Plot to grab property worth Rs 3 crore foiled

MID-DAY (JULY 2001)

By Skimmy Gupta

Advocate Firoz Ansari was arrested yesterday morning for forging documents and thumb impressions to appropriate the property of the late poet and lyricist Padmashree Sahir Ludhianvi. Seven odd holdings valued at Rs 3.5 crore were in possession of Ludhianvi's ailing sister Shervar Shafi, but Ansari obtained her thumb impressions to transfer them to his daughter's name.

When Ansari made a sudden appearance at Ludhianvi's Juhu residence, neighbours alerted the police.

The ailing Shervar was being looked after by her nurse Felomina Jose and maulana Rabil-Ul-Haq-Sheikh but Ansari had kicked them out.

'Ansari appeared at Ludhianvi's Juhu residence, claiming to be a distant nephew of Shervar who was semi-comatose. She had undergone a major operation and lapsed into a coma when Ansari came and took over the household and threw out the old nurse and caretaker," explained ACP Bhimrao Sonawane.

Shervar expired on June 9 but Ansari had managed to obtain her thumb impression on documents that stated that Ludhianvi's property was left to Ansari's minor daughter. "Instead of preparing for her last rites, the stranger disappeared and returned late in the night. He claimed that the properties had been bequeathed to his daughter and took possession of the flats," alleged neighbours at Parchaiyyan Co-operative Society, Juhu.

According to API Sujata Patil, Ansari had obtained the thumb imprints on property papers after her death and manipulated records to gain possession of Ludhianvi's property.

"Investigations confirm that affidavits were filed in court in the absence of witnesses and Ansari had resorted to manipulation to take possession of the estate. All the poet's relatives are in Pakistan and Ansari took advantage of this to dupe his sister on her deathbed," said Patil.

However, Ansari denied that he had forged documents. "I was Shervar's caretaker and her moral support during her sickness. She expressed her desire to bequeath the properties to my daughter," he claimed from behind bars at Juhu Police Station.

The police claimed that Ansari could not prove his relation with Shervar.

"The accused has five brothers but no one except him is seen in photographs with her. Moreover, Ansari had entered the house only a few days before Shervar's death and complaints of his fights with the caretaker and the nurse are recorded in the police station," said API Patil.

Y2K crackers hit Mumbai this Diwali

MID-DAY (NOV 2001)

By Skimmy Gupta

Y2K is going to hit Mumbai again, but it's not the computer virus this time. Y2K is an aerial firecracker being sold in Mohammed Ali Road.

Boogie Woogie is silent as it zig zags to the sky leaving a trail of light in its wake.

Star Plus shoots silent stars. Other noiseless firecrackers are Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (a set of 10 tubes, each one emitting a different colour), Mela, World War, Blue Zone, Backstreet Boys, Raiders of The Lost Ark, Bad Boys, Mast Mast, 2000 Bug, Hot Girls.

This unusual assortment comes in the wake of a Supreme Court (SC) order banning firecrackers with sounds crossing 125 decibels. Aerial firecrackers, which make a sound high in the air, silent firecrackers and plastic guns are among the most wanted these days. Natubhai, owner of J B Devidas and Sons, Mohammed Ali Road, says, " Bombs and groundcrackers are no longer in demand." All shopkeepers are following the SC directives as regards the nature of crackers, but state that they are not responsible if people do not follow the guidelines set by the SC.

Business this Diwali is as usual, going by the number of people crowding firecracker shops. Most shops open at around 8 am and close by 10.30 pm.

" There are no new brands of firecrackers; everything s the same as last year," said Natubhai. However, street vendors are finding it tough to survive this year. According to G Shaikh, who sells crackers opposite the New Variety Shop in Mohammed Ali Road, Osama bin Laden is responsible for the downfall. " It is because of him that a war has started and recession has hit Mumbai. People don't have money to buy crackers," said Shaikh.

Rauf Bhai, a vendor on the same street who sells plastic guns, agrees, " This year is not as good as last year." Most shopkeepers refused to comment on how the war affects business and say, " Please keep us out of all this."

In areas like Chembur, Kurla and Govandi, bombs and rockets like Y2K, Chameli, Raja, Shamma and Panther are stocked along with the 5,000 or 10,000 wali ladi, as vendors call it. Business is not so great here either.

" The craze is gone. People are now not as keen as they used to be, so I sell only the phool jhadi and the chakri that is bought by the kids," said Ashok Patil, a fire cracker vendor in Chembur.
Firecrackers are available in the range of Rs 20 to Rs 10,000. The ladis, fountains and chakris are still in demand. Guns, too, are a craze with kids. As one shopkeeper puts it, " Kids love guns, but elders avoid them."

Most shopkeepers in Dadar and Matunga have stocked aerial firecrackers, as they are more in demand than ground crackers. " Many buy these because they are safer compared to the rasi bomb or the ladi," said Anand Mhatre, a shopkeeper near Dadar station.

Similarly Shashikant Bhende, a roadside vendor in Dadar, has stocked toofan rockets and chavi rolls too. " Guns are in demand. There is one type of gun that comes with both a rocket and a roll," he said.

Aerial crackers are costly and can cost up to Rs 500 to 600 a piece, but people will spend. " They look great when the burst in the sky. The whole sky lights up,"said A K Anna, a firecracker vendor near Matunga Station.

As for the 125-decibel rule, it is summed up by a vendor in Kurla, " What is 125 debal?"

Ragpicking wives await govt compensation

MID-DAY (MAY 2001)

By Skimmy Gupta

On April 3, 1999, four workers Sadaiyyan (40), Senthil Kumar (30), Mannar (38) and Venkatesh (30) died after inhaling the poisonous gases emitted by the septic tanks they were cleaning at Amar Industrial Estate, Saki Naka, Andheri (East).

Within a few days, Marathi dailies carried reports of the then chief minister Narayan Rane having promised Rs 50,000 from the chief minister' s relief fund as compensation to each of the bereaved families. But two years later, the wives of the deceased, residents of Sitladevi zhopadpatti, D N Nagar Andheri (West) are still running from one office to another to procure the promised compensation.

Sadaiyyan is survived by his wife Paunamma and six children, Senthil Kumar by wife Laxmi and two and Mannar by wife Shivagami and a child. Venkatesh and his wife Raja had no children.
Former councillor Jaywant Parab has acknowledged the receipt of letters sent by the widows, which he forwarded to the tehsildar, Mulund.

The women are also in possession of an acknowledgement made by Rane to their application for allotment of compensation amount.

The women now work as rag pickers and earn no more than Rs 20 daily. Their children are deprived of education, adequate food and shelter. The families often have to contend with one meal a day.
Paunamma told Mid-Day, " Not a single penny has been given to us by anybody. Even the people who had employed them had told us that we would be compensated, but we are merely being sent from door to door begging for our food."

Shivgami added, " Nobody understands that our husbands died working for those who employed them. If our husbands had been alive, our lives would have been better and our children would have had a better future."

Kavita, Sadaiyyan' s daughter said, " For the last two years, people have been rude towards us. We were pushed out of police stations, municipal offices, Mantralaya, the Bandra collector' s office, and the Mulund collector's office like stray dogs."

C S Sangeetrao, collector of suburbs said, " I will definitely look into the matter and will bring it to the notice of the relevant authority. Any of the affected family members can approach me with a simple letter."

Narayan Rane was unavailable for comment during the past month.

'Surprise visit' rescues woman

MID-DAY (MAY 2002)

By Skimmy Gupta

A surprise visit by members of a women' s welfare committee recently led to the rescue of Zarina Ahmed Khan (25), of Sion-Dharavi, who was allegedly harrassed by her in-laws with whom she was living.

On May 5, Maria Ishwaran, Jancy Simon and Nasima Nafis Khan, of the Mohalla Committee Women' s Cell, paid a visit to Zarina' s residence at Sion Social Nagar, Mohmadi Chawl, Sion-Dharavi, where she was being physically and mentally harrassed by her in-laws.

Earlier, in November 2000, Zarina' s case had been registered with the Bandra cell of the committee. At that time, after several meetings with both Zarina and her in-laws, the two parties had reconciled. However, the entire family had been asked to visit the women' s cell at least once a month, which it never did.

According to Ishwaran, co-ordinator of the women' s cell, " We always make surprise visits to these houses to check if things are fine. So when we went to Zarina' s house, everybody was shocked. Zarina looked both mentally and physically harassed and was in a shabby and ragged condition. She had been confined in a tiny room for many days, without ventilation and food. We then had a discussion with the family and warned them that this behaviour should not occur in the future. They all agreed politely and assured us nothing untoward would happen."

But, according to sources, as soon as the three women left, Zarina was physically assaulted and made to sign a blank paper so that her in-laws could lodge a complaint against the cell. The torture is said to have continued for two days, till it became unbearable. Finally, Zarina escaped on May 7 with her two daughters and contacted the women' s cell.

