While only a Zorastrian can be a member of WZCC,the WE sessions are open for all women.
PMC deputy engineer arrested
Pune: Pune police arrested a deputy engineer with Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) for allegedly taking Rs 15 lakh from a builder and not returning it within the promised time.
Police identified the suspect as Lalasaheb Sambhaji Tadakhe (51),a resident of PMC Colony,Ghorpade Peth. When Nilesh Vishwas Mate (25) did not get his money back from Tadakhe,he lodged a complaint. Police said Tadakhe allegedly told Mate that he wanted the money to get a transfer to another department.
Police said Mate allegedly gave Rs 13 lakh by cheque and Rs 2 lakh in cash to Tadakhe between January 5 and 20.
Duniyadari show cancelled,police step in
Pune: The police had to intervene as a precautionary measure after shows for Marathi movie Duniyadari were cancelled at a multiplex on Saturday morning due to technical reasons.
Assistant police inspector Mahesh Bolkotgi said,Some shows of Duniyadari were cancelled at E-Square multiplex. We had to intervene as it was a Marathi movie that was cancelled.
The police said some activists from Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) had come to the multiplex.
Neerav Panchamia,chief operating executive of E-Square Leisure Private Limited said the problem began in the morning during a screening of Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. We thought the problem would be fixed before the Duniyadari show,but we had to cancel that show as well. We offered to refund the money and parking charges. We also invited the audience to watch the movie any time between Monday and Thursday next week, he said.
Polo Cup: Tharani surges ahead
PUNE: Prashant Tharani clinched pole position in Round 2 of the JK Tyre Volkswagen Polo R Cup,logging the fastest time in testing conditions at the Kari Motor Speedway.
Tharani,who hails from Chennai,was the fastest driver on track logging a time of 1.14.844. Following him closely was South Africas Jeffrey Kruger. Rookie driver Samarth Jaiswal put in a good shift and will start third,while Yatin Magu will join him on the second row at the fourth position.
Punes Gaurav Mehta qualified for the 12th place with a time of 1.16.819. Tanmay Ugale,the other driver from Pune,will start at the 17th place,setting a time of 1.16.999. Niranjan Todkar,hailing from Aurangabad,will occupy the 18th place on the grid. Nagpurs Anshul Shah will begin the race at the 10th place.
This is the second race weekend at the Kari Motor Speedway. The first four drivers set their fastest time on their opening lap.
A total of 19 drivers will start the first race on Sunday with Adnan Lehrys crash ensuring that he will not be taking his place on the starting grid.
