Taking note of the police’s involvement in vandalism and rioting during the Dhule riots, as seen in the footage aired by news channels, state home minister R.R. Patil in Sangli on Monday said that guilty policemen have been identified and action has been taken against them.
“Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan and I, after going through the video footage, have decided to take action against guilty police officials. Some of them have already been suspended,” said the home minister. Inquiries are being carried out against those policemen who participated in rioting and vandalism, he added.
The statement comes after two constables, reportedly seen damaging property of riot victims in the video footage submitted by social organisations, were suspended on January 18. A single-person inquiry headed by SP, Dhule, Pradeep Deshpande, was looking into allegations against police constables Pramod Shivaji Ishi and Sumit Namdeo Thakur.
Speaking to this newspaper, Mr Deshpande informed that another inquiry headed by deputy SP V.N. Gadkari is underway. “Mr Gadkari will be submitting his report after a couple of days and action will be taken against those found guilty,” he said, adding, “Nobody is authorised to indulge in such activities. Those who do will be dealt with the appropriate action.”
However, civil rights activist Teesta Setalvad said the state action is “not enough”.
“Unless all policemen at fault are brought to book, we will not be satisfied,” said Raees Ahmed Patel, father of 17-year-old Saud Ahmed Patel, who was killed in Dhule riots on January 6. Additional DGP (law and order) Javed Ahmed has already submitted an inquiry report regarding the shortcomings of the police to the government. The state has also ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident.