Thaindian News

Mumbai, Aug 10 (IANS) Demanding the dismissal of the ruling Congress-Nationalist Congress Party alliance, the opposition staged a noisy protest in the Maharashtra assembly Wednesday over the police firing near Pune a day earlier in which four people were killed.

Shortly before the legislature proceedings were due to start, angry members of all opposition parties stood on the steps of the legislature building at Nariman Point and started raising anti-government slogans.

Carrying placards and banners, they raised a chant demanding resignation of Home Minister R.R. Patil and dismissal of the state government.

When Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan entered the legislature, opposition members raised their voices in unison and demanded the sacking of the government for Tuesday’s incidents.

The state government has ordered an inquiry into the circumstances leading to the police firing. The incident occurred when farmers were protesting land acquisition for laying a water pipeline.

The four victims, including a woman, who lost their lives are Shantabai Ankush Thaker, 35, Moreshwar S. Sathe, 40, and two youths, Shyamrao Waghu Tupe and Maruti Kirid, a police official said.

Eight people were injured in the firing while 35 police personnel were also injured in stone-pelting by agitators.

Leader of Opposition in the assembly, Bharatiya Janata Party’s Eknath Khadse, Shiv Sena spokesperson Neelan Gorhe and other party members visited Maval to assess the situation.

Khadse and Gorhe also visited the family members of those killed and the injured.

Home Minister R.R. Patil said Tuesday that the farmers were demanding that water from Pavna dam in Maval sub-district be utilised only for agriculture purposes and not for drinking purposes.

“The protesters turned violent and started pelting stones, attacking police personnel and setting ablaze police vehicles. Police had to resort to firing to control the mob,” he said.