Maha Muslim MLAS seek action against guilty cops, Sena leaders

MUMBAI: Maharashtra Muslim legislators from different opposition parties met state chief minister Devendra Fadnavis late on Tuesday, demanding action against police personnel and Shiv Sena leaders for allegedly inciting the violence that broke out in Aurangabad earlier in the month.

Alleging that they have video clips showing police officers and Sena leaders “accompanying rioters ”, MLAS Abdul Sattar, Shaikh Asif Shaikh Rashid (both Congress), Abu Asim Azmi (SP), Imtiyaz Jalil and Waris Pathan (both AIMIM) along with Congress MLAS met chief minister Devendra Fadnavis late on Tues- day. The lawmakers submitted the video clips to substantiate the accusation and demanded a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation or the Crime Investigation Department into the alleged role of police officers and Sena leaders in the arson.

Earlier in the day, eight Opposition legislators held a sit-in protest at the gates of Mantralaya, stating that the chief minister did not meet them despite having given an appointment.

Fadnavis, however, said that the MLAS had turned up at his office without seeking an appointment

AIMIM legislator Imtiyaz Jalil accused the state government of acting in a partisan manner by allowing Shiv Sena leaders to take out a rally illegally after the riots. “We have about 50 video clips to show how police acted partially in the riots. We want the action against the people who are seen in the clips helping the rioters,” he said.

Two people were killed and more than 60 were injured in clashes between groups of two communities over illegal water connections in Aurangabad, about 350 kilometres from Mumbai, on May 11.

Rejecting the charges levelled by Opposition leaders, Chandrakant Khaire, Shiv Sena MP from Aurangabad, said: “The Muslim MLAS have joined hands to save the culprits from thier community. Ours was a reaction to the attack on the Hindu citizens as it’s our duty to protect them,” he said.