Villagers run riot after court acquits 3 in murder case

PUNE:Minutes after the district and sessions court here acquitted three residents ofShindewadi village in Kamshet in a murder case, angry villagers set ablaze threehouses and a car and ransacked a restaurant, belonging to the acquitted, onWednesday evening.The villagers also pelted stones at a bus andpolice jeep, injuring the jeep's driver. Additional superintendent of policeAshok Morale (Pune rural) told TOI that the court acquitted Bunty Walunj,Mangesh Rane and Salman Khan of murdering 19-year-old Bharat Shinde in August,2007.The villagers, who received information about the verdict, wentberserk and set ablaze the houses and ransacked Reena Beer Bar, belonging to theacquitted, Morale said, adding that the police have taken 10 suspects intocustody for creating trouble. Family members of the acquitted haveaccused the rioters of stealing 50 tolas of gold ornaments from their houses.A huge police force has been stationed at the village and othersareas as a preventive measure. Inspector Rajendra Galande of the Wadgaon Mavalpolice said that they had brought the situation under control by 7 pm onWednesday.