Kolhapur : Former MP Chhatrapati Sambhaji Raje has started a campaign to remove encroachments from Vishalgad. But before Sambhaji Raje could reach Vishalgad, violence broke out in the area. Houses and shops burnt. Photos and videos of the incident have been going viral on social media. Police have started enquiry into it.
On the call of Ravindra Padwal, the president of Hindu Bandhav Samiti in Pune, hundreds of youths reached the foothills of Vishalgad and created panic. Police teams have been sent to Pune to arrest the accused. The police have registered a case of rioting and criminal intimidation against the accused.
Even before former MP Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati along with his supporters could reach the foot of Vishalgad, activists of Hindu Bandhav Samiti and Sevavrat Pratishthan had vandalized the Panhalgad and the foot of the temple. The police had appealed to the protesters not to resort to violence. Ignoring this, Pune's Ravindra Padwal appealed to the workers to come to the fort on Sunday morning.
Banda Salokhe of Sevavrat Sanghatana in Kolhapur made the video viral on social media on Saturday night and appealed to the workers to come to the fort. It is clear from some videos that they instigated the demolition of the fort and the foundation. The police have registered a case of rioting and rioting against the accused. Besides, cases have been registered against those who vandalised the houses.
Hundreds of youth from Pune, Satara and Sangli districts had reached Kolhapur two days ago on the occasion of the Panhala-PawanKhind campaign. On Sunday morning, they reached the foot of Vishalgad. Eight teams have been deployed to arrest the suspects, some of whom are in Pune district in pursuit of Ravindra Padwal.
However, his mobile phone was found switched off, a senior police officer said. Officials said the retired head of the organisation, Banda Salokhe, and his associates would also be arrested.