Thane: 44 persons arrested over clashes between rival parties in Bhiwandi

Police have arrested 44 persons and registered five cases in connection with clashes allegedly between supporters of a BJP MLA and a local outfit leader in Bhiwandi town of Maharashtras Thane district officials said on Tuesday reported news agency PTIClashes triggered after Bhiwandi Nizampur civic poll resultsThe clashes erupted late Sunday night following the recently concluded Bhiwandi Nizampur Municipal Corporation electionsAt around 8 pm on Sunday the bungalow of former mayors and Konark Vikas Aghadi functionaries Vilas Patil and his wife Pratibha Patil was allegedly attacked and vandalised by a crowd reported PTISeveral people including the couple and their family members were injured according to the policeRetaliatory attack targets BJP MLArsquos office at Shivaji ChowkIn retaliation supporters of Vilas Patil allegedly hurled stones and ransacked the office of BJP MLA Mahesh Chaugule in the Shivaji Chowk area of Bhiwandi forcing police to resort to a lathi charge to restore order they said reported PTIBased on complaints from both sides five cases were registered on Monday against several persons Deputy Commissioner of Police Shashikant Borate said44 arrested cases filed against 60 identified over 500 unidentifiedSo far 44 persons have been arrested a police official said adding that five cases have been registered against 60 identified and more than 500 unidentified peopleThane Joint Commissioner of Police Dr Gyaneshwar Chavan visited Bhiwandi on Monday and reviewed the situation He held a meeting with senior police officials and said strict action would be taken against anyone attempting to disturb public peace reported PTIlsquoViolence over elections unacceptablersquo says Joint CPViolence over victory or defeat in elections is unacceptable Public representatives have been elected for development not for spreading anarchy he said reported PTIHe directed senior police officers to intensify patrolling and conduct route marches in sensitive wards take action against establishments operating after permissible hours and ensure strict enforcement of preventive measuresHeavy security deployed forensic teams collect evidenceHeavy security has been deployed in the town and forensic teams are collecting evidenceSome advocates from the Bhiwandi Bar Association visited the residence of Vilas Patil who is also a lawyer and expressed solidarity with him and his familyRivalry dates back to assembly polls intensified during civic electionsPolice said the rivalry has its roots in the last state assembly elections and intensified during the recent municipal corporation polls where the panel led by Vilas Patil of the Konark Vikas Aghadi faced the panel of Meet Chaugule son of BJP MLA Mahesh Chaugule in ward no 1 reported PTIIn the January 15 elections to the 90member Bhiwandi Nizampur Municipal Corporation the Congress secured 30 seats the BJP 22 while the KVA managed to get only 4 seatsSeat distribution highlights multiparty contestThe Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde and Sharad Pawars NCP SP bagged 12 seats each Samajwadi Party 6 Bhiwandi Vikas Aghadi Ekta Manch 3 while an independent got 1 seatWith inputs from PTI