PAWS-Mumbai Exposes Wildlife Trade Racket in Mumbai

The Anti – Poaching Unit, Vigilance Wing of forest department with the help of Plant & Animals Welfare Society -Mumbai (PAWS-Mumbai) team lead an trap on Saturday at International Air Port, arrested two people Mohammed Siddiq Sayyad & Farhan Anwar Khan with a Black Winged Kite in Black Santro No.: MH 04 BY 9368, On Sunday they were presented before The Holiday Magistrate's Court in Bandra and sentenced to seven day forest custody.

During the interrogation, he given the name of an shop keeper at Crawford Market and Mohammed Siddiq Sayyad was taken to the spot he identified Ashfaq Yasin Mohmin, where two Hawks bird were recovered from his shop. This bird is protected under Schedule I Part III of Wildlife Protection Act 1972. This arrested man has been doing illegal activity of selling protected birds in past also& has been booked for such an offence. Ashfaq Yasin Mohin was produced before Andheri Court and sentenced to seven day forest custody.

Sunish Subramanian, Hony. Animals Welfare Officer & Founder PAWS-Mumbai said "As Crawford market is well known for illegal wildlife, the forest department should keep an regular check up and also setup forest check posts at all the gates of Crawford, it is also the duty in front of the Market.

Recently, Indian armed forces had captured one such bird from Indo-Pak border in Rajasthan, such birds are used for surveillance of our border areas by Pakistan.

PAN CARDS FOR EVERY CITIZEN

Youth Congress organizes a open drive to issue PAN card

to the common man

A unique drive to issue PAN cards to the common man has been arranged by the youth congress in association with UTI technologies services limited, in Congress Office Mulund Gala Nagar from Tuesday 10th February to Sunday 15th February 2009 between 5:00am to 8:00pm. The highlight of the drive is that every individual who possesses a ration card, bank pass book, voter identity card, driving licenses or a passport can apply for a PAN card by producing any of the above documents.

M.L.C.,Charan Singh Sapra, who has initiated idea of the drive said " it had been observed that many agents were charging Rs. 250 /- to 300/- for making a PAN card. Further PAN card has now become a necessity for every Indian citizen as a proof of identity and since the issuing authority is the income tax department of the government. Thus we have initiated this drive in Mulund and will be conducting it in other suburbs as well in the near future"

Neena Desai, Asst Manager at UTI technologies services limited who is the coordinator for the drive said that " The UTI is committed to the cause of issuing PAN cards to every Indian citizen and due to this PAN card issuing drive it has become easier for us to reach the common man as we are serving them at their own localities at their door step"

Praveen Mookhey, vice president of the district Youth Congress explained," The drive has been widely publicized in Mulund through various mediums so that the message can be conveyed to every corner of Mulund. Furthermore, the program is being conducted on no profit basis since only Rs. 72/- is being charged for every PAN card [Rs. 67/- as Processing Fee & Rs. 5/- for Application form]

MLC, Charan Singh Sapra inaugurated the Drive to Issue PAN Card by filing the first 3 Apllication forms. Also presnt at the occasion were Congress Municipal councilor Dr. A.K.Sokhi, Sayed Ayub & Rajesh Ingle of Youth Congress, Kishor Mundekal of INTUC.

Issued By

RAJESH INGLE

Vice President – District Youth Congress

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