IT Correspondent
Mumbai, April 01:
Eighteen people have been arrested and an offence has been registered against 400 unknown persons in connection with mob violence that led to injury to seven policemen and damage to 12 police vehicles at the Sach Khand Gurdwara in Nanded in Marathwada region of Maharashtra on Sunday.
Out of 400 odd people booked, the police have identified 60 accused with the help of CCTV footage and the process of identifying others is on, police said.
In the attack, by some fanatic Sikh activists, reportedly using swords, DySP Vikrant Gaikwad, Police officers-Dinesh Pande and Ajay Yadav were grievously injured, while Addl SP Nilesh More, police officers Vijay Kawade, Dwarkadas Chikhalikar and Sandip Shivale had a narrow escape.
In a statement, the Nanded police said, “Every year the Sikh brothers at the Sach Khand Gurdwara organise the religious procession and seek permission for it in advance from the district collector. But this year, due to rising COVID-19 cases, a complete lockdown was ordered from March 26 in Nanded. Hence, they were denied permission to take out any procession. Further, a couple of meetings were held by police with the board members of the gurudwara, asking them to ensure the procession does not take place and preventive measures were taken to avoid any untoward incident.”
However, on Sunday, at around 4 pm a procession was taken out inside the gurdwara premises. During this time, some youths allegedly defied instructions from clerics and police and insisted on taking out a procession on the road. When the youths tried to move the barricade and come on the road, the on-duty policemen stopped them, following which violence erupted. A video of the incident went viral, showing a large crowd — armed with sticks and swords — outside the gurdwara kicking away police barricades and attacking on-duty policemen.
With the violence taking place at three different spots, three FIRs were registered against 400 unknown people who were part of the crowd. They were registered under IPC sections for attempt to murder, assaulting public servant, rioting, use of arms, criminal intimidation and under various laws for violating pandemic guidelines.
Nanded SP Pramod Shewale said, “Two of our policemen suffered grievous injuries. One of them suffered injury on his head and another on his back. The situation is now under control”.
