R R Patil urges people in Digras to maintain peace

Mumbai, Jul 21 (UNI) Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil today appealed to the people in the riot-hit taluka of Digras in Yavatmal district, where one person was killed in police firing, to maintain peace.

A youth was killed and two teenagers were injured last Saturday in police firing in Digras taluka, where an indefinite curfew was imposed following desecration of a holy book, kept under the statue of Dr B R Ambedkar on Friday, police said.

Making a statement in the state assembly over an adjournment motion moved by Shobhatai Phadnavis (BJP) and others, he said ''It is a government policy not to resort to firing, but in extreme conditions the administration has to counter rioters.'' The issue was also raised earlier by NCP legislator Bashir Patel, Sanjay Rathod (sena).

Members of the minority community took out a morcha protesting the incident. Later sena-BJP workers also took out a morcha during which an incident of stone pelting occurred.

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