1. SOG Nabs 47 ‘Illegal Bangaladeshis’ From the City
The Special Operations Group (SOG) and the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) have arrested 47 people suspected to be Bangladeshis illegally living in different parts of the city. The arrest came following a search operation as part of the city police's efforts to beef up security in view of the upcoming Rathyatra in the city.
The 47 were arrested from Danilimda, Naroda Patiya, Chandola Lake, Ambika Bridge and Vadaj bus stand. Officials said that the all of those arrested are in the age group of 25 to 35 years and had been working as labourers and vegetable vendors. Some of them had been arrested earlier and deported to Bangladesh but managed to return.
Cops are also trying to find out if any agent has been involved in bringing them to Ahmedabad. An official said that agents usually charge around Rs 6,000 to Rs 7,000 to help smuggle people from Bangladesh. Cops are also trying to find out if any of those arrested are involved in any illegal activities.
(Source: DNA Ahmedabad)
2. Surat Fire: Second Exit Was Blocked, Led to High Casualty
The casualty in the fire accident at Takshashila complex in Surat last week could have been less had the second exit staircase of the four-storeyed building not been blocked, according to the preliminary inquiry report prepared by Principal Secretary (Urban Development Department) Mukesh Puri.
The Friday’s (24 May) fire at a coaching institute located on the top floor of the commercial complex in Sarthana area of Surat left 22 dead, including 18 girls, and over 30 others injured. Many had died after they jumped off from the building to escape the fire.
In his preliminary inquiry report, which was submitted to Chief Minister Vijay Rupani here on Monday 27 May, Puri has recorded many such loopholes and lapses while recommending a number of policy initiatives.
(Source: Indian Express)
3. Hardik Patel Detained for Threatening Protest Over Surat Fire
Patidar agitation spearhead and Congress leader Hardik Patel was on Monday, 27 May, detained by police soon after he drove into Surat to hold a protest at the site of the devastating fire on Friday that claimed 22 young lives.
Patel had threatened to undertake a hunger strike at the site of the fire in the city's Sarthana area if the Gujarat government did not take action against the Surat mayor and other fire department officials over the tragedy that occurred in the Takshashila Arcade building.
The Congress had sought police permission to hold the protest but it was denied. Surat Police Commissioner Satish Sharma told reporters that despite denial of permission he was on his way to the fire site.
(Source: Business Standard)
4. Gujarat: Post Congress Rout, Alpesh Thakor Meets Nitin With MLA
Speculation of former Congress leader Alpesh Thakor of joining the ruling BJP gained traction on Monday after Radhanpur MLA met Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel at the latter’s office in Gandhinagar along with Congress MLA from Bayad MLA Dhavalsinh Thakor. The meeting lasted almost an hour.
The meeting comes in the backdrop of the rout of Congress in the state as well country-wide in the just concluded Lok Sabha elections. Just before the elections, OBC leader Alpesh had resigned from the party along with two other MLAs — Dhavalsinh Thakor and Bharatji Thakor. The three, however, did not resign from the Assembly, and continue to be MLAs.
(Source: Indian Express)
5. Woman Decapitated After Getting Stuck in Factory Elevator
In a freak incident, a 48-year-old woman worker’s head was severed from the body after it got stuck in an elevator of a plastic manufacturing factory in Vadodara city on Monday, 27 May.
Police said Sushila Vishwakarma took the elevator from ground floor for top floor when the incident happened.
Sushila, who hailed from Uttar Pradesh, worked as a help in the unit. She came for work around 8 am. She took the elevator for third floor when her head got stuck in the lift, the police said.
According to the police, while her severed head was found on the ground floor, the body got dragged with the lift to the third floor. The police found earphones plugged in the severed head, probably connected to a playlist that was found running on her phone. Police suspect the cable might have got entangled in the collapsible grill of the lift leading to the accident.
(Source: Indian Express)
6. 60-Year-Old Woman Beaten and Raped
A 60-year-old woman, believed to be a beggar, was raped on Sunday (26 May) night. The incident was brought to the notice of the police when a passerby noticed an elderly woman lying in a ditch and assumed her to be the victim of an accident.
The person then rushed her to the nearest civic hospital. Deputy commissioner of police (DCP) Zone-2 Dharmendra Sharma said that the woman was found in a ditch near the Sabarmati-Ranip road.
"A passerby found her and she was admitted to a nearby hospital. The victim was unconscious for at least a day. She had been badly beaten up and was bleeding. Her eyes were injured and she bore injuries on her private parts," said Sharma.
He further said that during the course of her treatment, the woman told the doctor that she was raped.
(Source: DNA Ahmedabad)
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