21 Cops Injured in Mob Attack During Illegal Dargah Demolition in Maharashtra’s Nashik

Mumbai: At least 21 police personnel were injured and four police vehicles damaged after a mob attacked them late Tuesday night while opposing the demolition of an unauthorised dargah in Maharashtra’s Nashik city. The demolition was carried out by the Nashik Municipal Corporation around structures that had been built around the Satpeer Baba Dargah in the Kathe Galli area of Nashik’s Dwarka locality as per the high court order.

The police resorted to lathi-charge and fired teargas shells to disperse the mob and bring the situation under control. As of now, 22 suspects have been detained in connection with the violence.

The Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) had earlier issued a notice on April 1, declaring the religious structure unauthorised and asking for its voluntary removal within 15 days. When no action was taken, civic authorities moved in with police backup to carry out the demolition.

On Feb 22, the NMC, based on a Bombay high court order, had removed encroachments around the structure, but the main structure was not removed then owing to protest and tension. At around 11.30 pm on Tuesday, the dargah trustees had reached the spot to remove the encroachment and started the work. The demolition operation was carried out by the civic team, comprising 40 personnel, and was accompanied by four JCBs, eight dumpers and seven vehicles.

However, a mob gathered near the structure and opposed the action. The situation turned violent shortly after midnight. Despite the presence of 500 police personnel, the crowd resorted to stone-pelting, forcing authorities to use tear gas to control the unrest.

The injured police personnel were on security duty during the anti-encroachment drive at the spot when the incident occurred. At around 6 a.m. on Wednesday, the civic personnel removed the unauthorised structures.

“As per the HC order, the trustees of the Satpeer Dargah and local citizens had agreed to remove the construction and started the process of removing the structure on Tuesday night. A violent mob gathered to oppose the removal and pelted stones at police and Muslim leaders who went to pacify the protesters,” Nashik Commissioner of Police Sandeep Karnik said.

“Police resorted to lathi-charge and lobbed teargas shells to disperse the mob and brought the situation under control. Three police vehicles were damaged and 21 police personnel injured in the attack. The dargah was demolished in the morning and the process to file an FIR and arrest (those involved in the violence) is on,” he said.

Back in February, a group representing the Sakal Hindu Samaj demanded the demolition of the dargah and proposed building a Hanuman temple at the site instead. The group had planned a major protest on February 22. Anticipating unrest, authorities had imposed a curfew in the area and deployed a large police force. Several Hindu religious leaders were also detained as a preventive measure.