1. Home Stay for Tourists Planned in Villages Around Statue of Unity
The Narmada district administration is planning to introduce home stay accommodation for tourists visiting the Statue of Unity, the world’s tallest statue, in Kevadia Colony.
According to the District Development Officer, 116 houses have been identified in 22 villages around the Statue of Unity where home stay accommodations will be developed.
“We have identified 116 houses where 252 rooms will be renovated as home stay accommodations for tourists. The houses were shortlisted based on whether they are pucca houses which will make the renovation process easy and whether there is a spare room in the house which can be utilised for the purpose,” said District Development Officer, Jimcy Williams.
(Source: Indian Express)
2. Elated Farmers Say Recent Rains Saved Crops
Rains in past week have saved crops in the state, said farmers. Representatives of farmers said that if it rains as per the forecast, the cropping situation will improve in the state.
According to a report of State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC), Gujarat has received 266.03 mm rains till Sunday morning (28 July), a rise of about 60 mm from 206.87 mm on previous Sunday. This is 32.60 per cent of 30-year average of 816 mm rains. Nine talukas have received over 1,000 mm rains, 20 have received between 501 mm and 1,000 mm rains, 50 between 251 mm and 500 mm, 104 got 126 mm to 250 mm rains, 44 talukas got 51 mm-125 mm rains and 16 got upto 50 mm rains.
"Rains have elated farmers. Crops that were not destroyed because of lack of water, got a fresh lease of life because of recent rains. In south Gujarat, paddy crop will be saved too," said Jayesh Patel, president of Khedut Samaj – Gujarat. With heavy downpours in Mumbai and northern Maharashtra, Patel feels that rains will be good in Gujarat this week.
(Source: DNA)
3. Dave Commission Probing 2017 Naliya Gang Rape Case: Women’s Panel Resisted Deposition of Its Chief
The Gujarat State Commission for Women (GSCW) resisted the appearance of its Chairperson, Leelaben Ankoliya, as a witness before Justice (retired) AL Dave Commission that probed the controversial 2017 Naliya gang rape case of a woman from Kutch. Eventually, Ankoliya deposed before the Dave Commission after the latter rejected a plea from GSCW to reconsider a summon issued to its chairperson in 2018.
This came out in the report of Justice Dave Commission, which was tabled in the Gujarat Assembly Friday (26 July). In its report, the Commission concludes that it did not get any material to prove that the alleged incidents of gang rape took place, while giving a clean chit to the Gujarat state authorities in committing any lapse dealing with the episode.
The Dave Commission’s conclusion is mainly based on the woman’s absence as a witness before the Commission and the fact that she turned hostile before a trial court in the case.
(Source: Indian Express)
4. Fake Passports Came in Handy for Nigerian Criminals
The Ahmedabad cyber cell of police have so far arrested 19 Nigerian nationals involved in various crimes, from Delhi, Mumbai etc for possessing fake visa and passport.
As per police officials, It was revealed during the investigation that the Nigerians enter India on the basis of student or tourist visa. Initially, they use their original documents. Rajdeep Zala, DCP cyber cell said, "There has been not a single Nigerian national arrested by us who had original visa and passport with them. Every one of them was using the fake ones, with the fake identity on it."
In most of the case, after their visa gets expired, they stay in the country using fake documents. "In the Income-tax racket case, five Nigerian were arrested, all five had fake visa and passport. During their interrogation, it was revealed that fake documents were delivered from Nigeria through post," said Zala. Apart from that most of Nigerians use fake names in their passport and visa.
(Source: DNA)
5. Boy Dies in Wall Collapse at an Under-Construction Site
The Gotri police on Sunday, 28 July, arrested a 42-year-old man after a wall of his under-construction house collapsed and fell on a seven-year-old boy. The boy, identified as Ajay Makwana, received grievous head injuries and was rushed to the Gotri hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Based on the victim’s father’s complaint, the Gotri police booked the owner of the house, Haribhai Bharwad, under charges of Section 304 A (causing death by negligence) of the IPC and later arrested him.
According to the police, Bharwad was constructing another floor in his house. Ajay lives with his parents opposite of Bharwad’s. On Saturday night, two children, including Ajay, were playing in the lane between the two houses when the incident happened. The partially-constructed brick wall facing the lane, collapsed and fell on Ajay.
(Source: Indian Express)
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