From farmers’ violence to hit-and-run: Top 5 stories from Mumbai

Mumbai city news: Here are the top five stories from Mumbai you shouldn’t miss

Those looking forward to watching ad-free movies on the Tejas Express are in for a disappointment — as the IRCTC is set to hire a contractor to stream free movies, documentaries, programmes and songs on the train’s display screens, who will have permission to display advertisements. While hundreds of angry farmers protesting against a proposed defence airport on the outskirts of Mumbai burned down four police vehicles, a 95-year-old woman died after she was knocked down by a speeding car on Wednesday morning. Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray and senior Congress party leader Narayan Rane are likely to share a stage at a public function in Kudal, Sindhudurg district later this week. Also, two organic chemistry majors who used their knowledge of chemicals to set up factories that made Mephedrone, recently got arrested by the Mumbai police.

A contractor, who will be hired for three months, will also be allowed to charge passengers Rs30 for a pair of earphones. (HT Photo)

Here are today’s top five picks:

1. Movies on Mumbai-Goa Tejas Express no longer ad-free, rly will earn ₹18 lakh a year through ads

Rs18 lakh in one year — that’s how much the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) plans to earn solely through advertisement revenue generated from the high-speed Tejas Express. The IRCTC plans to hire a contractor, who will make arrangements to stream free movies, documentaries, programmes and songs on the train’s display screens. Earlier, these were ad-free. However, this is set to change.

2. Uddhav Thackeray, Narayan Rane may share a stage at Sindhudurg this week

Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray and senior Congress party leader Narayan Rane are likely to share a stage at a public function in Kudal, Sindhudurg district later this week. The two leaders, who are known for frequently bad-mouthing each other, could face each other for the first time since Rane was expelled from Sena in July 2005.

3. Mumbai hit-and-run: Speeding car knocks down 95-year-old woman, kills her

A 95-year-old woman died after she was knocked down by a speeding car on Wednesday morning. The woman, Shantabai Joshi, was walking on Deen Dayal Road in front of Billeshwar Mahadev temple when a car rammed into her around 7 am. “Joshi succumbed to grievous injuries,” said a police officer.

4. How two chemistry grads ran a drug start-up, made pots of money and went to jail

Rajkumar Naidu, 36, from Karnataka, and Harischandra Nanasaheb Dorge, 51, from Pune, are not your average start-up owners. The two organic chemistry majors used their knowledge of chemicals to set up factories that made Mephedrone, or MD — a dangerous synthetic drug that has become hugely popular in Mumbai by its street name meow-meow.

5. Farmers torch vehicles over land for airport near Mumbai; at least 25 injured

Hundreds of angry farmers protesting against a proposed defence airport on the outskirts of Mumbai held up traffic, clashed with police and burned down four police vehicles on Thursday. At least 26 people — 12 policemen, 12 locals and two mediapersons — were injured in the violence.