‘Devi Nagar’ sparks protests in Bhatkal: Allegations shift from street board to mosque's legality
Bhatkal: Protests continued for third day on Tuesday regarding the installation of a Devinagar board outside the Makkah Masjid at Second Cross on Jali Road here under Jali Patan Panchayat limits in Bhatkal. However, authorities did not grant permission for the installation. Protesters were directed to submit a written memorandum to the Jali Panchayat, which would then decide on the matter.
The controversy arose when, on Sunday, a stone board outside the Makkah Masjid was painted and rewritten as "Devi Nagar," with an attached pole. Mosque representatives alleged that Sangh Parivar workers intentionally sought to hoist saffron flags outside the mosque, a move they vehemently opposed. Subsequently, the pole was removed early Monday morning under police supervision.
Expressing their dissatisfaction, Sangh Parivar workers gathered outside the mosque to protest the pole's removal. Police convinced the protesters to disperse, assuring them of a meeting on Tuesday morning at the Tahsildar office to express their views.
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In a meeting with Jali Panchayat councilors chaired by the Tehsildar on Tuesday morning, it was decided not to permit any board or pole installation outside the mosque. During the meeting it was decided to maintain status quo at the site. Panchayat members also emphasized the potential political motives behind creating tension in the lead-up to the parliamentary elections, urging the police and authorities to thwart such efforts.
Despite the agreed-upon meeting, BJP workers insisting on installing the board gathered outside Makkah Masjid and protested again. They expressed a desire to write "Devi Nagar" at a visible height without hoisting a flag. As they attempted to install the board, the police intervened, leading to verbal clashes. Tehsildar Tippe Swamy, Additional SP CT Jayakumar, Bhatkal DySP Shrikant, and other senior police officials were present during the confrontation.
Additional SP CT Jayakumar urged the protesters to submit their demands in writing or through a memorandum to the Tehsildar and the Panchayat. In response, Sangh Parivar and BJP workers, present during the incident, argued that the mosque's construction alongside a madrassa was illegal, calling for legal action against it.
Failing in their attempt to install the board, protesters marched to the Jalipatan Panchayat office, submitting a memorandum to the chief officer. The memorandum claimed the mosque's illegality, demanding legal action. Meanwhile, BJP leaders held a press conference near the Jali Panchayat, threatening action against other allegedly illegal buildings within its limits if the board installation was not allowed.
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BMW hit-and-run case: HC refuses to release accused Mihir Shah on ground of 'illegal' arrest
Mumbai (PTI): The Bombay High Court on Monday refused to release Mihir Shah, the main accused in a BMW hit-and-run case, on the ground of "illegal" arrest.
Shah, the 24-year-old son of a former Shiv Sena leader, and his driver Rajrishi Bidawat had filed petitions in the HC claiming they have been illegally detained and sought immediate release.
Shah was arrested on July 9, two days after he allegedly rammed his BMW car into a two-wheeler in Mumbai's Worli area, killing 45-year-old woman Kaveri Nakhwa and leaving her husband Pradeep injured.
His driver Bidawat, who was also present in the car at the time of the accident, was arrested on the day of the incident.
As per their pleas, the police had not informed them the grounds of their arrest at the time, which they claimed was in violation of the law.
A division bench of Justices Bharati Dangre and Manjusha Deshpande on Monday dismissed the petitions.
"Both the petitions are dismissed," the court said.
The duo sought their release, claiming any further detention would be in utter violation of the constitutional mandate and a failure to comply with Section 50 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
Under this section, the police, while arresting a person, have to communicate to him/her full particulars of the offence for which he/she is being arrested or other grounds for such arrest.
Both Shah and Bidawat are presently in judicial custody.
In their habeas corpus (produce the person) petitions filed in the HC in August, Shah and Bidawat claimed their detention was illegal and sought that they be released immediately.
Shah, in the plea, sought quashing of the orders passed by a local court remanding him first in police custody and then judicial custody.
He also sought for his arrest to be declared as illegal.
Shah is accused of speeding off towards the Bandra Worli Sea Link after the accident, even as the woman remained on the bonnet of the car and then got entangled in its wheels, for a distance of more than 1.5 kilometres.
As per police, Shah, who fled from the scene, was under the influence of alcohol at the time.
Mihir Shah's father and former Shiv Sena leader Rajesh Shah had also been arrested in the case, but was later granted bail.
