2 killed in police firing in Bhiwandi as mob clashes with cops

Mumbai, July 5 (UNI) Two people were killed and several others injured when police opened fire on agitating members of a community protesting against the construction of a new police station in the Nizampura area of Bhiwandi in neighbouring Thane district today.

The situation in Nizampura area now is under control but tense, police said. An indefinite curfew has been imposed and top police officers are camping at the spot.

Senior Police Inspector Praful Joshi, while speaking to UNI, alleged that the community members were opposed to the new police station as it would expose their illegal activities. They are falsely accusing the police of grabbing the graveyard land for construction of a police station, Mr Joshi alleged.

Mr Joshi maintained that the land on which the police station is proposed to be built, belongs to the Thane police since the last 70 years. In the past several police officers had stayed in the area where the police quarters are also located, he said.

Mr Joshi said that earlier in the day, thousands of slogan-shouting members of the community surrounded the police station, which is under construction, and pelted stones at officers.

To quell the mob, the police resorted to firing, he said.

In the stone-pelting incidents, several policeman were injured including a Deputy Commissioner of Police who has been admitted to the Hinduja hospital, he said.

Meanwhile, chairman of the Reza Academy, Syed Noori, met deputy chief minister R R Patil and alleged that the entire episode was stage managed by the police. Prior to the firing, a minor argument had broken out between local members of the community and the cops and the situation aggravated after the police firing, he claimed.

Meanwhile, situation in Nizampura area is under control and tense. An indefinite curfew has been imposed by the police and top police officials are camping at the spot.

UNI GVS MAZ YA KP2038