Congress demands judicial probe of violence at Nevali

Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil today demanded a judicial probe of yesterday's violence at Nevali in Thane district in which 29 people including 12 policemen were injured.
The Congress leader today met the villagers and also the injured farmers and policemen admitted to hospitals.
"I will meet the Chief Minister tonight and apprise him of the situation and demand immediate intervention by the government. I'd also press for inquiry by a retired high court judge into police atrocities," he said.
"The government must explain why the Defence ministry did nothing about the land for over 75 years and what was the urgency which prompted them to take possession now," he said.

He also took potshots at the Shiv Sena, the ruling ally. "Their leaders represent this region in the Assembly as well as the Parliament. Yet they have not been able to ensure justice to the people who have been cultivating the land for the past 75 years. They are only looking for opportunity to politicise the issue," he said.
Meanwhile, residents of Bhal, where police vehicles were set on fire during yesterday's violence, alleged that a group of policemen vandalised houses and vehicles in the village last night.

District police said they are conducting inquiry into the incident.
Farmers protesting construction of boundary wall around a Defence land at Nevali yesterday set vehicles on fire and clashed with police.

The aggrieved farmers had earlier approached the Bombay High Court challenging the acquisition of over 1,600 acres of land by the Defence ministry.