Actual death toll in Kharghar tragedy is between 50 and 75, but govt is hiding figures, claims Raut
Mumbai, Apr 20: Even as the death toll due to sunstroke at an award function in Navi Mumbai stood at 14 as per the official figure, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Thursday claimed that 50 to 75 people have died in the tragedy.
Leaders of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, in turn, accused him to spreading misinformation and filed a police complaint against him.
The Shinde government in the state was hiding the real death toll, Raut alleged.
Talking to reporters, he said workers of his party from Uran, Shrivardhan, Roha and Mangaon talukas in Raigad district told him that the actual number of people who died at the Kharghar event was bigger than the official figure.
Officials have said that 14 people died after suffering from sunstroke during the Maharashtra Bhushan award ceremony held in Kharghar area of Raigad district neighbouring Mumbai on Sunday.
The function was held in an open ground and was attended by several lakh people, most of them followers of social worker Appasaheb Dharmadhikari, who was conferred with the Maharashtra Bhushan award by Union Home Minister Amit Shah at the event.
Accusing the state government of hiding the real number of fatalities, Raut said, "If you look at the total figure from all the villages (from the talukas in Raigad) then minimum 50 and maximum 75 people have died. 'Khoke sarkar's (a term the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena uses to mock the Eknath Shinde-led government) people reached their homes and suppressed the voice of family members.
"This is a cruel government and it has no right to be in power. The government should immediately resign," the Rajya Sabha member said.
Raut also backed Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole's demand for a special two-day session of the state legislature to discuss the tragedy.
Opposition parties have blasted the Shinde government over the deaths, accusing it of mismanagement.
Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Ajit Pawar has sought an inquiry into why the award event was organised around noon.
On Wednesday, Raut had demanded that CM Shinde be booked for culpable homicide.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (Shinde group) leaders Bharat Gogawale, Sanjay Shirsat and Kiran Pawaskar on Thursday evening filed a complaint at Marine Drive Police station in south Mumbai against Raut for his `false' claim about 50 to 75 deaths during the Sunday event.
"We have received the application against MP Sanjay Raut. We will take legal opinion on it," a police official told PTI.
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Man arrested for for raping mute woman in Jamshedpur
Jamshedpur (PTI): One person was arrested on the charge of raping a 30-year-old woman with speech impairment in Jamshedpur, a police officer said on Tuesday.
The incident occurred in the Azadnagar police station area of the city, and a case in this regard was registered based on the statement of the victim's brother on Monday.
The victim had gone to fetch water from the premises of a company on Monday evening. When she did not return even after a considerable time, family members went out in search of her and caught the accused red-handed, police said.
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The accused was a caretaker of the company.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (Patamda) Bachandeo Kujjur said due to scarcity of water in the area, the victim used to fetch water from the premises of the company.
