NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Mumbai, Jul 10 (PTI) Following are the top stories from the Western Region at 1700 HRS. BOM7 GA-ELECTIONS-PANEL **** 'One nation, one election' mechanism may be ready for rollout by 2029: Joint panel chief Panaji: The joint committee of Parliament examining the bills on simultaneous elections is working to create a mechanism that could make the 'One Nation, One Election' reform fully operational by the 2029 general elections, its chairperson said on Friday. **** BOM6 MH-ATS-GANGSTER-BHATTI **** Maharashtra ATS questions 112 persons over ‘links’ with Pak-based gangster Shahzad Bhatti Mumbai: The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on Friday launched a statewide operation during which it questioned 112 persons allegedly linked to Pakistan-based gangster Shahzad Bhatti, officials said. **** BOM15 MH-COURT-DOCTORS-CORPORATOR **** Assault on doctors: Shiv Sena corporator, his three aides sent to police custody till July 13 Thane: A court in Maharashtra's Thane district on Friday remanded Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre and his three aides in police custody till July 13 following their arrest for allegedly assaulting two doctors and medical staff at a civic-run hospital. **** BOM11 MH-NCP SP-CONG-MERGER-SULE **** NCP (SP) not involved in any merger talks with Congress: Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule Pune: Nationalist Congress Party (SP) working president Supriya Sule on Friday dismissed speculation about a merger of her party with the Congress, asserting no proposal had been exchanged between the two sides and they would continue to work together as allies. **** BOM9 MH-LANDSLIDE-TRAINS **** Mumbai-Pune rail disruption: Central Railway cancels 30 trains till July 17 Mumbai: Rail connectivity on the Mumbai-Pune corridor will remain crippled till July 17, as the Central Railway has cancelled 30 long-distance and intercity trains, following landslides on the Bhor Ghat section, officials said on Friday. **** BOM10 MP-DRUG CASE-PATWARI **** Used to consume drugs earlier, but no connection with brown sugar seizure: Cong leader kin Indore: A day after the police questioned him in connection with the seizure of brown sugar in Indore, Nana Patwari, the younger brother of Madhya Pradesh Congress President Jitu Patwari, said on Friday that he used to consume drugs around four years back, but had nothing to do with the present case. **** BOM8 MH-ASSEMBLY-SAVARKAR-BJP MLA **** Our own govt sitting on resolution on Bharat Ratna for Savarkar: BJP MLA in Assembly Mumbai: BJP MLA Sudhir Mungantiwar on Friday questioned his own party-led Maharashtra government in the state legislative assembly over the "delay" in passing a resolution that seeks to confer Bharat Ratna on Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar. **** BOM5 MP-HC-TIGER RESERVES **** Tiger deaths: HC seeks report on MP reserves, steps to curb canine distemper virus 'outbreak' Jabalpur: In light of the recent tiger deaths in Madhya Pradesh, the High Court has demanded a status report on all nine tiger reserves and sought to know the steps the government has taken to halt a suspected Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) outbreak among big cats at Kanha. **** BOM16 MH-NDA CADET-DEATH **** Days after joining National Defence Academy, cadet dies post first physical training parade Pune: A first-term cadet of the Pune-based National Defence Academy (NDA) complained of uneasiness during routine physical training on Friday morning and later died, the defence PRO office here said. **** BOM4 MH-NCP-UCC **** NCP lawmaker raises concerns over UCC panel in Maharashtra Mumbai: NCP leader and MLC Idris Naikwadi on Friday raised concerns over the composition of a committee formed by the Maharashtra government to prepare a draft on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), saying it has no representation from minority communities. **** BOM3 MH-DOCTORS-ASSAULT-MOTHER **** Mother of doctor assaulted by Shiv Sena corporator seeks protection for medical professionals Thane: The mother of Dr Srishti Baviskar, who was among the two doctors assaulted by Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre at a civic-run hospital in Thane district, has demanded a guarantee of state protection for medical professionals. **** BES3 MH-ASSAULT-BJP COUNCILLOR-FIR **** BJP councillor, two others booked for assaulting local body official in Raigad Mumbai: A case has been registered against a BJP councillor and two others for allegedly assaulting a senior official from the Mahad Municipal Council inside his office in Maharashtra’s Raigad district, police said on Friday. **** BES2 MH-RAINS-MUMBAI **** Sun shines over Mumbai; light to moderate showers likely, says IMD Mumbai: Mumbai woke up to bright sunshine on Friday morning after days of overcast skies and heavy rains, although the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast occasional light to moderate showers in the city and suburbs later in the day. **** PTI RSY