Amravati Child Welfare Panel Directs Police to Locate Minor Survivors Within 24 Hours The Child Welfare Committee (CWC) of Amravati district issued a directive on Friday urging local police to identify and present minor survivors from the Paratwada sexual abuse case within 24 hours. Despite intensified outreach efforts by authorities, no survivors have come forward, highlighting challenges in accessing victims due to social stigma and fear. The CWC cited provisions of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act to emphasize the legal obligation to report minors requiring care and protection to the committee promptly. A joint team comprising the district child protection unit and women police officials conducted a second visit to Paratwada on Friday, but no survivors were found. CWC officials reiterated that minors cannot be compelled to come forward, as they remain hesitant to report abuse due to societal taboos. The exact number of minors involved remains unclear, though officials suspect only two of the eight identified survivors are below 18 years of age. District child protection officer Ajay Dable stated that attempts to contact identified victims have failed, with all phone numbers reportedly switched off. "None of the identified victims has come forward so far despite continuous efforts," Dable said, adding that teams are now trying to locate victims through community networks and home visits. He emphasized that the survivors’ statements are critical to strengthening the case, noting that police had filed an FIR independently but lacked the necessary testimonies to proceed.#amravati_district #paratwada #child_welfare_committee #ajay_dable #juvenile_justice_act
State Minorities Commission Investigates BJP Leader Over Alleged Communal Remarks The State Minorities Commission (SMC) has escalated its probe into a high-profile sexual exploitation case involving minor girls in Paratwada, Amravati district, by demanding legal action against BJP leader and former Lok Sabha MP Navneet Rana. The commission, led by chairman Pyare Khan, alleges that Rana violated the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act by publicly disclosing the identities of minor victims and casting the incident in a communal light. The SMC claims eight Muslim girls are among the victims, rejecting claims that only Hindu girls were involved in the case. Khan’s letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlights Rana’s alleged inflammatory remarks, including statements suggesting Muslims should “go to Pakistan.” He accused Rana of undermining social harmony and violating constitutional principles of equality and fraternity. The commission’s team of seven to eight members visited the affected area to verify the allegations and assess the situation firsthand. Khan emphasized that reports of a large number of Hindu girls being involved were “baseless rumours” aimed at inciting communal tensions. According to Khan, four of the victims are from Paratwada, three from Amravati, and one from Nagpur, all belonging to the Muslim community. He stated that Rana’s media claims about “180 Hindu girls being exploited” and labeling the incident as “jihad” were misleading and not based on verified information. The police later clarified that these assertions were false, though the investigation into the case remains ongoing. The SMC chairman argued that Rana’s unverified statements have exacerbated social tensions and called for urgent legal measures to prevent such provocations.#amravati_district #pyare_khan #paratwada #state_minorities_commission #navneet_rana
Melghat Passion Trail Day 1: Influencers Experience Thriving Wildlife Ecosystem A group of 25 influencers embarked on a four-day expedition into the Melghat Tiger Reserve on Sunday, marking the first day of the “Melghat Passion Trail,” an initiative organized in collaboration with The Times of India. The event aimed to highlight the lesser-known ecological and cultural significance of the reserve, located in Amravati district, often referred to as the “Kashmir of Vidarbha.” The journey began at Zero Mile in Nagpur, with participants traveling to Chikhaldhara, a region known for its lush valleys and winding roads. The trail, which spans four days, seeks to immerse participants in the natural and historical landscapes of Melghat. At the forest rest house in Chikhaldhara, deputy conservator of forests Kirti Jamdade provided an overview of the reserve’s ecological and social dynamics. The group was divided into four teams, with three heading to safari locations in Shahnoor, Seemadoh, and Vasali, while the fourth team remained in Chikhaldhara for