Satara violence: 1 dead, 19 injured in clashes over social media post

“On Sunday, we hosted dinner for some guests from Miraj and Battis Shirala (villages in Sangli district). After we saw them off, my son left for prayers. That was the last time I spoke to him,” Shikalgar’s father, Liaqat, told The Indian Express. “We hope that he gets justice and the perpetrators are punished so that no other father, mother and wife has to suffer such trauma,” he said.

“Objectionable content was posted from the social media accounts of two youths (on Sunday afternoon). The two suspects were detained by the police… While they were being questioned, members of the other community reacted violently to these posts. Around 9.30 pm on Sunday, over 150 people from this community resorted to violence in Pusesavali village. They set ablaze some two-wheelers and cars, damaged public property and assaulted some people,” said Inspector General of Police (Kolhapur Range) Sunil Phulari, who reviewed the situation on Monday.

“In addition to 10 police personnel who sustained minor injuries, 10 residents were also injured. One of them succumbed to his injuries. An offence has been registered under relevant IPC Sections including that for murder, and 23 suspects have been apprehended so far; a search is on for others,” he said.

“A separate offence has been registered with regard to the objectionable posts. Adequate police personnel have been deployed in the area and the situation is peaceful. Prohibitory orders have been enforced and internet services have been suspended to ensure that social media is not misused to create disharmony,” he said.

Shiraj Bagwan, a villager, alleged that Shikalgar succumbed to a head injury. “My cousin, Sarfaraz Bagwan, collapsed when he was hit on the head with a stone tile. Shikalgar had bent down to help him when he was also hit on the head with a blunt stick,” he alleged.

Shikalgar is survived by his wife, who is six months pregnant, his father, who is a teacher at a local Urdu medium school, and mother, who retired as a nurse at a government hospital in the area. “He was an engineer, and had an earthmover rental business. He was an only child,” said Shiraj Bagwan.

Shikalgar’s funeral was held on Monday night amid heavy police deployment.

Police sources said they were investigating all angles, including possible links of some of those arrested in the case to Hindutva outfits.

Pusesavali village, with a population of about 8,000, is located about 45 km from Satara district headquarters and 160 km from Pune city. On Monday, police personnel were deployed at all the entry points of the village, and no outside vehicles were allowed to enter. Several local organisations have called a bandh in the village on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, in a post on social media, Satara District Collector Jitendra Dudi and Superintendent of Police Samir Shaikh said: “In the backdrop of tensions in Satara district, the district administration is appealing to the citizens not to believe any rumours. People should refrain from posting any content on social media that can potentially lead to communal discord and cause disturbance to law and order. We are appealing to the citizens to be alert and to inform the administration and police if they come to know of any untoward incident.”