Mumbai Notes 8212; Joshi orders probe

MUMBAI, June 2: Following a complaint lodged by the anti-Enron crusader Medha Patkar, Chief Minister Manohar Joshi on Monday asked the Konk...

MUMBAI, June 2: Following a complaint lodged by the anti-Enron crusader Medha Patkar, Chief Minister Manohar Joshi on Monday asked the Konkan range Deputy Inspector General of Police to probe into her charges. Talking to media persons, Joshi said Patkar along with the activists of the Enron Virodhi Kruti Samiti called on him and alleged that the agitating activists were mercilessly beaten up by the police last week. She also told Joshi that her entry in the Ratnagiri district has been banned by the local police. 8220;I have asked the DIG to probe into the charges of assault and am personally looking into the allegations,8221; Joshi said. Replying to a question, Joshi said his government will not succumb to such agitations. 8220;We will not stall developmental projects, not only in the Konkan region, but in any part of the state,8221; Joshi added. Joshi made it clear that he was prepared to debate the pros and cons of the multicrore project with the representatives of the Enron Virodhi Kruti Samiti or for that matter with any other organisation. Meanwhile Patkar has called off her dharna though she will continue her crusade against the DIG Konkan range.

Special stands

In an effort to make the recently launched airconditioned 8220;Cool Cabs8221; successful and easily available to passengers, the Regional Transport Authority RTA of Mumbai Central has decided to have special stands on the lines of the Bombay Electricity and Suburban Transport BEST. According to sources in the RTA, the cool taxis can be hired from places like Shivsagar estate, Worli, Bajaj Bhavan, Nariman Point, opposite Hotel Oberoi, opposite Taj Mahal hotel and Sir Phirozeshah Mehta Road, Fort. The first stand will be inaugurated by Transport Minister Pramod Navalkar near Bajaj Bhavan on June 3, 1997, at 4 pm, a press note read.

Burglary

Four flats at the Pestom Sagar colony at Chembur in north-east Mumbai were burgled by a group of nine burglars in the wee hours of Monday. According to police sources, the value of the property and the cash robbed is yet to be ascertained as the flat owners of all these flats were not not in the town. The dacoits also brutally assaulted one of the watchman.

Boy drowned

Imran Shaikh , a 14-year-old boy from Colaba drowned off Gateway of India at around 6.45 p.m on Monday. On seeking assistance the Naval diving team consisting of five divers rushed to the spot and recovered the body in the night and handed over the body to the civil police in the presence of the boy8217;s father Shri Babbar Shaikh.

Major Gen Pandit

Major General Rajendra Pandit took over as General Officer Commanding Maharashtra and Gujarat Area on Monday. He succeeds Major General B A Kariappa who retired from service in April. Commissioned into the 1st battalion of the Fourth Gorkha Rifles in June 1963, Major General Pandit is an alumnus of the Australian Staff College and has done the prestigious higher command course at the college of combat, Mhow.

Cancer detection

A free cancer detection camp has been organised by the Giants group of Juhu.8217; The camp will be held at 6, Dave Baug, Parleshwar Road, Vile Parle East, between 9 am and 4 pm on June 8. The registration fee is Rs 5 only. For registration, the following persons should be contacted before June 5: Lopa Dave Tel 6119605, Naresh Parikh 8349307, Vimla Goenka 6486676, Vasant Furia, Ganesh Chhaya, Navinbhai Thakkar Road.