Don't let us beg, allow live concerts: Musician to Maharashtra govt
Aurangabad: A musician out of work due to the coronavirus-induced restrictions has appealed to the Maharashtra government to allow artists to hold live concerts and shows to sustain their livelihood.
Amar Wankhede, who used to earn his living by playing synthesizer in orchestra shows, stood in a market place in Aurangabad city for 12 hours on Saturday carrying a placard with the message: 'Don't let us beg, save artist, save art'.
Since the lockdown came into force, live concerts and musical performances are prohibited across the state.
As Wankhede is left with no other means of earning, he came out on a road in Cannought area here to make people understand the plight of artists like him.
"Live shows and musical events are not being held since the past seven months. Many people are dependent on this profession for their bread and butter," he told PTI.
"We don't want any incentives or aid from the government. We only need permission to resume our work," the artist said.
Wankhede said he also came to know that an artist from Pune committed suicide 10 to 15 days ago.
"The government is chalking out standard operating procedures (SOP) to resume activities in many sectors. We will also follow the norms and take all care if we are allowed to resume our work," he said.
Wankhede also appealed to people to run a online campaign for saving artists like him.
"We expect to get permission to resume work from next month, otherwise will have to agitate for our demands," Wankhede said.
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Man arrested with Rs 2.54-crore heroin in Mumbai
Mumbai (PTI): Police have arrested a man and seized over 500 grams of heroin worth Rs 2.54 crore in the illicit market from him in Mumbai, officials said on Friday.
The police's Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) made the drug seizure in Santacruz in the western suburbs. The operation was conducted by the Kandivali unit of the ANC on Thursday as part of a special crackdown against drug trafficking in the area, they said.
Acting on specific inputs, an ANC team conducted a raid in Santacruz (East) and intercepted a man. During a search, the team recovered 508 grams of high-grade heroin from his possession, an official said.
The seized contraband, a highly addictive, opioid drug derived from morphine, is estimated to be worth Rs 2.54 crore in the international market, he informed.
Following the seizure, a case was registered against the man under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, and he was formally placed under arrest in the early hours of Friday.
The police are currently investigating the source of the drug and trying to identify the intended recipients of the consignment, he said.
