Bhujbal orders probe into Nanded firing

Bhujbal orders probe into Nanded firing
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

AURANGABAD, SEPT 13: A tense situation continued to prevail all over Nanded as one person was killed and over 200 injured when police opened fire on a mob participating in the Ganesh immersion procession on Tuesday night. The condition of at least three of the injured is critical, police said.

State Minister for Home Manikrao Thackeray, who has rushed to Nanded, described the situation to be `tense' even as Director General of Police Subhash Malhotra and Divisional Commissioner Pramod Mane arrived there to tackle the crisis.

The trouble arose when the procession reached a place of worship near Itwara area. While the processionists alleged that there was stone-throwing from within the place of worship, those inside accused the mob of throwing `gulal' over them.

Initially, the police lobbed tear gas and later resorted to a lathi-charge to disperse the violent mob. However, with either sides charged up, the police opened fire. In all 14 rounds were fire, sources said.

Even as the mob dispersed it set fire to over 20 shops in the area. Most of Nanded remained closed on Wednesday, partly in response to a `band' call given by the Shiv Sena, who have demanded the suspension of two senior police officials.

Nanded Assembly constituency is represented by Prakash Khedkar of the Shiv Sena. The city is also the hometown of former Union Minister S B Chavan and his son, Ashok Chavan, currently Minister for Revenue in the State Cabinet. Both are camping in the city.

The fact that the police had busted some Laskar-i-Toiba links in Nanded district recently, will weigh heavily on the State Government before it comes out with any simplistic explanation of the present crisis.

Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, who reached Nanded late in the afternoon on Wednesday, has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident.