Kolhapur cops intervene after violent clash, stone pelting between 2 groups

Kolhapur: Late on Friday night, Kolhapur police resorted to mild lathicharge after clashes between two groups from Siddharth Nagar and Rajebaghswar area of Kolhapur city resulted in heavy stone pelting and vandalism of vehicles.The incident took place at the entrance arch of Siddharth Nagar, 50m from the newly inaugurated circuit bench building of Bombay high court.Taking a serious note of the incident, Kolhapur police have registered cases against 200 people involved in the stone pelting, in which at least eight people were injured, including two police personnel. Six vehicles were vandalised, and an attempt to set fire to two vehicles was made by the miscreants, but the police intervened in time.A large contingent of police, along with the striking force, reached the spot, after which the situation was brought under control. The situation remained tense in the area on Saturday with heavy police force deployment to avoid any untoward incident.Superintendent of Police Yogesh Kumar Gupta said, "The dispute started due to a misunderstanding between the two groups. Several meetings were held between the leaders of both groups on Friday night after the incident as well as on Saturday. The misunderstandings between the groups have been cleared. No one should spread rumours about this on social media, otherwise, action will be taken against them."Deputy superintendent of police Priya Patil said, "Sub-inspector Shesh More and thane amaldar Aabid Mulla got injured in this incident. Both groups have suffered damage in the stone pelting. Stones were also pelted at some vehicles and houses. People from both groups are injured. Therefore, action will be taken against the culprits after receiving complaints from both sides." As per Kolhapur police, a signboard of Bharat Tarun Mandal-affiliated Rajebaghswar Football Club was put up on the corner of Siddharth Nagar entrance leading to the Siddharth Nagar area. Since this club was celebrating its 31st anniversary, a programme was organised on Friday night. A structure for sound and light display was erected in front of the Siddharth Nagar entrance arch. However, a group from Siddharth Nagar objected to it. The members went to the Laxmipuri police station and raised a complaint asking if permission was given to the football club. The Laxmipuri police went to the spot and forcibly removed the light-sound structure.After the police left, the other group started gathering, and a few of them began to throw stones at the houses of members from the complainant side. Soon, the complainant side also started stone pelting. The situation escalated, resulting in the tearing of digital flex and vigorous stone pelting for 40 to 45 minutes, followed by vandalism of vehicles.

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