Mumbai: Over 40 folks have been detained after violence erupted within the Parbhani district of Maharashtra’s Marathwada area on Wednesday throughout a bandh known as to protest the vandalism of a duplicate of the Structure positioned close to a statue of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar.
Parbhani: A construction set on fireplace throughout protests which continued for the second day over alleged vandalising of a duplicate of the Indian Structure, in Parbhani, Maharashtra, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. The stone duplicate of the Structure outdoors Parbhani railway station, set in entrance of a statue of Dr B R Ambedkar, was discovered to have been broken on Tuesday, sparking protests. (PTI Photograph) (PTI12_11_2024_000224B) (PTI)
Protesters set automobiles ablaze and pelted stones at retailers, prompting the police to deploy tear fuel. Authorities additionally imposed prohibitory orders underneath part 163 of the Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and known as in two platoons of the state reserve police power as a precaution, even because the state of affairs was introduced underneath management in just a few hours, officers stated.
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The unrest started Tuesday night when Sopan Pawar, a resident of Murtizapur village within the Parbhani tehsil, allegedly vandalised a cement duplicate of the Structure saved in a glass field on the base of Ambedkar’s statue close to the collector’s workplace. Native activists apprehended Pawar and handed him over to the police.
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The incident led to an uproar, as protestors blocked roads and vandalised just a few automobiles on Tuesday night, which led to authorities calling for a bandh on Wednesday. Whereas the bandh remained largely peaceable till Wednesday midday, violence broke out round 1 pm, when a mob started pelting stones at retailers and setting automobiles and PVC pipes outdoors retailers on fireplace. The mob broken over 15 automobiles, together with vehicles, four-wheelers, and two-wheelers.
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Whereas the police responded with tear fuel to disperse the group, district Justice of the Peace Raghunath Gawade subsequently imposed part 163 of the BNSS to ban public gatherings, suspended web companies, and convened a gathering with political events and social organisations to debate peace-restoration measures. Nonetheless, a crowd of over 50 ladies activists then barged into the district collector’s workplace and vandalised it.
Shahaji Umap, deputy inspector basic of the Nanded area, reached Parbhani on Wednesday and reviewed the state of affairs. Addressing the media within the night, he stated the police have detained over 40 folks in reference to the violence to date. He added that the method to file instances in opposition to the accused has began.
Vijay Wakode, vp of Republican Sena led by Anandraj Ambedkar, accused the police of attempting to cowl up the matter by declaring the accused, Pawar, as a mentally unstable particular person. “It’s the job of doctors to check these things and certify them. Why are the police giving this certificate? People were angry with this approach to cover up the matter. Some of them used this unrest to spread violence. We have appealed to people to restore peace in the city,” Wakode stated.
“As our activists caught him and took him to the police station, we think he is not mentally unstable. Someone has sent him to spread the unrest. The police should find out who it is through a narco analysis test. We also demanded to take him in police custody for interrogation as he has been sent to a civil hospital,” he added.
Raghunath Gawade, district Justice of the Peace of Parbhani, stated that the state of affairs is underneath management now, and two further platoons of the state reserve police power (SRPF) had been known as in as a precaution.
“Prima facie, the accused was drunk and also appeared mentally unstable, but doctors in the civil hospital are conducting medical tests,” stated Gawade. “Today, we have issued prohibitory orders and also held a meeting with all organisations to restore peace. Some organisations have demanded conducting a Narco analysis test. Whether it was a conspiracy or not is a part of the investigation.” he added.
In the meantime, Congress chief Vijay Wadettiwar blamed the delay in motion by district authorities for the violence throughout a bandh. “After the incident, the police and the administration were expected to take immediate action. But a delay from the authorities led to this violence. The government should ensure strict action in the case of vandalisation of replicas of the Constitution, and no one would be spared. On the other hand, people should also maintain peace and cooperate with police and administration,” stated Wadettiwar.
Parbhani MP Sanjay Jadhav from Shiv Sena (UBT) additionally slammed the administration for not dealing with the state of affairs correctly and urged folks to take care of peace. “I condemn the incident of vandalising the replica of the Constitution and request the people to maintain peace. The administration should have issued prohibitory orders on Tuesday itself, but it did not happen and led to today’s violence,” he stated.
BJP chief Girish Mahajan urged the folks of Parbhani to take care of peace. “The accused is mentally unstable, and the people of Parbhani know it. The police have arrested him and are taking strict action, so people should maintain peace and communal harmony,” stated Mahajan.
Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi chief Prakash Ambedkar warned of penalties if the miscreants who vandalised the Structure duplicate will not be arrested within the subsequent 24 hours. “It is not the first time such vandalism of Babasaheb’s statue or a symbol of Dalit identity has happened. I request everyone to maintain law and order. If all the miscreants are not arrested within the next 24 hours, consequences will follow,” stated Ambedkar in a submit on X.
Union minister of state Ramdas Athawale additionally condemned the incident. “The vandalism of a replica of the Constitution will not be tolerated. I request all the people in Parbhani to maintain peace,” he stated.