R R Patil defends police firing

TNN / Jul 8, 2006, 01:23 IST

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Deputy chief minister R R Patil categorically justified the police firing that resulted in the death of two locals.

THANE: While deputy chief minister R R Patil failed to defend himself against the barrage of questions posed by the media on Friday over Wednesday's violence in Bhiwandi, he categorically justified the police firing that resulted in the death of two locals.
"If anyone throws stones at policemen, we will answer them with bullets," said Patil, who is also in-charge of the home portfolio.
A mob protesting the construction of a police station near the Quarter Gate mosque in Bhiwandi on Wednesday attacked the construction, which resulted in the police firing that killed Mohammed Ramzan and Abdul Malik.
Later that evening, another mob sought revenge by stabbing and burning two constables, Ramesh Jagtap and Bala Gangurde.

Patil visited the government civil hospital in Thane on Friday, where injured policemen have been admitted for treatment following the stone-throwing at the under-construction Nizampura police station.
Around 35 people, mostly policemen, were hurt in the violence. They were specially shifted from hospitals in Bhiwandi to Thane for the ministerial visit.
The home minister later held discussions at the Thane police commissioner's office with people's representatives from Thane and Bhiwandi and appealed to them to help restore peace.

The minister told the media that normalcy had been restored to the communally sensitive textile town of Bhiwandi. Curfew had been lifted late on Thursday.
The minister also stated that the police had fired 28 rounds when Ramzan and Malik were killed. He said compensation would be paid to the kin of the deceased in keeping with norms finalised by the state government.
Similar aid was given to the kin of the victims of police firing at Hinjewadi near Pune, Malegaon and Amravati. The state will also be giving Rs 7.5 lakh and a government job to each of the families of the deceased policemen.
Patil was accompanied by director general of police P S Pasricha, guardian minister Ganesh Naik and Thane police commissioner D Shivanandan.
Journalists grilled Patil over why the construction of the police station had been halted, even though a court had ruled in favour of it.
Patil said the court ruling was on a petition filed by the Bhiwandi Protection Group, and therefore it was necessary to hear the contentions of the Raza Academy in keeping with the principles of democracy.
The matter would be resolved in eight days, he added. The deputy CM also hinted at action against local leaders who had made provocative speeches.

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