In a shocking case of child trafficking, Maharashtra police thwarted an attempt to sell a 45-day-old baby girl for Rs 4 lakh in Thane district. Among those arrested are the infant’s mother, Rekha Balu Sonawane, along with three accomplices who allegedly orchestrated the sale. The operation was carried out on Tuesday, following a tip-off that led police to set up a sting with a decoy customer in Kalyan, on Mumbai’s outskirts.
The decoy, posing as a buyer met the group near a local hotel where they demanded Rs 4 lakh. As soon as the money was handed over, police moved in and arrested Rekha Sonawane, Vaishali Kishore Sonawane (35), Deepali Anil Dusing (27) and Kishore Ramesh Sonawane (34).
The mother who reportedly relies on begging for survival admitted to her desperation due to financial hardship. She disclosed that she was struggling to support her four children after her husband abandoned the family and remarried. Authorities have since transferred the rescued infant and her 5-year-old brother to a shelter in Dombivli while their two older sisters, aged 9 and 7 are now under care at Nila Balsadan in Ambernath.
-
Mumbai’s Dog Population Down by 21.8%: Key Findings from BMC Survey
Mumbai: A decade-long study of Mumbai’s stray dog population has revealed a significant decline in overall numbers, reflecting the impact of sterilization and animal birth control (ABC) programs. However, certain wards have recorded an increase, raising new challenges for urban animal management. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), in collaboration with Humane Society International/India (HSI/India), conducted…
-
Mumbai’s First Mangrove Restoration: Vashi’s Buried Green Belt Revived
Navi Mumbai – In a landmark environmental effort, a four-hectare stretch of buried mangroves in Vashi has been restored for the first time, thanks to the determined efforts of the forest department and environmental activists. At Survey No. 17 in Vashi village, near the railway station, large quantities of illegally dumped debris had suffocated the mangroves. Over the…
-
E-Bike Taxis Approved: Cheaper Travel & 10,000 New Jobs in Maharashtra
The Maharashtra Cabinet on Tuesday approved the introduction of electric bike taxis in cities with a population of at least one lakh. This initiative aims to provide an affordable travel option for solo commuters, particularly for distances up to 15 kilometers. According to the Transport Department, this move is expected to significantly reduce solo travel…
-
Amid 40% Staff Shortage, BMC Prioritizes Privatization Over Public Healthcare Strengthening
As the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) moves to partially privatize Borivali’s Bhagwati Hospital under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, its own hospitals are struggling with an acute staff shortage, with 40% of essential Class IV positions lying vacant, alleged the Municipal Mazdoor Union. Employees of civic-run hospitals have strongly opposed the decision, warning that vacancies…
-
Kharghar Illegal Construction Demolished: CIDCO Frees ₹300 Crore Land
In a major crackdown on unauthorized construction, CIDCO’s Unauthorized Construction Control Department demolished the multi-story ‘Hill View’ building in Sector 5, Kharghar, on Wednesday. The illegal structure, which housed nearly 90 flats, was built at the foothills without approval, occupying 9,800 sq. m. of encroached land worth ₹300 crore. The demolition has left several families without shelter, once…
