Policeman among 5 injured in clash in Nashik Dist

Nashik, Aug 27 (UNI) As many as five people, including a policeman, were injured in a clash between the two rival groups over election of a multi-purpose society at Kashti village in Malegaon taluka of the district yesterday.

Police today said two months ago, 17 members of the multi-purpose society in the village were elected unopposed. On July 9, two members--Zingubai Nikam and Jibhau Jagtap of the Shiv Sena--were elected as President and Vice-President respectively. But their elections were declared invalid after the Co-operative Sub-Registrar cancelled their membership and three others for being defaulters of the society.

So, for the election to the two posts, a meeting was to be held last week but was deferred, as only eight directors attended it. It was held yesterday, when one member of the former president Nikam's group joined the rival Congress group. As a result, Vasant Hire and Sharad Khairnar of the Congress were elected as President and Vice-President respectively. This angered the members of the other group, leading to a clash. The members of the rival factions pelted stones at each other as well as at the police, in which, five people, including a policeman, were injured. To disperse the mob, the police resorted to a mild lathi charge.

Following the incident, police arrested 55 people including 16 women. A riot case has been registered against them. Adequate vigil has been strengthened in the area with the deployment of State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) personnel. The situation is under control now, police added.

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