PoliticalClash – Two FIRs Filed After Pune Protest Turns Violent
PoliticalClash – Pune City Police have initiated legal action against leaders and workers from both the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress after clashes broke out near Congress Bhavan on Sunday afternoon. The unrest followed protests linked to controversial remarks allegedly made by Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal.
Confrontation Outside Congress Bhavan
According to police officials, tensions escalated when BJP workers gathered outside Congress Bhavan to protest Sapkal’s comments, which were widely interpreted as drawing a comparison between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Tipu Sultan. As Congress supporters assembled at the same location in response, a heated exchange soon spiraled into violence.
Investigators said stones were thrown during the confrontation, leaving nine people injured. Those hurt include members of both political parties, two police personnel deployed at the scene, and two journalists who were covering the protest. Several vehicles parked nearby were also reportedly damaged.
First FIR Names BJP Leaders
One of the First Information Reports was lodged at Shivajinagar Police Station against BJP city president Dhiraj Ghate, BJP youth wing leader Dushyant Mohol, and around 50 to 60 unidentified party workers. The complaint was filed by Prachi Nitin Dudhane, a resident of Karve Nagar.
In her statement to police, Dudhane alleged that between 12:30 pm and 2 pm on February 15, a group of BJP workers assembled near Congress Bhavan, raised slogans, and engaged in stone-pelting. She claimed the incident led to injuries among three Congress workers and caused damage to vehicles parked in the vicinity.
Counter-Complaint Targets Congress Functionaries
A separate case was registered following a complaint from the BJP. This FIR names Congress city president Arvind Shinde, two other local office-bearers, and several unidentified Congress activists. The BJP has accused Congress workers of retaliatory stone-throwing, which allegedly resulted in injuries to two BJP workers and two women police constables on duty.
Police officials confirmed that both cases have been filed under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including provisions related to causing hurt, unlawful assembly, and property damage. Relevant sections of the Maharashtra Police Act have also been invoked. As of now, no arrests have been reported.
Investigation Underway
Senior police officers visited the site shortly after the disturbance to assess the situation. Authorities said electronic evidence, including video footage from the area, has been collected for examination. Officials indicated that further action will depend on the findings of the ongoing investigation.
Security was strengthened in and around the area to prevent any further escalation. Multiple police teams were deployed to restore order as tensions ran high during the afternoon.
Background of the Dispute
The confrontation stems from an earlier controversy involving a portrait of Tipu Sultan displayed in the office of the deputy mayor of the Malegaon Municipal Corporation. During a discussion on the issue, Sapkal reportedly made remarks that drew criticism from BJP leaders, who argued that his comments were offensive to those who hold Shivaji Maharaj in high regard.
An FIR had already been registered against Sapkal in Pune over those statements. Sunday’s protest was organized by BJP workers demanding action and expressing their objection to the remarks. Congress supporters, in turn, gathered to show solidarity with their state president.
As the two groups faced off outside Congress Bhavan, the situation deteriorated rapidly, with some individuals reportedly climbing boundary walls before stones were thrown around 1 pm. The confrontation lasted for a short period before police intervention brought it under control.
Authorities have urged political workers to maintain peace and refrain from actions that could disrupt public order. The investigation remains active, and further developments are expected as police review evidence and statements from those involved.