QAhmedabad: Prez Approves GCTOC Bill; Heavy Rains Likely on 7 Nov

Catch the latest news from Ahmedabad here.

President Ram Nath Kovind salutes a memorial during Kargil Vijay Diwas, or Kargil Victory Day, at the war memorial in Srinagar, in Jammu and Kashmir, on Friday, 26 July 2019. 

(Photo: AP/Mukhtar Khan)

1. Controversial Gujarat Anti-Terror Law Gets President’s Nod

President Ram Nath Kovind has given his assent to the Gujarat Control of Terrorism and Organised Crime (GCTOC) Bill, a controversial anti-terror legislation passed by the BJP-ruled state in March 2015.

One of the key features of the new Act is intercepted telephonic conversations would now be considered as a legitimate evidence. The announcement on the Presidential assent was made by Gujarat Minister of State for Home, Pradeepsinh Jadeja, in Gandhinagar on Tuesday, 5 November.

The Bill, earlier named as the Gujarat Control of Organised Crime (GUJCOC) Bill, had failed to get the presidential nod thrice since 2004 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the chief minister of the state.

(Source: The Times of India)

2. Heavy to Heavy Rains Likely as 'Maha' Hits Guj Coast on 7 Nov

The very severe cyclonic storm 'Maha' might weaken further into a cyclonic storm before hitting the Gujarat coast near Union Territory of Diu on Thursday and is likely to bring "heavy to very heavy rains" at isolated places in the state along with gusty winds at the speed of up to 90 kmph, Met department said on Tuesday, 5 November.

As per the latest prediction by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the very severe cyclonic storm is hovering around 650 km west-southwest of Porbandar and 700 kms west-southwest of Veraval in the Arabian sea.

"It is very likely to move east-northeastwards with rapid weakening. It is very likely to cross Gujarat coast around Diu as a cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 70-80 kmph gusting to 90 kmph around the morning hours of 7 November," an IMD bulletin said.

The cyclone would bring light to moderate rains at most places and "heavy to very heavy downpour" at some places on 6 November.

(Source: The Times of India)

3. Two Arrested in Former BJP MLA Jayanti Bhanushali Murder Case

In a major breakthrough in the investigation of the murder of BJP leader Jayanti Bhanushali, a team of Gujarat police tracked down and arrested a woman and her male friend Surjit Pardeshi alias Bhau from Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh late Monday, 4 November.

The woman and Bhau are alleged key co-conspirators who helped Bhanushali’s political rival Chhabil Patel hire contract-killers from Maharashtra who allegedly shot Bhanushali dead onboard a moving train in January this year.

“We arrested them from Allahabad yesterday (Monday). We are going for their transit remand. Once we get it, we shall get them. Our Railway police team is there. They are producing them before a court. Once that is done, they will be brought to Gujarat late night or in a day or so,” Ashish Bhatia, Director General of Police CID (crime and railways) of Gujarat told The Indian Express on Tuesday, 5 November.

(Source: The Indian Express)

4. Violators Attack, Threaten Cops Enforcing Helmet Rule, Two Held

In two cases of motorists in two different cities of the state showing alleged aggression against policemen trying to nab those not wearing helmets, a man in Vadodara was arrested for dragging a traffic constable through the road, and another was held and then released on bail in Surat for obstructing the police from doing their duty.

In the first case, Vadodara police on Tuesday, 5 November, arrested a 30-year-old man for dragging a traffic constable for several feet and injuring him. Constable Mukesh Rathwa was on duty at Fatehgunj crossroads and had attempted to stop and fine Rikesh Soni (30) for not wearing a helmet.

When Soni came and stopped at the traffic signal and saw Rathwa approaching him, he tried to take a U-turn and flee on the wrong side of the road. As Rathwa tried to stop him and took hold of his bike, Soni continued to ride away, dragging Rathwa for several feet before finally being stopped.

(Source: The Indian Express)

5. Animal Sale Doubles at Vautha Donkey Fair

The annual donkey fair at Vautha village in Dholka sub-district of Ahmedabad, which ended on Saturday, recorded the sale of 3,000 animals, nearly double the figure compared to last year, 3 November according to traders.

The five-day donkey trade began on 29 October, on the festival of Bhai Dooj. By Sunday, only 37 donkeys were unsold, traders said. Sellers were predominantly from the Banjara tribe from various parts of Gujarat, including Rajkot, Bhavnagar and Amreli, while buyers were mostly from Maharashtra and Rajasthan, they said.

“The donkeys are usually bought by traders from Nanded and Nashik in Maharashtra. They are used in brick kilns and for carrying sand from riverbeds where tractors can’t reach. Prices range from Rs 7,000 to Rs 17,000 for the Kathiyawadi breed. We bear the expenses of bringing the donkeys as well as for our food and accommodation,” a trader said.

(Source: The Indian Express)