‘Riots Orchestrated’: Maharashtra government and Opposition blame each other

Maharashtra has been witnessing riots over the past two days which have led to the death of a person, property being vandalised, curfew being imposed and internet being suspended. While the government has claimed that some forces were deliberately creating these riots, the opposition has blamed the BJP for triggering these riots to create polarisation before the elections.

Chandrakant Khaire, former Shiv Sena MP from Sambhaji Nagar, who is now with the Uddhav group, claimed that the riots were being deliberately engineered to influence the Lok Sabha polls. “The riots are being created by the BJP to create confusion. The BJP is doing this to create polarisation as they don’t want Muslim votes to come to Shiv Sena (Uddhav) and the Maha Vikas Aghadi,” alleged Khaire.

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who handles the home department, claimed that there were a few who wanted to disturb the peace in the state. “These (riots) are being deliberately done. There is someone behind these incidents to spoil the law and order situation. However, they will not be successful. We will take them to task.” He said there were certain political and other outfits who were behind these riots.


“The situation is under control. We will not let anyone indulge in riot Those who do will be taught a lesson,” said Fadnavis. A riot took place at Ahmednagar on Sunday night when stones were thrown at a procession carried out in honour of Sambhaji Maharaj (Son of Warrior King Shivaji). This led to stone-throwing and culminated in a riot. At least ten people were injured, several vehicles burnt and shops and homes damaged. Internet services were suspended.

To restore peace, more police forces, including a platoon of the State Reserve Police Force Unit, were all rushed to Shegaon. Police officials have arrested more than 30 people for the violence and vandalism.

This is the second riot that broke out in as many days –– the first broke out on Saturday night in Akola after an Instagram post on the movie ‘The Kerala Story’ allegedly had some offending comments on Prophet Muhammad. When minority community members reached the police station to file a complaint against the post, another group also reached the police station and entered into an argument which ended in a skirmish. This soon led to stone throwing and later snowballed into a full- fledged riot in Akola city. Several cars and motorbikes were burnt and shops and houses vandalised.

Rioters had a field day throwing stones at police vehicles and even targeting the fire brigade vehicles that were brought in to douse the fire. Akola police had to resort to lathi charge and fire tear gas shells at the rioters to bring the situation under control. Police had to impose Section 144 and put some parts of the city under curfew. To prevent rumour mongering, internet services have been shut and would be resumed from Monday midnight. A 40-year-old man was killed in the communal violence and over a dozen policemen were injured. Police have arrested more than 100 people for the violence.