All ‘Kala Kendras’ in Dharashiv shut due to law & order and public safety threats: Collector

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: The Dharashiv district administration on Saturday declared the district free of so-called ‘Kala Kendra' (local art centres), terming such establishments a serious threat to law and order and public safety, effecting the permanent shutdown of all six officially recognised centres in the district.District collector Kirthi Kiran Pujar said sustained and firm administrative action over the past year has led to the closure of the last remaining art centre at Chorakhali village in Kalamb taluka on April 14, effectively making Dharashiv "Kala Kendra-free" after 24 years.Addressing the issue, Pujar said these establishments, operating under the guise of art centres, had become hubs of organised criminal activity, including violent assaults, murders, illegal transactions and other unlawful acts, posing a grave risk to societal harmony. He said the situation had worsened due to alleged inaction by certain law enforcement authorities, allegedly stemming from vested and "mutually beneficial" arrangements."Incidents such as group clashes, shootings, robberies and even cases of abetment to suicide arising from disputes within these centres had become increasingly frequent, severely undermining the rule of law in the district," Pujar said.Taking cognisance of the situation, the district administration initiated a coordinated and legally grounded crackdown involving the revenue and police departments. The Chorakhali art centre, the last officially recognised one, was found to be operating in violation of statutory provisions and judicial and administrative directives, leading to its closure.Similar action was earlier taken against other art centres in Kalamb, Tuljapur and Washi talukas, where regulatory non-compliance and illicit activities were established despite appellate challenges by the operators.Calling it a "historic development," Pujar said the action has helped restore public safety and confidence in governance, and would serve as a model of accountable administration. He also noted that several major crime incidents reported in Marathwada in recent years had links to art centres in Dharashiv.Echoing these concerns, a Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA from Dharashiv said the so-called Kala Kendras had tarnished the district's image and disrupted social and personal lives for years. "Authorities had remained in deep slumber while these centres functioned as crime dens. Now that action has been taken, it must be ensured that they remain closed permanently, come what may," he said.