Prithviraj Chavan defends strict action against cops over girls arrest

Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan on Tuesday defended the suspension of two police officers over the arrest of two girls for their posts on Facebook regarding the bandh observed for Bal Thackeray's funeral.

He said Thane SP Ravindra Sengaonkar and Senior Inspector Shrikant Pingle had acted against the directions given by their seniors while arresting the girls in Palghar, about 100 km from Mumbai.

"The state government has demonstrated strict action by suspending the erring police officers who acted against the advice given by their seniors and arrested the girls," he said during an interaction with the students of Fergusson College here.

The police officers, who effected the arrests on November 19, acted "under pressure", said Chavan, without elaborating.

Advising the students to work for a knowledge and innovation-based society and overcome "negative atmosphere" around them, he said, "My main concern is about facilitating quality education for all sections of the society."