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19 more held over Azad Maidan arson
In an apparent effort to blunt a severe criticism faced by its chief Arup Patnaik for his inept handling the August 11 disturbances, the Mumbai police on Wednesday arrested 19 more miscreants in connection with the Azad Maidan riots, taking the total number of arrests to 43.
On a day when there were strong indications that Patnaik was on his way, the two of the arrested alleged rioters, identified as Hussain Kamruddin Ansari and Niyazuddin Shaikh from Kurla and Wadala Wadala in north-central Mumbai, were produced before a city court, which remanded the duo in police custody till August 28.
Under flak from the Opposition parties who demanding the resignations of both Patnaik and State Home Minister RR Patil, the ruling NCP, which holds the State Home portfolio, is understood to have submitted a proposal to chief minister Prithviraj Chavan for transfer of Patnaik from his post.
Chavan, who had earlier stood by Patnaik for showing restraint in dealing with the protestors during the Raza Academy rally at Azad Maidan, is now believed to be veering around to the view that the State Government can retrieve some lost ground in the event of it transferring the current city police from his post.
Chavan threw some hints about the impending shifting of Patnaik, when he said in the evening: “I have received a proposal. We are still discussing the issue. I have not taken any decision yet,” Chavan told media persons.
In an apparent effort to blunt a severe criticism faced by its chief Arup Patnaik for his inept handling the August 11 disturbances, the Mumbai police on Wednesday arrested 19 more miscreants in connection with the Azad Maidan riots, taking the total number of arrests to 43.
On a day when there were strong indications that Patnaik was on his way, the two of the arrested alleged rioters, identified as Hussain Kamruddin Ansari and Niyazuddin Shaikh from Kurla and Wadala Wadala in north-central Mumbai, were produced before a city court, which remanded the duo in police custody till August 28.
Under flak from the Opposition parties who demanding the resignations of both Patnaik and State Home Minister RR Patil, the ruling NCP, which holds the State Home portfolio, is understood to have submitted a proposal to chief minister Prithviraj Chavan for transfer of Patnaik from his post.
Chavan, who had earlier stood by Patnaik for showing restraint in dealing with the protestors during the Raza Academy rally at Azad Maidan, is now believed to be veering around to the view that the State Government can retrieve some lost ground in the event of it transferring the current city police from his post.
Chavan threw some hints about the impending shifting of Patnaik, when he said in the evening: “I have received a proposal. We are still discussing the issue. I have not taken any decision yet,” Chavan told media persons.