Zarina said, " I would have died if these women hadn' t come that day. It was only after seeing them that I gathered courage and took this bold step. Now I will surely fight for the rights that I have been sacrificing the last 11 years."

Zarina had been married to Mohammed Ahmed Khan at the age of 14. Since Mohammed' s second marriage, Zarina' s physical, mental and sexual harassment is said to have begun. She is planning to go to the family court to sue for her maintenance.

25 pc of smuggled goods are computer hardware

MID-DAY (JULY 2001)

By Skimmy Gupta

"Information Technology products (computer hardware) accounted for 25 per cent of the total seizures in the past three months at the international airport," says Ahmed Hussain, Additional Commissioner of Customs, Sahar Airport.

According to custom officials, 13 IT seizures were made in the last three months. The bulk of the products seized were computer periherals including P3 and P4 processors, motherboards, RAM (Random Access Memory) modules, hard disk drives, VGA (display) cards, sound-cards all of which form major building blocks for computer systems. Laptops were also seized.

Hussain says, "Recently efforts have been made to smuggle a lot of computer hardware but our officers are always alert. They have seized IT products worth Rs 3,06,75,924 in the local market in the first quarter of the current financial year. The IT seizures in the year 2000 were valued at Rs 70,04,330."

The main reasons for the sudden surge in smuggling of these parts is attributed to the demand. Secondly, the latest versions of computer peripherals available abroad are in greater demand and sell briskly with huge profit margins in the Indian market. Compact and minimal space consuming parts like RAM modules, processors etc. are usually smuggled in huge quantities.

Sanjay Parelkar, Deputy Commissioner, said, "We recently had a major seizure of Rs 1.5 crore worth of sophisticated electrical equipment for database programs. The smuggled goods were flown in by a courier company not registered in the list of the importer. In the past couple of months, RAMs/ROMs have been seized from passengers' handbags and chips concealed in cigarette cartons."

"Preventive measures in our security are upgraded regularly to reduce the inflow of smuggled goods. The shuffling of officials from one place to another and manning more areas helps ensure that the baggage is not sneaked out from the aircraft. Within the next few months X-Ray machines will be installed in conveyor belts, thus increasing security."

Retired 'super cop' Julio Ribeiro targets cop

MID-DAY (JULY 2001)

By Skimmy Gupta

India's retired 'super cop' Julio Ribeiro is taking his job as executive chairman of the Mohalla Committee Trust Movement (MCMT) seriously. And when a fellow policeman obstructs the functioning of the MCMT, Ribeiro will not remain silent, he says.

The MCMT voiced the people's demand for justice against the perpetrators of crimes against two women in Behrampada in a space of two months. But the police weren't willing to cooperate.

In a closed door meeting held on July 21 at Nehru Centre, MCMT members have decided that the high-handedness of an inspector will not silence them.

Ribeiro said, "I strongly object to any police officer spreading unauthentic rumours about the MCMT. They should understand that the trust's members are not working for themselves but that they bring up people's problems. If needed, we will approach Police Commissioner M N Singh for further action." The inspector concerned is Nadaab Sheikh of Nirmal Nagar Police Station.

Anjum Sheikh (22), resident of Behrampada, was raped by her brother-in-law Ayub Hanif Sheikh and burnt by her in-laws on May 21.

In spite of a public outcry, a case was registered against the accused only after the intervention of politicians.

In another incident, Jamroonissa (28) was set afire by her neighbours Shamim and Shano on June 7 over the issue of her three children playing in the lane. She succumbed to her injuries on June 22.

"Anjum's case was the first in which we managed to gather the support of the people of Behrampada Inspector Nadaab Sheikh's threats of making false cases against people have affected the unity of the people. Whenever we went to the police station, he harassed us and said, Mohalla committee members have no status and grade, yeh toh jhaadu marne waale hain."

We have now decided to file a written complaint against Sheikh for harassing of women," said a member of the MCMT, Behrampada.

M Ishwaran, coordinator of the Women's Cell of MCMT told Mid-Day, "All MCMT members were employed in 1992-93 when communal riots started in Mumbai. Since then they have been working for the welfare of society. The members of Behrampada have done appreciable work as far as family disputes and other women related issues are concerned. If they are unnecessarily targeted, then the plight of a common man can be imagined."

Members of the Behrampada and Dharavi mohalla committees met DCP, Zone VIII, Sanjay Saxena on July 23 and put forward their grievances. said, "Nobody from Behrampada has approached me on this issue. I will definitely look into the matter. I will speak to the commissioner, if needed."

Escaped girl gets no pity

MID-DAY (OCT 2001)

By Skimmy Gupta

It would have been better if she had consumed poison and died. She has brought disgrace to the family. This is what the uncle of Pooja Oberoi, the girl who escaped yesterday after allegedly being held captive for six years by her paramour, had to say.

Pooja's mother, Anita Pawar, too distanced herself from the situation, though her daughter is now staying with her at Khar. " I am not concerned with Pooja as she was away from home for the past six years. I am being dragged into this matter unnecessarily," she said.

Sub-Inspector Mukhtar Sheikh of Oshiwara police station said, " Pooja did not get along with her mother and step-father because of her affair with the accused Sanjay Bhatti." But others are more sympathetic. " It's all Allah's karam that Pooja escaped," said Rumi Jaffery, into whose house she fell, after jumping from a sixth floor flat.

Jaffery, a film scriptwriter, who stays on the fifth floor of building D1/2, Yamuna Nagar, Oshiwara, said, " I was out on Tuesday night and there were only two servants at home. At 9.15 pm, they saw Pooja fall on the balcony grill and into the room. I came back then to find her crying hysterically. She said she wanted to call her mother and asked us to call the police. She said that that man (Bhatti) tortured her. I called the police."

The building's managing committee members blame the estate agents for renting a flat to Bhatti, and allege that it was done without verifying Bhatti's credentials. But the estate agents, Ali and John P, said Bhatti had registered Pooja as his wife in the biodata submitted to them, though there were no documents or photographs to confirm the marriage.

The biodata was attested by the local police station. Ali said, " The police gave the green signal and we were satisfied with the man' s details. How would we know what a tenant will do in future?" John P asked. " Once our deal and agreement is over, we have no concern with the party," Senior Inspector Arun Kulkarni of Oshiwara Police Station said.

He added, " Investigations will be conducted at all levels. We have also come to know Bhatti was earlier involved in forgery and default of credit card payments. Cases have also been registered at a few police stations."

Sources revealed that Pooja was still under the influence of sedatives, which, she claimed, was given to her by Bhatti. She refused to speak to the press. Bhatti is currently in custody of the Oshiwara police.

Sacked Leela guard burns himself on premises

MID-DAY (OCT 2001)

By Skimmy Gupta

Alleging injustice at the hands of security officials at the noted five-star Hotel Leela, a 30-year-old watchman yesterday set himself ablaze on the hotel's premises and was admitted to Cooper Hospital, where his condition was said to be extremely critical.

Rajendra Vithalrao Mahahale was admitted to the male surgical ward, where the doctor on duty said, "His chances of survival are very dim. He has suffered severe 100 per cent burns all over his body."

Mahahale, resident of Saibaba Nagar, Powai, burnt himself inside the service gate of the hotel in Andheri (E) at 8.30 pm, after accusing Leela's security bosses of sacking him from his seven-year job there without prior notice. After the incident, there were only some ashes of burnt clothes and about two to three litres of spilled petrol on the scene.

Marol resident Ratan Asware, eyewitness to the burning and a special executive officer for the city, recorded his account of the grisly incident. He said, "At 8.30, Rajendra, a watchman with Hotel Leela, went into the service gate. A tussle broke out inside the hotel's premises. Within 30 to 35 feet of the hotel's main entrance, inside the hotel's premises, he poured petrol on himself and set himself alight, shouting, 'Nair, Nair.' It was very shocking that even after getting burnt he was talking in his senses and shouting about injustice done to him."

The Nair who Mahahale was shouting for was apparently Shivdas Sakuni Nair, a staff security officer at Leela. Nair and others took the burnt man to Cooper at Andheri.

Samuel George, shift manager at Leela, and a hotel duty manager who refused to be named also refused to reveal any information. "We cannot disclose anything at this moment," George said.

A case has been registered at Sahar Police station, where an assistant police inspector (API), who also refused to be named, said, "Rajendra was employed as a watchman with Hotel Leela for the last seven years. On June 27 he was expelled from his job without prior notice. There seemed to be a cold war between the security guards' union and the hotel's security management. Rajendra said they were pressuring him into giving some kind of written statement.

"After being burnt, while being taken to Cooper, in his own words he told us that a security manager was pressuring him to write on a blank paper, 'Union nahin karoge.' Rajendra was repeating these words constantly till he reached Cooper. He also said that 21 people, including him, refused to give the written statement and were expelled from their jobs in June."

