Violence reaches home minister’s constituency

The violence in Sangli district reached Islampur, the Assembly constituency of Home Minister Jayant Patil on Thursday, reports Satyajit Joshi.

The violence in Sangli district reached Islampur, the Assembly constituency of Home Minister Jayant Patil on Thursday.

HT Image

Police had to fire in the air in Bhavchi village in Islampur to disperse a violent crowd protesting the ‘desecration’ of a flag and a picture of a historical personality.

Minutes after local residents noticed the ‘desecration,’ a huge mob gathered in the main chowk of the village and went on a rampage, police inspector Indrajit Katkar told HT.

Police initially lathi-charged the crowd but had to fire two rounds in the air when the mob attacked the police, Katkar said. Eight police personnel, including Katkar, were injured in the attack.

In Miraj, immersion of Ganesh idols continued till late evening as the administration refused to restore the cutout showing Shivaji killing Afzal Khan. Members of mandals wore black badges in protest.

Curfew was lifted from 10 am on the procession route and was scheduled to be re-clamped by 3 pm. But it was clamped again only after 7 pm as processions were still on.