Mumbai Notes

Probe into encountersThe probe by principal sessions Judge A S Aguair into death of peanut vendor Abu Sayema and Gawli gangsters Sada Pawle ...

Probe into encounters

The probe by principal sessions Judge A S Aguair into death of peanut vendor Abu Sayema and Gawli gangsters Sada Pawle and Vijay Tandel in two separate police encounters last year will begin on Friday. The government on Thursday issued a notification appointing Shrikant Bhatt and G D Raje as the special public prosecutors to represent the police and the State. The probe has been ordered by the Bombay High Court which heard a group of petitions challenging fake8217; police encounters. The petition filed by Samajwadi Party alleged that Sayema was killed on a mistaken belief while that by the Committee for Protection of Democratic Rights and People8217;s Union for Civil Liberties challenged the police encounters in general. Among the defence lawyers who would appear in the matter are Majeed Memon, M A Rane and P A Sebastian.

Seminar on displacement

The Mumbai Nagrik Vikas Manch has organised a seminar on Urban Displacement in Mumbai8217; on January 23 and 24 at Max Mueller Bhavan,Kala Ghoda at 10 am. The seminar will discuss the Bombay Rent Act, office location policy and slum redevelopment and resettlement policy. Registration fees are Rs 50 for both the days, including lunch and tea, and Rs 25 for students.

Pragati yatra

The Pragati Ratham8217;, part of the Pragati Yatra8217;, flagged off by the Andhra Bank in Ahmedabad on January 17 to depict the bank8217;s contribution to its customers, reached the bank8217;s Vashi branch on January 17. About 300 customers gathered at the bank to welcome the ratham, and K Surya Prakash, AGM of the bank, presided over the meeting. The Ratham has proceeded to the southern parts of maharashtra, and it will culminate in Hyderabad on January 26.

Nirankari Sant Samagam

The 31st annual Maharashtra Nirankari Sant Samagam will begin in Mumbai on Saturday at the Somaiya Ayurvihar Complex Ground in Sion. The Samagam will be presided over by the head of the Sant Nirankari Mission and lakhs of followers from in and around the state and abroad are expected to participate.

Thackeray8217;s effigy burnt

Around 300 activists of the Maharashtra Pradesh Mahila Congress today burnt an effigy of Bal Thackeray outside Sena Bhavan, Dadar, to protest the derogatory remarks recently made on Sonia Gandhi by the Shiv Sena chief. The Dadar police arrested the activists and later released them on bail. Said President of Maharashtra Pradesh Mahila Congress, Vidya Belose, 8220;Thackeray had recently passed some very personal and objectionable comments against Sonia Gandhi at Kolhapur. Therefore, we burnt his cardboard cutout along with other Thackeray pictures.8221;

Memorial lecture

The second S G Pohekar memorial lecture will be held at the Asiatic Society on January 30. This will be followed by a film show titled 8220;Hiroshima 8211; a mother8217;s prayer8221;. For details, contact Vimal Shah on 2660956.

Free operation

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The Agarwal Eye Hospital at Goregaon will examine patients for cataract and operate them on January 26 free of cost. For details, call 8724632/8745043.

Internet seminar

The government Polytechnic at Thane has organised a seminar on Internet and e-mail for their students on Republic Day. The seminar will elaborate on the basic concepts and usefulness of Internet and related technologies.