Woman held with 1 kg synthetic drug in Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Aug 27: The Narcotics Control Bureau on Friday said it arrested a woman with African connection, carrying synthetic drugs weighing a kilogram here.
According to Zonal Director of the Bengaluru unit of NCB, Amit Ghawate, they intercepted an incoming parcel from Germany containing MDMA crystals at the Electronic City Post Office on Thursday.
The MDMA crystals were found to be cleverly concealed on two sides of a carton box in grey coloured duct tapes. Each packet was found to be weighing 500 gms and thus a total quantity of 1 kg MDMA crystals was seized.
The carton box also contained packets containing sandwich grill, flexible mirror, medicure and pedicure set, two table tennis bats and two pouches of chocolates. "Surveillance was mounted for the woman who was to come and receive the parcel and after prolonged surveillance, one Yogita S, resident of Bengaluru, who received the parcel was apprehended," the NCB zonal director said in a statement.
He said Yogita confessed to having ordered the contraband from Germany and that it was meant for supply to various individuals in Bengaluru.
The interrogation also revealed that she has been into drug trafficking for the past three years.
Ghawate said she sold drugs to various individuals in other cities of South India also. She is living with an African individual in Bengaluru.
According to him, the inflow of MDMA crystals in courier and speed post parcels booked through darknet channels have gained momentum, especially during the Covid-19 restrictions.
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Maharashtra govt aims to make forts encroachment-free by May 31
Mumbai (PTI): Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered a crackdown on encroachments at forts across the state, aiming to remove illegal structures by May 31, an official said on Tuesday.
The district collectors have been asked to prepare fort-wise lists of encroachments by January 31, the official said.
The chief minister has said that to ensure a systematic approach, district-level committees under the chairmanship of collectors will be formed, and these will oversee the phased removal of encroachments from February 1 to May 31.
He said the government will also set up vigilance committees to prevent future encroachments.
"Public demand for decisive action had been growing, and the government has responded accordingly," Fadnavis said.
Maharashtra is home to 47 forts that are centrally protected, 62 state-protected, and approximately 300 unprotected forts. The initiative aims to preserve the historical and aesthetic significance of these cultural landmarks.
On Monday, the state government issued a government resolution (GR) ordering the formation of committees to address encroachments at forts.
Elaborating on the government's strategy, State Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar said, "The district-level committees will comprise police commissioners, municipal corporation chiefs, forest officers, and representatives from archaeological departments. They will ensure encroachments are addressed efficiently and that law and order is maintained."
He said the committees will meet monthly to review progress and submit regular reports to the state government.
The move comes in light of encroachments at Vishalgad Fort in Kolhapur district.
Shelar said the initiative involves removing existing encroachments and ensuring these historical sites are well-protected for future generations.
