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Police fire in air, lathi-charge as protest turns violent in Mumbai

Angered by frequent power cuts, residents of Nalasopara's Pragati Nagar area stage rasta roko

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A mob of around 600 residents of Pragati Nagar in Nalasopara (East) staged a rasta roko protesting against the frequent power cuts in the region at night, late on Friday night. The mob turned violent when the police tried to pacify them; the police were pelted with stones and a constable was injured. They then fired a round into the air and resorted to a lathi-charge to disperse the crowd. They have arrested 34 people for rioting.

Since the past one week, Vasai-Virar residents have been facing power cuts during the day as well as night. The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) is being blamed for this, as it's allegedly hand in glove with local inverter companies, which stand to gain in such a situation as people are bound to buy inverters to light up homes during power cuts.

"The rasta roko was in protest against the frequent power cuts. The MSEDCL transformer isn't powerful enough and that affects the power supply. They are hand in glove with inverter companies as power cuts would compel people to buy inverters during summer. It was because police officials abused and assaulted them that the crowd pelted stones," said a protester.

"The police barged into our residences and picked up our men though they had nothing to do with the rioting, said Sumaiya Shaikh, a Pragati Nagar resident.

"The mob did not want to settle the issue and abused our officers, and when we asked them to disperse, they pelted stones. Officer Monty Khopkar fired a round into the air after constable Feroze Tadvi was injured after a stone hit him on the head, said Sanjay Nikam, senior police inspector, Nalasopara station.

"We tried to pacify the crowd saying MSEDCL staff would repair the line in the morning, but they attacked us; it was then that we lathi-charged them. We have arrested 34 persons and charged them under IPC sections 307 (attempt to murder), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharging duty), 341 (wrongful restraint) and other relevant sections, said Nikam.

"Due to heavy load on the transformer, the supply failed. We have now replaced it with a high-voltage one. Power will not go off anymore," said JL Sonawne, assistant superintendent engineer, MSEDCL, Vasai region.

On Saturday afternoon there was tension in Pragati Nagar. Officials of the Rapid Action Force and Riot Control Police along with Thane rural superintendent of police Rajesh Pradhan patrolled the area. More arrests are likely in connection with Friday's incidents.

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