Protesters remove tarpaulin from 'kabutarkhana' in Mumbai; minister condemns act
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Mumbai (PTI): Protesters on Wednesday removed the tarpaulin put up by the municipal corporation to cover the kabutarkhana (pigeon feeding station) at Dadar in Mumbai, after the Bombay High Court ordered closure of such facilities.
Irate protesters, mostly from the Jain community, clashed with police, who tried to stop them from removing the cover, put up by the civic body.
Mumbai suburban district guardian minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha, who later visited the spot, condemned the incident and said the police will take appropriate action in the matter.
He also appealed to the people to maintain peace and said the management of trust of a Jain temple located in the area claimed they had no role in the protest.
The HC recently ordered the closure of Mumbai's kabutarkhanas over health concerns like respiratory issues from pigeon droppings.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis chaired a meeting on Tuesday with Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, ministers Ganesh Naik, Girish Mahajan and Mangal Prabhat Lodha.
The meeting discussed regulated feeding to prevent pigeon deaths while ensuring public health through precautions and mechanised droppings' cleanup.
Fadnavis directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to continue controlled feeding with organisational support until alternatives are established.
The Jain community, for whom feeding pigeons is a sacred tradition, have fiercely opposed the closure, with demonstrations in Mumbai highlighting the cultural significance and the distress of pigeons dying on streets.
After the police dispersed protesters, Lodha visited the spot and reviewed the situation. He also spoke to the management of a Jain temple located opposite the kabutarkhana.
Speaking to media persons on the issue, Lodha said whatever happened at the kabutarkhana earlier in the morning was "wrong" and "condemnable".
Asked about action against the protesters, he said, "Police will take a right decision on this."
Lodha said when he spoke to the management of the Jain temple trust, they denied participating in the protest and claimed some outsiders had a role in it.
On Tuesday, the chief minister listened to everyone (during the meeting with ministers) and gave a directive so that people's health should not be under threat and pigeons should also not die, he said.
The BMC was given directives about cleanliness and everything, Lodha said.
"Tomorrow, a report will be submitted in the high court on the issue," he added.
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Telangana CM urges Amit Shah to increase sanctioned strength of IPS officers in state
Hyderabad (PTI): Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi on Wednesday night and urged him to increase the sanctioned strength of IPS officers to the state in view of its growing administrative and security needs.
The two leaders also discussed the recent surrender of several senior Maoist leaders before the Telangana Police and other issues.
"During the meeting, the two leaders discussed the issue of Maoist surrenders and their rehabilitation. The chief minister informed Shah that significant improvements in policing have taken place in Telangana over the past two years," an official release here said.
Highlighting that 591 Maoists have laid down their arms and joined the mainstream of society during this period, the chief minister said the state government was providing them compensation and rehabilitation assistance as per the rules.
He requested the Union home minister to extend financial support from the central government for development works in the backward regions of the state.
Reddy also urged Shah to increase the sanctioned strength of IPS officers to the state from 83 to 105 in line with the state's growing administrative and security needs, the statement said.
The first cadre review after the formation of Telangana was conducted in 2016, while the next review, due in 2021, was delayed and finally carried out in 2025. Even then, only seven additional IPS officers were allocated to the state, the chief minister informed Shah and requested that the third cadre review be conducted in 2026 as per the schedule.
Reddy explained that Telangana, like the rest of the country, is facing several modern challenges, including cybercrime, drug trafficking, white-collar crimes, and other emerging security threats.
He highlighted the reorganisation of the Hyderabad, Cyberabad, and Malkajgiri Police Commissionerates, the proposed formation of the Future City Commissionerate and the rapidly growing population in Hyderabad to underline the increasing administrative requirements of the state.
