Nashik calm after anti-rape protests

A day after arson and protests against the alleged rape of a five-year-old girl, Nashik in Maharashtra limped to normalcy on Monday, officials said.

"The situation is tense but under control. We have deployed adequate police personnel in the affected villages. The highway and city roads are normal," Superintendent of Police (Rural) Ankush Shinde said.

He said several persons involved in Sunday's violence and damage to public properties had been arrested.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Laxmikant Patil said any attempt by mischief mongers to violate the law "would be dealt with a heavy hand".

Police Commissioner R.K. Singhal said suitable action had been taken against alleged rapist and urged people not to believe rumours circulating on social media networks.

In Amravati, Union Minister for Social Justice Ramdas Athavale, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and NCP President Sharad Pawar made separate appeals to the people to maintain peace.

On Sunday, thousands of people blocked the Mumbai-Agra highway, attacked the police and targeted public and private vehicles to protest against the rape.

Twenty policemen were injured and several vehicles, including nine state transport buses and four police vans, were torched.

Police fired several rounds in the air to disperse the mobs. The Mumbai-Agra, Nashik-Igatpuri and Nashik-Aurangabad highways remained choked for nearly eight hours.

--IANS

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