22, Feb 2016

According to the police, around 1.30 am on February 19, on the occasion of Shivaji Jayanti, over two dozen locals belonging to the Shivaji Jayanti Mandal assembled near the Ambedkar Chowk in Pangaon to hoist a ‘saffron flag’.
Written by Rashmi Rajput | Mumbai | Published:February 22, 2016 4:41 am
Maharashtra Police has arrested 17 youths, including a minor, on charges of attempting to murder two policemen who stopped locals from hoisting a ‘saffron flag’ during Shivaji Jayanti festivities in Latur district on Friday.
The incident took place in Pangaon town of Latur district in Marathwada region.
According to the police, around 1.30 am on February 19, on the occasion of Shivaji Jayanti, over two dozen locals belonging to the Shivaji Jayanti Mandal assembled near the Ambedkar Chowk in Pangaon to hoist a ‘saffron flag’. Since the area is earmarked as a ‘communally sensitive’ one, K Awaskar, a head constable attached with the Renapur police station in the district, restrained the group from hoisting the flag there. The members dispersed but returned in the morning and started shouting slogans against the head constable. After learning of the commotion, when Awaskar visited the spot again, he was allegedly assaulted by the mob.
As assistant sub-inspector Yusuf Sheikh then intervened to ease the tension, the unruly mob targeted him too. Sheikh was allegedly paraded along with saffron flags and one of the accused also hurled a stone at Sheikh, causing him to collapse on the ground, said the police.