No intention to interfere, was trying to defuse situation: Ajit Pawar on 'rebuking' IPS officer
Mumbai (PTI): A day after a video showed him rebuking and asking a woman IPS officer to stop action against illegal soil excavation, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Friday said he did not want to interfere but was only trying to deescalate a tense situation.
As the NCP chief came under fire over the incident, police registered a case against several persons for allegedly obstructing IPS officer Anjali Krishna and other officials as they were taking action against illegal `murum' soil excavation in Solapur district.
In the viral video which surfaced on Thursday, Pawar was heard admonishing Krishna over phone.
"Let me state clearly that my intention was not to interfere with law enforcement but to ensure that the situation on the ground remained calm and did not escalate further," Pawar said in a statement on Friday.
He values the rule of law and has the highest respect for the police force and its officers, including women officers who serve with distinction and courage, he said.
"I remain firmly committed to transparent governance and ensuring that every illegal activity, including sand mining, is dealt with strictly as per the law," Pawar further said.
The video, aired by Marathi news channels, showed Anjana Krishna, sub-divisional police officer, Karmala, talking to Pawar on a local NCP worker's phone. She did not recognise his voice at first.
Pawar then made a video call to the police officer, and purportedly asked her in a stern tone to stop action against the illegal excavation.
Murum soil is used in road construction.
Meanwhile, a First Information Report was registered against Baba Jagtap, Nitin Mali, Santosh Kapre, Anna Dhane and 15 to 20 others under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 132 (Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 189 (2) (Unlawful Assembly), and relevant sections of Protection of Environment Act, said an official of Kurduwadi police station.
The incident had taken place on August 31 when revenue department officials along with IPS officer Anjali Krishna reached Kapre Wasti to take action against illegal excavation, said the official.
The accused allegedly tried to obstruct the action, he added.
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4 held for sexually assaulting woman, girl on moving bus after social media alert in UP's Agra
Agra (UP) (PTI): Four people were arrested, after a prompt response by police following a social media alert, for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman and a girl inside a moving bus here, officials said on Tuesday.
According to an official police statement, at 12:27 am on April 27, information was received on the social media platform X about an incident of sexual assault on a bus travelling from Kanpur to Ahmedabad, which was approaching Namner crossing in Agra.
Acting under the direction of Police Commissioner Deepak Kumar, the Agra Police social media team immediately alerted the Rakabganj police station within minutes and coordinated with the victims to confirm the incident and obtain the exact location, it stated.
Police teams launched intensive checking at Namner crossing and intercepted the bus as it reached the spot. The four accused involved in the incident were apprehended on the spot, and legal action was initiated against them, the statement said.
The police said the swift response and coordination between the social media team and field units ensured timely action, bringing relief to the victims and other passengers, who expressed gratitude towards the police, it added.
