3 cases registered, 51 arrested for violence in Parbhani: Police

PTI Chhatrapati: Sambhajinar At least 51 people were arrested, and three cases registered so far in connection with the violent protests that broke out in Maharashtra’s Parbhani city over vandalising of a replica of the Constitution, police said on Friday. Violence erupted in the central Maharashtra city after a glass-enclosed replica of the Constitution near Dr B R Ambedkar’s statue outside the Parbhani railway station was vandalised on the evening of December 10. A bandh to protest the vandalism took a violent turn on Wednesday when a mob indulged in arson and vandalised shops, vehicles and even the district collector’s office.

“We have so far registered three cases in connection with the violence, and 51 people have been arrested. The number can go up as the investigation is underway, and we are going through some videos,” the official said. The police have not deployed any teams to find persons involved in the violence, he said. The official said the city is peaceful now, and no new incidents of violence have been reported.

Prohibitory orders banning gathering of more than five persons continue in the city, police said. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Jadhav slammed the BJP, questioning where leaders of the saffron party were when the violence erupted in Parbhani. Speaking to reporters, Jadhav said, the incient in Parbhani is unfortunate.