Shiraj Plumber in cop custody

Shiraj Plumber was the first arrest made by Bhiwandi police on Friday, following the July 5 rioting that left four persons, including two policemen, dead. “We have arrested Shiraj Plumber,” said deputy commissioner of police RT Rathore. The 35-year-old Shiraj was produced at Bhiwandi court in the afternoon, and was remanded in police custody till July 12. He has been lodged at Kumbharwada police station. Along with Shiraj, 30 unidentified people had been booked in the FIR.

People were irked by Shiraj’s arrest. A resident said, “Police picked up Shiraj when he had gone to show the disputed site to a media person. We were assured by the police commissioner himself that Shiraj would be released, but instead he has been now been remanded in police custody.”

Shops opened in Bhiwandi and it was business as usual despite the strong security presence. “The bandobast will remain the same. We have not yet decided to reduce the number of personnel deployed,” said Rathore. Shiv Sena in Bhiwandi is planning to take out a morcha against the entire incident. “Once we get the guidelines from the leadership, we will take out a morcha,” said Sena’s Bhiwandi shakha pramukh Subhash Mane. Udhav Thackeray was supposed to visit Thane on Friday, but cancelled his visit as families of the slain policemen had gone to their villages.