Latest news with #MohitAgrawal
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Drones, CCTVs to monitor Muharram processions, Kanwar Yatras
Varanasi: Drone cameras and CCTV network will be used to maintain sharp vigil on Muharram processions and Kanwar Yatra to be taken out during Shravan, said Commissioner of Police Mohit Agrawal. While finalising the preparations to ensure law and order during the religious processions, the official instructed to prohibit initiating any new traditions and sought the participation of community members in conducting the religious rituals peacefully. In view of Muharram falling on July 6 and the beginning of the auspicious month of Shrawan, the CP and district magistrate Satyendra Kumar held a meeting with the peace committee, Tazia procession organisers, Kanwariya camp operators, religious leaders, and prominent community members on Saturday evening. They issued guidelines for observing the rituals in a harmonious environment, maintaining peace, and ensuring security arrangements. For proper monitoring of the Tazia processions and the Kanwar Yatra, the CP mentioned that, apart from the deployment of police and paramilitary forces, drones and CCTV cameras will also be utilised for proper surveillance, especially in sensitive areas. No new traditions will be introduced, and all processions will follow the traditional routes. Provocative slogans, weapons, and inflammatory activities are strictly prohibited in Tazia or other religious processions and violations of the norms would lead to strict action. The CP asked the organisers to appoint 20 volunteers at each Tazia Chowk after their police verification for crowd control and maintaining discipline. Special arrangements will be made for the convenience and safety of the devotees in temples during the Shravan month. Officials have asked to keep the sound levels of DJs and drums during Kanwar Yatras within the prescribed decibels. Obscene, provocative, or film songs will be banned during the processions and the height of chariots and DJ vehicles should not exceed the prescribed limit, said the official. Officials said that continuous monitoring of social media will also be ensured, while Quick Response Teams (QRT) will be deployed at any sensitive location, and the police will keep a close watch on anti-social elements. Earlier, Additional Police Commissioner Shivhari Mina and the DM inspected Markandeya Mahadev Temple on the Ganga-Gomati confluence in the Kaithi area and Kanwar Yatra routes. After taking stock of the temple and areas in its vicinity, they held a meeting with the temple's chief priest to discuss essential arrangements and reviewed the local administration's preparations. The entrance and exit routes of the temple, queue management for devotees, and the status of barricading from a security perspective were observed. The officials also reviewed preparations for maintaining cleanliness, security, roads, ghats, and drinking water arrangements. The concerned departments were directed to ensure deep water barricading, jetty installation, changing rooms, mobile toilets, and drinking water tankers at the ghats to prevent drowning.
Time of India
26-06-2025
- Time of India
Varanasi gang rape case: Claims of survivor can't be overruled, says SIT report
Varanasi: The special investigation team (SIT) formed to uncover the truth behind the allegations of a 19-year-old girl, who claimed she was raped by 23 individuals over seven days between March 29 and April 4, submitted its report on Thursday. In the light of the Supreme Court and high court judgments, the report mentioned that the claims made in her statement cannot be denied. "During her disappearance, the presence of several accused individuals was found at different places and times with her. In such serious cases, SC and HCs have issued various important decisions and guidelines, emphasising that the survivor's statement should be given priority. In this context, based on her statement and the facts found during the investigation, it cannot be denied that the accused committed the crime," the SIT said. On April 17, commissioner of police Mohit Agrawal had formed SIT following the submission of a memorandum by the family members, especially women, of the accused persons. The SIT was asked to submit a report within 30 days. Further arrests in the case were stopped until the submission of this SIT report. Taking note of the SIT report, the CP said, "Based on the recorded statements, medical reports, CCTV footage, call detail records, IP logs, and other evidence collected during its investigation, the SIT concluded that the possibility of the incident occurring cannot be ruled out. The investigator of the case has been asked to incorporate all points mentioned in the SIT report and conclude his investigation impartially and promptly. " The mother of the survivor reported to Lalpur Pandeypur police station on April 4 that her daughter left home on March 29 but did not return. After lodging the case, the police started searching for her and, after finding her at a friend's house, they asked her to return home. Initially, she refused to return home, but after much persuasion, she was handed over to her family. On the night of April 6, her mother lodged a complaint with the police, alleging that upon returning home, her daughter revealed that during the period of disappearance, different individuals committed wrongful acts against her at different places. After lodging the FIR, Lalpur Pandeypur police arrested a total of 14 individuals, including nine named accused on April 8, three on April 11, and two more on April 15. The survivor was taken for a medical examination to PDDU district hospital, where she initially refused external and internal medical examinations. After the police explained the legal aspects, she agreed to undergo a medical examination. During the investigation by the SIT, the CDR of various individuals' mobile numbers, witness statements, CCTV footage, the victim's Instagram IP logs, the survivor's statement, and statements of the accused and their relatives were collected, and all evidence was examined. The investigation revealed that during the period of disappearance, the victim was found to be moving freely and was seen with some of the accused. During this time, she was seen going to the mall and Chausatti Ghat with her colleagues and some friends. During the incident, the victim borrowed mobile phones from about 11 different individuals to log into Instagram and also made several calls. When asked why she didn't go home or inform anyone about the incident, she said she was afraid to go home and didn't tell anyone about the incident due to fear and shame.