The API further stated that Mahahale alleged he had not been paid for one month of service. However, the API added that a hotel security officer said that the sacked staff had been hired on contract and when their tenure was complete was asked to leave. The API said that he denied all allegations by Mahahale.

The API said hotel staff will be questioned as the investigation continues. "We will question the duty managers and some other relevant authorities. The hotel's officials seem reluctant to talk to us."

Captive woman survives suicide attempt

MID-DAY (OCT 2001)

By Skimmy Gupta

Captive woman survives suicide attempt By: Skimmy Gupta October 17, 2001 A 24-year-old woman attempted suicide yesterday by jumping out of a sixth floor flat, but landed on the balcony grill of the flat below.

Pooja Oberoi decided to end her life to free herself from Sanjay Bhatti (36), who she claims held her captive for six years after having lured her with false promises of marriage. But after having jumped out of the sixth floor flat at Building D 1/2, Yamuna Nagar, Oshiwara, that Sanjay had acquired on rent, she landed on the balcony of the flat belonging to film writer Rumi Jaffry.

After she was rescued, Pooja said, " I was being harassed for years. He kept promising to marry me but never did. He has ruined my life."Soon after, Bhatti attempted to flee but was nabbed by residents who beat him up.

A resident, K Merchant, said, " We realised only today that they had an illegal affair. After hearing her screams we rushed out and saw this man trying to escape. So we caught hold of him and informed the police."

Residents said Bhatti had rented the flat five months ago, saying he was a bachelor, who worked in the film industry. None of the residents were aware of the girl's presence in the flat. Sanjay came and went at odd hours. He had reportedly placed two guards to ensure that Oberoi couldn't escape.

" Pooja was never seen in the building compound or premises," a resident said.
Salim, who lives in an adjoining building said, " Pooja was three years my senior at Bans School, Nashik. She was studying BCom at Mithibai College, Juhu. Seeing her today in this condition was a shock."

Sub-Inspector Mukhtar Sheikh of Oshiwara police station said, " The girl is under the influence of sleeping pills. She has consumed over 10 pills. She claims this is the first time she has been in open air since Sanjay made her hostage six years ago." A case has been registered against Bhatti who is in police custody. He was taken to Cooper Hospital after being beaten up by irate residents.
Assistant Police Inspector Sudhir Dalvi, Oshiwara Police Station, said, " We are sending the girl to her mother's place in Khar which she left six years ago. We cannot keep her in the police station at night because we have no women constables."

The doctor on duty at Cooper Hospital said, "During her medical check up, Pooja said she was beaten by Sanjay and that he forced her to take sedatives which resulted in memory loss. She did not remember the day and time when she jumped from the flat. There are minor injuries on her body and serious bruises on her hands and arms."

Sacked watchman of Hotel Leela dies

MID-DAY (OCT 2001)

By Skimmy Gupta

"I have lost my brother, but my brother told me that one day God would teach them a lesson, and that day is not far off," said a grief-stricken Lakshman (35), elder brother of Rajendra Mahale, who died yesterday at Cooper Hospital, Andheri.

Mahale was admitted to the hospital with 100 per cent burns on Friday night after burning himself on the grounds of the Hotel Leela, to protest his being fired as a watchman from there.

Tears rolling down his cheeks, Lakshman added, "Big people of a big hotel killed my brother who just wanted to be their servant and just wanted to earn his living. What was my brother's fault? Even they don't know. I have his partly burnt wallet, which still has his lunch coupons of Hotel Leela. That shows how much he loved his job."

Mahale was fired from his job four months ago, on June 27. "I will burn the coupons on his pyre," Lakshman said. "He surely taught them a lesson in his own way, showing them how insensitive some people can be in this world. I tell everyone that big people don't have big hearts, and one should go for any other job in the world than work with such selfish and cruel people."

After fighting for his life for 50 hours in the hospital, Rajendra breathed his last at 10.30 pm in the male surgical ward of Cooper Hospital.

Doctors said that his eyes completely shut yesterday morning and his pulse was slow. Rajendra, a resident of Room No 14, Gupta Chawl, Powai, set himself ablaze within 30-35 ft of the main gate of Hotel Leela. He was inside the hotel's premises, near the service gate. He had been a watchman there for seven years.

Leela watchman battles for life

MID-DAY (OCT 2001)

By Skimmy Gupta

Rajendra Vithalrao Mahahale (30), a resident of room no 14, Gupta Chawl, Powai, set himself ablaze inside the premises of Hotel Leela, Andheri (E), on Friday at 8.30 pm.

At present, Mahahale is struggling for his life at Cooper Hospital, Juhu. He has suffered 100 per cent burns and is in an extremely critical condition, according to doctors. On his bedside table, lies his partially burnt wallet containing some Hotel Leela lunch coupons, his old muster card, his telephone dairy, some documents and a passport size photograph.

Mahahale was working as a watchman with the Hotel Leela since the past seven years. He was employed by GS Enterprise, who had a contract of providing security to the hotel. Mahahale was supposedly fired without prior notice and he blamed the hotel's security officials for leaving him jobless.

Rajendra's elder brother Lakshman Mahahale (35), a plumber at Sahar Airport, said that he received a call from Rajendra at 2 pm yesterday. "He told me that the security manager of the hotel, P Balsare had threatened to kill him. After some time when he came to meet me he seemed tense. At 4.45 pm he had lunch at home and rested for a while. At 7 pm he left home in the clothes he was wearing and told us that he would be going to Bangalore. At 10.30 pm we got a call from the police informing us that Rajendra had tried to immolate himself.

"Already a labour court case was going on and few months back an order was also passed to reinstate him to his old job at the hotel. But he was refused the job. For the past two months he was trying to convince the hotel authorities that he badly needed the job," said Lakshman.

The security manager P Balsare was unavailable for comment. This correspondent was repeatedly informed that he was out on rounds.

Senior Police Inspector of the Sahar police station, Mohan Mane, said, "The enquiry is on. We will also do some investigation on the pending court case."

Meanwhile, The Leela has issued a press note stating that Rajendra Mahahale is not an employee of The Leela. The release states that Rajendra is a part of the labour force of GS Enterprises - a registered contractor under the Contract Labour Act and with whom The Leela has a contract for supplying labour force as and when required. Mahahale was contracted for the purpose of taking care of gardens and security.

The press release further said that since Rajendra is not an employee of The Leela, there is no question of him being sacked by the hotel for any purpose.

IIT-ians find solace and jobs in ISKCON

MID-DAY (MAY 2001)

By Skimmy Gupta

Corporate success is not only to be met in boardrooms and corporate meetings. At least, so believe four brilliant students from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Mumbai, - Nayan Ranjan Das, Gaurang Das, Paramhans Das and Radheshyam Das who passed from IIT in 1994 and have now joined the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISCKON).

Fresh out of IIT, all four were offered jobs from some of the top Indian and overseas companies and were also invited for further studies by Stanford University in the United States. " But the Lord had other plans for us," says Gaurang Das. Instead of pursuing careers in modern technology, they joined ISKCON.

Nayan Ranjan, originally hailing from Prempur, Gujarat, is now a preacher at ISKCON. Speaking to Mid-Day, he said, " In our last two years at IIT, we came across some people from ISKCON who used to organise Gita lectures, seminars and kirtans at the IIT campus. Then one day, in the library, I found Srila Prabhu Pada' s book Chairitra Amrit and it changed my whole perception towards soul and life. So we decided to dedicate our lives to ISKCON."

Nayan Ranjan is currently translating 12,000 shlokas of the Chaitanya Bhagvad into different Indian and foreign languages. Gaurang Das also regularly preaches and conducts Gita lectures in engineering and medical colleges and also in jails. He also conducts stress management seminars in various companies like Mafatlal and is into media preaching on the Sony and Aastha television channels. He said, " I am planning to do research work on mantra meditation and stress management with police personnel. "

Paramhans Das, vice-president, ISCKON, Chowpatty, originally hails from Jabalpur. He is mainly into preaching at colleges at Thane. Speaking about ISKCON, he says, " Such an in-depth, complete and convincing study of the mind, body and soul is hard to find anywhere else."
Radheshyam Das, president, ISCKON, Pune, hails from Tamil Nadu.

He organises workshops for school children at the Bhakht Prahlad School in ISCKON, Pune. He said, " The younger generation is leaning more towards westernisation. That' s why their problems are unlimited and they are confused with life. The only solution to every kind of problem lies in believing in God."

How to stop being cheated when buying groceries

MID-DAY (MARCH 2002)

By Skimmy Gupta

Not just experienced con men, but even your neighbourhood bhaji wallah, dudhwallah, grocer or fruit seller can take you for a ride.

Which is why the Consumer Guidance Society of India (CGSI), the Khar Residents' Association and the Khar Mohalla Committee organised a two-day exhibition on consumer awareness at Kamlabai Nimbkar Pustakalaya, Khar, on March 16 and 17.

