Journalism of Courage
Two separate cases were registered against Maharashtra Navanirman Sena (MNS) at Deccan Gymkhana and Bharati Vidyapeeth police stations for attacking paani puri vendors on Friday. The attacks followed similar incidents in Mumbai and Thane after reports that a vendor was captured on camera urinating into a jug at a hand held paani puri cart.
On Friday evening,MNS activists vandalised paani puri stalls at Jangali Maharaj Road,Deccan Gymkhana,Fergusson College Road and at places near Bharati Vidyapeeth. A case against seven persons was registered at Deccan Gymkhana police station. S P Patil,inspector (crime) with Deccan police station said,The case was registered late in the night. Based on inputs,one person has been identified. The process of identifying others is on. Dnyaneshwar Phadtare,deputy commissioner of police (Zone I) said,We had planned our bandobast presuming such incidences. The suspects have been booked under IPC sections for unlawful assembly and rioting.
At Bharati Vidyapeeth police station a similar complaint was lodged against 15 for attacking paani puri vendors. Nagnath Wakude,senior police inspector with Bharati Vidyapeeth PS said,The process of identifying the suspects is on. Dnyaneshwar Chavan,deputy commissioner of police (Zone III),said,We organised meetings of local groups at police stations to ensure there is no untoward incident.
