The suspension of Thane district’s Superintendent of Rural Police Ravindra Sengaonkar and Senior Police Inspector of Palghar Srikant Pingle for arresting two girls over an innocuous Facebook comment has stirred up a hornet’s nest, with peeved police officers across the state complaining that they too are victims of the system, who often have to submit to political pressure and are later scapegoated.

“The police arrested the two girls and not the Sainiks who were throwing tantrums outside the police station as they were under pressure from the Sena. There were clear instructions from the department not to arrest any Sainiks, as the department wanted to ensure that their sentiments were not hurt. Since the police could not act against the Sena, in haste they ended up taking unnecessary action against two girls,” said a police officer, who didn’t wish to be identified.