All news in brief from across Gujarat today (further updated)

Thieves of diamond and golden jewellery at Sparkle exhibition in Surat caught in CCTV camera

Ahmedabad, 6 January, 2014

-Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has suspended 232 employees(not permanent ones) on their 7th day of strike. 216 of them are sweepers while 13 are borewell operators. The strike is not natural one but orchestrated by Gujarat Majdoor Sabha which is associated with left-wing NGO Jan Sangharsh Manch led by lawyer Mukul Sinha.

-Balashinor Municipality’s vice president and elected representative of BJP Babakhan Pathan has been arrested for trafficking of liquor by Anand police in a raid that witnessed Rs. 3 lakh recovery of liquor.

-Police is searching for four women and two men who stole Rs. 35 lakh diamond ornaments from Sparkle exhibition in Surat. While visiting the Happy Gems and Jewelers they picked up Rs. 23.87 lakh diamond necklace. They also picked up Rs. 12 lakh golden bangles from Treasure Gems and Jewelers stall. The incident happened during 12.30-1.00 pm.

-BJP MLA Tarachand Chheda from Mandvi seat in Kutch district today staged dharna against lethargy and non-cooperation of local government officers. Chheda in his statement said that local officers delay the works like pension to widows, ration cards, agriculture plot to kins of Kargil martyr etc. If elected representative is neglected ,one has to sit on dharna.

-Surat police has started distributing safety belt to commuters for rescue against the attack of kite string. Police Commissioner Astahana and other higher officials distributed such safety belts to commuters today morning at Athwa gate chopati traffic signal. Every year several people die while riding two wheeler due to kite string in Surat and other cities of Gujarat.

-State Revenue Minister will lay stone and inaugurate Rs. 700 crore development works in Surat this Friday. There are around 24 projects ready for inauguration. Surat Municipal Corporation(SMC)’s new budget is likely to be declared this Tuesday. Anandiben may lay stone for a new project like city view tower. She may dedicate Dindoli garden and lay stone for Variav and Bamroli bridges.

-The Gujarat High Court today approved the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation(GCMMF) board’s decision to remove Vipul Chaudhary from the post of Chairman. GCMMF board had passed no confidence motion against Chaudhary following corruption charges against him with overwhelming majority, but court yet had to approve the board decision. Restless Chaudhary now wants to challenge the decision in higher bench. Just to allow Chaudhary to go for appeal, the bench has given stay against removal of Chaudhary from the post of Chairman till 11 January.

-The search panel for appointment of Gujarat University’s new Vice Chancellor today held its first meeting to officially invite resumes from aspirants for the post of the VC. According to sources, three names have emerged for possible appointment at this stage. They are Mahipatsinh Chavda, ND Shah and Dr. Joshipura.Ever since the then vice-chancellor Adesh Pal was asked to step down in August, the university has been functioning with pro-VC Mukul Shah as acting vice-chancellor. Shah’s term will expire in July 2014.

-Rajkot-Veraval ST bus today faced accident near Vanthli. At least one person was dead in this accident which took place as the bus felled down from bridge.

-Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi will today address closing session of Overseas Friends of BJP Global meet 2014 at Delhi via video conferencing. The address will take place anytime after 5.15 pm.

-The Education department of Government of Gujarat, CII and various universities of Gujarat will jointly hold a national education summit at Mahatma mandir in Gandhinagar during 10-11 January.

-Controversial suspended IAS Pradeep Sharma today reached police station in Gandhinagar sector 7 to file complaint against illegal tapping of his phone. His complaint has not been filed so far.

-One SBI bank ATM machine has been stolen in Unjha taluka’s Aithor village. The ATM was containing around Rs. 14,75000 Rs. cash when stolen.