Mumbai News Highlights: In I-Day address, CM Shinde says Samruddhi Expressway to be opened for public soon

Police have registered a case against an elderly man in Thane district of Maharashtra for allegedly molesting an 11-year-old girl, an official said.

The incident occurred in February and again on August 5 in the building where the accused and the victim live, he said. As per the complaint, the 61-year-old accused took the minor to the terrace of the building, located in Mumbra area, and the parking area and touched her inappropriately and molested her, the official said.

The Coastal Road, being built to cut travel time between south Mumbai and the suburbs, will be extended up to Bhayandar in Thane district, covering the entire western sea-facing line of the metropolis, said Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal.

Goyal met with officials from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) here to discuss the extension of the Coastal Road and other potential measures to ease Mumbai's traffic. “The Coastal Road will now be extended till Bhayandar. There will be 4-5 packages to distribute the construction work. Once the entire stretch is operational, it will be a huge relief for Mumbaikars who commute daily by vehicle,” Goyal said.

Police sub-inspector Dhanaji Honmane, who was martyred in an encounter with Naxalites in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra in 2020, was among the 17 police personnel from the state who have been selected for the Medal for Gallantry on the eve of the Independence Day.

The central government on Wednesday announced service medals for 1,037 police personnel of various central and state forces.

A total of 59 medals have been announced for the Maharashtra police force - 17 of them for gallantry, 3 for distinguished service and 39 for meritorious service.

PSI Honmane, who was in charge of Bhamragad Quick Response Team (QRT), was martyred along with C 60 Commando Kishor Atram in an encounter with Naxalites in May 2020 in Gadchiroli. He will be awarded the gallantry medal posthumously.

Navi Mumbai Police has registered a First Information Report (FIR) against two women working at an autism therapy centre for allegedly burning a four-year-old boy with an incense stick. Based on a complaint by the child's father, the FIR was registered under the Juvenile Justice Act at the NRI Sagari police station, an official said.

The boy was undergoing therapy at the centre for the last two years, said assistant police inspector Kishore Khadke. The accused women, 32 and 35 years old, allegedly burnt him on the palm with an incense stick last week. After the child told the parents about the injuries, a complaint was lodged. No arrest has been made yet, inspector Khadke said.

Independent MLA Ravi Rana, who represents the Badnera assembly constituency in Maharashtra's Amravati district, has said he would take back the funds distributed to women under the 'Ladki Bahin' financial assistance scheme if they don't vote for him in the upcoming state polls.

Under the Eknath Shinde government's flagship 'Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana', eligible women in the state will be given Rs 1,500 per month.

Rana said, "After elections, I will seek to increase the amount from Rs 1,500 to Rs 3,000 (per month). I am your brother...But if you don't give your blessing now, I will take back the Rs 1,500 from your bank accounts."

In an effort to conserve rare species of wildlife, the Maharashtra government has approved breeding centres for otters, vultures, and wild buffaloes in the state, an official said.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde emphasised the importance of prioritising the protection and conservation of rare species in the state. As per a statement issued by the chief minister's office, Shinde also directed the effective implementation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Ek Paid Maa Ke Naam' (a tree in mother's name) campaign across all municipal corporations, municipalities, schools, and colleges in the state.

Shinde approved a proposal to set up breeding centres for otters in Pench Tiger Reserve (Maharashtra), vultures in Nashik, and wild buffalos in Gadchiroli, it stated.

Resident doctors in Maharashtra started an indefinite strike in support of the nationwide protests by their colleagues against the rape-murder of a post-graduate trainee at a medical college in Kolkata. All elective services in hospitals across the state have been halted, but emergency services will continue uninterrupted.

Protests were witnessed at KEM, Cooper, Sion, Nair and JJ hospital.