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| Dalit protests: Deshmukh orders intelligence probe | | | MUMBAI, DEC 1
Maharashtra's intelligence department will probe the violence that erupted in the state after the alleged desecration of a statue of B R Ambedkar in Kanpur, Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said here today.
Additional DG (Law and Order) S Dayal will probe the burning of coaches of two trains near Ulhasnagar, Deshmukh told reporters after chairing a meeting of senior civil and police officials to discuss law and order in the state.
Calling Ambedkar the "pride of Maharashtra" as he was born in this state, Deshmukh said, "It is natural that there would be a reaction to any incident which happens even outside the state.
"This is an emotional issue", he said.
He appealed to the media, specially the electronic media, to exercise restraint while reporting on such sensitive issues.
Asked if adequate police action was taken to tackle the situation in the wake of the violence, Deshmukh said, "There are objections if adequate action is taken and there are also objections if mild action is taken."
Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil said the CBI would be handed over the probe into the killing of four members of a Dalit family at Khairlanji village in Vidarbha on September 29. The sarpanch and deputy sarpanch of Khairlanji have been arrested in this connection, he said.
Asked if there was a proposal to declare a holiday in Mumbai on December 6 as lakhs of Ambedkar's follwers are expected to come to the city on his death anniversary, Deshmukh said the issue would be discussed in tomorrow's all-party meeting.
Asked about the "systematic" way in which five coaches of the Deccan Queen train were burnt, Deshmukh said the probe will find out "if there was a conspiracy or it was a natural reaction" to the vandalisation of Ambedkar's statue.
A meeting of all political parties has been convened here tomorrow to discuss the situation in the state, Deshmukh said. "Efforts should be made by everyone not to disturb the social balance and social health," he said.
Asked if the Congress party's central leadership was upset with him in the wake of the violent protests, Deshmukh retorted: "What do you think?
"Today's meeting was held to find out if there was a conspiracy behind the latest violence," he said when asked if he thought that the incidents were "pre-planned".
Thirty-eight policemen and 150 civilians were injured in the violent protests over the last two days, he said. Protestors damaged over 300 government vehicles, mostly buses, and over 250 private vehicles, he said.
"There have been no untoward incidents today," he said, adding curfew was still in force in parts of Osmanabad and Nanded. |
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