Mosque gate ‘rammed’, slogans raised in Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri during celebrations on Holi eve

Locals alleged that on Thursday, the group carrying the tree trunk to the temple rammed it into the mosque gate several times while raising provocative slogans. Several videos of the alleged incident were also circulated on social media, with some captions alleging the group was trying to force their way into the mosque.

A local resident, asking not to be named, said: “…While the miravnuk (procession) is an old custom in Konkan (region), but this time around we were shocked that they rammed the trunk into the gate. The gate was then locked, but they rammed the trunk again. Some people were also raising aggressive slogans which vitiated the atmosphere.”

Ratnagiri SP Dhananjay Kulkarni said, “Some youngsters in front of the procession, who were under the influence of alcohol, behaved aggressively and chanted slogans outside the mosque. We have registered an FIR against them under Section 135 of the Maharashtra Police Act as they defied prohibitory orders issued by the administration.”

SP Kulkarni said the incident “prima facie does not appear to be planned”. “Actually there was a large crowd and due to the momentum from the back, the trunk was propelled forwards,” he said.

Another officer, who did not wish to be named, said: “Some elements used these videos with misleading captions trying to create communal discord. Our team tracked down a Worli-based person who had uploaded such a video and made him delete it. We are deciding if any legal action should be taken against him.”