Aimed at creating awareness on consumer rights and precautions to be taken while purchasing household items, the exhibition was inaugurated by Nirmala Samant Prabhavalkar, chairperson of the State Women's Commission, Maharashtra.

The exhibition featured stalls by the Food & Drug Association (FDA), the Bureau of Indian Standards, the CGSI, Bharat Petroleum and Legal Metrology, a government organisation that deals with discrepancies in weights and measures.

Anandini Thakoor, managing trustee, Khar Residents Association, said, "Many residents complain of discrepancies in the weights and qualities of products they buy. So we thought of holding such an exhibition."

L G Rathod, food inspector, FDA, said, "If adulteration is detected, those responsible can be imprisoned for six months to three years and fined Rs 1,000 or more. Their licences can be confiscated. If a person falls ill due to consumption of adulterated food, life imprisonment of the culprit is also possible."

The CGSI introduced a kit detailing simple tests that help detect adulteration at home. Adulteration of chilli powder, spices and coloured mithai can be detected by sprinkling two drops of lemon juice on them. If adulterated, they turn black.

At their stall, commerce students of the SIWS College, Wadala, featured about 100 original and duplicate products including sweets, chocolates, talcum powders, oils, salts and cosmetics.

Professor Sailaja Ravindranath, vice principal, SIWS, said, "All these spurious items were collected by students from Dharavi, Kurla, Sewri, Worli and other places. They were able to collect duplicates of almost all leading brands, thus proving their easy availability."

At the Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd, stall consumers were asked to log on to www.ebharatgas.com to order cylinders. They could thus be sure of the quality of the product.

The Akhil Bhartiya Andshraddha Nirmalon Samiti stall presented chemical reactions that fake holy men pass off as their own special powers. Samiti member Chadrakant Jadhav said, "If someone is duped by a holy man, a police complaint can be filed and action can be taken against."

CGSI's Honorary General Secretary Shailendra Shroff said, "Consumers need to check the details of products at the time of purchase to ensure authenticity. Companies must also enforce rights in case of duplication, since they lead to a loss of market share and revenue. Any consumer who detects adulteration can contact us."


Look before you buy

* Read details printed on items, including price, date of expiry, weight, etc.

* If imported, items should bear importers'name, address, details and price in Indian currency.

* The lower part of the gas cylinder should bear the gas company's name.

* A genuine gas cylinder pipe will have the manufacturer's name, expiry date and ISI marking. It will be soft and flexible.

Cook's guide to chemistry

Here are a few tests you can perform at home to discover if something you bought is adulterated:

Tea

Common adulterant: Powdered and artificially coloured dry tea leaves.
Test: Sprinkle tea powder on wet white paper. If paper turns yellow or red, the tea is adulterated.

Butter and ghee

Common adulterant: Hydrogenated vegetable fat.
Test: Dissolve one spoon of sugar in 10 cc of hydrochloric acid. Add butter/ghee, shake for
a minute and allow to settle. If adulterated, the liquid turns red.

Asafoetida

Common adulterant: Resin/gum, colours.
Test: Pure asafoetida dissolves in water, forming a milky white solution.

Pure coffee
Common adulterant: Chicory.
Test: Pure coffee will float in cold water while chicory sinks.

Cumin (Jeera)
Common adulterant: Grass seeds, charcoal dust.
Test: If rubbed, hands will turn black.

Scented supari
Common adulterant: Saccharine substance, scented wood pieces
Test: Bitter aftertaste of saccharine; wood pieces float in water.

I will never help anyone again

MID-DAY (MAR 2001)

By Skimmy Gupta

"Now I know helping the needy can mean sheer harassment. I will never ever help anyone in my life," says 20-year-old Vaishali Vishwas, a resident of Andheri.

On March 5, at 9 pm, she was returning home from work when she found a beggar woman Bharti Santosh Kharve (30) and her two-and-a-half-year-old child Nirmala at a station platform in Vile Parle in a semi-conscious state. Vaishali, with the help of another lady Sheela rushed them to the nearby Cooper Hospital.

The doctors found Bharti was suffering from tuberculosis, giddiness, fever, loss of appetite and a head injury. Symptoms of tuberculosis were also seen in the child. Bharti was admitted in the medical ward and the child in the paedetric ward.

Just as Vaishali and Sheela thought their job was over, the hospital authorities stringently told her the entire responsibility of the patients were theirs in the absence of any known relatives or friends. Both were asked to register their names and addresses. After a lot of convincing Vaishali was allowed to leave the hospital at 12.30 am, but Sheela was forced to stay the entire night.

At 1.45 am, Sheela insisted on leaving because she has a small child, but the hospital staff angrily told her, "If you leave, we will throw the child out of the hospital."

A shocked Sheela immediately contacted the Medical Officer and was finally allowed to leave at 2.30 am with a warning that if she does not return in the morning, she will be held responsible for anything that happens to the patients.

When contacted, hospital sources said such cases pose real problems. "This lady will have to be kept in the hospital without any reason because we cannot really start treating her till we find someone who will take their responsibility. We will try to hand over this case to the railway police, but they also sometimes refuse to co-operate. People who admit such cases also often give false names and addresses," a source said.

When asked about her relatives, Bharti said, "I have nobody. Sometimes I stay on the platforms of Dahisar railway station."

Vaishali suggested that they be shifted to a women's home. She added, "My mother is still not talking to me for putting the family in trouble. I am planning to speak to my uncle who is in the police to avoid further hassles. The harassment I faced is enough for me to brand this incident as the biggest mistake of my life."

Juhu residents up in arms over Joggers' Park fee

MID-DAY (JAN 2001)

By Skimmy Gupta

'Boycott Joggers Park' will be the slogan at a protest march to be held at Joggers' Park, Juhu, today from 5 pm to 5.30 pm. The protest is against proposed entry fees for access to the park, which is located opposite Juhu Police Station. The fees would be charged beginning January 26.

The park was constructed last March by the Juhu Vile Parle Development (JVPD) Housing Association Ltd, a federation of 14 co-operative housing societies of the JVPD Scheme.

Until now entry was free for all. But now, building landlords and bungalow owners in the 14 societies want entry fees charged, which has evoked great dissent amongst residents. A circular detailing the hike is being distributed by agitators.

There are around 2,000 tenant families residing in the JVPD Scheme. They and hundreds of other families in the vicinity will be directly affected by the hike.

Jayant Savla (61), residing on Road No 4, Juhu Scheme, is distributing circulars along with other senior citizens. He said, "Senior citizens will be most affected. Cars parked on lanes all day make it difficult for us to enjoy a comfortable walk. This park provided a good option. I feel senior citizens who do not have a regular income should be charged a minimum of Re 1, which is just and acceptable. This park gets Rs 50,000 per month from a bank as maintenance charges, and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) provides water free of cost."

Kantilal Jangbari, president of the JVPD Tenants and Residents Association, said, "The proposed hike is just too much. Moreover, the fact that bungalow owners are allowed free entry is unacceptable. The management should try and do good for the society by giving concessions to senior citizens, teaching people how to remain fit and healthy instead of cashing in on the only park in the area. The entry fee proposal was sent to the BMC for approval and the fact that it has passed the proposal makes this a protest against the BMC also."

A resident claimed that when tenants had protested against the imposition of the fee in an October meeting of JVPD residents, the bungalow owners had threatened them, asking them to leave the park if they could not pay.

Hemangi Patel, a housewife, said, "I often take my children to the park in the evenings. But this steep charge might reduce my visits. And what if the park management hikes the prices again after a few days. We middle-class people will suffer."

Babubhai Shah, a 67-year-old regular visitor, said, "My morning and evening companion, the park, will now cost me Rs 10 daily. Why should I pay such a high price just to get a breath of fresh air?"

There are those who feel the proposed hike is justified. Radha Choudhary (name changed), an enterpeneur who lives on Road No 4, said, "It is a welcome change. Lately, the park was taking the shape of a public park with every Tom, Dick and Harry walking in. It used to be overcrowded and there were many parking problems. The entry charge structure will solve these problems, keep away people who create a nuisance and the park will sport an elite crowd."

Pricey park

PROPOSED entry charges for the park:

* Free entry to members, that is the families of the building landlords and bungalow owners of the 14 co-operative housing societies that make up the JVPD Housing Association Ltd. Around 700 families fall in this category.

* Rs 5 per person per entry for others.

* A JVPD resident contributing Rs 5,000 as donation will be issued a lifetime pass; outsiders would have to donate Rs 10,000 for a lifetime pass.

* A resident contributing Rs 1,200 as donation would be issued a pass for one year.


Is the proposed entry fee justified?

