8 hrs ago
Rohit Pawar Accuses Pune Police of Harassing MPSC Protesters
Students are protesting in Pune about the Maharashtra Public Service Commission, or MPSC.
They say they will keep protesting until its chairman, Vivek Bhimanwar, resigns.
Politician Rohit Pawar said police were harassing students and filing cases against them instead of him.
He said he met senior police officials and asked for permission for the protest.
Police have registered two cases connected with the protest.
One names 15 people, and another names five people accused of flying a drone without permission.
Pawar said some people named in a case were not at the protest.
He called the protest peaceful and said many more students could join.
The reports do not include a police response to his accusations.
NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) MLA Rohit Pawar accused Pune Police of targeting and harassing students participating in the MPSC protest.
Pawar said he met senior police officials at Vishrambaug police station and submitted applications seeking permission for the protest.
He urged police to file a case against him rather than students, and alleged that some people named in an FIR were not at the protest site.
Pune Police registered two FIRs: one against 15 people in connection with the protest and another against five people accused of flying a drone without permission.
Pawar said protesters would continue their agitation at SM Joshi Bridge until MPSC Chairman Vivek Bhimanwar resigned, and said more than 50,000 students could join.
- Who
- MPSC student protesters, NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) MLA Rohit Pawar, and Pune Police.
- What
- Pawar accused police of harassing protesters and urged them to file a case against him rather than students; police registered two protest-related FIRs.
- Where
- Pune, including SM Joshi Bridge and Vishrambaug police station.
- When
- Pawar made his remarks on Saturday; one FIR concerns an incident on October 1.
- Why
- The students are protesting and, according to Pawar, will continue until MPSC Chairman Vivek Bhimanwar resigns.
Pawar’s allegations
Police actions reported
FIRs and treatment of protesters
Pawar’s allegations
Pawar alleged that police were deliberately filing cases and issuing notices to harass students and break the protest. He said some people named in an FIR were not at the protest and asked police to take action against him instead.
Police actions reported
Pune Police registered one FIR against 15 people in connection with the protest and another against five people over alleged drone use without permission. The reports provide no police response to Pawar’s allegations.
Purpose and conduct of the protest
Pawar’s allegations
Pawar described the protest as peaceful and said students would continue until the MPSC chairman resigned. He alleged authorities were under pressure to suppress the agitation.
Police actions reported
The reports describe the FIRs and the alleged drone incident but do not provide the police’s account of the protest or a response to claims of pressure.
Key facts
- FIRs registered
- Two
- People named in protest-related FIR
- 15
- People named in drone-related FIR
- Five, accused of flying a drone without permission
- Protest demand
- MPSC Chairman Vivek Bhimanwar’s resignation
- Protest location
- SM Joshi Bridge, Pune
- Police station visited by Pawar
- Vishrambaug police station
- Potential participation cited by Pawar
- More than 50,000 students could join the agitation
Quotes
Rohit Pawar
Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) MLA
“As a people’s representative, even though I was participating in the MPSC students’ protest, police are deliberately filing cases against the students instead of me and harassing them. Regarding this, I met senior police officials at the Vishrambaug police station and submitted applications requesting permission for the protest.”
indianexpress.com
“The students have decided that they will not end the protest until the chairman resigns. No matter how many examinations we appear for, there is no benefit to us until he resigns.”
freepressjournal.in
Sources
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