Bhima Koregaon violence: Patience is key ingredient of police strategy

A senior official with the state home department denied charges made by political parties and NGOs of police inaction to prevent violence during the day long shutdown today. 

“A mountain of patience and restraint was shown by the police. It was necessary considering repercussions of any police action which may have resulted in a major law and problem,” he told DNA. 

“Therefore, police personnel were deployed on the roads in Mumbai and rest of Maharashtra but were clearly told not to use force but engage protesters to avoid any untoward incident,’’ he added. 

He claimed that barring a few incidents of stone pelting and damage to vehicles, there were no loss of life or any major damage to public properties.

The police had also made some preventive arrests in Mumbai and rest of Maharashtra, he said. “Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has also ordered probe into the killing of a youth and said no body would be spared. The government has not taken the matter lightly,’’ the officer added.