Aurangabad, Nov 26:
The police administration has shocked the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) activists by detaining them for taking out morcha by violating prohibitory orders at Mahatma Phule Chowk in Aurangpura today. MNS was protesting against exorbitant bills charged upon consumers by MSEDCL against energy utilised during the lockdown period. MNS had was to take out morcha from Aurangpura to the District Collectorate.
Two days ago, the party activists had protested by hurling bills in the direction of the MSEDCL chief engineer Bhujang Khandare. Later on, they announced to take out morcha on Thursday. However, the assistant commissioner of police (ACP) H S Bhapkar, on November 25, informed the district president Suhas Dashrathe about the ongoing curfew (under Section 144) in the wake of Coronavirus. Hence gathering of more than five persons is prohibited, said the ACP to Dashrathe. Moreover, the police rejected permission for morcha under Section 149. The order issued to the party had stated that if any violation of the order is spotted then the action would be taken against the office-bearers and the activists.
Meanwhile, the police learnt that MNS is taking out morcha from Mahatma Phule Chowk (Aurangpura), despite serving a warning notice. Hence the cops deployed tight security at the venue since 9 am when the activists and leaders reached the venue, the police detained them. The district chief Suhas Dashrathe, city president Satnam Gulati, Ashok Pawar, Prashant Joshi, Sandeep Kulkarni, Chetan Patil, Vrushabh Ragade and others were detained.
The MNS delegation then submitted a letter of demands duly signed by MNS chief Raj Thackeray to the district collector.