Dhule riots: Ex-HC judge to probe into case

Mumbai: Maharashtra government Monday said that Justice Shrikant Malte, a former Bombay High Court judge, would conduct inquiry into the communal riot in Dhule (north Maharashtra) in January, in which six people were killed.

Home Minister RR Patil made the announcement in the Legislative Assembly today, after Leader of Opposition Eknath Khadse (BJP) raised the issue during the question hour. Khadse wanted to know if there was any connection between the riots and the allegedly inflammatory speech by MIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi. Subhash Desai (Shiv Sena) criticised the government for giving financial aid to rioters. But Patil said aid was given to riot-affected, and not to those involved. Twenty-four people had been arrested and CID was probing the riot, Patil added. He also said that a small quarrel over billing at a hotel in the town snowballed into a riot. PTI