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Journalism of Courage
Thirteen years after they were booked for rioting and burning down a police chowky following the desecration of a statue of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar in Ghatkopars Ramabai Colony,a Metropolitan Magistrates court on Monday acquitted all 11 accused claiming the charges were baseless.
On July 11,1997,following the desecration of the statue,the police booked 11 persons including two women from the colony. According to the police,a mob of over hundred people had gathered outside the colony,near the statue and had begun shouting slogans. The police claimed that the accused had interrupted polices patrolling activity,making it difficult to maintain peace and order in the area. They had also filed another case regarding the burning of a police chowky near the colony. However,when the case came up for hearing,police failed to bring in even a single substantial witness who could vouch for them, said defence lawyer Rajesh Karamkar.
Two different cases were tried in the magistrates court,in which charges were filed only in 2005. The accused were informed about the case only when charges were framed against them. Three accused have died meanwhile, Karamkar added.
To examine the incident,a commission was appointed under justice S D Gundewar in November 1997. According to the commission,police officer Manohar Kadam had resorted to firing without receiving any orders from the seniors killing 10 locals. Kadam was convicted and sentenced to life in March last year. However,he was later released on bail,with his sentence suspended.
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