NRI Worldwide > Happens only in India
Re.1 for 1672 sq. mt Government land in Mumbai – inefficiency or corruption ?
Report dated Today @ 2:45 PM

Back in 1873 five persons were given 2350 sq. mt of land in Mazgaon at a cost of Rs.1.53 rent a year. That lease expired in 1972, but the collector continued to collect the rent set 140 years ago. Later in 1885 three people leased 1814 sq.mt in Byculla. The lease lapsed in 1994, but the amount collected continues to be Rs.5.65 a year. Then there is Prithvi Cotton Mills who leased 1,597.83 sq.mt in Malabar and Cumbala Hill, for which the lease expired in 1996 but the rent stands at Rs.4.98 a year. In Matunga three others leased a 1,672.25 sq.mt property and again despite the lease ending in 1998 a pittance of just Rs.1 yearly rent continued to be charged. Notwithstanding all the obvious errors, the collectors office is ignorant about 103 properties that were similarly rented out for leases that were made decades ago. The collectors reasoned that there was a delay because the 1999 rent renewal policy of the state had been challenged and a fresh policy was set only in December 2012. Since former central information commissioner Shailesh Gandhi sought information under the RTI Act, it was found that the collectors caused some Rs.1550 and more in annual losses due to carelessness or corruption. The huge mess is now being handled but Mr Gandhi says citizens must speak against the policy and protest before the government dispossesses people of their land and legitimate revenue and get the government to auction leases in Mumbai and all over Maharashtra that could generate a revenue stream of over Rs.25,000 crore annually.
Police complaint against Facebook for not removing 'hate' page
Report dated 21/05/2013 @ 2:51 PM

IPS officer Amitabh Thakur and his wife, social activist Nutan Thakur lodged an FIR against owners of Facebook for not removing an online community page created by 'some people' who use it to 'glorify' cow slaughter. Facebook was booked under sections including giving provocation with intent to cause a riot; public nuisance; intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace; and sending offensive or false messages. Mrs Nutan said members of the online community have been using abusive and hateful language against Hindus and Muslims and demeaning religious figures of both communities. She said they had registered four similar FIRs but nothing was done by the administrators of the website.
Police inject man with petrol to extract confession
Report dated 19/05/2013 @ 5:03 PM

In a dying declaration to the media, Balbir said he was injected with acid and petrol by police in Etah district,reportedly to extract a confession him. Balbir and another accused Bani Khan were detained by police and two others in connection with a murder case. Balbir and Bani Khan were tortured by the police and later sent to jail. When their health deteriorated they were admitted to hospital, then transferred to King George Medical College in Lucknow, but he did not survive. Four police officers have been suspended including a Sub-Inspector. But the station officer named in Balbirs' declaration is still to face action.
9-year old dies after teacher bashes his head
Report dated 18/05/2013 @ 12:57 PM

Bapi Joardar, 9, a 3rd grade student of the Nirdeshkhali Shishu Shiksha Kendra in South Parganas district did not do his lessons so his teacher Champa Mondal dashed his head against a wall. The boy was admittted to a hospital in Canning, from where he was referred to a hospital in Kolkata, but he died that night. Ms Mondal, in her early thirties, had been with the school for some 4 years. She has been arrested.
Police force woman to strip on suspicion of theft
Report dated 15/05/2013 @ 2:12 PM

Police officers of the government railway at Ujjain, forced a woman to strip on suspicion she may have stolen gold from fellow passengers in the general coach of a passenger train. Five women passengers had allegedly complained to the railway police that their ornaments were stolen, after the train halted at Ujjain railway station. When they saw a youth accompanied the woman who was travelling with them the women held him accusing him of being the thief. The man said his sister's ornament was also missing. The Railway police then asked the brother and sister to strip, and the woman had to remove her saree in the presence of upto 10 male cops. No stolen articles were found on them. The Rail Police station in-charge denied the incident and claimed only the youth was frisked.

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