Maharashtra government's action has irked Shiv Sena
Life was thrown out of gear at Palghar in Maharashtra’s Thane district on Wednesday with the Shiv Sena enforcing a shutdown to protest the suspension of two police officers over the Facebook post row.
On Tuesday, the government suspended Thane Superintendent of Police (Rural) Ravindra Sengaonkar and Senior Police Inspector of Palghar police station Srikant Pingale for applying wrong Sections of the IPC and disobeying the orders of superiors in arresting Shaheen Dhada and Renu Srinivasan for putting up a Facebook post questioning the bandh following Bal Thackeray’s death.
While educational institutions, offices and shops remained shut owing to fear of Sena hooligans, the streets wore a deserted look and transport was badly hit.
“We are against the transfer of the magistrate who remanded the girls in custody and the suspension of the police officers who arrested them,” said Sena district head Prabhakar Raul.
There was heavy police deployment all through the shutdown. “Two companies of the State Reserve Police Force have been deployed in Palghar, along with the Thane Rural Police,” a senior police officer told The Hindu.
Even the Palghar Bar Association joined the bandh to protest against the transfer of the local Judicial Magistrate (First Class) Ramchandra Bagade, who granted bail to the two girls.
“The judge worked as per the law in this case and still he has been penalised and sent to Khandesh. He should have at least been given the opportunity to put up his side. His transfer is very unjust. Such things will make it difficult for the judges to function. We oppose such a move,” S.R. Parulekar, president of the Palghar Bar Association, told The Hindu.
Keywords: Shiv Sena, Facebook row, Thackeray funeral, Mumbai shutdown, Palghar
It was right on the part of the administration to take action on the
officials and the Magistrate.Misusing of power and authority should not
be tolerated under any circumstances.The magistrate should have
requested for proper opinion before acting on the police FIR.This should
be an example and a lesson to all.Right minded people know the shut down
of Mumbai was not due to respect but because of fear of reprisals from
the Sainiks. Also the people know that the dead man has not positively
contributed to the state but made his family rich by lucrative real
estate deals and made his son and nephews goons.
The Question of arrest does not arise over here, a simple way one could clearly resolved,is give strict warning to the girls.
Am sure all of us will understand is that one cannot touch anyone during the period 6pm to 6am unless it is a blatant crime or something the Judiciary is more at fault not the policeman, because giving an arrest warrant in the late hours is not acceptable in a democratic country when we have a RULE. if rule is broken by gatekeeper of the law, then today anyone with power can get away.
Sad that no one understand or respect the law of the country
Calling for Bandh should be made illegal in India. It denies many
daily wage workers of their earning, businesses make loss and the
society on the whole is gripped and paralyzed in fear and lethargy.
This should end. Whatever be it there should be no permission to
call for bandh.
This issue is not only about the freedom of speech but also about
anti-social elements masquerading as political parties and holding
society and state institutions to ransom.
The party is a menace to society and efforts should be made to contain its scurrilous activities using the rule of law. I hope there is someone out there in the political establishment who can make a start by reining in their extra judicial activities and by prosecuting them for destroying private property (Shaheen's uncle's clinic), for disturbing public peace (by rioting outside the police station) and for harassment and intimidation of 2 young girls. Like every registered organisation, the head of the organisation should be held responsible for legal matters.
I completely support Prof. Gunachandran. Indeed, posting on FB and printing and delivering notice in paper format, are legally the same. If these girls had distributed leaflets with this message on that day, people would have criticized her. Its wrong to assume that if its the internet, there are no (violation of freedom of speech) laws applicable, and religious sentiments can be freely hurted.
Are the Shiv Sena capable of anything other than disruptive and destructive behaviour? If they are really for the people, they should perhaps pay more attention to the severe economic issues raised by calling for bandhs. Who really gains from such extreme behaviour???
As far as I understood, the 'Facebook arrests' were made following the
outcry from Shiv sainiks and the ransacking of a clinic in Palghar.
However, due to heavy protests from citizens all over India, the case
has been fairly handled and needful actions have been taken up such as
the suspension of the cops involved in the arrest. But, what happened to
the case filed by the owner of the ransacked clinic? I believe that is
an indispensable part of the 'Facebook arrest'. What actions have been
taken up against the Shiv sainiks involved in that case?
I wonder how many of the persons making these comments have actually voted in any of the elections (Corporation , State , Parliament). It is very easy to sit at home and make comments on the internet. If you really feel there should be a change, go out and register your names in the voter list and vote.
"Mumbai shuts down due to fear, not respect" - The girls who coined this catch line deserve to be employed as Journalists. Whoever manages to employ them is a beneficiary.
Business people should come togather and oppose such move to shut their shops to support any polical party or organisation until the cause is just. I do not understand why one has to give so much impotrance to a person whose ideas/ vision was so limited to Maharastra.Girls were correct in saying so that we should give importance who really sacrificed their lives for our freedom.THESE BULLY BOYS SHOLD BE TAUGHT A LESSON UNDER THE LAW.
Its very sad that despite of having so many basic problems in Maharastra and all over India, we bother so much about a common person comments in Facebook.
Its simple, if I have to raise my family, I will first bother about providing them proper shelter, food and education. Then I will teach them honesty and morality.
There are lot of problems in India and if we prioritize them , I am damn sure that this issue will get the last position.
Thanks to The Hindu to bring such issue & highlighting them to th e public. Hatsoff & Abbreciation to the Indian Citizens who still support in large nos. in favor of the Indian Justice for a Democratic Policy.we very hope that in future Democracy will remains for our new generation not just by history..
now the people in palghar to show whether the fb post was correct or not.if they don't and stay back because of fear, what those two women stood for all will be nullified. show your strength, raise up to the occasion and attend to your duties in full without fear.the entire nation will be behind you. jai hind.
Ridiculous. There seeems to be no leadership to highlight the irrationality of the
protest....There is only a knee jerk response to public and media opinion.
They (Shiv Sena) has once again confirmed that Mumbai shut down for Bal
Thackeray's death only because of fear. And once again today.
This is not to support IT laws or the action of Police against the
girls. Maintenance of Law and order is the prime duty of the officer
in charge of a Police Station and he alone is the best judge to
evaluate and understand the nature of a given situation, its
potentiality of causing/creating Law and order problems i.e. breach of
peace or tranquility or public order. In an surcharged atmosphere as
prevailed in Maharashtra on that day, this type of FB comments, in
spite of our right to express, is bound to cause commotion among the
followers of Shiv Sena, as evident from the attack on the clinic of
the girl's uncle. Any officer on duty should have contained the
situation either using force/shooting the vandals or taking a visible
action which he believes would diffuse the anger of others. The SHO
has resorted to the 2nd option. But disproportionate sections of law
and producing before the magistrate could have been avoided. FB people
should also think and be alive to the situation.
Wow!! Living in largest democratic Country in world definitely has its
benefits. You can call for bandhs harthals or anything, destroy the
public property at you wish, make the life of "aam adhmi" most
daunting one and face no legal isssues, no arrests. But when you post
a comment or like in social networking websites , for issues even 5
year old child know the truth, you will be arrested, put behind bars.
Hail the country which still take pride on past, have no intention to
follow the path lead by leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Vivekanda in
present or future and is happy to be puppet in hands of "vote-bank"
politicians.
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