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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

Raj Thackeray tormented over ‘missing kids’ in state

Mumbai : Expressing grave concerns over the steep rise in cases of ‘missing children’ in the state, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) President Raj Thackeray has accused the state government of treating the matter casually and failing to respond to it urgently.   In an open missive on 'X' to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Raj Thackeray quoted data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) pointing at almost an alarming 30 pc increase in the number of children ‘missing’ in the state...

Raj Thackeray tormented over ‘missing kids’ in state

Mumbai : Expressing grave concerns over the steep rise in cases of ‘missing children’ in the state, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) President Raj Thackeray has accused the state government of treating the matter casually and failing to respond to it urgently.   In an open missive on 'X' to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Raj Thackeray quoted data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) pointing at almost an alarming 30 pc increase in the number of children ‘missing’ in the state between 2021-2024.   When asked for his reactions, Fadnavis told media-persons in Nagpur that he had not read the letter, but the issue raised is important and he would reply to it. Fadnavis stated that the NCRB has also provided the reasons why the kids go ‘missing’, how they return and the period, ranging from 3 days to 18 months.   Dwelling on the sufficiency of the NCRB figures, he contended that they reflect only complaints formally registered by the police and thousands of cases may never be reported.   On the ‘rescue, return and reunion’ of such missing children, he pointed to the sheer psychological trauma they may have suffered and sought to know how such child-lifter networks continued to thrive openly and blatantly.   The MNS chief targeted what he claimed was the “state’s lack of proactive measures to identify and dismantle child-begging rackets” as many juveniles can be seen begging at railway stations, bus stands, traffic signals, often accompanied by adults with doubtful authenticity.   “If some woman claims to be the child’s relative or guardian, should the government not order a thorough probe? Is it inappropriate to consider even a DNA test in suspicious cases,” Raj Thackeray demanded.   Slamming the government and the Opposition, he lamented how both sides failed to prioritise such urgent social issues in the legislature where discussions centre around partisan sparring.   The letter also mentions attempts by the Centre to coordinate with states on the ‘missing or trafficked children’, regretting how political upmanships and symbolic debates prevent meaningful action on the ground.   The NCRB said that Maharashtra has consistently ranked among states with the highest number of ‘missing children’, particularly in urban centres like Mumbai, Thane, and Pune.   Simultaneously, experts, child rights NGOs and activists have warned about trafficking networks that exploit poverty, migration and weak law enforcement and low convictions, despite official rescue missions or rehab efforts.   In his appeal, Raj Thackeray called upon Fadnavis to take concrete, visible measures rather than discussions and conventions. “Maharashtra expects decisive steps from you, not speeches. Jai Maharashtra,” he signed off.     In October 2023,Sharad Pawar red-flagged ‘missing girls-women’ This is the second major social cause by a political leader, two years after Nationalist Congress Party (SP) President Sharad Pawar had red-flagged nearly 20,000 ‘missing women and girls’ from the state between Jan-May 2023.   In the present instance, Raj Thackeray said that “behind the statistics lies a far more disturbing reality involving organised, inter-state gangs that kidnap children, physically abuse them and force them into begging rings”.   “Little kids are assaulted, made to beg and shifted across states. Groups of children disappear suddenly, and the government appears unable, or unwilling, to grasp the seriousness of what is happening,” said Thackeray in a strong tone.

HC continues interim protection till April 16

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Mumbai: While continuing the interim protection against arrest till April 17 granted by the Madras High Court to standup comedian Kunal Kamra, the Bombay High Court has posted his plea to quash a Mumbai Police FIR against him for further hearing on April 16.

 

A division bench comprising Justice Sarang Kotwal and Justice Shriram Modak also issued notices to the Mumbai Police and ruling MahaYuti ally Shiv Sena MLA Murji Patel for the FIR against the funnyman over his ‘traitor’ swipe at Deputy CM Eknath Shinde.

 

Queried on the interim protection granted by Madras HC, Kamra’s lawyer, Senior Advocate Navroz Seervai told Justice Kotwal and Justice Modak that it was an oral order applicable till April 17, but his client (Kamra) was really concerned about quashing (the FIR).

 

After the judges listened to his arguments  (See… BOX),     they said they would hear the matter on April 16 and asked Additional Public Prosecutor Mankunwar Deshmukh appearing for the State to get instructions.

 

However, she sought a hearing on April 22, but the judges explained to her that Kamra is protected till April 17 (by Madras HC) and not beyond, so they would hear the matter here on April 16 afternoon.

 

Based on Patel’s complaint with the MIDC Police Station on March 24, the Mumbai Police had lodged a FIR against the comedian under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, which was later transferred for probe to the Khar Police Station.

 

Though Kamra had not taken any name in his show, DCM Shinde’s loyalists construed it as lampooning him - as a ‘traitor’ (gaddar) with reference to his rebellion and split from the undivided Shiv Sena in June 2022 – and went on a rampage.

 

That day (March 23) the enraged supporters had vandalised the Habitat Studio in Khar where the show was recorded, but later at least 12 persons were nabbed for the violence and enlarged on bail even as Kamra has been claiming getting death threats since then.

 

As the row snowballed, more FIRs were filed against Kamra in Nashik, Jalgaon and Nandgaon, all of which are being probed by the Khar Police Station.

 

Not murder case: Lawyer 

On April 5, the Tamil Nadu-based Kamra, 36, filed a writ petition in Bombay HC seeking to quash the Mumbai Police’ FIR.

 

He cited constitutional grounds of violating his fundamental rights under Articles 19 and 21 pertaining to freedom of speech and livelihood.

 

His legal team led by Navroz Seervai argued that the satirical remarks in Kamra’s show ‘Naya Bharat’ constitutes protected speech and so should “not be criminalized under defamation of public mischief” charges.

 

He said that Kamra had written thrice to Mumbai Police to record his statements via videoconferencing as he had been getting multiple death threats.

 

“The authorities are not keen to record his statement but they want him to be present here physically. His physical presence must not be insisted upon till the present petition is heard. This is not some murder or a serious offence… It is a comedy show, a video of which is available with them,” pleaded Seervai.

 

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