In the past one week, at least three incidents of violence related to the observance of dahi-handi have been reported in the city. Dahi-handi is the breaking of an urn of curd set at a height by creation of a human pyramid on the occasion of the festival of Gokulashtami.
In the latest incident, four people were arrested by the Bharati Vidyapeeth police on Sunday, for allegedly setting a motorbike on fire after the owner refused to donate money to the local community fund for the dahi-handi celebration. The four have been identified as Datta Vijay Shinde, Omkar Sandeep Kamble, Datta Rahul Kadam and Sumit Raju Ahiwale, all residents of Sacchai Mata chowk, Katraj.
The incident came to light a day after five people were arrested for the murder of a man over a flex hoarding related to dahi-handi. The five have been identified as Nilesh Dattatray Chougule, Aniket Shyam Pawar, Sagar Tanaji Darwatkar, Mahesh Sitaram Mankar and Vijay Adagale, according to police.
The deceased man is Akshay Ashok Ghadshi, 24, who owned a shop in Manikbaug, Sinhagad road.
The complaint in the bike-burning case was lodged by Praful Chandrakant Thorat, 20, a resident of Ashwini Vihar, Ambedgaon Khurd. In his complaint, Thorat submitted that Datta Shinde approached him at 1.25 am on Saturday, asking for Rs 500 as a contribution to the community fund.
{{/usCountry}}The complaint in the bike-burning case was lodged by Praful Chandrakant Thorat, 20, a resident of Ashwini Vihar, Ambedgaon Khurd. In his complaint, Thorat submitted that Datta Shinde approached him at 1.25 am on Saturday, asking for Rs 500 as a contribution to the community fund.
{{/usCountry}}Upon Thorat's refusal to pay the amount, Shinde and the other accused four poured a flammable liquid on Thorat’s bike and set it on fire.
A case under Sections 436 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy house) and 120(b) (criminal conspiracy) of Indian Penal Code has been registered at Bharati Vidyapeeth police station.
Rs 1,000 ‘taken’ from cash counter
Three persons have been booked for allegedly assaulting a shopkeeper and extorting Rs 1,000 from him in the name of dahi-handi celebrations on August 27 in Hadapsar.
The incident happened on August 20 and a compliant regarding was registered at Hadpsar police station on Sunday. The police have arrested one of the accused, identified as Vishal Mirekar, 35, a resident of Mirkar colony in Hadapsar.
However, two of the accused are still at large. According to the Hadapsar police,on the evening of August 20, Mirekar and two accomplices went to the shop of the complainant on Saswad road, demanding Rs 1,000 as dahi-handi collection.
But, when the shopkeeper refused to pay them the amount the trio assaulted him and took away Rs 1,000 from the cash counter. A case under Section 386 (extortion by putting a person in fear of death or grievous hurt) of IPC against the accused has been registered.