Mumbai: 57 people arrested in stone throwing incident in Powai

The settlement at Jai Bhim Nagar in Powai where the demolition drive was held on Thursday. Pic/Kirti Surve Parade

The Powai police have arrested 57 people who pelted stones at municipal and police personnel engaged in a demolition drive. Besides the sharp stones, the police also found chili powder used against the demolition team. Cops suspected that it was a pre-planned attack with all planning.

The incident occurred at Jay Bhim Nagar area of Powai on Thursday when the municipal corporation was removing encroachments. Police took the help of the videos and identified the people and arrested 51 men and six women who attacked the cops and BMC employees with stones. In this incident 25 policemen and BMC workers were seriously injured.

According to the police officials, the S ward municipal office issued a 48-hour notice on June 3, to the hutment dwellers to remove their encroachments. Accordingly, on June 6, a municipal demolition team, accompanied by Powai police for security, arrived at the site. A large crowd of locals, holding flags, prevented the demolition team from discharging their duty. The locals pelted stones wildly at the police and municipal officials and threw chili powder and chutney on them. The police who fled the scene were chased for up to 500 metres and injured with sharp stones.

An officer told mid-day, "We are also investigating whether someone with vested interest incited the citizens and if the attack was planned in advance. We are using the videos of the incident posted on social media to identify the attackers. So far, 57 people, including 51 men and 6 women, have been arrested. All the accused are in police custody."