CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJINAGAR: Prohibitory orders preventing the assembly of five or more persons in public in Maharashtra’s Parbhani city were imposed on Wednesday and 40 people were arrested after a bandh over the desecration of a replica of the Indian Constitution turned violent. Agitators torched and looted shops in the area, besides resorting to stone-pelting.
On Tuesday, the replica of Constitution installed near Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar’s statue close to the collectorate in Parbhani was desecrated, setting off protests and stone-pelting. The accused was caught by locals, who beat him up before handing him over to police. Police said tyres, banners and irrigation pipes were set afire. Police resorted to using tear gas. Nanded range DIG Shahaji Umap has rushed to Parbhani.
Parbhani district additional SP Yashwant Kale said, “The situation is under control. The process of registering three FIRs is under way. As and when other people, whose properties were damaged, approach us, we will register more FIRs.” Protesters also targeted the district collector’s office, ransacking the furniture, and tearing off files. Videos of women protesters climbing on to chairs in the collector’s chamber have gone viral. Congress’s Vijay Wadettiwar blamed the initial “lax approach” of administration for the violence. Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Aaditya Thackeray condemned the desecration and demanded action against culprits, while appealing for peaceful protests.