Anti-extortion cells to counter threats: Munde

The state government would think of formulating a definite policy to take precautionary measures in order to prevent incidents of criminals fleeing from prisons, Minister of State for Home Gajanan Kirtikar said.

Replying to a question by R R Patil (Cong) and others, the Minister of State ruled out the hand of jail personnel in the escapeof 15 prisoners of Yervada Central Jail when they were being taken back from Shivajinagar court on September 10.

He said one prisoner had brought petrol in a small box and also a match box by which he set his shirt on fire. Taking advantage of the panic situation, all the prisoners fled from the scene.

When asked whether the State Government had investigated the source through which the prisoner had secured the petrol and match box, Kirtikar said he must have been given the material by his associates or family members, who had come to meet him at the Shivajinagar court.

Kirtikar said so far five prisoners have been arrested while 10 others were still at large. The inquiry into this matter is complete, he said and added that police guards present at that time have been found guilty of negligence and were suspended the very next day.

In reply to another question by Ashok Dhatrak (Cong) and others, Kirtikar said hand grenades were used in the bomb blast at Dahisar, a distant Mumbai suburb on June 23. Thegrenades were country made and not foreign brand. Six persons including two police personnel were killed in the blast while 21 others were injured.

He said the two police personnel had displayed courage by cornering the suspects at the risk of their lives. The nabbed culprits were killed as they took out hand grenades and exploded them. The next of kith of the policemen who had laid down their lives were given compensation of Rs 2.11 lakh.

Minister of State for Public Works Shivajirao said in reply to a question by Manisha Nimkar (SS) and others that the State Government would undertake concretisation of the Rajapur-Phyphare road in Rejapur taluka as soon as funds were made available. About 14.55 km long concretisation work had been completed and work on another 1.35 km was in progress, he added.

A committee headed by Chief Minister Manohar Joshi will soon be set up to discuss the differences between the bidi workers and bidi factory owners over the implementation of Minimum Wages Act, Labour MinisterSabir Sheikh said in a written reply to a question by Sambhaji Pawar (JD) and others.

He said a joint meeting of the chief minister, representatives of bidi workers and the factory owners was held on September 9 where Joshi urged members from both sides to exercise restraint and work accordingly which would be beneficial for both.

He gave instructions that factories which had closed down should be started immediately and bidi workers should adopt an understanding view in this regard, he added.