• Source:JND
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Nashik Dargah Demolition: At least 21 policemen and four civic workers sustained injuries after they were allegedly attacked by a mob while attempting to demolish the "Peer Baba Dargah" late Tuesday night in the Kathe Galli area of Nashik's Dwarka locality. The police resorted to lathi-charge and used tear gas shells to control the violent crowd. Around 15-20 persons have reportedly been detained in connection with the violence.

According to the police, the scuffle broke out on Tuesday night when Satpeer Dargah trustees along with police personnel started to remove the structure, which was deemed unauthorised by the Nashik Municipal Corporation. However, a mob of around 400 persons gathered their and opposed the removal.

The mob allegedly pelted stoes at police and Muslim clerics who went to pacify the protesters. The removal process, however, continued on Wednesday morning and the unauthorised structure was removed at around 6 am today.

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"As per the HC order, the Satpeer Dargah trustees started the process of removing the structure on Tuesday night. A violent mob gathered to oppose the removal and pelted stones at police and Muslim leaders who went to pacify the protesters," Nashik Commissioner of Police Sandeep Karnik said, as quoted by PTI.

"Police resorted to lathi-charge and lobbed teargas shells to disperse the mob and brought the situation under control. Three police vehicles were damaged and 21 police personnel injured in the attack. The dargah was demolished in the morning and the process to file an FIR and arrest (those involved in the violence) is on," he said.

The Nashik Municipal Corporation issued a notice declaring the structure "unauthorised" on April 1 and asking the Dargah committee to voluntarily remove it within 15 days. 

According to Nashik Deputy Commissioner Kiran Kumar Chavan, at around 11.30 pm on Tuesday, the trustees had reached the spot to remove the encroachment and started the work. At that time, a mob of miscreants gathered at Usmania Chowk near the structure. They did not listen to the dargah trustees and other people who went to pacify them.

"Police officials present at the place also tried to pacify them, but they did not listen to them. The miscreants pelted stones and damaged some vehicles. Mild force was used to control them. As many as 15 persons have been detained and 57 motorcycles belonging to suspects have been seized. The situation is peaceful and under control at present," Chavan said, as quoted by PTI.

The fresh confrontation came months after the Nashik Municipal Corporation removed encroachments near the Peer Baba Dargah in February. The illegal structures that were removed were in an open space near the Sidney Tower building.

"The drive took place in the presence of additional municipal commissioner Smita Zagade and deputy commissioner of police Kirankumar Chavan. Sections of the law that prohibits assembly of persons were enforced to carry out the encroachment removal drive quickly and peacefully," an NMC official said as quoted by PTI.

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However, a section of residents and members of Hindu outfits had gathered at the site and said the dargah itself was unauthorised and must be removed. "The NMC's anti-encroachment drive is not complete and the entire site should be cleared," said Nashik Central MLA Devyani Pharande.

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