Trupti Desai has become Maharashtra's Kanhaiya Kumar, says police

Mumbai: Handling Bhumata Brigade president Trupti Desai's protest against 'gender inequality' at places of worship has become daunting task for the Maharashtra Police. Her attempts to enter Haji Ali Dargah along with her supporters have kept the police on its toes.

In an interview to Mumbai Mirror, Deputy Commissioner of police, Zone I, Manoj Kumar Sharma said that Desai has become Maharashtra's Kanhaiya Kumar.

“We explained to her that she did not have any permission to protest or an appointment or meet the CM. We asked her to turn around and leave for home but she refused. Ultimately, we had to restrain her and bring her to the Azad Maidan ground. She has become Maharashtra's Kanhaiya Kumar,” Manoj Kumar Sharma was quoted as saying by Mumbai Mirror.

Desai had on Thursday tried to enter Haji Ali Dargah, but was stopped at main entrance.

As she reached the premises of the Dargah, the Mumbai Police did not allow her to get down from her car at the main entrance.

Desai, however, made another attempt to enter, but was once again stopped.

Later, she also made an attempt to do a sit-in outside Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' residence, but was detained by the police.

For over 12 hours - a 250-strong force, including riot platoons, was dispatched to Haji Ali after she announced her intention to pray at the mazaar, the sanctum sanctorum, on Thursday.

“We wanted to ensure that she does not come back to the city limits. The only way to do it was to escort her out of the city," said Deven Bharti, Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) told Mumbai Mirror when asked about the decision to drop gender activist Trupti Desai - in the company of two female constables - all the way to her home in Pune