Gang of seven externed from five districts of Maharashtra for two years

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Seven members of a gang involved in multiple "heinous and hazardous" crimes have been externed for two years from five districts of Maharashtra, the Mira-Bhayandar, Vasai-Virar police said on Wednesday.

PTI reported that the MBVV police said that the crimes committed by the gang members affected citizens in areas under the Tulinj and Achole police stations in Palghar district.

The gang members have been externed from the limits of Thane, Mumbai, Mumbai suburban, Palghar and Nashik districts for two years, the MBVV police said.

The police identified the seven as gang leader Ajay Amod Mishra (24), Jagan Patkatiar (20), Prishit, alias Dipka Pal (23), Sunny, alias Abhishek Tak (24), Harshal Rathod (19), Mohammad Karim Shakil Sheikh (21), and Rahul, alias Tika Ramesh Sawant (22).

27-year-old man held with country-made pistols, 11 live cartridges

In a separate incident, a 27-year-old man has been arrested in suburban Bandra with two country-made pistols and 11 live cartridges, a Mumbai police crime branch official said.

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The arrest was made near Rangsharda Bhavan on Tuesday when tight security was in place in the city in view of the Dussehra rallies of two Shiv Sena factions, immersion of idols of Goddess Durga, and an ICC World Cup cricket match.

The arrested man was identified as Amit Kinake, a resident of Nagpur.

"Acting on reliable information, the crime branch nabbed Kinake and recovered county-made pistols made up of steel and iron metals, and 11 live cartridges," the official said.

Police are investigating to whom Kinake was going to deliver the firearms.

A case has been registered under the Arms Act and the Mumbai Police Act, the official added.

Meanwhile, nine children sustained burns after a generator caught fire during a procession taken out with an idol of Goddess Durga on Dussehra in Maharashtra's Satara district, an official said on Wednesday. All the children are in stable condition, he said.

The incident took place on Tuesday evening in the Koli Aali area of Mahabaleshwar, a popular hill station.

According to the police, the generator was fitted on a vehicle on which an idol of Goddess Durga was being taken for immersion.

"The generator got heated up and caught fire as there was a can of petrol nearby. Nine children, who were sitting in a corner of the decorated vehicle, sustained burn injuries. They were rushed to hospitals in Satara and Pune," said an official from Mahabaleshwar police station.

Superintendent of Police Sameer Shaikh said all the children are stable and undergoing treatment at different hospitals.