The Maharashtra government has denied allegations by former police commissioner Julio Commissioner that the state wide band last October was state-sponsored.
Ribeiro and three others had filed a public interest litigation challenging the state government-sponsored one-day bandh on October 11, 2021 which was called to express solidarity with the farmers’ protest and the Lakhimpur incident. The PIL alleged that the bandh had caused a loss of Rs 3,000 crore to the public exchequer.
As per earlier HC directions, an affidavit was filed by government and police denying the allegations in the PIL and stating that necessary steps were taken to maintain law and order and to ensure that there was no damage to public or property.
Affidavit filed by deputy secretary to the Home Department Sanjay Khedekar states that as per the minutes of meeting of October 6, 2021, “no cabinet decision was taken to call for a state wide bandh”.
“State cabinet has only expressed grief and offered its condolences and tributes to the farmers who died in the unfortunate incident that took place at Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh,” read the affidavit.
Denying allegations in the PIL, affidavit filed by Sanjay Latkar, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), states that the moment the State Government “received knowledge” that the state-wide “peaceful bandh” was called for to protest regarding the killing of farmers at Lakhimpur Kheri, the “state machinery was immediately set into motion” and necessary steps were taken “to ensure that law and order situation is maintained” in the city by making necessary arrangements and providing additional Bandobast of Police Force. This was done to “ensure that no untoward incident takes place and/or there is no breakdown of law and order situation”, read the affidavit.
Additional police force had been provided and for every infraction of law which was reported to different police stations immediate action was taken by the concerned police station by either registering FIR and/or NC and by arresting or detaining the miscreants, adds the affidavit.
Giving details, the affidavit states Preventive action was taken against 63 persons and 16 persons were arrested. One BEST bus damaged and some damage was caused to the Bangur Nagar police station writhe approximately Rs 3,500.
“Government was prompt, diligent and alert in ensuring that the law and order situation is maintained and no harm and injury is caused to the body and property of the citizen,” adds the affidavit.
The PIL seeks that the HC declare the bandh (strike) as unconstitutional and illegal and prays that the political parties – the Shiv Sena, Congress and the NCP – be directed to pay compensation to the affected citizens.
Calling this bandh “unique and unprecedented”, the PIL states that it was called by the parties of the ruling coalition. In the past, a bandh was usually called for and enforced by a political party or a group which was in the opposition.
This time it was done despite knowing that the Supreme Court had held such bandhs “unconstitutional and hence illegal”.