a grounded exploration of the area’s historical trails. During the jungle safari, participants traversed narrow, dusty roads surrounded by teak forests. The experience included fragmented wildlife sightings, such as pugmarks and distant animal calls, though many encounters remained elusive. The Gavilgad Fort trek, part of the Vairat safari experience, offered a unique blend of history and nature. The fort, believed to have been a strategic stronghold during the reign of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and later used by Raghuji Bhonsale I during his Bengal campaigns, stood amidst forested pathways. The team encountered a space where ancient history intertwined with the wild, emphasizing the reserve’s dual role as a sanctuary and a historical site.#times_of_india #amravati_district #melghat_tiger_reserve #chikhaldhara #chhatrapati_shivaji_maharaj
Petrol Pumps Face Surge in Demand Across Vidarbha Districts Panic gripped multiple districts of Vidarbha on Tuesday as long queues formed at petrol pumps in Wardha, Chandrapur, and Yavatmal, despite official assurances of sufficient fuel supplies. The sudden rush of motorists disrupted traffic, caused congestion at fuel stations, and heightened public anxiety. Officials attributed the surge in demand to misinformation circulating on social media, which falsely claimed an impending fuel shortage. In Chandrapur, long queues and crowding at petrol pumps were reported, with officials clarifying that there was no shortage of fuel and that supply chains remained fully operational. The district administration emphasized that the situation was driven by rumors rather than any actual disruption in supply. Similar scenes were observed in Wardha, where petrol pumps in Bajaj Chowk, Aarti Chowk, and Shanti Nagar saw long lines of vehicles, affecting traffic movement. Staff at these stations faced pressure due to the sudden increase in demand, prompting police intervention to manage the situation and ease congestion. Yavatmal city and surrounding areas, including Wani and Pusad, also experienced long queues at fuel stations and gas agencies. Residents and vehicle owners expressed fears of supply disruptions, leading to visible anxiety. The situation has begun to impact the prices of essential commodities, with noticeable hikes in vegetable and edible oil prices. However, Amravati residents reported a more stable scenario, as petrol pumps operated without panic buying. Saurabh Jagtap, secretary of the Amravati District Petrol Dealers Association, confirmed that there was no scarcity of vehicle fuel in the city. In Akola and nearby regions, petrol pumps functioned smoothly with adequate supplies of both petrol and diesel.#yavatmal #amravati_district #wardha #chandrapur #vidarbha_districts
14 Labourers Injured as Pickup Van Overturns Near Narkhed Nagpur: Fourteen labourers were injured when an overloaded pickup van carrying farm workers overturned near Ganeshpur village in the Mowad area of Narkhed tehsil on Monday morning. The incident occurred as the vehicle, which was transporting 24 labourers from Jarud in Amravati district to Belona village for orange harvesting work, lost control while navigating a turn near the Wardha river stretch. The van, which was carrying workers hired on daily wages to pluck oranges and load them into trucks, overturned, trapping several individuals inside. Residents nearby heard the crash and rushed to the scene, assisting in the rescue of trapped labourers before alerting the police and local authorities. The injured were then transported to nearby hospitals for treatment. Of the 14 labourers admitted to Govt Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in Nagpur, 13 were taken to the trauma care centre, while one was admitted to the orthopaedics ward. Medical officials reported that several victims sustained fractures, blunt injuries to the chest and head, and multiple abrasions, with a few in serious condition requiring close monitoring. The injured labourers were identified as Babita Choudhari (45), Savita Kunbhu (40), Mangubai Uikey (60), Sanjay Kumbhare (21), Fagulal Sariya (40), Sharmila Kunbhu (30), Shamvati Sariya (50), Sharda Kunbhu (15), Vimla Sariya (35), Indu Fhate (38), Hemant Kumbhare (24), Sunil Invate, Asha Kumbhare, and Saraswati Kumbhare. The driver, Vijay alias Vicky Nisawade, also sustained injuries. Police registered a case against the driver and the vehicle owner, Arun Nisawade, who is also the driver’s father. Preliminary investigations suggested the van was carrying passengers beyond its permitted capacity.#pickup_van #ganeshpur_village #mowad_area #narkhed_tehsil #amravati_district
