Mob clash with police over Shivaji Jayanti in Latur, force cop to chant 'Jai Bhawani'

Pic courtesy: ANI

Latur: In a controversial incident, assistant sub-inspector​ (ASI) Yusuf Sheikh was forced to chant 'Jai Bhawani' by local goons here, as per media reports.

The cop was also paraded and assaulted.

The incident reportedly happened on February 19, 2016.

Commenting on the incident today, Ram Shinde, MoS Home, Maharashtra said, "Arrested 15 culprits, its a serious matter and investigation is underway," as per ANI.

The incident apparently happened when two policemen tried to stop locals from hoisting a ‘saffron flag’ during Shivaji Jayanti festivities in Latur district in Pangaon town.

Indian Express quoted police as saying that at around 1.30 am on February 19 over two dozen locals belonging to the Shivaji Jayanti Mandal assembled near the Ambedkar Chowk in Pangaon to hoist a ‘saffron flag’.

K Awaskar, head constable attached with the Renapur police station, stopped them from doing so, as the area is said to be ‘communally sensitive’.

The group then went away but came back the next morning and started shouting slogans against the head constable and also allegedly assaulted Awaskar when he visited the spot again.

As per the Daily, when Yusuf Sheikh tried to intervene, the mob targeted him too.

Sheikh was allegedly paraded along with saffron flags.

A stone was also reportedly hurled at the ASI following which he fell to the ground.

“Ambedkar Chowk is a communally sensitive area as there is a statue of Dalit leader Babasaheb Ambedkar and a masjid are on the same stretch. Therefore, locals are restrained from carrying out any activity that might create tension in the area. Sensing trouble with a saffron flag being hoisted, the policemen dispersed the crowd. While they heeded the warning at night, they returned next morning and started shouting slogans against the police and the two policemen in particular. The mob then attacked the head constable and when Sheikh tried to intervene they hurled a stone on his head from behind,” Vikas Naik, DSP Latur, was quoted by the Daily as saying.

“Sheikh was rushed to hospital. Based on the photographs clicked by local shopkeepers, we rounded up the suspects. After conducting a detailed probe, 17 youths, including a 17-year-old, were arrested,” Naik added.

Shivaji Jayanti Mandal is apparently an independent fringe group and is not affiliated to any political party.