4 hrs ago
Pune Police Notice MPSC Protesters Over Missing Permissions
Students are protesting about how the Maharashtra Public Service Commission works.
The demonstrations are taking place at three spots in Pune.
Police say permission covered only the first day, so the protests that continued afterward were unauthorised.
They have sent notices to 51 students and 29 coaching or study-centre operators.
Police also say some equipment and a drone were used without permission at one site.
They are reviewing footage and other evidence before deciding what to do next.
Rohit Pawar disagrees with the police’s view and says he will ask for permission to continue.
He argues that permission for the first day means the location was approved for the protest.
Pune Police say protests at three city locations continued beyond the first day covered by organisers’ permissions.
Police issued notices to 51 students and 29 coaching-class and study-room operators, warning of possible legal action.
The protests were in their fifth to seventh days on Tuesday and concern several MPSC issues, including a demand for the chairman’s resignation.
Police cited crowd-related arrangements, public inconvenience and suspected unauthorised drone use at the SM Joshi Bridge site.
Rohit Pawar disputes that the protest is illegal and says he will seek fresh permission from Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar.
- Who
- MPSC protesters, including students, and organisers led at the SM Joshi Bridge site by NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) MLA Rohit Pawar; Pune Police issued notices to 51 students and 29 coaching-class and study-room operators.
- What
- Police say demonstrations at three locations continued without permission for subsequent days; Pawar disputes that the protest is illegal and plans to seek fresh permission.
- Where
- SM Joshi Bridge, near Ahilya Library on Shastri Road, and Alaka Chowk in Pune.
- When
- On Tuesday, the SM Joshi Bridge protest was in its seventh day, the Shastri Road protest its sixth, and the Alaka Chowk protest its fifth.
- Why
- Students are protesting several issues concerning the functioning of the Maharashtra Public Service Commission, including a demand for its chairman’s resignation.
Police
Rohit Pawar
Whether the ongoing protest is authorised
Police
Police say permission covered only the first day and that organisers continued the demonstrations without obtaining fresh permission.
Rohit Pawar
Pawar disputes that the protest is illegal, arguing that the first-day permission means the location was allotted for the protest; he says he will submit a fresh request.
Conditions for demonstrations in public places
Police
Police say prior permission is mandatory and that legal action may follow if demonstrations continue without it, regardless of political support or the demands.
Rohit Pawar
Pawar says that if permission is denied, the protesters will consider themselves permitted and formally continue the agitation.
Key facts
- Locations
- SM Joshi Bridge, near Ahilya Library on Shastri Road, and Alaka Chowk
- Police notices
- 51 students and 29 coaching-class and study-room operators
- Protest duration on Tuesday
- Seven days at SM Joshi Bridge, six days near Ahilya Library, and five days at Alaka Chowk
- Police position
- Organisers had permission for the first day only; police say no fresh applications were submitted for continuation
- Pawar’s response
- He said he would send a fresh permission request to Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar and challenged the claim that the protest was illegal
- SM Joshi Bridge arrangements
- Police reported about 10 loudspeakers, 12 to 14 LED lights, two LED screens through the fourth day, plus food stalls, electricity and a temporary footpath structure
- Drone investigation
- Police said one or two drones were seen without permission and that they were collecting evidence before deciding on an FIR
Quotes
Senior Pune Police officer
Unnamed senior Pune Police officer speaking to The Free Press Journal.
“I am drafting a letter now and sending it to the Commissioner of Police. If the police gave us permission for the very first day of the protest, why can't they give us permission now? If they deny the permission, we will consider ourselves as having permission and go ahead with the protest formally.”
freepressjournal.in
“Permission was taken only for the first day of the protest. The organisers have continued the agitation subsequently without obtaining extended permission. Therefore, the protests currently continuing at these three locations are without permission.”
freepressjournal.in
Sources
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