NO. The park serves as the only relaxation spot for seniors in the area. They cannot walk comfortably and safely on the traffic-infested narrow lanes of Juhu Scheme. I feel they should be given free access to the park.
Sampritlal D Vora, 86
Senior citizen

THE hike is not justified. Moreover, HSBC Bank gives Rs 6 lakh each year for the park s maintenance. The maximum charge for such parks is about Re 1 throughout Mumbai. They are not providing any special facilities for such a high high.
Deepak Shah, 59
Businessman

AN entry fee of Rs 5 per person per entry is unacceptable. With a lack of open spaces and adequate parks, and an increase in traffic and pollution, such parks ought to be made free or a minimal fees should be charged.
Tejas Goradia, 20
Engineering student

This hike is steep. If a family of four goes to the park regularly, then it would turn into an expensive affair. This will definitely reduce people s interest, lessen the crowd and reduce the park s importance. Local residents will be forced to go to distant parks or Juhu Beach, which is free.
Lata S, 52
Dress designer

The hike is unjust and discriminatory. The landlords want to enjoy free access to the park and burden tenants with high charges. This is bound to create dissent among people.
Mohammed Idris Javed, 45
High Court advocate

Juhu Beach to get a face-lift

MID-DAY (FEB 2002)

By Skimy Gupta

Juhu residents who were lamenting the lack of a Carter Road-style promenade can now take heart. A yearlong restoration plan for the Juhu waterfront has been assigned to the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) at a cost of Rs 2 crore.

A Juhu Beach Redevelopment Trust has been formed to realise the project. It comprises the collector, additional municipal commissioner, ward officer, the National Airports Authority, Juhu Beach Hawkers Association, Association of Juhu Hotels and local resident associations.

Renowned architect P K Das, who is in charge of the project, said, Shabana Azmi has released Rs 1 crore from the MP fund for the project. The Birlas have also allocated funds and will maintain the beach. The maintenance of the main beach will be handled by the Juhu Beach Society.

Das said, The main purpose of the restoration is to make the sea more visible from the road itself and to have more open area on the beach. It will largely be for the general public to provide much needed open space in the city. The project will not dislocate anyone, but allocate specific zones for them on the beach.

MP Shabana Azmi was unavailable for comment. Das, however, outlined the details of the project. The project is expected to mainly work on four fronts. On the beach, the 42 licensed food stalls will be relocated in a food court opposite the Shivaji statue. This will be further equipped with lighting, sanitation and sewage facilities.

The area thus cleared will also have a podium and a ramp for Ganpati immersion. The area around the podium will have palm trees and designer furniture for visitors.The construction of a continuous pedestrian walkway is also underway.

Encroachments on the beach will be removed and the area will be made accessible to the public. Apart from the Chowpatty entrance, the eight lanes leading to the beach, including the Centaur Hotel and Holiday Inn approach lane, will be redeveloped. Entry of vehicles and handcarts will be restricted. Vacant land available at the end of the Holiday Inn and Birla access lane will be developed to be a childrens park.

Two large car parking lots will be developed near Shiv Sagar restaurant and opposite the Centaur Hotel. A proposed pedestrian subway connecting an existing car park near Palm Grove Hotel and the proposed car park near Shiv Sagar restaurant will ease the traffic bottleneck at Juhu Tara Road.

Small pox scare turns deadly for Andheri doc

MID-DAY (FEB 2002)

By Skimmy Gupta

Civic authorities have said that strict police action will be taken against an Andheri doctor who spread panic in the city yesterday by claiming he had three patients with full-blown small pox. Dr R K Arya (71), who practises at Raju Nagar, Saki Naka, Andheri (East), might never practise again.

Arya had said in newspaper articles that he had small pox patients. Civic health officials immediately visited the area he practises in to see if the eradicated disease had indeed recurred. They found that one of the three alleged patients had recovered and the other two had chicken pox.

Incredibly, Arya's prescription to them was Crocin and the application of chandan oil with a matchstick to reduce the itching.

Arya said, " I do not exactly know the difference between small pox and chicken pox, but I presumed to a great extent that they were suffering from small pox."

Dr A S Patkar, deputy executive health officer, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), said, "Even at first glance, these were clear cases of chicken pox. We are surprised he spoke so easily about an eradicated disease."

Arya claims to be an ayurvedic vicharak, ayurvedic acharya and ayurvedic ratna and has been practising in the area since 1963. But his clinic is extremely dirty, dusty and foul smelling. The wash basin is black with grime. His seat cover is dirty and torn.

He said, " In the interest of the community, I went public."

Patkar said, " According to Section 421 of the BMC Act, a general practitioner should inform local health authorities first if they encounter any one of 21 specified diseases. Strict action will be taken against Arya along with appropriate police action. He might not be allowed to practise anymore."

Arya is repentant. " I did not know about Section 421. I made a mistake. I should have intimated the local ward officer."

BMC Deputy Executive Health Officer Dr J Thanekar said, " The doctor wanted cheap publicity, but was not aware of the consequences. There are many diseases that appear like small pox, but a doctor should be able to identify them. He has no knowledge either about chicken pox or small pox."

Arya's patients -- Sanjay Pande (36), Karunakar Tripathi (28) and Rajesh Mishra (30) are labourers in a steel factory and live together. They contracted chicken pox on February 17 from a friend, Munna, who is still recovering.

Pande said, "Dr Arya did not tell us to stay away from Munna. Then he clearly said we have small pox. He gave us Crocin and told us to apply chandan oil with a matchstick to reduce the itch."

Residents angered by award to Santa Cruz police

MID-DAY (MARCH 2002)

By Skimmy Gupta

At the Rotary Club of Mumbai-North Island's 16th Annual Police Awards, the Santa Cruz Police Station was adjudged the 'Best Police Station-West Region' by senior officials of the Mumbai police.

However, people who live in some areas under the jurisdiction of the Santa Cruz police are upset as they allege the station's officers are indifferent to their many complaints.

With regard to the award, H Choksi, chairman, Rotary Awards, said, "The nominations of various police stations across the city are received from the deputy commissioners of police and the final list is forwarded to the additional commissioners of the zones. At a meeting of senior police officers, the winner is decided."

But residents of Saraswat Colony and Guzder Scheme, both of Santa Cruz (West), disagree with the police officers' latest choice. Naveen Mithal, chairperson and trustee, Guzder Scheme Residents' Trust, said, "We have been facing tons of problems for years. And the Santa Cruz police do nothing about it. Now, some club has awarded them the best police station award without asking the local people. It is unfair."

Saraswat Colony and Guzder Scheme comprise more than 200 buildings. Included are buildings on both sides of D P N Sports Club Road, Gurudwara Road, S V P Road, Main Avenue, North Avenue and Sarojini Road. Among the residents many complaints are traffic violations by auto drivers, eve teasing, footpath encroachment, prostitution, an increase in thefts and bars that operate illegally beyond stipulated hours.

Residents highlighted their problems in a letter dated January 26 to Senior Inspector Vilas Tupe of the Santa Cruz police and R Pereira, traffic inspector, Khar-Bandra Traffic Police. But to date, no action has been taken against their complaints.

Mithal said, "We have made numerous complaints to the traffic police, the Santa Cruz police and civic authorities, but nobody pays heed. It seems like the authorities are working together and do not want to listen to our grievances. Where do we go?"

Gurmeet K, a housewife living in a North Avenue Building, said, "Sometimes it becomes difficult to go to the gurudwara in the early morning. The autowallahs even tease us middle-aged women. Our girls are now restricted to their homes due to these characterless men who lounge about on the roads."

Mithal added, "The police are only bothered about the VIP bandobast for festivals throughout the year. What about us? We are only asking for two constables to be deployed in the area in the morning and evening. The police have not done anything to keep antisocial elements in check or stop eve teasing by autorickshaw drivers.

"We miss former additional commissioner Rakesh Maria, who dealt with our problems. He fined illegal hawkers and things were better. Now, autorickshaw drivers violate all rules by blaring music at odd hours, washing their vehicles with gutter water and parking in no-parking zones. And Traffic Inspector R Pereira is not available to attend to our complaints. There have been constant thefts of car stereo decks and accessories. Recently a man from a nearby chawl was arrested for stealing car stereos."

J Rao, member of the Guzder Scheme Residents' Trust, said, "The police have the power and ability to take action. It's high time they exercised their duties and power. The middle-class people are tired of coping with problems. The day is not far when all frustrations will explode. And the police will then repent."

While Tupe was unavailable for comment, another Santa Cruz police official, who did not wish to be named, said, "The police do its work. Problems caused by autos and hawkers are the responsibility of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and not the police. We work for 12 to 18 hours and nobody cares about us. How can a police staff of a few people handle the problems of lakhs of people?"

Ramrao Wagh, additional commissioner of police (Western Region), said, "I have got reports that the Santa Cruz Police Station is doing a good job and has come down heavily on bad elements in the area. Because of their recent efforts, there are now no horses on Juhu Beach. Anyway, awards for police are encouraging and appreciable."

Prices keep city's fruit and vegetable buyers away

MID-DAY (JULY 2001)

By Skimmy Gupta

A BUNDLE of coriander which was available for Rs 5 a week ago, is now selling for between Rs 20 and Rs 30 at some vegetable stalls.

