Cops use pellet guns in Thane to quell protests

In a rare occurence, Maharashtra police on Thursday used pellet guns to quell a farmers' protests near Kalyan in Thane. The protests, over construction of a boundary wall on an abandoned air base land acquired by the government over 70 years ago, had turned violent, leaving at least 21 people, including policemen, injured.

This is only the second instance when the state police has adopted crowd-control measures that are typically used in the Kashmir valley. Earlier this month, the local administration had ordered a shutdown of internet services in Nashik to control farmers' agitation.

Over 200 villagers from Bhal, Nevalli, Khoni, Nevalli Pada and Warli set ablaze vehicles around 10 am to block the Kalyan- Malang Gad road. When the police arrived to pacify the crowd, the mob started pelting stones at police vehicles, injuring three senior officers.

Thane Commissioner of Police Parambir Singh justified the use of pellet guns, saying it ensured the protests were controlled effectively and without any fatalities. "If we had used rifles to shoot at the protesters,that would have led to deaths and the situation would have turned worse. The mob came under control almost instantly after the pellet gun firings," he said.

He added that the pellet gun has become a standard weapon for police for riot control and this was the first time it was used in Thane, probably only second or third in Maharashtra.

What were the protests about?

The 1600 acre land which was previously used as an airbase during the World War II was abandoned after the British Raj and was taken over by the Indian government. Over the years, as the land remained unused by the government, the villagers built their houses and even used some of it for farming. There have been several protests by the villagers over the issue and t the state government to give them back their land. A petition has been filed last month in Bombay High Court challenging the validity of the 1943 order that took away the land form the farmers. The villagers were protesting after the Indian Navy constructed a boundary wall on the 'disputed' land which allegedly led to destruction of the crops. The protesters became violent when the police tried to pacify them.

"Our forefathers had given the land to Britishers on long lease but after they left, the Indian government did not give any money and now they want to take away our properties and demolish our houses", said Shekhar Mhatre, Nevali villager who has two acres of the land.

"We have raised the issue several times before the state government which went unheard and today our villagers including women were assaulted and were critically injured", said Mhatre.

Dr. Mahendra Kalyankar, Thane Collector, said, "We will soon talk to the villagers and get the issue resolved. The police had served them notices and no permission was granted."

Commander Rahul Sinha, Chief Public Relations Officer (Defence) said, "The 7/12 extracts are held with Defence Estate Officer, Mumbai. The land was Acquired by Ministry of Defence .The Navy is constructing a peripheral boundary wall to protect and safeguard Defence land from further encroachment. The Maharashtra State Government is fully aware of the subject case and is providing police protection and support from state/ district administration and revenue authorities."

...& ANALYSIS

• Maharashtra police officers find pellet guns an effective weapon to control riotous mobs, while the CRPF in Kashmir has been castigated for their use.
   
• The difference in injuries caused by pellet guns in Kashmir and Thane is quite stark
   
• It will be important to find how other states’ police use pellet guns causing less controversial injuries.