Enamul Hafiz Latifee compiles,
In a bid to put an end to speculation characterizing the Palghar mob lynching case as a communal incident, Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray reportedly appealed to Home Minister Amit Shah to act against all those giving communal colour to the case.
On 16 April 2020, three men, including two sadhus and a driver were lynched by a mob of at least 200 people near Gadchinchale village in Palghar district. Acting on rumors circulating about gangs of bandits roaming the area in the garb of sadhus and doctors, the mob dragged the men out of their car and beat them to death. Six police personnel were also injured in the attack.
The deceased have been identified as Chikne Maharaj Kalpavruksh Giri (70), Sushil Giri (35) and their car driver Nilesh Telgade (30), all three hailing from Kandivali in Mumbai.
As soon as the victims were identified, several across social media tried to suggest that ‘Hindu Sadhus’ are not safe in the state and alleged a communal conspiracy. BJP MP Baijayant Jay Panda also took to Twitter to allege that media suppressed the fact that “they were in Hindu religious robes.”
In a video message, CM Uddhav Thackeray said he received a call on Monday, 20 April 2020 from Amit Shah who told him that there is no communal angle to the incident.
“I have urged him to initiate action against those who are giving a communal twist to the Palghar mob lynching, which is factually incorrect. I also informed him that my government is definitely going to take action against the perpetrators.”
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray added that stern action will be taken against those involved in the lynching of the three men. State Home Minister Anil Deshmukh too had earlier warned action against those instigating a communal rift over the lynching.
पालघर की घटना बहुत दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण है। मामले में 101 लोगों को गिरफ्तार किया गया है और उच्च स्तरीय जांच जारी है। जब पूरा देश कोरोना से लड़ रहा है, कुछ लोग इस घटना को गलत मोड़ देने की कोशिश कर रहे हैं, जो सही नहीं है।#LawAndOrderAboveAll#WarAgainstVirus pic.twitter.com/PVqywq0XR0
— ANIL DESHMUKH (@AnilDeshmukhNCP) April 20, 2020
The State Home Minister further added that the attackers and those who died in the mob lynching are not from different religions.
“Those who attacked and who died in the Palghar mob killings are not from different religions… I have ordered Maharashtra police and @MahaCyber1 to take action against anyone instigating communal hatred in the society or on social media,” he tweeted.
Earlier, today, on Monday, 20 April 2020, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that he spoke to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday, 19 April 2020 about the Palghar mob-lynching case. Yogi said that he has requested to take stringent action against the people who are responsible for the killing of two saints who belonged to ‘Juna Akhara’ and their driver.
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