Navi Mumbai: A day after the Maratha protest turned violent in Koparkhairane, residents have alleged that police personnel acted as mute spectators when a mob vandalised shops, vehicles, and offices.
“Some of the police officers, whom we asked to control the protesters, said they have been ordered not to do anything. After letting the mob vandalise almost 100 vehicles, setting a police chowky near Koparkhairane D-Mart and nine vehicles on fire, the police started taking action,” Nilesh Patil, a local, and president of Agri-Koli Youth Foundation, said.
Mr. Patil said some of the protesters were aged 15 and 16. “We nabbed some of them, who are from Satara. Someone had deliberately staged the violence against Koparkhairane villagers by paying money to protesters, and it is surely politically driven. We hope the police find the culprits. At least five villagers had suffered injuries,” he said.
Office and house of Shiv Sena corporator Shivram Patil was also vandalised. “We met police officers on Thursday and they assured arrests. If they fail to do so, we won’t hesitate to go on protest. On Saturday, we plan to have a meeting with the gram vikas mandal and decide on the next course of action. Villagers from Thane, Panvel, Raigad, and Uran have extended their support to us,” Mr. Patil said.
Meanwhile, Navi Mumbai Police Commissioner Hemant Nagrale issued a statement on Thursday. “The police had to lob tear gas shells and resort to lathicharge to disperse agitators at Kalamboli, who had blocked the highway and other roads for more than six hours. In the violence, eight police officers, 12 police staffers, and seven civilians were injured,” Mr. Nagrale said.
The Kalamboli police have arrested 32 people under sections of attempt to murder, who are in police custody till July 30. While three people were arrested in Khandeshwar, seven were arrested in Vashi, and 11 people were nabbed in Koparkhairane for rioting and unlawful assembly.
