FB post girl in Gujarat for 'peace'

Shaheen Dhada, 21, whose Facebook comment on the Mumbai bandh after Sena chief Bal Thackeray's death led to her detention by the police, has left Palgarh for Gujarat with her family. Puja Changoiwala reports.

Shaheen Dhada, 21, whose Facebook comment on the Mumbai bandh after Sena chief Bal Thackeray's death led to her detention by the police, has left Palgarh for Gujarat with her family.

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"Shaheen and my family left for Gujarat on Sunday and have been here since. She wanted some peace ... We will return once the heat has settled," said Farooq Dhada, Shaheen's father and a businessman, on the telephone from an undisclosed location.

Shaheen, who finished her graduation in management studies, lives in Palghar with her parents and her younger brother, Shakeel (18).

In the light of the bandh in Palghar called by the Shiv Sena on Wednesday in protest against the action against two police officials, Abdul Dhada, Shaheen's uncle, whose hospital was vandalised on November 18, said the town had turned into a fortress.

"A police van has been stationed outside my hospital and a policeman was asked to accompany me everywhere," said Abdul Dhada.

The family of Rinu Srinivasan, who too had been detained along with Shaheen, has also been given protection.

Except minor incidents of stone throwing, the shutdown was peaceful and received resounding support from the business community.