Nagpur, India — Maharashtra Legislative Council Deputy Chairperson Neelam Gorhe has called for an urgent investigation following allegations that a woman police constable was molested during recent clashes in Mahal, Nagpur. The violent incident, which occurred on March 17, has prompted widespread condemnation and demands for immediate action.
The issue was brought to the forefront during a session of the Maharashtra Assembly where BJP MLA Pravin Datke voiced his outrage. Datke sternly criticized the handling of the situation and called for the rapid apprehension of those responsible.
Gorhe has tasked the state’s Director General of Police with the directive to take stringent measures to address the incident, which included identifying and arresting the offenders quickly. She also inquired about the safety of other women involved in the incident to determine if they too had been subjected to similar mistreatment.
The reported attack transpired in the Bhankheda area of Mahal when a mob, approximately 500-strong, attacked police and vandalized public property. According to Gorhe, a subset of the rioters attempted to strip the woman constable, ostensibly to humiliate her, but she was saved by quick intervention of her fellow officers.
Amidst legislative discussions, Datke described the molestation as an attack on law enforcement itself and stressed the need for stricter security measures to prevent future occurrences. He also pointed out that the disturbance resulted in damage to police vehicles and injuries to officers attempting to calm the situation.
Further adding to the security concerns, Datke criticized the local police for what he termed “a massive intelligence failure.” He claimed this oversight allowed attackers to target properties owned by Hindus, given the area’s communal sensitivities. Subsequent to the violence, several senior officers, including DCPs Niketan Kadam, Shashikant Satav, and Archit Chandak, were reported injured.
In response to the unrest, Nagpur authorities have detained numerous suspects and have ramped up security measures in Mahal and neighboring districts. Law enforcement also registered a case at the Ganeshpeth police station and enforced prohibitory orders across the city to prevent further violence.
Mahal has historically been a zone of peaceful cohabitation between Hindu and Muslim communities, and the recent disturbances mark a significant departure from its longstanding harmony. Datke suggested that the violence was not spontaneous but a deliberate effort to stir communal discord.
The ongoing investigation into the molestation claims and broader questions about communal safety continue to draw attention to Mahal. The outcome of the probe and subsequent actions will be crucial in determining the future security measures needed to prevent similar incidents and restore public confidence in law enforcement and communal peace.