Shinde asks CP to drop charges against Sena workers

Nashik: State PWD minister Eknath Shinde on Friday asked Nashik commissioner of police S Jaganathan to drop charges of dacoity registered against 200 Shiv Sena workers that led to nine arrests on March 22.
The party workers had allegedly created ruckus at a BJP women convention in protest against the idea of carving out a separate Marathwada region from the state.
The Mumbai naka police had arrested nine Shiv sena party workers for rioting at the convention in the Bodhlenagar area. Thefts and losses of gold chains, cash and other valuables were also reported during the event.
"The commissioner has been requested to drop the charges of dacoity against the party workers. They went to protest against dividing Maharashtra and not to loot the women who were present at the event," Shinde said, adding that a meeting regarding the issue was held with party chief Uddhav Thackarey.
Shinde said the party has no complaint about the action taken on their party members protesting, but the allegation of dacoity is irrelevant. "The Sena does not want to target or avenge any party to create a law and order situation. It wants the police to find the main accused," he added. The minister said a demand was also made to book the BJP workers who had assaulted the Shiv Sena workers.
Commissioner of police S Jaganathan said, "It would take a couple of days for the police to investigate the case. If sufficient evidence are not found, the charges may be dropped. Primary investigations do not reveal any proof for charges of dacoity. But no conclusions can be drawn until investigations are complete".
The Shiv Sena also criticised the BJP for filing "false cases" of riots against the party activists in Nashik and warned of coming to street against those who would tru to split Maharashtra.
Addressing the party activists at its party office here, Shinde said filing cases of riots against the party activists was nothing but a political vendetta and the Shiv Sena would reply in its style if anyone made attempts of splitting Maharashtra.
He said, "The attempts of false crimes had also been made in the past against the party activists and we don't bother about it. We will also give reply in the same way if cases of riots are not withdrawn."
Shinde said, "The Shiv Sena party chief has taken a serious cognizance of the injustice to party activists by the BJP. We will hit the streets against those who make attempts of splitting Maharashtra."
Nine Shiv Sena activists and office-bearers, including former corporator and president of party's women wing Satyabhama Gadekar, were arrested and remanded to judicial custody for allegedly disrupting the meeting of the BJP over the statement of the national president of the state women's commission Vijaya Rahatkar, over separate Marathwada issue.
Addressing women in Bodhlenagar areas of the city on Tuesday, Rahatkar had supported former Maharashtra attorney general Shreehari Aney for demand of a separate Marathwada. Thereafter, the BJP women activists had also allegedly attacked Gadekar in protest against disrupting the party rally.