Tag: Kutch

  • Gujarat police seizes 80 kilos of drugs worth Rs 800 crore in Kutch

    Express News Service

    AHMEDABAD: Gujarat Police confiscated 80 kg of heroin worth Rs 800 crore in the international market from the Kutch district’s coastal area on Thursday. According to officials, the police acted immediately after receiving the information. The accused abandoned the drug and fled the scene.

    Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghvi Said on Social Media that “Acting on information from the Kutch East Local Crime Branch (L.C.B.), a dedicated team intervened swiftly, intercepting a group of suspected individuals engaged in illegal drug trafficking on Mithirohar beach. This operation resulted in the successful confiscation of 80 kg of cocaine.”

    #WATCH | Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi says “Today Gandhidham police seized 80 kgs of cocaine, which is worth about Rs 800 crore in the international market. I have congratulated the DGP and Gandhidham police for this success…” https://t.co/C4RgnwIjgR pic.twitter.com/gkpJS8KqVJ
    — ANI (@ANI) September 28, 2023
    “Today Gandhidham police seized 80 kgs of cocaine, which is worth about Rs 800 crore in the international market. I have congratulated the DGP and Gandhidham police for this success…,” he added.

    “Gujarat Police has seized 80 kg of drug from the coast, whose international market value is Rs 800 crore,” said Sagar Bagmar, Superintendent of Police, Kutch East.

    “As soon as the information was received, the police jumped into action, and the accused dropped the narcotic and fled the scene. The case is being further investigated,” SP Bagmar remarked.

    #WATCH | Superintendent of Police, Kutch East, Sagar Bagmar says, “…Police recovered a large consignment of drugs, as per the primary investigation by FSL it has been found to be cocaine. A police investigation is underway. During the police investigation, it was found that… https://t.co/C4RgnwIjgR pic.twitter.com/bjd4fO9vzM
    — ANI (@ANI) September 28, 2023
    According to data tabled in the state legislative Assembly in March 2023, “From August 2021 till February 2023, the Gujarat police seized nearly 1,000 kg of drugs worth over ₹ 5,300 crore and nabbed 102 accused persons, including 56 foreign nationals, Of these 56 foreign nationals, 44 were from Pakistan, seven from Iran, three from Afghanistan, and two from Nigeria.”

    AHMEDABAD: Gujarat Police confiscated 80 kg of heroin worth Rs 800 crore in the international market from the Kutch district’s coastal area on Thursday. According to officials, the police acted immediately after receiving the information. The accused abandoned the drug and fled the scene.

    Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghvi Said on Social Media that “Acting on information from the Kutch East Local Crime Branch (L.C.B.), a dedicated team intervened swiftly, intercepting a group of suspected individuals engaged in illegal drug trafficking on Mithirohar beach. This operation resulted in the successful confiscation of 80 kg of cocaine.”

    #WATCH | Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi says “Today Gandhidham police seized 80 kgs of cocaine, which is worth about Rs 800 crore in the international market. I have congratulated the DGP and Gandhidham police for this success…” https://t.co/C4RgnwIjgR pic.twitter.com/gkpJS8KqVJgoogletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });
    — ANI (@ANI) September 28, 2023
    “Today Gandhidham police seized 80 kgs of cocaine, which is worth about Rs 800 crore in the international market. I have congratulated the DGP and Gandhidham police for this success…,” he added.

    “Gujarat Police has seized 80 kg of drug from the coast, whose international market value is Rs 800 crore,” said Sagar Bagmar, Superintendent of Police, Kutch East.

    “As soon as the information was received, the police jumped into action, and the accused dropped the narcotic and fled the scene. The case is being further investigated,” SP Bagmar remarked.

    #WATCH | Superintendent of Police, Kutch East, Sagar Bagmar says, “…Police recovered a large consignment of drugs, as per the primary investigation by FSL it has been found to be cocaine. A police investigation is underway. During the police investigation, it was found that… https://t.co/C4RgnwIjgR pic.twitter.com/bjd4fO9vzM
    — ANI (@ANI) September 28, 2023
    According to data tabled in the state legislative Assembly in March 2023, “From August 2021 till February 2023, the Gujarat police seized nearly 1,000 kg of drugs worth over ₹ 5,300 crore and nabbed 102 accused persons, including 56 foreign nationals, Of these 56 foreign nationals, 44 were from Pakistan, seven from Iran, three from Afghanistan, and two from Nigeria.”

  • Gujarat: Drug hauls, water crisis and communal divide dominate poll scene in Kutch

    By PTI

    KUTCH: As the Pakistan bordering Kutch district of Gujarat goes to polls next month, drug hauls worth thousands of crores of rupees, water crisis in this arid region and sporadic incidents of communal clashes have become major election issues in the area.

