Was the police heedless in their handling of the distressful situation at Campa Cola yesterday
The photo frames showing male cops handling the protesters, including Shaina NC, treasurer of the state unit of the BJP, establish that there were no women cops to handle protesters. And while the brashness of their action is debatable, given that one can't make a determined crowd of protesters budge amicably, they could have been more sensitive in handling the situation, the politician believes.
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Time up: Police force BJP's Shaina NC and other protesters to move off the ground
"It isn't that we went to the compound suddenly and started protesting aggressively. We had been sitting there for a long time, and during that time, when we had to be moved, only male police officers came forward. They should have had female cops. The officials were insensitive in handling the situation. We were fighting for a cause and we urge that there's need for some understanding on part of the police," Shaina said.
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Yesterday, Shaina, along with her political companions, was protesting in solidarity with the residents against the demolition drive being carried out by the BMC at the embattled Worli society.
The politicians formed a human chain to keep the bulldozers out of the society's compound. But, bound by a Supreme Court order, the police and BMC officials moved in to clear the ground and begin the demolition process. In their bid to get the politicians out of the way, male officials started pushing the protesting politicos off the plot. There were no women cops to handle the women among the agitators, and some of the other protesters were manhandled, they alleged.
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While no untoward incident was reported, Shaina has insisted that the cops be more mindful of the fragility of the situation and conduct themselves more sympathetically. u00a0
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