78 involved in communal violence booked by cops after Dy SP and 3 police officers injured in stone-pelting
78 involved in communal violence booked by cops after Dy SP and 3 police officers injured in stone-pelting
Theu00a0fear in the air is palpable. The roads are desolate. Many families in Junnar, over 90 km from the city, await their men folk. A scrimmage that took on a communal hue turned into mob violence on Saturday leaving a deputy superintendent of police and three other police officials injured. And now, the locals fear stringent police action. The police have booked 78 people for attempt to murder, of which 21 have been already arrested. Locals in Junnar said all the others had fled town fearing police wrath.
Turbulent past
Junnar has a history of communal riots and the two communities involved had given written assurances to the police that they would not resort to violence.u00a0 "Communal violence has occurred in the past. We have not registered cases in the past. But showing leniency this time may lead to law and order problems in the future. Besides, the mob attacked police officers, which is a serious matter. So, cases will be registered against all 78," said Superintendent of Police, Pune rural, Sandip Karnik. He said if the offenders surrendered, the police would deal with them peacefully. Frightened residents from Junnar spoke to MiD DAY and said they were afraid to return home, as they feared the police would retaliate for hurting one of their own by implicating the offenders in false cases.
What happened
On Saturday, Ali, a labourer from Sayyedwada, was piling cement blacks against a temple compound wall in Pardeshpura, when he was intercepted by one Nilesh Pardeshi. Ali insisted on continuing with his job, as he had been paid by the contractor to do so. Soon, a heated exchange of words ensued between the Ali's brother Moyeb Ali and Pardeshi and took on a communal tone. Groups that had rushed to the aid of their respective members resorted to physical violence and injured each other.u00a0 Ali, supported by residents of Sayyedwada, rushed to the police station and lodged a complaint against Pardeshi and his group.u00a0
A local said Ali's complaint was recorded first at 3.30 pm and it was registered as case no 430/11. On the other hand, Pardeshi's complaint was registered as Case No 426/11, despite the fact that his group lodged the complaint later. Their statement inculpated Ali as the initiator of the spat. Some 100 residents from Sayyedwada then approached the police station demanding action against Pardeshi and his men. But they were first asked to submit medical reports from the government hospital, a local said.
He said the retreating mob then damaged police vehicles, escalating tension in the area. There were also reports of Deputy Superintendent of Police H K Jagdale being injured in the stone-pelting incident, he said.
In the wee hours of Sunday, the police hauled up residents from Sayyedwada and Pardeshpura and even allegedly beat up women. The police, however, refuted the charges. "I was present on the spot and these claims are false," Karnik said.
1,192 The number of communal clashes that have taken place in the state during the 11-year period from 1998 to 2008,u00a0 according to a government report
172 Number of lives that were lost in the communal violence in the state
ADVERTISEMENT
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