    Last year, in a major drug haul, around 3,000 kg of heroin worth nearly Rs 21,000 crore was seized at the Mundra Port in Kutch, the country’s largest district which shares land and marine border with Pakistan.

    While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been trying to project it as national security being in safe hands with the saffron camp in power, the opposition Congress has questioned the failure of the state and the Centre from stopping drug trafficking.

    There have also been a number of other cases of drugs seizure in Kutch in the recent past.

    “The question is not about how much was seized, but how this (heroin seized last year) consignment came under the radar. What about other such consignments which might have passed without being noticed? The people of the state want to know what steps have been taken to prevent such incidents,” state Congress leader and spokesperson Lalit Vasoya told PTI.

    The Congress, in its campaign, especially in the bordering areas, has been harping on the issue of drug menace in the state and the Kutch region being used as a safe passage by drug traffickers.

    Refuting the allegations as baseless, BJP’s Kutch district media in-charge Satvik Gadhvi said the drug seizure is an example of the fact that his party, unlike the Congress, never compromises on the issue of national security.

    “For the BJP, the nation comes first, unlike the Congress for which the vote bank is first and foremost. The seizure proves that the nation and the state are safe,” he said.

    Elections for the 182-member Gujarat Assembly will be held on December 1 and 5.

    Kutch, which goes to polls in the first phase on December 1, has six Assembly constituencies – Abdasa, Bhuj, Rapar, all bordering Pakistan, and Mandvi, Anjar and Gandhidham.

    In 2017, the BJP won four of these seats, while the Congress bagged the minority-influenced Abdasa along with the Rapar constituency.

    But, the MLA from Abdasa switched over to the saffron camp in 2020 and later won the seat on the BJP’s ticket.

    As per the 2011 census data, Kutch had 76.89 per cent Hindus and 21.14 per cent Muslims, with Abdasa and Bhuj Assembly constituencies having a considerable minority population.

    While Gujarat had been in news for the post-2002 Godhra riots, Kutch, which was reeling under the effect of the 2001 earthquake, remained insulated from communal politics until a few years back.

    But it is not the case this time as there has been a simmering communal divide in various parts of Kutch over multiple issues, including sporadic incidents of such violence reported in the last two years.

    In August this year, a murder led to a communal clash in Madhapur village in Kutch.

    In January last year, there was a clash between members of two communities in Kidana village during a rally for collection of funds for the Ram temple construction.

    “Kutch has always been peaceful despite whatever is happening in other parts of the state. But the situation is not the same now. There is an atmosphere of mistrust among communities, and political parties are trying to gain from it,” 68-year-old fruit vendor in Bhuj town Parwez Sheikh claimed.

    But, Kutch BJP district unit leader Ghanshyam Thakkar told PTI that his party has maintained communal harmony in the area.

    “The Congress and the AIMIM are trying to disturb the communal harmony of the area,” he claimed.

    “We will never allow this to happen,” he added.

    According to district Congress leaders, the entry of new players, like the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), has further made the poll fight interesting in the region, with minorities now having options other than the grand old party.

    The AAP is contesting in all the six seats, while the Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM is contesting in two seats.

    Some local BJP leaders, on condition of anonymity, claimed the saffron camp will gain from the AAP and AIMIM contesting the polls.

    “In Bhuj and Abdasa, if the AIMIM and AAP respectively manage to cut even 15,000 opposition votes, it would benefit us,” a BJP leader said.

    The opposition Congress this time hopes to make a clean sweep against the BJP in the district.

    Kutch district Congress President Yajuvendra Jadeja said the BJP knows that 27 years of anti-incumbency is taking a heavy toll on it, and they are using everything at their disposal to win the elections.

    “From using the AIMIM and the AAP, they are doing everything to divide the opposition. But it won’t yield any results. These two parties are just B-teams of the BJP,” he claimed.

    However, the AAP and the AIMIM district leadership have dubbed such allegations as “baseless”.

    “We are not the B-team of any party. The truth is that neither the BJP nor the Congress has done anything for the Muslim community of Gujarat,” AIMIM candidate from Bhuj Sakil Sama said.

    Another key issue in the region is the water crisis, especially getting supply from the Narmada river.

    The Kutch Branch Canal is a branch of the Narmada Main Canal (NMC), which originates at Kevadia and is supposed to provide water to the Mandvi area.

    In other areas, such as Abdasa and Bhuj, the work for a pipeline for the canal connecting it with the NMC is yet to start, thus leaving the entire region yearning for water.

    Locals depend on deep borewells, rainwater or government tankers for water supply in the region.

    The local BJP unit agreed that “water crisis” is a major issue, but blamed the Narmada Bachao Andolan for the constant delay in the Sardar Sarovar Project.

    “The entire project has been delayed due to the Narmada Bachao Andolan. We are confident that once the elections are over, the work will start on a war footing to set up the infrastructure to bring in regular water supply in the region,” BJP MLA from Abdasa Pradhyuman Sinh Jadeja told PTI.

