Man killed, buried under temple’s ‘havan kund’ in Punjab’s Sangrur, 2 held
Mumbai/Pune, January 2
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday ordered a judicial inquiry into Monday’s Pune riots that killed one person, even as violence spread to Mumbai.
Both Dalit and Maratha groups took to the streets in several cities of Maharashtra—including Mumbai—on Tuesday, affecting rail and road traffic, reports said.
In a latest development, the central railway suspended suburban services between Kurla and Vashi on its harbour corridor and is running special services between CSMT-Kurla and Vashi-Panvel section.
Shops and business establishments were shut and a senior journalist of a national news channel was attacked as groups of youths from Chembur, Vikhroli, Mankhurd, and Govandi joined the protest, police said. The journalist however was unhurt, an eyewitness said.
Hundreds of protesters gathered in Priyadarshini, Kurla, Sidharth Colony and Amar Mahal areas on the Eastern Express Highway, took out processions and raised slogans against the government and the administration, he said.
Mumbai Police PRO said section 144 has not yet been imposed in Chembur or other parts of eastern suburbs, although security was heightened in Chembur.
The protesters stopped local train services at the Govandi and Chembur railway stations of the Harbour Line.
Protesters also blocked the Sion-Panvel Highway.
Mumbai Police also tweeted that the traffic at Chembur remained affected.
The department said in a tweet: “Don’t believe in rumours. Traffic on Eastern expressway was affected due to protests. It’s moving now. Traffic at Chembur Naka is still affected. There is nothing to panic. Verify facts with police officers and men before posting anything on social media”.
Central Railway’s Chief PRO Sunil Udasi said protesters stopped the suburban services, but added the railways had nothing to do with the incident.
Media reports said protesters threw stones and damaged shops in Mumbai’s Ghatkopar. There were reports of buses being vandalised in Pune’s Hadapsar and Fursungi. Buses to Ahmedabad were briefly suspended.
Dalit leader Prakash Ambedkar has called for a statewide shutdown on Wednesday, while Republican Party of India workers held protests in Thane.
Violence erupted in the village of Koregaon-Bhima on January 1 during the 200th anniversary celebrations of the Anglo-Maratha War between the army of Peshwa Bajirao II with a small force of the East India Company that comprised a large number of Dalits. One person was killed in the riots in Monday.
Inquiry
Chief Minister Fadnavis announced a judicial inquiry into the violence, and warned people against believing rumours.
“A sitting High Court judge will head the inquiry,” Fadnavis said. “The youth’s death would be probed by the CID,” Fadnavis told reporters, appealing for calm.
“Maharashtra is a progressive state which does not believe in casteist violence,” he said. “Strict action would be taken against those who use social media to spread rumours,” he said asking political parties to refrain from saying anything that would fuel tensions.
“Around three lakh people had gathered (for the battle anniversary celebrations). Some people tried to create a serious scene. But six companies (of security personnel) were posted. Police promptly controlled the situation and averted a major problem,” Fadnavis said, adding that his government had decided to give Rs 10 lakh compensation to the victim’s kin.
Fadnavis statements came after Nationalist Congress Party national president Sharad Pawar accused the Maharashtra government of not doing enough to contain the violence.
“Why did the administration not take adequate precautions for this event which has been celebrated peacefully for 200 years? Due to its lapses, there was confusion and rumour-mongering, resulting in the violence,” the Nationalist Congress Party chief said.
‘Inaction’
Pawar suspected the involvement of anti-social elements taking advantage of the situation to indulge in violence, which started with stone-pelting. The administration was aware of the huge crowd coming for the event for the past three four days.
Several lakhs of Dalits had congregated around the Victory Pillar (Vijay Stambh) erected by the British in Sanaswadi village when suddenly stone pelting started, allegedly by some right-wing groups carrying saffron flags.
In the clashes that ensued between the two groups, more than 30 vehicles, including buses, police vans and private vehicles, were torched or damaged.
The police fired tear gas to control the mobs and prohibitory orders were imposed in the entire Pune district.
Rahul Fatangale, 28, from Nanded was killed in the incident. “This is highly condemnable. It is imperative for the political and social forces to deal with the situation calmly and without resorting to provocative statements that could worsen matters,” Pawar said.
