Clashes erupt in Nashik during demolition of unauthorised structure around dargah; 15 arrested
Nashik Satpir Dargah Violence: The Nashik Municipal Corporation carried out the demolition around structures that had been built around the Satpeer Dargah.
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Police personnel put barricades after tension erupted in the area late Tuesday night following attempts by the Municipal Corporation to demolish an allegedly illegal dargah, in Nashik, Maharashtra. (PTI Photo)Nashik Dargah Violence: Clashes broke out between the police and a crowd in Maharashtra’s Nashik Tuesday night after civic authorities moved in to demolish an illegal structure built around a decades-old dargah in the city’s Kathe Galli area.
The demolition was carried out by the Nashik Municipal Corporation around structures that had been built around the Satpeer Dargah. As a large number of Corporation staff and the police surrounded the place, clashes broke out after protesters angry over the demolition got into an argument with the government staff.
“The trustees of the Dargah and local citizens had agreed to remove the construction. Accordingly, all of them had gathered on Tuesday at 11 pm. At the same time, a crowd arrived from the direction of Usmania Chowk, and chaos broke out. The trustees and eminent citizens tried to reason with the mob. Senior police officers also attempted to calm the situation, but the crowd did not listen to anyone and began pelting stones,” said Kiran Kumar Chavan, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Nashik.
Chavan said the police deployed tear gas shells, and carried out a mild baton charge to disperse the agitators. “In the stone-pelting, 31 police personnel sustained minor injuries. So far, 15 individuals have been arrested in connection with the violence, and 57 two-wheelers allegedly used by the mob have been seized,” DCP Chavan told the media.
A bulldozer being used to demolish an allegedly illegal structure of a dargah, in Nashik district, Maharashtra. (PTI Photo)
Demolition activities commenced at around 5.30 am Wednesday with the help of two JCB machines. Nearly 90 per cent of the unauthorised structure has since been razed, with debris being swiftly cleared by municipal vehicles.
A heavy police force continues to be deployed in the Kathe Galli area, with authorities rerouting traffic towards Bhaba Nagar to maintain order.
The Nashik Municipal Corporation had previously issued a 15-day notice to vacate the structure that had come up around the dargah.
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