Villagers attack police after dandia music is switched off

NAVI MUMBAI: An unruly group of villagers attacked on-duty Mora police officials in the early hours on Friday, and later also stormed inside the coastal police station to break the glass windows and damage a police jeep. The mob was reportedly angry over the abrupt stoppage of loud dandia music which was being played as late as 2.30am, which was much beyond the official deadline of 12am.
Assistant commissioner of police Shashikant Borate told TOI: “So far we have arrested two men in this case, while the others are still wanted. A team of five police personnel had gone to the spot in Mora at around 2.30am in order to stop the loud music which was being illegally played. However, some people in the crowd who were also under the influence of alcohol attacked the police team.”
ACP Borate added that four of the cops sustained light injuries after stones were hurled at them in this regard. After this clash at the spot, the villagers later regrouped and forcibly entered Mora police station where they broke glass windows and other government property, and also damaged a police jeep.
An official at Mora coastal police informed that the two men, Pritam Koli (35) and Dinesh Koli (19), have been booked for assault, rioting, damaging government property and preventing government servants from doing their duty under the IPC sections 332, 337, 323, 427, 141, 143, 145, 147, and 353 along with section 37 of the Bombay Police Act.
In all, 16 people have been named as accused in this case. “We are taking this matter very seriously, because if public starts misbehaving with police, then there can be a law and order problem in the area,” said an official.
On Friday morning, cops had carried out an intensive patrolling at Mora village, which was visibly looking tense after the clash.
In December last year, a mob has similarly attacked two constables of Khandeshwar police station and also pelted stones at the police van after the cops had switched off the loudspeakers at the venue in New Panvel where a religious event was taking place.