Nashik: Tensions flared in the Kathe Galli area of Nashik’s Dwarka locality late Tuesday night when a municipal team, supported by police, attempted to demolish an allegedly illegal dargah. The demolition drive turned violent as a mob attacked the authorities, resulting in injuries to four civic officials and 11 police personnel. The assailants took advantage of a power outage in the area, pelting stones and damaging five vehicles in the chaos.
The Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) had issued a notice on April 1, declaring the dargah as an unauthorized structure and demanding its voluntary removal within 15 days. However, when no action was taken by the responsible parties, the NMC moved forward with the demolition on Wednesday, backed by a large police presence.
According to officials, the situation escalated shortly after midnight. Misinformation spread rapidly, causing a crowd of over 400 people to gather in protest. Despite the presence of 500 police personnel, the mob resorted to stone-pelting, which led authorities to deploy tear gas to disperse the crowd.
This incident marks the latest in a series of confrontations related to unauthorized religious structures in the area. On February 22, the municipal body had previously removed encroachments from several such structures. A court had ruled that the dargah in question was illegal and ordered its complete removal, prompting the latest demolition efforts in compliance with the court’s decision.