Time of India
19-06-2025
- Time of India
Crackdown on drinking in public spots, drunk driving
Varanasi: Cracking the whip on those in the habit of consuming alcohol on roadside police launched a drive on Wednesday evening. On the very first day, 500 boozers faced legal action, while 303 vehicles were challaned and 26 were seized by the police. Launching the drive, police commissioner Mohit Agrawal said stern action would be taken against those caught consuming liquor at public places and along roads. The drive was aimed at ensuring public peace, safety and road security, he said. Besides liquor shops in interior areas, even those located along Sigra-Mahmoorganj, Sonarpur, Central Jail, Varuna Bridge and Pandeypur, boozers occupy the road either by standing there to consume liquor or by parking their vehicles, especially from 7 pm till late night. From Wednesday evening, police teams started raiding points where drinkers gather for liquor party at public places and drive under influence of alcohol. At the end of the first day, officials said major locations were checked, while teams ensured legal action against those drinking in public and driving drunk. Vehicles were seized, and fines were imposed on those violating traffic rules. Police initiated action against 294 persons under Police Act, while 173 were booked under sections of BNS. Police also seized 26 vehicles and fined 303 vehicles. tnn
Time of India
09-06-2025
- Time of India
Cops' performance to be assessed on feedback from complainants
1 2 Varanasi: Negative feedback from the public, especially complainants, will now have serious consequences for police station in-charges. Taking a serious note of such negative feedback, the station officer of Rohania, Vivek Kumar, was sent to the lines by Commissioner of Police, Mohit Agrawal, on Sunday night after a complainant was turned away five times from the police station. A team has been formed to assess the officials' performance at Rohania police station for improvements after it ranked lowest on the CP's parameters set for performance assessment on the CM dashboard. The team members visited the Rohania police station five times in the guise of complainants in May, and each time they were turned away without having their complaints registered. Following consistent negative feedback Kumar was sent to the lines. The CP has appointed Inspector Raju Singh as the SO of Rohania, while Inspector Durga Singh replaced the former at Ramnagar police station. Inspector Anil Kumar Sharma was appointed at Jansa police station. Before initiating this action, the CP held a review meeting and requested the implementation of suggestions received from traffic volunteers to maintain smooth traffic operations and said that responsible officers should continue appointing traffic volunteers at the designated intersections and routes and hold regular meetings with them. During inspections, the commissioner will seek feedback from traffic volunteers on maintaining smooth traffic flow and removing encroachments. Disciplinary action will be taken against responsible officers who fail to ensure efficient traffic management. The CP emphasised that the qualitative and effective resolution of public complaints is a top priority, and police officers' performance will be evaluated on its basis. Prompt and sensitive action should be taken for every incident. A zero-tolerance policy should be followed for crimes against women, he said, mentioning that a list of eve-teasers should be maintained at the station level, and their activities should be continuously monitored. The activities of the top-10 and active criminals should also be continuously monitored. The CP also held a police personnel conference and instructed ACP Lines to ensure proper arrangements of coolers, fans, water coolers, inverters, and cots at the stations. Departmental action will be taken against clerks who show negligence in resolving police officers' issues, he said, asking all station officers to hold such conferences at the station level each month to resolve police officers' problems.
Time of India
30-05-2025
- Time of India
Residents to assist in traffic regulation at city crossings
Varanasi: A day after deciding to involve local traders and residents in assisting with traffic regulation, especially on busy roads and crossings, police commissioner Mohit Agrawal on Thursday inspected several roads, including Englishia Line, to assess the situation. The commissioner, along with many senior officials, not only evaluated the traffic conditions but also examined roadside parking and encroachments. Before taking to the streets, he held a meeting with officials from all zones at the police lines on Wednesday evening. During this meeting, he instructed the designation of local traders and residents as Yatayat Mitra. He asked for the identification of 50 intersections and the appointment of 15 local traders and residents as Yatayat Mitra at each intersection. These Yatayat Mitras will report traffic jams and provide suggestions for their resolution during their monthly meetings at the police station level. Instructions were also given for regular monitoring and strict action against encroachments, illegal parking, and traffic violations to enhance smooth traffic flow. The commissioner asked for the deployment of sub-inspectors at 10 major intersections for effective traffic management. A team of five members, including home guards and fourth-class employees, will be formed to report on the behaviour towards common citizens and victims at police stations. After reviewing the progress of tasks assigned during his last meeting, he instructed the acceleration of the verification process for illegal Rohingya and Bangladeshis, as well as other people with doubtful credentials. He called for weekly meetings with traders, the elimination of cattle smugglers, and thorough investigations of their networks. The commissioner said sub-inspectors will be ranked based on performance, including case resolution, public interaction, maintaining peace, and crime-solving contributions. Police station in-charges should brief officers up to the constable level about ongoing campaigns and directives from higher authorities, he said. Among other important attendees were ACP (law and order, headquarters) S Channappa, ACP (crime) Rajesh Kumar Singh, all DCPs, ADCPs, ACPs, and police station and outpost in-charges, who were present at the meeting.