    On the other hand, the Congress claims water crisis in the region is the biggest example of the BJP’s administrative and political failure.

    “Even after 27 years, if you have to blame others for failing to provide water in the region, then BJP leaders should quit politics and sit back at home. This is the biggest example of BJP’s administrative failure,” Yajuvendra Jadeja said.

    Senior AAP leader Ankita Gor said if voted to power, the party would ensure drinking water facilities in each household of the region.

    KUTCH: As the Pakistan bordering Kutch district of Gujarat goes to polls next month, drug hauls worth thousands of crores of rupees, water crisis in this arid region and sporadic incidents of communal clashes have become major election issues in the area.

    Last year, in a major drug haul, around 3,000 kg of heroin worth nearly Rs 21,000 crore was seized at the Mundra Port in Kutch, the country’s largest district which shares land and marine border with Pakistan.

    While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been trying to project it as national security being in safe hands with the saffron camp in power, the opposition Congress has questioned the failure of the state and the Centre from stopping drug trafficking.

    There have also been a number of other cases of drugs seizure in Kutch in the recent past.

    “The question is not about how much was seized, but how this (heroin seized last year) consignment came under the radar. What about other such consignments which might have passed without being noticed? The people of the state want to know what steps have been taken to prevent such incidents,” state Congress leader and spokesperson Lalit Vasoya told PTI.

    The Congress, in its campaign, especially in the bordering areas, has been harping on the issue of drug menace in the state and the Kutch region being used as a safe passage by drug traffickers.

    Refuting the allegations as baseless, BJP’s Kutch district media in-charge Satvik Gadhvi said the drug seizure is an example of the fact that his party, unlike the Congress, never compromises on the issue of national security.

    “For the BJP, the nation comes first, unlike the Congress for which the vote bank is first and foremost. The seizure proves that the nation and the state are safe,” he said.

    Elections for the 182-member Gujarat Assembly will be held on December 1 and 5.

    Kutch, which goes to polls in the first phase on December 1, has six Assembly constituencies – Abdasa, Bhuj, Rapar, all bordering Pakistan, and Mandvi, Anjar and Gandhidham.

    In 2017, the BJP won four of these seats, while the Congress bagged the minority-influenced Abdasa along with the Rapar constituency.

    But, the MLA from Abdasa switched over to the saffron camp in 2020 and later won the seat on the BJP’s ticket.

    As per the 2011 census data, Kutch had 76.89 per cent Hindus and 21.14 per cent Muslims, with Abdasa and Bhuj Assembly constituencies having a considerable minority population.

    While Gujarat had been in news for the post-2002 Godhra riots, Kutch, which was reeling under the effect of the 2001 earthquake, remained insulated from communal politics until a few years back.

    But it is not the case this time as there has been a simmering communal divide in various parts of Kutch over multiple issues, including sporadic incidents of such violence reported in the last two years.

    In August this year, a murder led to a communal clash in Madhapur village in Kutch.

    In January last year, there was a clash between members of two communities in Kidana village during a rally for collection of funds for the Ram temple construction.

    “Kutch has always been peaceful despite whatever is happening in other parts of the state. But the situation is not the same now. There is an atmosphere of mistrust among communities, and political parties are trying to gain from it,” 68-year-old fruit vendor in Bhuj town Parwez Sheikh claimed.

    But, Kutch BJP district unit leader Ghanshyam Thakkar told PTI that his party has maintained communal harmony in the area.

    “The Congress and the AIMIM are trying to disturb the communal harmony of the area,” he claimed.

    “We will never allow this to happen,” he added.

    According to district Congress leaders, the entry of new players, like the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), has further made the poll fight interesting in the region, with minorities now having options other than the grand old party.

    The AAP is contesting in all the six seats, while the Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM is contesting in two seats.

    Some local BJP leaders, on condition of anonymity, claimed the saffron camp will gain from the AAP and AIMIM contesting the polls.

    “In Bhuj and Abdasa, if the AIMIM and AAP respectively manage to cut even 15,000 opposition votes, it would benefit us,” a BJP leader said.

    The opposition Congress this time hopes to make a clean sweep against the BJP in the district.

    Kutch district Congress President Yajuvendra Jadeja said the BJP knows that 27 years of anti-incumbency is taking a heavy toll on it, and they are using everything at their disposal to win the elections.

    “From using the AIMIM and the AAP, they are doing everything to divide the opposition. But it won’t yield any results. These two parties are just B-teams of the BJP,” he claimed.

    However, the AAP and the AIMIM district leadership have dubbed such allegations as “baseless”.

    “We are not the B-team of any party. The truth is that neither the BJP nor the Congress has done anything for the Muslim community of Gujarat,” AIMIM candidate from Bhuj Sakil Sama said.

