Attack on Pawar residence: A preliminary report confirms major intelligence failure, lack of action from the zonal police in deployment of additional force despite repeated alerts
Maha Govt cracks the whip, DCP zone II was removed for failure in acting upon intelligence inputs
Home Minister Walse-Patil hinted more heads will roll after the probe
Walse-Patil met Pawar while CM held meeting to review law and order situation
Security beefed up for NCP chief and his daughter Supriya Sule & also at their residence
A preliminary report by the Mumbai police has confirmed that there was an intelligence failure in the attack outside the residence of NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Friday. As directed by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, the home department has appointed a committee headed by the Mumbai city joint commissioner (law and order), Vishwas Nangre-Patil, to conduct a probe and submit its report. The panel will inquire into the conspiracy angle among others in the protest on Friday.
A day after the incident, the Maharashtra Government cracked the whip and removed the deputy commissioner of police (Zone II), Yogesh Kumar, citing failure in his duty and in acting on the intelligence inputs.
The home department has hinted that more heads will roll after the inquiry is completed. The security at Pawar’s residence has been beefed up, as has that for the NCP chief and his daughter and party MP Supriya Sule.
A senior home department officer told The Free Press Journal, “In view of the ongoing strike by the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) employees and their agitation at Azad Maidan, the state intelligence department had sounded an alert for the last three months and had suggested deployment of police force at Pawar’s residence. It had specifically suggested that Zone II DCP Yogesh Kumar should take a proactive role to avoid any untoward incident affecting law and order. However, it was revealed after Friday’s protest that no additional police force had been deployed at Pawar’s Silver Oak residence. The inquiry panel will look into this aspect among many others.” Incidentally, the officer said all the approach roads to Transport Minister Anil Parab’s residence at Bandra had been cordoned off and additional police forces deployed since the agitation began in October last year.
‘’However, such swift action was not taken at Pawar’s residence, despite the NCP chief enjoying Z-plus security cover,” said the officer who was present at the series of meetings that took place on Saturday.
Besides, the panel will also probe how the Azad Maidan and Gamdevi Police were not in the know of the mobilization of over 100 protesters when reporters from television news channel and videographers were accompanying them. Further, the panel will also probe the role of advocate-cum-leader Gunaratna Sadavarte in inciting the protesters and at whose behest the protest was undertaken. It has also been learnt that some of the protesters, both male and female, were under the influence of liquor. This has been included in the FIR lodged against them.
Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil confirmed that an inquiry had already been constituted, saying that lapses would be detected and the concerned officers would have to face action. He urged the MSRTC employees to maintain peace and take due care that their action would not lead to a law-and-order problem. “Action will be taken against those responsible for lapses,” he iterated.
Further, he met Pawar at his Silver Oak residence and discussed the law-and-order situation after the incident. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray met Walse Patil and Mumbai Police Commissioner Sanjay Pandey to review the situation. Pandey was reportedly rapped by Thackeray and Walse Patil for Friday’s protest.
