Situation in city under control but tense

Situation in city under control but tense

Pune: The ripples of the violence in Koregaon-Bhima area on Monday were felt in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad on Tuesday as well. Eight buses were damaged besides some private vehicles, while anti-social elements forced people to close their shops in different parts of the city. Incidents of stone pelting were also reported at some places.

Meanwhile, Pune city police have deployed heavy bandobast at sensitive locations in the city. 

“Two companies of State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) have been deployed. The Quick Reaction Teams (QRT), Riot Control Police (RCP) and the DCPs are present at all sensitive places. Except for Pimpri, there was no violence anywhere in the city, barring closure of shops for sometime in different places. The situation is under control,” Pune Police Commissioner Rashmi Shukla told Sakal Times. 

Top police officials also met leaders from the two groups and appealed for peace. 

“They have submitted memorandum for peace and assured that they will not indulge in any sort of violence. Based on their complaint, an FIR has been registered against Milind Ekbote of Samast Hindu Aghadi and Sambhaji Bhide, with Pimpri police station for an attempt to murder, rioting under the Indian Penal Code as well as relevant sections of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. We have transferred the case to Shikrapur police station under Pune rural police for investigation as it relates to incidents under their jurisdiction,” she added.

According to police and local residents, several groups of people had been moving around forcing people to close shops in Khadki, Aundh Road, Vishrantwadi, Ramwadi, Yerawada, Shivajinagar, Laxmi Road, Sinhagad Road, Pimple Saudagar and Pimpri-Chinchwad areas.

Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Ravindra Kadam added, “We have stepped up vigil. Also, the leaves of all police personnel have been cancelled and they have been asked to report for duty immediately.”

Combing operations 
Crime Branch sleuths have been raiding several localities in Pune, Pimpri and Chinchwad, to look for history-sheeters and also check if those externed from city limits are still here. 
“Involvement of criminals in the violence by vested interests cannot be ruled out,” a senior officer told Sakal Times.
Situation in city areas

Vishrantwadi 
DCP (Zone 4) Deepak Sakore said, “A group of people gathered at Vishrantwadi Chowk and gave us a protest letter and then dispersed around noon. There has been no untoward incident.” 

Pimpri protests 
Hundreds of people gathered at Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Chowk in Pimpri and raised slogans. The protests disrupted the traffic on the old Pune-Mumbai Highway for some time. The mob also went on a rampage and damaged some vehicles including a bus before police could control the situation. Later, an FIR was registered against Ekbote and Bhide at Pimpri police station. 

Local residents alleged that some miscreants were stopping vehicles including school buses and forcing shopkeepers to down shutters.

DCP (Zone 3) Ganesh Shinde, under whose jurisdiction Pimpri-Chinchwad comes, said, “The situation is under control. We appeal people not to believe in rumours.” 

Pune railway station area
Around 400 persons gathered near Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar statue opposite Sassoon General Hospital on Tuesday evening. The mob damaged two PMPML buses and set some tyres on fire and created a ruckus. The mob raised anti-BJP slogans and demanded that senior police officials arrest Ekbote immediately. 

Disturbances across Maharashtra
Tense situations were reported at Nanded, Umarga, Solapur, Ahmednagar, Jalna, Hingoli and Parbani across the State. 

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