Pune firing: Police firing was not harsh,says special IGP

Although eight  policemen, including an inspector, have been suspended in the recent police firing incident in Pune district in which three farmers were killed, special inspector general of police (IGP) (Kolhapur range), Tukaram Chavan, has stated that the police action “was not harsh”.

Camping in Pune for the last four days, following the Maval incident of August 9, Chavan told DNA, “The video clippings that are being aired by the electronic media, are only in pieces. I have watched the whole footage and think the police resorted to firing as the last resort.” He said he had visited the site of firing and had held meetings with officers and villagers alike to understand the ground realities.

When asked whether the junior policemen had been made scapegoats in the incident by suspending them and no action was taken against superintendent of police (Pune rural), Sandeep Karnik, he said he would not like to comment as a judicial probe had been ordered by the state government into the episode. “Also, the matter has been discussed in the Vidhan Sabha and policemen found to be damaging vehicles have been suspended in the last few days,” he said.

On August 9, the Pune rural police led by Karnik had opened fire on farmers protesting against the proposed closed water pipeline in Maval taluka. Three farmers were killed in the firing with bullets piercing their head, chest and chin, and many were injured.

When asked about allegations that the police were being vindictive in dealing with the villagers after the incident, Chavan said such allegations were expected in view of the sensitive nature of the situation.