Vishalgadh Communal Violence Broke Out During Rain, Was Difficult To Control Miscreants: Maharashtra Police Tells Bombay High Court

The Maharashtra Police on Monday informed the Bombay High Court that it has registered 5 First Information Reports (FIRs) against former Member of Parliament (MP) Chhatrapati Sambhajiraje and two right-wing extremists Ravindra Padwal and Banda Salunkhe for leading an armed mob towards Gajapur village near Vishalgadh Fort in Kolhapur, where communal violence took place on July 14.

Further, the Police blamed the 'rains and fog' which led to 'low visibility' and resultantly police could not take timely action against the miscreants.

"There were heavy rains on July 14 as a result of which fog was formed. There was low visibility and it was difficult for the authority to take appropriate action. Still under this precarious condition, these authorities were doing their best to prevent the unwanted law and order situation. Near the Gajapur Check post, we prevented the group of people from entering Vishalgad Fort area and they were pushed back. The group had sticks and weapons in their hands but the officers were successful in taking away their sticks and weapons and the group was pushed back so they would not enter the Vishalgad fort. However on account of heavy rains, fog and low visibility, somehow few people managed to enter Gajapur village and caused destruction of some properties," the affidavit filed by the Senior Police Inspector of Shahuwadi Police Station (in Kolhapur) stated.

Further, the affidavit explained how the police prevented violence at the Fort region. It added that since the same day marked the 'Shaurya Divas' of Veer Bajiprabhu Deshpande, for which people visit Pavankhind, a site nearby Vishalgadh, to pay tributes, hundreds of persons had gathered at the site. The affidavit states that the authorities were 'confused' as to whether to allow people to go to Pavankhind or not as they could not differentiate between genuine persons willing to pay their tributes and miscreants, who wanted to enter Vishalgadh.

"They could not differentiate between these people. It is submitted that the authorities tried their level best to prevent any destruction of property. There was no damage whatsoever to any person or property within the notified area of Vishalgad Fort. However, there was damage caused to some of the properties in Gajapur village. The photographs and the video shown in the open Court are of Gajapur village area and has nothing to do with the Vishalgad Fort area," the affidavit reads.

The affidavit filed before a bench of Justices Burgess Colabawalla and Firdosh Pooniwalla further highlights that in the riots and the sudden stone pelting, at least 18 police officials (1 Additional Superintendent of Police, 1 Deputy Superintendent of Police, 2 Police Inspectors, 2 Assistant Police Inspectors and 12 Constables) were injured and two of them were grievously injured.

"I say that I have registered 5 FIRs against all the miscreants numbering 1500 including Ravindra Padwal, Banda Salunkhe and Chhatrapati Sambhajiraje, who were leading the group. Investigation is going on in this regard. About 24 persons have already been arrested and strict action will he taken against them. Padwal is absconding and attempts are being made to trace him," the affidavit authored by Vijay Baba Gherade, the senior police inspector of Shahuwadi, states.

During the hearing of the case, Advocate General Birendra Saraf assisted by Government Pleader Priyabhushan Kakade, informed the judges that the local civic authorities did not demolish any residential structures at the villages around Vishalgadh Fort, as alleged by the petitioners.

The bench therefore, ordered the petitioners to file an affidavit spelling out if any residential structures were demolished or not so that the AG can respond to the same.

A communal violence broke out between Hindus and Muslims in Vishalgadh fort area on July 14 and from July 15 itself the State's Public Works Department (PWD) initiated demolition process in the disturbed area, pulling down houses, shops etc., the court was told.