Thane: Case registered against more than 200 people for defying prohibitory orders during pro-Palestine protest

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The police in Maharashtra's Thane district have registered an offence against more than 200 people who defied prohibitory orders while staging a protest in support of Palestine, police said on Friday, reported news agency PTI.

Hundreds had gathered for the protest organised by the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) in the Mumbra area on Wednesday afternoon, an official said, reported PTI.

An offence under section 188 (disobedience to an order lawfully promulgated by a public servant) of the Indian Penal Code and Maharashtra Police Act has been registered, he said, reported PTI.

Sixteen accused have been identified in the FIR, he said, adding that no arrests have been made, reported PTI.

As per the first information report (FIR), protestors carried banners and shouted slogans in support of Palestine and defied the prohibitory orders in force in the commissionerate. A drone camera was also used to shoot the agitation, the official said, reported PTI.

In another incident, an offence has been registered against six persons for allegedly manhandling a team of police personnel and preventing officials of a state-run power company from installing an electricity meter in Maharashtra's Thane city, an official said on Friday, reported PTI.

Based on a complaint lodged by a constable, the police on Thursday registered a case under section 353 (assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from discharge of his duty) and other relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code for the incident that took place in the Bhayanderpada area, he said, reported PTI.

In compliance with a high court order on a writ petition, officials of the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) had gone to the locality with a team of police personnel to install an electricity meter on the premises of a charitable trust, the official said, reported PTI.

When they were about to install the meter, around 10 to 15 people assembled at the spot and started verbally abusing the officials and police, he said, reported PTI.

As the police team tried to stop them from intervening, the accused allegedly manhandled them and did not allow the MSEDCL officials to install the meter, the official said, adding that no arrest has been made in this regard so far, reported PTI.

(With inputs from PTI)