Gujarat: Illegal abortion racket busted, one held

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Ahmedabad, May 27 (IANS) The Ahmedabad Rural Special Operations Group (SOG), in coordination with the Bavla Taluka Health Department, has uncovered an illegal abortion racket operating out of a guest house in Bavla town of Gujarat.

The raid was conducted following a tip-off received during routine patrolling by SOG personnel.

Acting on the information, authorities raided Room 105 of the Panama Guest House, where unlicensed medical procedures were allegedly being carried out.

The prime accused, identified as Hemlatta Darji, a resident of Dholka, was found conducting abortions without holding a valid medical degree.

According to officials, Hemlatta had only completed a nursing course and previously worked at Santokba Hospital in Dholka.

Using that experience, she allegedly performed abortions for profit, charging substantial amounts to pregnant women seeking termination of pregnancy.

Investigators revealed that she would rent rooms in the guest house to carry out these procedures covertly. During the raid, three women were found at the location, one of whom had recently undergone an abortion.

A foetus was also recovered from the premises. Medical equipment used for termination procedures was seized by health authorities.

A case has been registered at Bavla Police Station under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, 1971. Legal proceedings have also been initiated against the three women present at the site.

Senior health officials said the crackdown comes as part of a larger drive to identify and prosecute unregistered medical practitioners operating across rural areas.

“Such illegal acts not only endanger the lives of women but also constitute a serious violation of the law,” an official said.

Further investigation is underway to trace any network or accomplices involved in the operation.

Illegal abortion cases in Gujarat have been a growing concern. In another case, a 23-year-old tuition teacher from Surat was arrested under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for allegedly abducting and sexually assaulting her 13-year-old student. Following her arrest, it was discovered that she was 20 weeks pregnant.

The court permitted the medical termination of her pregnancy, citing potential harm to her mental and physical health. The procedure was to be conducted under expert medical supervision, with the foetus preserved for DNA analysis to aid the investigation.

–IANS

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Mumbai’s CSMIA 1st airport in India to attain Level 5 accreditation from ACI: Gautam Adani

Ahmedabad, Jan 8 (IANS) The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) has become the first airport in India to have received the prestigious Level 5 accreditation from the globally acclaimed Airports Council International (ACI), Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani said on Wednesday.

Gautam Adani stated that CSMIA, managed by Adani Airport Holdings Ltd (AAHL), is not only the first airport in India but also the third in the world to attain Level 5 accreditation from ACI for ‘Customer Experience’.

“There is no greater manifestation of business success than a company’s ability to serve its customers. Every moment, it is this guiding principle that I urge all members of Adani Airports to dedicate their hours to,” Gautam Adani said in a post on social media platform X.

“And there can be no greater feeling of gratitude than to have our @CSMIA_Official receive @ACIWorld’s prestigious Level 5 Accreditation for Customer Experience. Not only are we the first airport in India but also only the third in the world to do so,” the Adani Group Chairman informed.

He further said, “It is my promise on behalf of AAHL to keep serving all our passengers who walk through our airports.”

“Thank you my passengers. Thank you my colleagues at AAHL,” said Gautam Adani.

Meanwhile, CSMIA maintained its growth momentum in November 2024, recording as many as 4.77 million passengers during the month and a double-digit surge in cargo operations. The passenger traffic at the airport comprised 3.4 million domestic and 1.37 million international travellers.

During the month, the Mumbai International Airport handled 27,200 Air Traffic Movements (ATMs) — 9,696 domestic ATMs, including freighters; and 7,504 international ATMs, including cargo freighters.

CSMIA said it remains committed to maintaining its position as a leader in global aviation. With its focus on delivering world-class services and expanding connectivity, the airport continues to set benchmarks in operational excellence and customer satisfaction.

In September, CSMIA bagged the CII’s national award for Excellence in Energy Management.

–IANS

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Himachal farmers promoting cow dung, buttermilk for natural farming in mountainous terrain

Shimla, April 26 (IANS) Dung of indigenous cow, containing 300 to 500 times more beneficial microorganisms compared to other livestock, and homemade inputs like sour buttermilk sprays are being preferred for natural farming in the mountainous Pangi Valley of Himachal Pradesh’s Chamba district, nestled amidst the Pir Panjal range, where cropping is being done by traditional methods for sustainable ecosystem.

Around 25,000 people residing in 19 panchayats of the Pangi Valley, which faces harsh climatic conditions, are largely dependent on agriculture and horticulture for their livelihood. Traditional farming methods often expose crops to the risk of diseases.

