The attack followed after a case was filed against an army officer.
About 150 army personnel attacked a police station in Nashik, injuring three police staff and threatening and manhandling senior police officers, including a lady police inspector on Wednesday. They also ransacked and vandalised the police station, causing severe damage to property. Twenty young officers, reportedly lieutenants, have been detained by the police.
The young officers who are reportedly training at the School of Artillery in Deolali in Nashik, vandalised the Upnagar police station in Nashik. According to police, a mob of about 150 army personnel vandalised the police station.
The attack on the police station followed after action taken by the Upnagar police against 24-year-old army officer Ashish Bagul of the School of Artillery. Bagul had come to the Upnagar police station late on the evening of January 13, in regard with a police matter of his relative. He had an altercation with the police about parking his vehicle in front of the police gate. The altercation resulted in police filing a case against Bagul under section 535 of the IPC for creating obstacles in government duty. He was arrested, but later released after his senior officers had discussions with the police.
The next day, an irate mob on motorcycles reportedly ransacked the police station and in the process injured three police personnel, including a lady police. One of the police personnel, a driver of the mobile unit, Chintaman Gangurde is said to be serious and is to be operated in a private hospital.
The scene around the police station was that of complete chaos. Potted plants, window panes, name plates, sign boards were broken and thrown in the lobby. Inside the office, wireless sets, computers, tables, chairs, cupboards all were broken and thrown haywire.
Speaking to the media, senior PI and in-charge of Upnagar police station said,
“I heard a noise and came out from my cabin, when I saw some men vandalising the material and manhandling policemen. They did not even spare the lady personnel. They pushed me inside my cabin when I tried to stop them. As I picked up the phone to call my senior and the control room, they pulled away its wire and pushed and threatened me. They then locked me inside the cabin and went on a rampage. They did not even think about the school children who were on their way home and were frightened due to such a sudden aggressive outburst”.
“Such a behaviour from the army men is not expected as the army is looked at with respect. But what we experienced today was very shocking. I too am a daughter of an army man and am saddened by their behaviour,” said PI Namrata Desai, the first woman police officer in Nashik to hold charge of a police station.
People around the police station said that men dressed in civil clothes, track suits, wearing helmets came on motorcycles and pelted stones on a police van standing outside the police station. “They broke the wind shield and tried to overturn the vehicle,” said policemen sitting inside the van. Taken by surprise, they contacted the control room and informed their seniors. “We were sitting inside and locked the van door. They tried to overthrow the van but just then, students from the Kendriya Vidyalaya nearby came out, and the men with helmets moved inside the police station”.
The vandalised police station
A woman vendor in a kiosk opposite the police station said she saw men in helmets coming on motorcycles. “They must be more than 100 in number, and were on 50-60 motor cycles. They pelted stones on the police station, the vehicles outside and caused havoc as they entered the police station," she said.
Senior police officers including DCP Diwan rushed to the site. Immediately after gaining information, the city police swung into action and did a naka bandi in which about 20-22 young motorcycle riders were caught. A police party was rushed to Upnagar police station for aid and assistance of the police staff. A panchnama was conducted and the process of filing a case was going on till late. A thorough investigation is being conducted at Bhadrkali police station.
News of the attack is said to have reached the higher ups of the police and defence at the state and Centre. A team of senior officers led by a Brigadier rank officer had come to the Upnagar police station to hold discussions with the police.
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