36 held for kolhapur unrest as normalcy returns to city

36 held for kolhapur unrest as normalcy returns to city

Five minors detained for allegedly putting up images of Tipu Sultan and Aurangzeb with offensive messages as their WhatsApp status; no evidence perpetrators of violence were outsiders: police.

Thirty-six persons, including three minors, were arrested for vandalism and rioting a day after violence broke out in Kolhapur even as the city in western Maharashtra limped back to normalcy on Thursday.

Superintendent of Police Mahendra Pandit said over 400 people have been booked in three FIRs registered in three different police stations in connection with the violence that erupted on Wednesday after right-wing groups gathered at the city’s Shivaji Chowk to protest against social media messages reportedly glorifying Mughal emperor Aurangzeb and 18th century Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan.

“Another FIR was filed on Tuesday over some persons keeping images of Tipu Sultan and Aurangzeb along with offensive audio messages as their WhatsApp status. Five juveniles have been detained in this matter. We are also probing their mobile phones,” Mr. Pandit said.

Prima facie investigation has revealed that the persons who put up the offensive messages were college-going boys. There is no evidence yet that the perpetrators of the violence came from outside Kolhapur, Mr. Pandit said.

MVA targets BJP

The Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) continued to target the ruling Shiv Sena-BJP alliance for “deliberately fostering riots” ahead of elections. “Whatever has happened at two to three places [alluding to Kolhapur and Ahmednagar] is not in line with the culture of Maharashtra. The State is known as a peace-loving place. People here do not have a tendency to take the law into their own hands,” NCP chief Sharad Pawar said.

He said people ought to bear in mind the ideals of 19th century reformer-king Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj of Kolhapur. “I also would like to tell those who deliberately like to create disputes that it is the common people who have to pay the price for all this.”

Taking a dig at the ruling alliance, Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut asked why so-called adherents of Hindutva needed to use Aurangzeb as a prop to win elections. “How come Aurangzeb has suddenly risen from the grave when you [Sena-BJP] are in power? Do you need the aid of Aurangzeb to win elections? If you have the guts, then arrest the real troublemakers,” said Mr. Raut, in a jibe at Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis.