Scuffle at Maharashtra’s Alandi temple: Opp claims lathicharge, govt denies

The incident took place around 4 pm outside the Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj temple in Alandi when the Palkhi or procession of the palanquins carrying the ‘paduka’ (the revered symbolic footwear) of Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj, was about to embark on its journey to Pandharpur.

The palkhi of Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj began its journey from Alandi on Sunday, and will begin to make its way to Pune on Monday morning after stopping at Gandhi Wada in Alandi on Sunday night. (Express Photo)

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An altercation between police personnel and a large gathering of young “Warkaris” was reported at Alandi town on Sunday afternoon when the group tried to enter the temple. Police said they had to resort to “crowd control measures” to prevent overcrowding in the temple.

The incident took place around 4 pm outside the Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj temple in Alandi when the Palkhi or procession of the palanquins carrying the ‘paduka’ (the revered symbolic footwear) of Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj, was about to embark on its journey to Pandharpur.

Officials said the group that had altercation with police personnel was from the Warkari Shikshan Sanstha, an institution conducting training programmes for the youth who wish to join the Warkari sect.

#WATCH | Maharashtra: A scuffle broke out between warkaris (Lord Vitthal followers) and police during a procession in the Pune district yesterday

Some local youths tried to forcibly enter the Palkhi procession, leading to an altercation with the police. No lathi charge or force… pic.twitter.com/0GNkpGTzSs

— ANI (@ANI) June 11, 2023

“When a large group of 400 to 500 Warkar students tried to enter the temple premises, they were denied entry as it was packed to capacity. The student pushed down barricades and tried to enter forcefully. We had to use crowd controlling measures to stop them and prevent overcrowding. Some seniors of the Warkari sect held discussions with the group and they were sent back. The situation is under control now,” said a senior officer from Pimpri Chinchwad police.

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Vinoy Kumar Choubey, Police Commissioner of Pimpri Chinchwad, in a statement issued through the Pune District Information Office, has denied the allegation of ‘lathi charge’. He said, “Temple trustees and ‘chopdars’, senior Warkaris tried to dissuade the youth from entering, but whe they did not relent and broke the barricade, policemen tried to stop them, resulting in a scuffle. There was no lathi charge or force.”

Senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar has condemned the administration for its handling of the Alandi incident. In Satara on Sunday, he said prima facie it appears that the ‘lathicharge incident’ happened due to lack of planning on the administration’s part.

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