Cauliflower 38.00
Tomatoes 32.00
Cabbage 28.00
French beans 60.00
Ladies finger 26.00
Brinjal 30.00
Green capsicum 40.00
Bitter gourd 28.00
Cucumber 28.00
Carrot 30.00
Peas 80.00
Coriander 300.00

This monsoon, most Mumbaiwallahs have decided to cut their consumption of fruits and vegetables, following the steep and regular increase in prices. The upward trend is attributed to scant supply from growers, which in turn is attributed to a number of reasons such as water shortage in the summer, low production and comparatively stiff competition.

A glance at the vegetable market retail and wholesale prices shows barely any difference. P P Gosavi, joint secretary, Wholesale Fruits and Vegetable Market, Vashi, cited high cumulative costs resulting from higher transportation costs and a shortage of some fruits and vegetables.

Kusum Shinde, a housewife residing at Vile Parle, said, "It feels unreasonable to spend over Rs 200 on a minuscule quantity of fruits in a single purchase. Tinned fruits and fruit juices are a better option."

Some hawkers are also suffering due to the hike. Dayaram Yadav, a fruit vendor at Vile Parle station, said, "This monsoon has affected our business in a big way. Even regular customers turn away because of the exorbitant rates."

Chottelal, a vegetable vendor at Dadar market agrees. "Business usually dips every monsoon. This time's price rise has pulled us down further," he says.

This correspondent ordered a thali at Maya Bhuvan Restaurant, Irla yesterday and found the following:

*Tomatoes, capsicums and ladies fingers were missing.

For most restaurateurs, the price hike is translating to losses. Dr Suhas Awchat, owner of Goa Portuguesa restaurant, Mahim, said, "We have to bear the losses as we have to maintain our standards at any cost. How can we raise our prices?" Mony Sachdev, owner, Sheetal Arch restaurant, Linking Road, agrees.

Regular eaters-out have noticed the missing toppings and garnishes. Malini Sinha, a regular foodie said, "Since the onset of monsoon, coriander has been missing from the garnish. Vegetables in Chinese food are limited to onions, spring onions beans and capsicum - carrots are nowhere to be seen."

But Tulsi T Santil, owner of Maya Bhuvan restaurant, pointed out, "Vegetable prices have skyrocketed. We can't afford to use higher priced ones and we can't increase our prices for fear of losing regular customers. We have to maintain a balance between quality and price."

Till things get better, foodies will have to make do with more absent than present vegetables or put up with substitutes.

Gold smuggling on the rise: Customs

MID-DAY (JULY 2001)

By Skimmy Gupta

With 233 gold biscuits valued at Rs 1.28 crore seized in eight different cases at Sahar Airport over the past two and a half months, Custom officials says that gold smuggling is on the rise again.

The gold in these cases was concealed in toy scooters, mixers, curtain rods, emergency lights, battery cells, ladies undergarments, emergency lights. The latest seizure was on July 11.

Hamid Kamal (35) was arrested at the airport at 8.30 am on July 11 while trying to smuggle in 3.449 kg of gold valued at Rs 15 lakh. Hamid, originally hailing from Mallpuram district of Kerala, arrived from a Middle East country. Custom officials spotted him when he avoided the gold counter. On frisking his luggage, a tape recorder was found. The battery cells inside concealed 10 gold biscuits of 10 tolas each. The transformer of the stereo contained 23 gold biscuits of 100 grams each.

Sunil Kumar Katiyar, public relations officer of Custom Uniform Arrival batch C1, said that the gold was valued at Rs 13,68,982 in the international market and Rs 15,03,764 in the Indian market.

"The recent spurt in gold smuggling is due to two reasons: there was an auction of 100 tonnes of gold in the United Kingdom recently and the underworld seems to have bought the bulk of it to smuggle into India. Secondly, the gold demand has increased up to 600 metric tonnes in India.

Profit margins are huge lately due to rate differences between India and other countries," he said.

Pankaja Ashish, deputy commissioner, Module 1, Sahar Airport, said, "Yes, gold smuggling is rising. But we are prepared to tackle this problem. We will soon be issuing passenger facilitation booklets so nobody who s caught can claim ignorance of the law."

Call me Siddhesh

MID-DAY (Sept 2001)

By Skimmy Gupta

I GOT A NAME: Siddhesh, the baby who was abandoned and is now in the care of Shraddhanand Ashram

Two days after being abandoned, the three-day-old boy found on the roadside by Rizvi Complex, Goregaon (East), on Wednesday, has been given a name by Shraddhanand Ashram, Matunga. The baby with a cleft palate, which finally got refuge there after four hospitals rejected him admission, has been named Siddhesh, which means fame and fortune.

" Naming is the first thing we do when a child comes to us. The baby is so handsome. Even with the cleft palate, he is beautiful. How could his mother abandon him?" asks the secretary of the ashram.

When this correspondent visited the ashram, Siddhesh was being fed his afternoon meal at the ashram's Special Care Centre. Soon after, the infant slept.

The superintendent of the ashram said, " Siddhesh is fit. He is fair, has a sweet round nose and weighs 1.6 kg. He is responding well to bottle feeding. It has become routine for women to abandon their children. At an average we receive four such children every month. Some parents abandon their children after six months, when they have grown used to their mother's presence."
She further added, " Like other boys, Siddhesh will remain with us for six years. If till then nobody comes forward to adopt him, he will be sent to another home."

When asked when were they planning to have the baby's deformity treated, the secretary said, " That's the next immediate step. As soon as the doctor feels the time is right and when the juvenile court grants permission, we will definitely operate. We will try to find a sponsor for the surgery. If not we can collect sufficient funds."

The secretary added that no one had come forward to claim the baby. " Now, if the real mother or anybody else is interested in claiming him, they will have to go through our exhaustive six-month legal procedure. He can be claimed only after proper verification and assurance. Or else we can very well take care of Siddhesh," the secretary said.

None of the ashram authorities wanted to be named.

Maintaining peace takes year-round effort: mohallas

MID-DAY(Mar 2002)

By Skimmy Gupta

Despite the hype associated with Communal Harmony Week - organised in January by the Mohalla Committee Movement Trust, the Mumbai police and Tata Institute of Social Sciences - the event was not a big draw. However, following the Gujarat riots, Mumbai remained peaceful primarily because of the mohalla committees.

Explains mohalla facilitator Maria Easwaran, "Routine work is of prime importance. Big events sometimes tend to be insignificant in terms of impact, though they derive publicity. I can vouch for programmes which are meaningful even though they involve little money. Today, our peace efforts are being publicised, but let us not forget that we owe our success to the work of the committees throughout the year."

Trustee K M Aarif agrees, "It's better for us to stick to the routine work of conducting peace meetings, instead of organising big events for which someone else takes the credit. Our work is not appreciated throughout the year because we operate silently. Now, just because the media has given us coverage, everybody has realised our potential."

Anwar Farroqi and Nisa Khan, members of a Jogeshwari mohalla unit since 1993, say, "We believe in regular work at small levels. Big events just misuse funds. These funds should instead be utilised in constructive work at the grassroots level."

Satish Sahney, executive mohalla member and former police commissioner, says, "Routine work is important because big events do not impress the common man. I am in favour of facilitators and members conducting regular meetings at neutral places, that too in a simple way. Simple things convey the message of peace effectively."

The mohalla movement was formed to maintain communal harmony in the city after the communal riots of 1992-93. There is one committee for every police station in the city.

Since its formation, the movement has been mobilising people, arranging peace meetings and marches and conducting dialogues between both communities. In recent times, the movement has earned tremendous faith from Mumbaiwallahs and administrative authorities.

4 hospitals abandon abandoned baby

MID-DAY (Sept 2001)

By Skimmy Gupta

A one-day-old boy found abandoned at the roadside by Rizvi Complex, Goregaon (East), on Wednesday was refused admission by four hospitals. The baby, who had a cleft palate, finally found shelter at Shraddhanand Ashram, Matunga, at 6 am yesterday after travelling for eight hours across the breadth of the city in the arms of a policeman.

The baby was found clutching a letter to the police and written by the mother. The letter said she couldn't take care of the child and asked them to admit him in a good shelter home.

This was how the infant got the runaround:
10.30 pm: Found by local people on roadside.
11 pm: Dindoshi police arrive and take custody of the baby.
12.30 am: Sub-Inspector takes baby to Bhagwati Hospital, Borivali; refused admission.
3 am: Baby taken to Wadia Hospital, Parel; refused admission.
4 am: Baby taken to KEM Hospital, Parel; refused admission.
5 am: Baby taken to Bal Sudhar Hospital, Dongri; refused admission.
6 am: Finally admitted to Shraddhanand Ashram, Matunga

Vinayak Chavan, police sub inspector, Dindoshi police station, who was repeatedly told that the hospital wouldn't admit the baby, said, " It's a pity. The hospitals were giving one reason after another. All we could do was travel throughout the night with the infant. None of the hospitals wanted to take the responsibility of operating on the child."
The doctor on duty, casualty, Bhagwati Hospital, said, " The baby had some abnormalities which could not be treated here. It's upper lip needed surgery. We do not have plastic surgeons. So the baby had to be shifted to Wadia Hospital for immediate lip surgery."

