No toran processions this year: Pol

“We will not allow any toran processions during Navratri this year. That does not mean we will put a ban on torans or on individuals going to temples. No permission will be granted to mandals taking out public processions. The toran processions were also a hindrance to traffic,” said Pol.

After Navghane’s murder,both gangs had gone on a rampage in Dhankawadi damaging more than 60 two and four-wheelers parked on the road. Mane and some other history-sheeters,including Bapu Nayar and Nilesh Baswant were subsequently arrested. Police had invoked the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against these gangs.

Dnyaneshwar Shivaji Jadhav (31),brother-in-law of Mane,and a history-sheeter,was murdered in January,allegedly by members of the Navghane gang. Jadhav,a resident of Dattanagar,was the the main suspect in the Navghane murder case and was trying to secure bail for Mane. Two weeks after this incident,a gang of 10 armed goon set on fire a shop in Dhankawadi in which two persons were killed and one was injured. All these persons had cases against them. Police had arrested 10 person in connection with the case. One more murder was reported in Sangvi area following a dispute over Toran procession.

Joint Police Commissioner Sanjivkumar Singhal said,“We are keeping a close watch on members of all these groups. Many gang leaders are behind bars. We will also take preventive action against them ahead of Navratri.”