MUMBAI, November 6: The Goregaon police deployed at Matangad in Dindoshi to oversee the demolition of hutments on Borivli National Park land today severely beat up journalist and a member of the Nivara Hakk Sangharsha Samiti Gurbir Singh on charges of rioting.The Dindoshi police also filed a case against Singh for inciting people to violence and rioting. He was later released on a bail of Rs 950. Similar cases have been filed against GR Khairnar and 40 others in the locality. Khairnar was also released.The incident took place at 12.15 pm. Singh, along with some Nivara members, had gone to Matangad to demonstrate against the demolition. Said eye-witnesses, they were peacefully demonstrating. But when Singh started shouting slogans and urged people not to allow officials to carry out the demolition, police lathi-charged the crowd, badly injuring him. He was rushed to Bhagwati Municipal Hospital at Borivli. The plaster around his left arm and marks of police lathis are a testimony of the beatings. Singh said there was no provocation from the people and alleged that the beating was pre-planned.MP and actress Shabana Azmi, who visited the site in the afternoon and the police station later, said, ``In a democratic country, people have the right to demonstrate.'' She blasted the state government, saying, ``we are also concerned about protecting the environment, but it cannot be separated from human beings.'' Police claimed people pelted stones at policemen, injuring six policemen and six forest officials. Senior police inspector KA Gawde accused Singh of inciting the public. Gawde claimed the only way to stop people was to lathi-charge. Since Singh was the instigator, he received the maximum injuries.
