Villagers wrongfully restrain 2 govt officers after suicide bid by sarpanch; 16 booked
Thane (PTI): A woman sarpanch of a group panchayat and her family in Navi Mumbai allegedly tried to commit suicide, following which several villagers wrongfully restrained two government officers in protest, police said on Thursday.
The incident took place on Tuesday and the Panvel Taluka police have registered a case against 16 persons from Chikle village in Navi Mumbai, they said.
On July 26, the sarpanch of the group grampanchayat in Chikle, Deepali Tandel, submitted a letter to local authorities expressing grievance over alleged inaction in a land-related matter.
In her letter, she warned that if no action was taken, she and her family would lock themselves at home and consume poison, the police said.
Taking cognisance of the letter, the gram panchayat's rural development officer along with the block development officer went to the sarpanch's residence on Tuesday to pacify her, a police official said.
"On reaching the house, they found it locked from within. Suspecting a suicide attempt, they broke open the door and pulled out the sarpanch and her family members, who had allegedly consumed poison, and immediately arranged for them to be shifted to a hospital," the official said.
While the family was rushed for medical treatment, some villagers targeted the two officers who had intervened on their way back, he said,
The villagers formed an unlawful assembly, waylaid the jeep of the officers and squatted in front of the vehicle, restraining them for nearly an hour. The protesters demanded action on the sarpanch's complaint, the police said.
Following a complaint by the rural development officer, a case was registered against the protesters under sections 189(2) (unlawful assembly), 126(2) (wrongful restraint) and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the official said.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
No stubble burning now, why air pollution crisis in Delhi: Mann takes dig at BJP
Chandigarh (PTI): Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday slammed the BJP saying its leaders used to "defame" Punjab farmers over stubble burning and blame them for Delhi's poor air quality and questioned why is there pollution crisis in national capital despite no farm fires now.
Mann said that as soon as paddy harvest takes place, BJP leaders blame Punjab and its farmers for Delhi's poor air quality.
He said they used to claim that stubble burning by Punjab farmers causes Delhi's pollution.
Mann said at present, the Air Quality Index in major Punjab cities is between 70 and 130.
"At present, Delhi's AQI is between 450 and 500 and no smoke is coming from Punjab. But the situation in Delhi is worse. At least now they should agree that there is no role of Punjab for Delhi's poor air quality," Mann said in a video message.
Mann's remarks came on a day Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa apologised for the air pollution crisis in the national capital and acknowledged its impact on children's health.
Sirsa, however, asserted that it was the result of the policies pursued by the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi.
ALSO READ: Goa nightclub fire: Luthra brothers deported from Thailand, taken into police custody
Last month, the BJP had trashed the Punjab CM's previous claim that stubble burning in the state has no role in the high levels of air pollution in Delhi as "ridiculous".
Dismissing Mann's claim, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva had last month said it is certain that stubble burning is a "major" factor (for the air pollution in Delhi).
Meanwhile, Mann in his video message said, due to severe floods which Punjab witnessed this year, paddy harvesting got delayed, "despite this, many Delhi ministers had already started blaming Punjab".
"I want to praise Punjab farmers, NGOs and efforts of the Punjab government have also paid off in controlling stubble burning this time. The cases of stubble burning in Punjab have reduced by 70-80 per cent and this has been acknowledged by the Central Government and the Union Agriculture Minister," Mann said.
The CM further said that after paddy harvest even the wheat crop has been sown and now, there is no incident of stubble burning.
He said BJP leaders used to claim that Punjab's smoke from stubble travels to Delhi.
"Now, there is no stubble burning, but Delhi is facing very poor air quality. This proves that earlier too Punjab's smoke had no role for Delhi's poor air quality. Only accusations were made by the BJP to defame Punjab. At least now the Centre should praise the farmers of Punjab," he said.
"Meanwhile, Delhi's AQI is between 450 and 500, flights are being cancelled, and breathing has become difficult," said Mann.
He asked both the BJP government in Delhi and the BJP led Centre to address Delhi's air pollution, saying citizens cannot even venture out for a walk due to air pollution.
He also asked the BJP that Punjab should not be dragged into this political battle, instead, Punjab's farmers should be appreciated, and the Delhi and Central governments should focus on addressing Delhi's air pollution.
Mann further said that farmers of Punjab are 'anndatas' (food providers) and they meet the country's food needs, they should not be defamed.