However, natural farming practices, which they are opting for now, not only offer better protection against natural threats but also enhance crop yield, resulting in increased income, the government said on Saturday.

The villagers, settled along the banks of the Chandrabhaga river, are elated with the announcement of making Pangi the state’s first natural farming sub-division. Although traditional farming methods have been practised in Pangi for centuries but the adoption of natural farming techniques is expected to significantly enhance the economic prosperity of local farmers and orchardists, believes the government.

The declaration of the first natural farming subdivision was made by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu this month. Since then, the district administration has accelerated efforts to implement this decision on the ground.

Responding to the government initiative, woman farmer Ratto Devi, a resident of Bhatwas village, who adopted natural farming two years ago, said their ancestors too refrained from using chemicals in agriculture and even today they avoid chemical fertilisers, pesticides or any synthetic treatments for farming.

She said spraying of ‘ghanjivamrit’ (a natural bio-enhancer) has significantly improved crop production.

Similarly, another woman farmer, Savitri Devi of Punto village, said all the inputs required for natural farming are readily available at home. She said that preparations like ‘ghanjivamrit’ and ‘jivamrit’ are used to enhance soil fertility and crop productivity.

A core requirement of natural farming is the indigenous Indian cow. To protect crops from fungal infections and pests, natural concoctions like sour buttermilk sprays, ‘kannai astra’ and ‘agni astra’ are being used.

She expresses hope that the establishment of a natural farming subdivision by the government will not only promote natural farming across the valley but also substantially enhance the income of farmers and orchardists.

With the formation of the current government in 2022, multiple initiatives have been undertaken to promote natural farming in the Pangi Valley.

Currently, natural farming is being practised on approximately 400 hectares, and over 2,100 farmers have been trained in this agricultural method.

Block Training Manager Pali said chemical farming was historically never practised in the region.

As of now, 90 per cent of the cultivated land is under agriculture, while the remaining 10 per cent is covered under horticulture activities. With the efforts of the government, a Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) comprising natural farming practitioners has been established.

Through this FPO, apples are being sold at a rate of Rs 75 per kg, while farmers are also receiving fair prices for crops like kidney beans (rajmah), potatoes and peas. The creation of the natural farming subdivision will further benefit the farmers of the region, according to agriculture experts.

At the state-level Himachal Day celebrations in Pangi this month, the Chief Minister declared a support price of Rs 60 per kg for barley crops cultivated through natural farming methods.

–IANS

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Punjab Police demolish unauthorised structures of drug smugglers

Chandigarh, March 2 (IANS) Punjab Police, in coordination with local authorities, have demolished unauthorised structures built on the encroached panchayat land in Khanpur and Mandi villages of Phillaur.

The structures, unlawfully occupied by two individuals with a history of narcotics smuggling, were removed following due legal procedure, the police said in a statement on Sunday.

Senior Superintendent of Police (Jalandhar Rural) Harkamal Preet Singh Khakh said the demolition drive was carried out following the request of the Block Development and Panchayat Officer (BDPO) of Phillaur, who sought police assistance for the removal of illegal encroachments. The action was directed against Jasvir Singh, alias Sheera, and Bholi, wife of Rampal alias Rama, both had illegally occupied the panchayat land.

As per official records, Bholi is a notorious drug smuggler and has been facing multiple cases under the NDPS Act, including a 1.190 kg smack recovery in 2005, a two kg poppy husk seizure in 2015, and a significant quantity of drugs recovered in 2022.

Similarly, Jasvir Singh has also been named in multiple cases, including one involving a commercial quantity of charas and intoxicated injections.

The SSP said the police, along with revenue and panchayat officials, ensured that the encroachments were demolished smoothly, with adequate deployment to prevent any disruption.

Authorities confirmed that the land rightfully belongs to the gram panchayat and had been unlawfully occupied by the accused.

The SSP reiterated that Jalandhar Rural Police will continue its crackdown on illegal encroachments linked to criminal networks, ensuring that no individual benefits from proceeds of crime or unauthorised occupation of public land. The local residents informed that these two drug traffickers would often intimidate and threaten villagers.

Meanwhile, village Sarpanch of Khanpur, Paramjit Kaur, and local residents commended the action of the government against drug smugglers. “We welcome such measures by the Punjab government to eradicate drug menace from the state,” they added.

A day earlier, the police launched a statewide operation against drugs, conducting raids at more than 750 locations leading to the arrest of 290 smugglers after the registration of 232 first information reports (FIRs). The massive crackdown came after Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann last week gave Punjab Police a three-month deadline to make the state drug-free.

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