Maharashtra village lies in tatters

"Some 150 to 200 policemen entered our village at night. They beat up men and manhandled women and children."

The damaged vehicles lying on the streets of of Kapashi village in Akola district of Maharashtra. Photo: Dhananjay Sable

For over three days now, 70 damaged two-wheelers, two burnt autorickshaws, three cars and a tractor have been blocking the streets of Kapashi village in Akola district of Maharashtra. The local people refuse to clear the roads unless the “culprits” who damaged their vehicles are punished.

They say the “culprits” are none other than the police. Water coolers in every house, doors, TV sets and other valuables too have been damaged. The police attack was triggered by a “scuffle” between the people and policemen who visited the village on Tuesday to investigate reports of gambling.

“Some 150 to 200 policemen entered our village at night. They beat up men and manhandled women and children. The rampage went on for two hours,” Purshottam Kacharkar, former Sarpanch of Kapashi, told

The Hindu .

“We have left the damaged belongings on the road so that the government could see how the policemen vandalised our village,” said Mr. Kacharkar, who said the policemen “snatched Rs. 2 lakh in cash and a gold chain” from him.

“It is true that the police crossed their limits. I visited the village today [Saturday] and could see smashed windowpanes, damaged vehicles and even hurt cattle,” Minister of State for Home Ranjeet Patil, who is from Akola, told The Hindu.

“The police version is that only 18 policemen had gone to the village to search for five policemen from the earlier team who had gone missing. The SDPO [Sub-divisional Police Officer] who allegedly led the police team has been sent on forced leave, and an inquiry is being done,” he said.