Two senior cops suspended for Facebook arrest

The Maharashtra government today suspended two police officers, including a Superintendent of Police (SP), following the row over the arrest of two girls from Palghar for a Facebook post questioning the shutdown in Mumbai for Bal Thackeray's funeral.

SP (Thane rural) Ravindra Sengaonkar and senior police inspector Shrikant Pingle have been suspended in the case, state's Home Minister RR Patil told reporters.u00a0

Renu Srinivasan and Shaheen Dhadau00a0(File pic)

He said action has been taken after obtaining legal advice. "There was no need to charge the girls under wrong sections," Patil said, adding that there was no need to take hasty action (against the girls).

The magistrate, RG Bagade, who had sent the girls to judicial custody and later granted them bail has been transferred to Jalgaon. The transfer orders were issued Monday

The girls Shaheen Dhada and Renu Shrinivasan, both 21, were arrested after Dhada had lamented in a Facebook post about the shutdown in Mumbai due to Thackeray's funeral.

Shrinivasan had 'liked' the post. Though Dhada didn't name Thackeray, the local Sena leader complained against the girls and police arrested the duo on November 19, sparking an outrage.

On November 20, police arrested the vandals who had damaged Shaheen's uncle's hospital on November 18, despite her removing the post and apologising that day itself.
u00a0