DCP transferred for ‘not properly handling’ communal tension in Bhiwandi
Maharashtra Police resorted to lathicharge to control the tension in Thane district’s Bhiwandi over rumours of stone pelting on Ganesh idol during the immersion procession on the day of Anant Chaturdashi.
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The situation escalated after members of the procession started talking about someone throwing a stone at the idol around 12.30 am.Thane Police Commissioner Ashutosh Dumbre on Thursday transferred zone-2 deputy commissioner of police (DCP) Dr Shrikant Paropkari for “not properly handling” the Bhiwandi communal tension that erupted on Tuesday.
A senior police officer told The Indian Express that the commissioner has posted Mohan Dahikar in Paropkari’s place.
The police resorted to lathicharge to control the escalating tension in Thane district’s Bhiwandi over rumours of stone pelting on a Ganesh idol during the immersion procession on the day of Anant Chaturdashi.
They detained a few suspects and registered three cases on the communal incidents.
There were reports of fresh communal incidents in the region on Wednesday also.
A source said that the top brass of the police department believes that Paropkari failed to take prompt and stern action to prevent escalation of situation.
The local residents have also been making allegations against police officials in the area for not taking action against those who vandalised Ganesh idols in the past.
The police had deployed additional forces in Bhiwandi to ensure no untoward incident occurred during the processions on the occasion of Eid-e-Milad on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, altercations and scuffle broke out during the Ganpati immersion procession that began near the Hindustani Mosque, the source added.
The Ganesh mandal members reportedly gathered at Vanjar Patti Naka, and gradually more people joined them from other Ganesh mandals, and started shouting slogans hailing Hindu deities. Later, the people from other communities also assembled at the place.
The Ganesh mandal refused to proceed with the procession until the police arrested those who pelted stones at the Ganesh idol.
Videos of the incidents surfaced on social media platforms and senior ministers in the state government were also tagged.
The police detained some people, including some “notorious elements” who were part of the Visarjan procession, said an officer.
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