Gurugram/Jaipur (PTI): Cow vigilante Monu Manesar, who was booked by Rajasthan Police for the murder of two Muslim men in February and is also accused of inciting communal hatred in home state Haryana, was arrested Tuesday, officials said.
He was handed over to Rajasthan Police after it obtained a transit remand for him from a court in Haryana's Nuh. The arrest was made by the Nuh police, reportedly in Gurugram's Manesar.
A pistol, three live bullets and a mobile phone were seized from Manesar, police said. They are checking if the pistol is licensed.
Nuh police said they informed neighbouring states and districts about the arrest, following standard procedure. Deeg district in Rajasthan adjoins Nuh.
Manesar, whose official name is Mohit Yadav, was accused by some of being a trigger for the July 31 episode, in which a Vishva Hindu Parishad procession was targeted by mobs in Nuh leading to the deaths of six people in that district and neighbouring Gurugram.
However, the FIR registered by the Nuh police is related to a message he posted on social media amid plans by the VHP to take out another procession on August 28 to "resume" the disrupted yatra.
The Nuh police said the post attempted to create disharmony between groups on the basis of religion and wounded religious sentiments. It allegedly used objectionable language.
The local authorities had denied permission for this second yatra.
In Rajasthan's Deeg district, Manesar was accused of being part of a conspiracy to abduct and kill two men after branding them cow smugglers.
In February, Nasir (25) and Junaid (35) were allegedly abducted from Rajasthan's Bharatpur district, from an area which is now part of Deeg after the state government recently created more districts.
Their bodies were found in a burnt car in Loharu in Haryana's Bhiwani the next morning.
Rajasthan Police last month said Manesar's role in hatching a conspiracy and abetting the crime was "under active investigation". Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had also told reporters that his government would provide any assistance Rajasthan Police required to nab Manesar.
Bharatpur Inspector General of Police Rupinder Singh said a team from Deeg went to Nuh on Tuesday after learning about Manesar's arrest.
"He was produced in the court by the Nuh police and Rajasthan Police also moved an application to seek his custody. The court granted his custody to Rajasthan Police and he is now being taken from Nuh to Deeg," he said in the evening.
Earlier, Manesar was under the scanner over a video that surfaced online before the Nuh violence.
Asked about the clip days later, Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij had said, "I have seen that video, nowhere is he instigating people to riot... he is asking people to join the yatra." Haryana Police, however, had said Manesar's role in the July 31 would be investigated.
The Nuh case on the new social media post is being investigated by the district's cyber crime unit.
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Mangaluru (Karnataka), Nov 4: After being endowed with multi connectivity facilities like three national highways, port and airport, Mangaluru city is now looking at a significant move towards sustainable urban mobility as the Karnataka Maritime Board (KMB) has announced plans for the Mangaluru Water Metro Project (MWMP), officials said on Monday.
This ambitious initiative aims to transform public transportation in the state, utilising National Waterways to connect areas along the Nethravathi (NW-74) and Gurupura (NW-43) rivers, they said.
Set to become India's second-largest water transport system after Kochi, the project promises an eco-friendly, economical and efficient mode of travel, the officials said.
According to officials, the MWMP will connect isolated communities from Bajal to Maravoor, enhancing accessibility and promoting the holistic development of these regions. The initiative is expected to boost local livelihoods and improve the standard of living through integrated transport networks.
According to the project report available with PTI, the MWMP will be rolled out in phases, with the initial stretch covering 30 kilometres along the Nethravathi and Gurupura river backwaters.
The priority route, beginning at Bajal on the Nethravathi and extending to the Maravoor Bridge on the Gurupura, will feature around 17 modern Metro stations.
Key locations such as Someshwara Temple, Ullal and the New Mangalore Port are included in the proposed route. State-of-the-art electric and diesel catamaran boats will be deployed, equipped with essential amenities to ensure a high standard of comfort and operational efficiency.
A comprehensive Feasibility Report (FR) will assess the project's viability, presenting a detailed cost-benefit analysis, market potential, operational strategies and environmental considerations.
"The report will objectively evaluate the project's merits and challenges, providing crucial information for decision-makers, stakeholders and investors," they said.
Officials in the port and fisheries subdivision told PTI that key areas of analysis has been based on assessing the potential to decongest old port areas, exploring the feasibility of cargo movement using Roll-on/Roll-off (Ro-Ro) water metros, examining water level variations influenced by tidal flows, integration with feeder services to ensure seamless last-mile connectivity, demand forecasts over a 25-year period, based on extensive socio-economic research of usage and utility of the MWMP.
The project's Terms of Reference (ToR) emphasise sustainable development, involving thorough site identification, user demand assessments and environmental impact studies. Comprehensive surveys such as LIDAR mapping, bathymetric studies and topographical analysis will ensure accurate planning and implementation, the officials told.
Furthermore, technical collaborations with national institutes of repute will support studies on wave tranquillity, vessel height clearance and infrastructure recommendations for jetties and repair facilities, they said.
A detailed environmental monitoring programme will assess air and water quality, noise levels and aquatic biodiversity in line with Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MOEF&CC) guidelines, the officials added.
The officials of the Maritime Board said the MWMP promises significant economic and environmental benefits, from easing traffic congestion to reducing air pollution. The project will also explore non-fare revenue streams and develop models to ensure financial sustainability.
A socio-economic impact assessment will measure the project's contribution to regional development, backed by projected revenue from passenger fares and ancillary services, a senior official said.
The Board also aims at championing cleaner and greener transportation and to set a precedent for sustainable urban mobility, positioning Mangaluru as a progressive city that leverages its waterways, he added.