The police operating during the Dhule riot, which broke out on January 6, had opened fire at the rioting mob in excess, key notes in an inquiry report submitted by the Maharashtra police to the state government has revealed. The report also revealed that the firing was primarily done to protect a few top local police officials.
The police prepared the report after visiting the riot-affected areas in Dhule.
According to highly-placed sources in the Maharashtra police, the “excess firing” was done to save lives of top Dhule police officials — additional superintendent of police Akhilesh Kumar Singh and deputy superintendent of police Monica Raut — who had entered deep inside the zone of the ongoing riots, without adequate cover.
According to the report, the superintendent of police Pradeep Deshpande, sustained injuries and therefore, it became necessary for the police to take evasive action against the rioters.
Earlier, the police had rejected the allegations that the police had opened fire without warning. However, it has admitted that there was a delay in conducting the panchnama.
Top police officials had also said that the sequence of police action — usage of water cannons, rubber bullet and lathicharge — could only be ascertained in the judicial inquiry.
However, activists, who visited Dhule, slammed the police report and questioned the observations made by the Maharashtra police. “ Even after 15 days of riots, FIRs weren’t registered. The focus now would be on the judicial inquiry to establish a clear picture of what transpired on January 6. The police report has just attempted to record the preliminary details,” said Madhumita Ray from ActionAid.
When contacted, inspector general of police (law and order), Deven Bharti said, “I am not aware of the details of the report as it was submitted by a higher official and it is confidential.”