Mine Owners Accuse Akola Collector of Extortion, Lodge FIR Akola: Additional collector of Akola Pramod Gaikwad has been named in an FIR lodged by mine owners accusing him of demanding Rs15,000 per mine from every quarry operator in the district for allowing operations. The complaint by the mine owners alleges that threats were issued to shut down businesses if the money was not paid. Akola has nearly 70 minor mineral quarries extracting stone, gravel, crusher, and murrum. The FIR was lodged at MIDC police station nine days after a formal complaint was submitted by mine owners. As part of the evidence, the complainants submitted an audio clip purportedly featuring a conversation between Gaikwad and Vivek Bijwe, president of Akola Quarry and Crusher Association. However, the authenticity of the audio clip has not been independently verified. A case under relevant sections of the BNS and Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered. In the alleged conversation, references are made to collection of funds and follow-ups, which the complainants claim support their allegations of monetary demand. Speaking on the issue, Bijwe reiterated that the association had approached the police with evidence after repeated demands were made. Meanwhile, Gaikwad has categorically denied all allegations, calling them "false and baseless." In his clarification, Gaik, stated that he had never demanded any money from the mine owners and had, in fact, been assisting them in their work. He explained that the district had set a revenue target of Rs130 crore from the mining sector for the current financial year, but only Rs60 crore had been recovered. To improve revenue collection, he had convened meetings on March 15 and later, urging quarry operators to pay pending royalty dues promptly.#midc_police_station #akola_collector #pramod_gaikwad #akola_quarry_and_crusher_association #vivek_bijwe
Anti-social elements smash vehicles, trigger terror in Indira Mata Nagar A group of anti-social elements vandalised vehicles parked along the roadside in Indira Mata Nagar, a locality under Digdoh Nagar Parishad, around 8:30pm on Monday. The perpetrators targeted motorcycles, cars, and auto-rickshaws, smashing windscreens in a brazen attack that spread panic and fear among residents. The gang of youths fled the scene swiftly after local residents gathered to witness the incident, prompting alarmed citizens to rush to the MIDC police station to file complaints. Senior police inspector Gokul Mahajan of the MIDC police station formed an investigative team led by assistant police inspector Sanjay Bansod to probe the incident. The attack has left the community shaken, with authorities urging residents to remain vigilant. The incident highlights the growing concerns about law and order in the area, as such acts of vandalism are becoming increasingly common. The police have yet to identify the culprits, but the swift response from the community and the police indicates a determination to address the issue. The incident has also sparked discussions about the need for stricter security measures in the locality to prevent similar occurrences in the future. The attack is part of a broader pattern of anti-social behavior reported in the region, with local authorities facing pressure to take decisive action. While the exact motive behind the vandalism remains unclear, the incident has intensified calls for increased police presence and community engagement to curb such activities. Residents have expressed their frustration over the lack of effective measures to prevent such incidents, emphasizing the need for a coordinated effort between the police and the community.#midc_police_station #indira_mata_nagar #digdoh_nagar_parishad #gokul_mahajan #sanjay_bansod
11-Year-Old Missing Akola Boy Found Dead In Drain The body of an 11-year-old boy, missing since March 19, was recovered from a drain on the premises of Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth campus on Sunday morning. The child, identified as Sarvagya Nimbalkar, was a resident of Azad Chowk. According to police, the boy had left his home around 11 a.m. on March 19 but did not return. His family filed a missing persons report at the MIDC Police Station after an extensive search yielded no results. IPS officer Ishani Anand stated that multiple teams were deployed following the complaint. "Search operations were conducted across several locations. We used dog squads, scanned CCTV footage, and even deployed drones in certain areas," she explained. The case took a grim turn when locals on a walk noticed a foul smell near a drain within the university grounds. Upon inspection, they discovered a child’s body and immediately alerted authorities. A police team arrived at the scene, retrieved the body, and sent it for postmortem analysis. Preliminary findings showed no visible signs of injury. Officials suspect the boy may have died from drowning, as he was reportedly fond of swimming. However, they emphasized that the exact cause of death will be determined only after the postmortem report is finalized. The incident has sparked concern among the community, with authorities vowing to thoroughly investigate all angles. The discovery has also raised questions about the circumstances surrounding the boy’s disappearance and the steps taken to locate him. As the investigation continues, the case remains a focal point for local law enforcement and the families of the missing boy.#dr_panjabrao_deshmukh_krishi_vidyapeeth #sarvagya_nimbalkar #azad_chowk #ips_officer_ishani_anand #midc_police_station
