Aurangabad violence: 2 corporators among 50 held

Around 50 persons, including two

corporators of the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation, have been arrested in connection with last week's violence in Aurangabad that claimed two lives and left over 60 people injured, a senior official said today.

The two corporators - Rajendra Janjal of Shiv Sena and Feroz Khan of All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) - were arrested by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Aurangabad police yesterday, the official said.

"So far, police have arrested around 50 persons in connection with the riots," Rahul Shrirame, Deputy Commissioner of Police in Aurangabad, said.

Janjal was arrested from his residence in Shivaji Nagar area on charges of setting vehicles on fire during the violence, he said.

 

"A video had gone viral on Saturday, which purportedly showed Janjal being part of the mob that was torching vehicles and damaging public property in Raja Bazaar area," the official said.

The Shiv Sena corporator was produced before a local court yesterday, which remanded him in police custody till

May 18.

An offence under sections 143 (member of an unlawful assembly), 147 (rioting), 435 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to cause damage) and 436 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy house, etc) of IPC has been registered against Janjal at Jinsi police station, another official said.

The Aurangabad DCP said AIMIM corporator Feroz Khan allegedly instigated the mob for violence in which Assistant Commissioner of Police Govardhan Kolelar was injured.

Kolekar was airlifted to Mumbai for treatment, another official said.

An offence under relevant IPC sections was registered against Khan at City Chowk police station, the DCP said.

The AIMIM corporator was produced before a local court, which sent him to three-day police custody.

On May 11, Aurangabad, located about 350 kms from here, witnessed clashes between groups allegedly over illegal water connections.

The violence left a 65-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy dead and around 60 others, including a dozen policemen, injured. Several shops and scores of vehicles were also torched, the police said.