After days of dilly dallying, the Maharashtra government finally ordered suspension of two police officers in the Palghar case, a move that earned it praise from many quarters and brickbats from one. Following state home minister RR Patil's announcement on Tuesday that superintendent of police Ravindra Sengaonkar and senior police inspector Shreekant Pingle have been suspended and will face departmental action, a defiant Shiv Sena announced Palghar bandh on Wednesday in protest.

On November 18, two girls from Palghar, Shaheen Dhadha, 21, and Rinu Shrinivasan, 20, were arrested for their comments on Facebook over Mumbai shutting down following Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray’s death the day before. Palghar police booked the girls for hurting religious sentiments and promoting enmity between groups.

“Sengaonkar was suspended for not following orders of seniors…to abstain from arresting the girls and drawing charges. Pingle was  suspended for registering cases against the wrong sections,” Patil said.

Sources said the two officers, if found guilty would face action ranging from stopping increment to removal from service.