The doctor on duty, casualty, at Wadia Hospital had this to say, " How could we take the responsibility of operating on a one-day-old child. It could have been fatal. Then everybody would have blamed the doctor on duty."
The casualty medical officer of KEM Hospital, where the baby was then taken to, said, " The baby required admission in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit which is always fully occupied. Such a small baby is prone to many infections and everybody knows municipal hospitals are home to a wide range of infections. The reason for refusal could be no vacancy or maybe the baby needed immediate admission."

This was the statement from Bal Sudhar Nursing Home, Dongri, " We cannot operate on a one-day-old baby as it's very dangerous. So we refused." The doctors at each of these hospitals refused to reveal their names.
The superintendent of Shraddhanand Ashram, where the baby is currently sheltered, said, " The infant reached to us at 6 am in the morning, his weight was less than normal. Apart from the cleft palate, he is normal and fine. But the proper condition can be known only after a complete medical check-up. The doctor couldn't do it today, because when he arrived in the afternoon, the police had taken him to court."

Navnath Konkane, senior police inspector, Dindoshi police station, said, " It was sheer harassment of our officers by the hospitals for reasons best known to them. Par police ko apni duty toh karni padegi kaise bhi."

Inspector Chavan who had carried the boy throughout the night says his job is not over. " I will try my best to locate the parents. They are criminals for abandoning the newborn. I will ensure that the baby is taken care of in the ashram."

14 cops to be questioned following Juhu tragedy

MID-DAY (FEB 2002)

By Skimmy Gupta

At least 14 policemen, mainly from the Santa Cruz, Juhu and DN Nagar police stations, will be interrogated by police department officials as part of an internal probe into patrolling and other police practices at Juhu Beach.

The probe comes following a police crackdown on crime, illegal hawkers and horse-keepers at the beach, following a Mid Day report on February 20.

The report detailed crime and poor safety at the beach, and came following the death of 72-year-old Bhagyarathi Sonawne, who was trampled by a horse at about 8 pm on February 17.

Residents have complained that horses and horse-carts, banned on the beach by a 1998 Supreme Court order, would be chased off the beach by policemen almost every evening, causing a near stampede.

A Santa Cruz police station official said on condition of anonymity, " There are about 14 police personnel who will be interrogated in context of the recent accident. The officers to be questioned include assistant police inspectors, sub-inspectors and constables."

Vilas Tupe, senior inspector at the Santa Cruz Police Station, added, " There could be up to 22 police officials who could bear the brunt and face a strict inquiry. Time and again they were warned to restrict banned horses from the beach, but they didn't do their duty. The recent news shocked them, and I somehow feel things will improve."

A resident at Juhu Beach Society said, " There seemed to be a mutual understanding between the police and horse owners. Every evening, about 40 to 45 horsemen could be seen operating freely from 5 pm to 8 pm. Suddenly, at 8 pm, they were thrown out. The situation has improved now."

Due to the internal nature of the police inquiry, the names of the policemen to be questioned were not released. Bipin Kumar Singh, deputy commissioner for Zone IX, was unavailable for comment.

Mistaken for an Afghan, man dies after assault

MID-DAY (OCT 2001)

By Skimmy Gupta

A fifty-year-old watchman, who said he was beaten up after being mistaken for an Afghan, died yesterday after a 40-hour wait for treatment in the garden of Cooper Hospital. His family alleges that negligence on the part of the hospital's doctors was a prime cause of the death.

Yusuf Habib Syed's trials began long before his family and neighbours brought him to Cooper on Saturday, according to some of his own last words. A resident of Prem Nagar, Irla, Juhu Scheme, he had set of on September 11 on a pilgrimage to Ajmer. Returning on Saturday, he told his family he was mistaken for an Afghan there and mercilessly beaten. A large quantity of acid was thrown on his arms and he suffered multiple injuries all over his body, he said.

Syed's neighbours at Irla, Bharat Ganpat Yadav and Srirang Waghmare, and his wife Farida (32), rushed him to Cooper on Saturday itself. But they allege the doctors there wouldn't admit him because his wounds were severe, some even having worms in them.

Yadav said, "The doctors refused to admit him saying the wounds were very bad and could disturb the other patients in the ward. They told us to take him outside to the garden and said they would attend to him in time. That whole night nobody turned up. The next morning we again tried to get some doctor's help, as Syed's condition was worsening, but we were again refused admission.

"At that point we requested them to at least give us one stretcher so that he could be saved from rats, flies and mosquitoes in the garden. Some of the wounds had begun smelling, but nobody bothered. We gave him medicines and other treatment on our own in the garden."


Yusuf Habib Syeds medicine lying near the spot in the Cooper Hospital garden where he died yesterday

Syed finally died in the garden at 3.30 pm yesterday. Raju Paswan and other residents of Prem Nagar, Irla, are very angry that when he needed treatment, nobody cared, but after he died his body was immediately rushed off for a postmortem. The residents allege that the hospital just wants to clear the official papers with regard to Syed's death.

Farida, in a state of shock, said, "This is the destiny and plight of poor people. Now, when my husband is no more, doctors are taking care of his dead body and the postmortem." Syed is survived by his wife and four children. He was a watchman for a building on Road No 1 at Juhu Scheme.

When contacted, Dr. Israni, chief medical officer on duty, Cooper Hospital, said, "Dr. Choudhary is the best one to comment on this case." Dr. A R Choudhary, assistant medical officer, asked this correspondent to visit the hospital. However, on visiting there, nobody knew where Choudhary was or when he would return. When he was again contacted by phone, he shouted, "Humko aur bhi kaam hain. Is ek aadmi ke liye nahin baithe hain."

Cooper Hospital's medical superintendent was unavailable for comment.

LIFEGUARD SAVES WOMAN FROM SUICIDE

MID-DAY (JAN 2002)

By Skimmy Gupta

His most memorable rescue was many years ago, when he saved a woman from a very wealthy family from drowning. Arvind Kelvakar, who grew up along the sea, was not even a lifeguard then. He sold tyres along the beach.

The rescued woman's family came the next day to gift him a wristwatch, but they couldn't find him. But Kelvakar says he already got his reward. "I was happy I saved a life." Yesterday, the 48-year-old Juhu resident saved yet another life in his 24-year career as a lifeguard. Soni Wadhawan, a 25-year-old housewife from Chakala, Andheri (East), was trying to commit suicide at Juhu beach.

Kelvakar remembers that a woman in a green sari was walking up and down the beach at 6.30 am. She was by herself. Suddenly, she headed out to sea. He says, "Any person who wants to commit suicide in the sea does not go directly to the water. They first stroll about aimlessly on the beach and then head for the sea."

He adds, "In no time she was in 10 feet of water. She was off her feet, her arms flailing about. I rushed in to pull her out. The current was so strong it took me 20 minutes to bring her to shore." Twenty minutes when Kelvakar fought not just the sea, but also Wadhawan. She was struggling to free herself from his grasp.

""Why are you saving me?" she shouted," Kelvakar remembers.

"She told me, I want to die." She said, "Leave me, leave me, get out of my way," he says. "She was crying uncontrollably."

After Wadhawan was pulled to safety, water was pumped out of her body. Then she was given a cup of coffee. Kelvakar says, "It was obvious she came from a good family. She was wearing a lot of gold bangles, earrings, rings and a mangalsutra.

"When she came to her senses, she said she wanted to go home alone, but we couldn't trust her. So we took her to the beat chowky of the Santa Cruz Police Station, which is on the beach.

A policeman says, "A marital problem appears to be behind the suicide attempt. Her husband, who was called in, said they had quarrelled the previous night."

Wadhawan did not reveal much to the police. "She just repeats she was not aware when and how she went so far into the sea," the policeman says.

For Kelvakar, yesterday's rescue was just another in a long list. He says he has lost count of the number of lives he has saved over the years. "It's scary when the water current is fast, but it feels good to save a life,"he says.

He adds, "Previously there were a lot of cases of babies, born out of wedlock, being thrown into the sea. Of course, those incidents have decreased. But suicide attempts are increasing."

Kelvakar who lives near Ruia Park with his mother, his wife who sells fish, two sons aged 15 and 10, and a daughter aged 12 vows never to stray far from the sea. "When I first got a job as a lifeguard in 1978, it was a dream come true," he says. "Beaches are my first love. Even after retiring, I will be on this beach and save lives if necessary. I cannot imagine life away from the beach."

HAS FEAR REPLACED FUN AT JUHU BEACH ?

MID-DAY (FEB 2002)

By Skimmy Gupta

Save Juhu Beach, seems to be the collective cry of all residents living near one of Mumbai's premier spots for a family outing and also tourists from outside the city for whom a visit to the beach is a necessary part of the holiday itinerary.

The Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) recently announced a year-long Rs 2 crore plan to remodel the beachfront. On cards are the relocation of the much-visited chaat stalls, a Ganpati immersion ramp, a promenade and other projects.

But how about the many other evils beach-goers have to contend with? Murder, muggings, harassment by vagrants, prostitution, horses running amok and a lack of proper security and lifeguard personnel continually plague visitors.

On Sunday, a 72-year-old woman from Nashik died on the beach when she was trampled by a horse, which are not allowed on the beach. Even so, residents say about 40 to 45 horses and horse-carts are seen on the beach daily. In 1998, the Supreme Court ordered that no horse should be used commercially on the beach.

Incredibly, residents say that almost daily the horses and horse-carts, along with their owners, are chased off the beach by police, only for them to return for a good solid two hours of business the next day, before being chased off again.

Actress Soni Razdan, who lives in the area, said, "I have walked at the beach daily for 12 years. These horses and horse carts arrive from around 5.30 pm onwards. At around 7.30 pm, a police van comes from out of the blue and starts chasing them in the dark. This chasing goes on daily. One day, I was walking with some friends and we didn't know which direction to go as there were 25 horses charging at us from all directions."

Razdan added, "It is the police who make matters worse. If they had taken action properly, that old woman might not have died."

Shikha G, a housewife at Juhu Scheme, wonders how the police cannot get the horses successfully off the beach. "It's all the fault of the local police authorities," she said.

Ganesh Thevar, president of the food stall owners association, the Juhu Beach Khadye Peye Vikreta Sahkari Society, said: Whenever a big police officer visits the beach, junior officials run around chasing horses. So accidents take place, as horses run blindly when their owners whip them.

Vilas Tupe, senior inspector at Santa Cruz Police Station, said, We have asked the collector and civic authorities for collective action to be taken as the situation is getting out of hand. I have also warned my staff that strict action will be taken against errant police officers, too. Pratik Bansal, a college student and frequent visitor to the beach, said, The horse owners also rob visitors or overcharge unreasonably. They are forcible when they want money.

On February 2, two horse-cart owners robbed some schoolchildren of Rs 20,000.

Stabbing also seems to be regularly on the agenda for anti-socials on the beach. On Id, December 17, a married couple who wanted some privacy was attacked by a watchman and hawker who tried to rob them. Javed Ahmed Ansari (25), later died in hospital, leaving behind a distraught and pregnant wife.

On January 28, Ramu Puran Mahantoo, a 24-year-old hawker and resident of Andheri (W), was stabbed in a fight over a prostitute. Allegedly, the pimp who passed the assailant the knife is also a tender coconut seller on the beach.

Darryl D Souza, senior inspector at Juhu Police Station, blames people for wanting late-night adventure. He said, At all costs, people should not go out to lonely places and beaches late at night. No place in the world is safe late at night and people better sit home at such hours rather than put themselves in dangerous situations. But some people, instead of being precautionary, give more importance to privacy.

Ramrao Wagh, additional commissioner (West), complained, Some couples want to indulge in indecent activities and hide from police. They locate unpatrolled spots, so what can the police do?

We have identified such places and increased patrolling there. We have also increased interaction between beat chowkies, the tourism police and patrolling vans.

However, the fact remains that people like Ansari and his wife are not indulging in indecency.

The beach has also faced other problems, with a lack of proper lifeguards and beggars and vagrants roaming freely. Recently, Mridula Bose, a former high school principal from Kolkata, was robbed on her first day in the city on the beach.

So, the authorities can take note, more tourist money would flow in if the beach is also a safer place.

Inputs by Shailesh Bhatia

Sands of crime

* December 17: Harmina Rudolf Miranda (60), a resident of Vakola, drowned. The incident highlighted the dangers posed by the absence of lifeguards on Juhu Beach. Residents claimed that lifeguards only get into action after a drowning. However, on January 18, a lifeguard saved Soni Wadhawan (25), a housewife from Andheri (E), who tried to commit suicide.

* December 17: Javed Ahmed Ansari (25) and his pregnant wife Ishrat of Andheri (E), were attacked by two men who wanted their money. Ansari raised an alarm and was stabbed. He died in hospital. Juhu police arrested Lalmohan Singh (29), a watchman, and Ramkumar Jha (19), a hawker.

* January 28: Ramu Puran Mahantoo, a 24-year-old hawker of D N Nagar, Andheri (W), was stabbed behind Juhu Centaur. Mahantoo and the assailant were fighting over a prostitute. The assailant took a knife from a tender coconut vendor, allegedly a pimp, and stabbed Mahantoo, who was taken to Cooper Hospital,Vile Parle, in critical condition.

* February 2: Three 10-year-old boys, playing truant from school, were robbed by horse-cart drivers they had engaged for joyrides. The boys had Rs 2,000 they had themselves stolen from one of their homes. Police arrested two of three drivers involved and seized their animals.

* February 4: Mridula Bose, a former high school principal from West Bengal, was robbed of all her belongings on the beach on her first night in Mumbai.

*February 17: Stray dogs sniffed out a partially buried, decomposed male body from under the sand near the Juhu-Koliwada end of the beach. Police are investigating for murder as the hands and feet of the body were tied. Nearby residents knew of the stinking body for a long time, but kept quiet.

* February 17: 72-year-old Bhagyarathi Sonawne was trampled to death and her grandson had spine and thigh injuries after a horse trampled them. The family, comprising four adults and two children, were walking towards the beach at around 8 pm when the horse came racing out of the darkness and hit Sonawne.

Stone-filled balloon injures woman commuter

MID-DAY (March 2002)

By Skimmy Gupta

Holi turned disastrous for Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation employee Shalini Karandikar (46) when she was hit in the eyes by a stone-filled balloon hurled at an Andheri local on Thursday evening.

Karandikar has sustained serious injuries to her left eye and may never be able to see again from it. Vision in her right eye may also be hampered, largely due to damage done to the retina, said Dr Manish Dave, eye consultant at Arogya Nidhi Hospital, Juhu.

Karandikar, a superintendent at the BMC's Ghatkopar office for the past 24 years, boarded a train to Andheri from Dadar on Thursday evening.

At her residence at Shree Sanman Society, Versova Link Road, Andheri (West), she recalled the incident while still in obvious pain. "Since the train was crowded, I was standing on the footboard close to the door. After the train crossed Vile Parle, about 6.15 pm, another local began running past in the opposite direction on the other track. We were only a minute away from reaching Andheri station. Before I knew it, a balloon hurled by someone in the other local hit me hard in the eyes. I felt like a knife had been pierced into my eyes. I collapsed and don't remember what happened after that," she said.

Shalini's husband Prabodh (52), awaiting her return on the balcony of their Versova flat, was in for a shock when he saw his wife emerging from an autorickshaw at 6.45 pm, her face covered in blood. "As the person who escorted Shalini told me, it was lucky she didn't fall off the train when the balloon struck," Prabodh said.

Shalini was rushed to Arogya Nidhi Hospital, where she was examined by Dr Dave. "She was in bad shape, with both eyes badly swollen. The right eyeball had been lacerated and the pupil was reacting actively to injury. She had little vision in that eye. In her left eye she had no vision; it was filled with blood.

It's possible the balloon was filled with small sharp stones, because she also suffered minor cuts on the nose. When she came in, her nose was bleeding too, and she vomited continuously. Stitches were applied to the right eye immediately, but due to the severe nature of the injury, no operation was possible at that time," the doctor said.

Shalini was then sent home and asked to return yesterday morning for treatment.

Prabodh said, "Even yesterday, when I took her to hospital a second time, we had a lot of balloons hurled at our auto. I somehow defended us by placing towels on both sides of the auto."

Having examined her a second time, Dave concluded her case is serious. "Vision in her right eye is currently 30 per cent and left eye just 5 per cent. She may not be able to see from the left eye ever again.

"There is so much swelling, the eyeball is still full of blood and the pupil dilated. If the swelling in her right eye persists, it might make a hole in the retina. Even if she retains vision in her right eye, it would be badly affected," the doctor said.

Shalini can be operated upon only after the swelling in the eyes subsides, Dave noted. A retina operation would cost anywhere between Rs 60,000 and Rs 1.5 lakh. Though the couple is not cash-strapped, the amount would certainly set them back a bit, especially since Shalini is at present the only breadwinner.

Prabodh retired as senior manager of a bank a few years ago due to a slipped disc problem.

"We never step out of our home on Rang Panchami (the second day of Holi), but this year, even before Rang Panchami my wife fell victim to the mischief of cruel people. This might turn out to be, for us, the tragedy of a lifetime," Prabodh said, adding that he would soon lodge a complaint with the railway police.

"These balloon-throwing incidents have been occurring for many years, yet the authorities have been turning a blind eye. It is high time the nuisance is curbed," he ended angrily.