CP Rakesh Maria shunted them to the Local Arms Unit for their inaction in dealing with the accused and failing to convince the protesting crowds, which vandalised vehicles
Five policemen were transferred for their failure to rein in the accused who allegedly murdered Shiv Sena’s local leader Ramesh Jadhav and inability to control the angry mob that was protesting after the murder. The case is registered at Dindoshi police station.
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The Khot Dongri area remained quiet on Wednesday post the murder, with Shiv Sena calling for a local bandh and police bandobast having been deployed. Pic/Nikesh Gurav
Commissioner of Police Rakesh Maria transferred to the Local Arms Unit of Mumbai Police, Assistant Commissioner of Police Rajendra Kotak, Senior Police Inspector Subhas Dafale of Dindoshi police station, Police Inspector Arjun Rajane, Assistant Police Inspector Pitale and Police Sub-inspector Khairnar.
mid-day report on the incident on October 23
The murder occurred on their watch, under their jurisdiction. The LAU is considered a punishment posting, with most of duty time dedicated to bandobast duty. Dhananjay Kulkarni, spokesperson for Mumbai Police and deputy commissioner of police, Crime Branch, confirmed the transfers.
The murder
On Tuesday evening, Jadhav was killed allegedly by the five accused Gullu Ali Sajida, Yusuf Sajida, Sohail Ansari, Imran Sajida and a minor after Jadhav intervened when the group was allegedly misbehaving with a woman and attacking her.
Jadhav was stabbed with sharp weapons in his home in Gangaram Chawl, Khot Dongri in Malad (East), and was declared dead on arrival in a hospital. mid-day had reported on the incident and also how locals had complained that the accused were known to harass resident time and again.
After the murder, Shiv Sainiks rose up in anger and vandalised several vehicles. Tension prevailed and several police battalions were posted to keep peace. Maria himself was in Dindoshi police station since midnight till early Wednesday morning, and was monitoring the case till the police nabbed the accused from Mira Road.
Shiv Sainiks declared a bandh in the area as a mark of protest and shops remained shut. Sources said the policemen who were on duty at the time of the incident couldn’t handle the matter properly, and allowed it to get out of hand. They took no efforts to convince the protesting mob of political workers, nor were they able to control the crowds.
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Sources attributed the inaction to the accused, who have criminal cases against them, for the transfers. “Gullu is already a record criminal and if preventive action would have been taken against him by the senior police inspector, Jadhav would not have been killed.
The other four officers could not handle the case, as (senior PI) Dafale was on leave. They didn’t control or convince the protesting mob after the murder,” said a police officer.