Mumbai: Bharatiya Janata Party MP Pragya Singh Thakur, one of the accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, made her appearance in a special NIA court in Mumbai on Monday. Thakur arrived at the court around 2 pm, a couple of hours after the other accused in the case had already presented themselves.

During her court appearance, Thakur cited health issues as the reason for her delayed arrival, explaining that it hindered her ability to wake up early in the morning. As a result of this, the court decided to adjourn the proceedings to October 3, when they would record the statements of all the accused involved.

On September 14, the prosecution had informed the court that the process of collecting evidence for the case had been completed, and there was no need for further examination of prosecution witnesses. Following this, the court typically proceeds to record the statements of the accused under section 313 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC). In this stage, the court poses general questions to the accused, allowing them to personally address any circumstances that may have arisen from the evidence presented against them.

On this particular day, only six of the accused appeared before the court: Pragya Singh Thakur, Lt Col Prasad Purohit, Major (retired) Ramesh Upadhyay, Ajay Rahirkar, Sudhakar Chaturvedi, and Sameer Kulkarni. Sudhakar Dwivedi was notably absent, and his lawyer attributed his absence to religious rituals. However, the court rejected this explanation and issued a bailable warrant of Rs 5,000 against Dwivedi.

The Malegaon blast case dates back to September 29, 2008, when an explosive device attached to a motorcycle detonated near a mosque in Malegaon, a town approximately 200 km from Mumbai in northern Maharashtra. The incident resulted in six fatalities and over 100 individuals sustaining injuries. Initially, the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) handled the investigation, but it was later transferred to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in 2011.

In a concerning incident in Gujarat’s Surendranagar district, an old bridge over the Bhogavo river collapsed, resulting in injuries to four individuals. The incident transpired on a Sunday evening when a 40-ton dumper attempted to cross the bridge, despite heavy vehicle restrictions on the panchayat road near Wadhwan city. This article delves into the details of this bridge collapse and the circumstances leading up to it.

The Bridge Collapse

The collapse of the bridge occurred suddenly, sending shockwaves through the local community. A dumper, along with two motorcycles, was traversing the bridge when the first slab gave way, causing minor injuries to the four people on it. The heavy vehicle and motorcycles plunged into the Bhogavo river, leading to a chaotic and dangerous situation.

Age and Responsibility

This bridge, now making headlines for all the wrong reasons, had a significant history. It had been serving the community for almost four decades, with the responsibility for its maintenance lying with the state Road and Buildings Department. Despite its age, the bridge was considered safe, but recent events have brought its structural integrity into question.

Warning Signs Ignored

It’s worth noting that authorities had taken precautions to prevent such incidents. A warning board was prominently displayed, and barricades were erected to deter heavy vehicles from using the bridge. These measures were taken to ensure the safety of all road users. However, despite these clear warnings and restrictions, a 40-ton dumper ventured onto the bridge, ultimately leading to the collapse of its first slab.

The Aftermath

The aftermath of the bridge collapse has raised important questions about infrastructure maintenance and adherence to safety guidelines. Local authorities are currently assessing the situation, and investigations are underway to determine the exact cause of the collapse. Meanwhile, the injured individuals are receiving medical attention, and efforts are being made to retrieve the vehicles from the Bhogavo river.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the collapse of the bridge in Surendranagar is a stark reminder of the importance of adhering to safety regulations and guidelines. It is imperative that both authorities and citizens exercise caution when using aging infrastructure. This incident highlights the need for proactive maintenance and strict enforcement of vehicle restrictions on such bridges to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

Uttar Pradesh: A 53-year-old doctor was allegedly beaten to death in the city, and his family has announced that they will only proceed with his cremation once Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visits them.

The deceased, Ghanshyam Tripathi, worked at the Jaisinghpur Community Health Centre. His tragic demise occurred following an incident where he was reportedly assaulted by a group of individuals involved in a land dispute in the Kotwali area on Saturday.

In response to the family’s decision to delay the cremation, a significant police presence has been established near his residence in Sakhauli Kalan village, situated in the Lambhua tehsil.

Superintendent of Police Somen Barma disclosed that the doctor had acquired a piece of land from Ajay Narayan Singh, the primary suspect in the murder case. Barma explained that the accused were demanding additional funds and were withholding possession of the land from the doctor.

However, specific details regarding the size and cost of the land were not provided by the police.

On Saturday, the doctor’s wife, Nisha Tripathi, revealed that the disputed land was located behind a Saraswati Shishu Mandir and had been a constant source of conflict.

The SP announced that four teams had been dispatched to apprehend the suspects, with three individuals already detained in connection with the case. Additionally, the e-rickshaw driver who had transported the injured doctor to his home was being questioned.

Nisha Tripathi alleged that her husband had been killed by “some people who live in Narayanpur” over the land dispute. She recounted that her husband had come home in the evening, taken Rs 3,000 from her for a map-making service, and then left the house. He returned later, injured, after having snacks. She claimed that Jagdish Narayan Singh’s son, a resident of Narayanpur, had assaulted her husband, ultimately leading to his death in the hospital.

District Magistrate Jasjeet Kaur convened a meeting on Sunday regarding the incident. She instructed the Sadar SDM to locate the land associated with the accused and their family members. Furthermore, the SDM was directed to verify that the land in their possession did not encroach upon gram sabha land or constitute illegal property.