Sr Railway Police Commissioner deputed to Bhiwandi

Bhiwandi, Thane, July 7 (UNI) The Maharashtra Government has deputed Railway Police Commissioner Suresh Khopde to Bhiwandi for helping the local authorities to control the situation following the riots on Wednesday.

This is not the first time that the state government has specially deputed a senior police officer, for restoring peace in the riot-torn communally sensitive powerloom town.

Khopde was the Deputy Commissioner of Police in Bhiwandi in the late 1980's. During his tenure, he had brough the members of both Hindu and Muslim communities together.

He has written a book based on his experience in the riots of 1970 as well as 1984.

During the 1984 riots, the state government had rushed a senior police officer K P Gaikwad to Bhiwandi to bring in peace and control the situation.

Mr Gaikwad also served as the DCP for some time and contributed much for the peace of the town.

Also during the 1970 communal riots which flared up during the Shiv Jayanti procession, the state government had brought in Western Area Commandent of the Army Mr Krishnan to control the riots.

However, after the 1970 riots, Justice D P Madon Commission of inquiry into the communal riots at Bhiwandi, Jalgaon and Mahad lashed out at the political parties for their communal speeches and the failure of the district administration to prevent the riots.

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