Locals court arrest after ZP CEO files plaint against them

As many as 37 villagers, including 11 women, courted arrest at Palghar police station in connection with a criminal offence lodged against them by a senior zilla parishad official.
The villagers courted arrest yesterday after a complaint was registered by Palghar zilla parishad (ZP) CEO Nidhi Chowdhary against them, a statement issued by Palghar police (rural) here today said.
The locals had held a protest on Monday at Palghar ZP office, under the banner of Shramajivi Sanghatana, on the issue of non-payment of wages to anganwadi workers in the district.
Following the protest, the ZP CEO lodged a police complaint alleging that she was manhandled and gheraoed by the protesters and was confined to her office due to which she could not move out to attend a meeting.

The 37 persons were produced before the local magistrate yesterday, which remanded them to 14-days judicial custody.
Sanghatana founder and former MLA Vivek Pandit claimed that the protesters raised slogans for about two hours and held agitation in a peaceful manner.

"A case was lodged under IPC sections 143 (unlawful assembly), 147 (rioting), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 341 (wrongful restraint), 342 (wrongful confinement).
"IPC section 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 504 (intentional insult) and 506 (criminal intimidation)," said the police.
Following the development, workers of civic corporations of Mira-Bhayander and Vasai-Virar, who are also members of various workers' union, did not report to work today as a mark of protest against the arrest of the villagers.

Sanghatana's Balaram Bhoir alleged that the CEO has filed a false case against the 37 activists.