    Another key issue in the region is the water crisis, especially getting supply from the Narmada river.

    The Kutch Branch Canal is a branch of the Narmada Main Canal (NMC), which originates at Kevadia and is supposed to provide water to the Mandvi area.

    In other areas, such as Abdasa and Bhuj, the work for a pipeline for the canal connecting it with the NMC is yet to start, thus leaving the entire region yearning for water.

    Locals depend on deep borewells, rainwater or government tankers for water supply in the region.

    The local BJP unit agreed that “water crisis” is a major issue, but blamed the Narmada Bachao Andolan for the constant delay in the Sardar Sarovar Project.

    “The entire project has been delayed due to the Narmada Bachao Andolan. We are confident that once the elections are over, the work will start on a war footing to set up the infrastructure to bring in regular water supply in the region,” BJP MLA from Abdasa Pradhyuman Sinh Jadeja told PTI.

    On the other hand, the Congress claims water crisis in the region is the biggest example of the BJP’s administrative and political failure.

    “Even after 27 years, if you have to blame others for failing to provide water in the region, then BJP leaders should quit politics and sit back at home. This is the biggest example of BJP’s administrative failure,” Yajuvendra Jadeja said.

    Senior AAP leader Ankita Gor said if voted to power, the party would ensure drinking water facilities in each household of the region.

  • Gujarat: Mild tremor hits Kutch; fifth seismic activity in one month

    By PTI

    AHMEDABAD: A tremor of 3.2 magnitude hit Gujarat’s Kutch district on Sunday, but there was no report of any casualty or property damage, officials said.

    The tremor was recorded at 12.49 am, with its epicentre one km west-south-west of Rapar in Kutch district, at a depth of 12.2 km, the Gandhinagar-based Institute of Seismological Research (ISR) said.

    This is the fifth tremor of magnitude 3 or more to be recorded in the district in the last one month, as per the ISR data.

    The four previous tremors were reported near Rapar, Dudhai and Lakhpat towns in the district, according to the ISR.

    As per a district administration official, there was no report of any casualty or damage to property.

    Kutch district is located in a very high risk seismic zone and low intensity tremors/earthquakes regularly occur there.

    On January 26, 2001, a massive earthquake had jolted the district, killing 13,800 people and injuring nearly 1.67 lakh others.

  • Used explosives, ammunition box found near Gujarat’s Kutch

    By PTI

    BHUJ: Suspicious material including an ammunition box and used explosives were found off Jakhau coast in Gujarat’s Kutch district on Tuesday, police said.

    A Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad was summoned to the spot but the material was found to be non-hazardous in the present form, said Deputy Superintendent of Police V N Yadav.

    “Marine police reached Khijrat island near Jakhau on Tuesday morning upon getting information about suspicious material being spotted. They found an ammunition box like the one used by armed forces to store cartridges, and some other objects suspected to be used explosives,” he said.

    A team of experts has been called in from Jamnagar to conduct a detailed investigation into the material’s origins, he said.

    The material might be remnants from military drills held in the Arabian Sea, a source said.

  • Gujarat: Mild tremor in Kutch, no casualty

    By PTI

    AHMEDABAD: A tremor of 3.1 magnitude hit Gujarat’s Kutch district on Sunday, but there was report of any casualty or property loss, officials said.

    The tremor was recorded at 8.38 am, with its epicentre 26 km North-North East (NNE) of Dudhai, at a depth of 9.3 km, the Gandhinagar-based Institute of Seismological Research (ISR) said in its update.

    There was no report of any casualty or damage to property, officials of the Kutch district disaster management unit said.

    Kutch, located in a ‘very high seismic zone’, over 300 km from Ahmedabad, witnesses mild tremors regularly.

    On August 21 this year, the district recorded a 4.1 magnitude earthquake, with its epicentre near Dholavira, officials earlier said.

    As per the Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority, the 2001 earthquake in Kutch was the third largest and second most destructive in India over the last two centuries, killing around 20,000 people.

     

  • Mild tremor at Kutch in Gujarat, no casualty

    By PTI
    AHMEDABAD: A tremor of 3.9 magnitude hit Gujarat’s Kutch district on Sunday, officials said.

    There was no report of any casualty or damage to property, they said.

    The tremor of 3.9 magnitude was recorded at 12.43 pm at a depth of 14.2 km, with its epicentre located 19 km north-northeast (NNE) of Bhachau in Kutch district, an official from the Gandhinagar-based Institute of Seismological Research said.

    The seismic activity was recorded a day after the same region witnessed a tremor of 1.6 magnitude at 12.02 pm on Saturday, at 21 km NNE of Bhachau, the official said.

    Kutch district is located in a “very high risk seismic zone”, as per the state disaster management authority.

    The district witnessed a devastating earthquake of 6.9 magnitude in January 2001.