Cops arrest Medha agitation

However,activists alleged that a group of around 500 people were on their way to meet the suburban collector in Bandra when they were arrested without a reason last week.

“We had a peaceful meeting with officials at the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority regarding alleged corruption in the Slum Rehabilitation Scheme. Where does the question of unlawful assembly arise when we were meeting the officials after prior intimation and proper appointments?” said Simpreet Singh,an activist with National Alliance for Peoples’ Movement. “The police had acted clearly at the behest of the builder lobby against whom our activists were protesting,” added Singh.

The police say that it was required to file the chargesheet soon after the arrest to avoid the people gathered from absconding. “It is difficult to trace them once they return to their slums. They had come from different parts of the city and it was essential that we chargesheet them at the earliest. And with a clear case of rioting and unlawful assembly we had no reason to delay,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone VIII) Nisar Tamboli.