Farmers in Maval, near Pune suffer as police confiscate vehicles

After being shocked and terrorised with the death of three fellow farmers in the recent police firing on the Mumbai-Pune expressway, many rural folk are now without their vehicles which they had left behind before fleeing from the spot of the firing.

The Wadgaon Maval police have seized a Swift, two Boleros and around 30 two-wheelers from the spot of the farmers’ rally on August 9 when nearly 2,000 folks had gathered to protest against the construction of a water pipeline from the Pavana dam to the Pimpri-Chinchwad township.

While the villagers destroyed some police vehicles, the police personnel were filmed destroying public vehicles after they lost control over the protest rally.

Speaking to DNA on Saturday, acting police inspector Mohan Jadhav of Wadgaon Maval police said, “All these vehicles have been seized from the spot and have been taken to the police station. We cannot give the vehicles to the protesters, as they were used in the crime,’’ he said. Jadhav pointed out that investigation was on to probe what exactly happened on the day of the firing.

He said that none of the vehicle owners had come to the police station to take possession of their vehicles ‘’as they knew that the vehicles were used in the crime.’’

The police have conducted panchanama of six police vehicles and four state transport buses that were destroyed by the mob on that day.

Pune rural superintendent of police Sandeep Karnik declined to comment on the matter stating that the investigations were on in the case.

The protesters who were arrested were remanded in police custody for a day by the local court and were booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 for attempt to murder, rioting with deadly weapons, assault on public servants and extortion.

Cops appeal to citizens for info on incident
In the wake of the Maval police firing incident, the Pune rural police on Saturday appealed to citizens to part with information, clippings, photographs or any grievances that they may have connected to the incident.

Nearly 2,000 farmers and political activists had blocked the Mumbai-Pune expressway protesting against the closed water pipeline project conceived to supply water to Pimpri-Chinchwad from the Pavana dam in the region.

After matters had got out of hand, the police had resorted to firing which killed three farmers, including a woman. These incidents occurred on the expressway near Rautwadi in Kurunj village about 55 km from Pune in Maval taluka.

A senior police officer told DNA, “We are appealing to all injured persons, drivers, passengers and anyone who was on the expressway at that time to approach us with whatever information that they may have.”

Sharad Pawar skips brother’s event
Union agriculture minister and president of ruling Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Sharad Pawar on Saturday skipped an event organised by the Suryakant Pawar Foundation in Pune.

The foundation gives donations to deserving non-governmental organisations (NGOs) for social work and Pawar normally attends this event organised by the foundation formed by his brother Suryakant, an NRI architect.

On Saturday, media persons had gathered to cover the event as they were more curious to know Sharad Pawar’s reaction about recent the riot in Maval in which three farmers died in police firing. But at the beginning of the event, the organisers declared that Sharad Pawar would not attend the function. They did not divulge any details.

Pawar’s reaction to the Maval riots was eagerly awaited as he heads the NCP which has the home portfolio in the state cabinet and also because he is the senior most leader from the region who has good support base amongst
farmers and villagers.

Sharad Pawar’s brother and businessman Prataprao Pawar was present for the event along with Suryakant Pawar. NGOs working for mentally challenged, destitutes, disabled and blind persons were given financial assistance by Prataprao Pawar. The event was held on the occasion of death anniversary of Sharadabai, mother of Pawar.