Mira Bhayandar police chief shunted out a day after protest

Mumbai, Jul 9 (PTI) Maharashtra government on Wednesday transferred Mira Bhayandar-Vasai Virar Police Commissioner Madhukar Pandey, a day after a protest march led by the MNS and other groups to defend the Marathi 'asmita' (pride) following the attack on a shopkeeper for refusal to speak Marathi.

Pandey has been replaced by IPS officer Niket Kaushik as the new police chief, an official said.

High drama unfolded in the Mira-Bhayandar township near Mumbai on Tuesday as the march witnessed detention of several activists by the police with leaders and workers of opposition Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP) also joining the protest.

Shiv Sena minister Pratap Sarnaik was heckled and driven away by angry demonstrators as he visited the site to express solidarity.

The BJP-led state government faced flak over the handling of the morcha, organised by the Marathi Ekikaran Samiti.

Pandey has been transferred as ADG Administration, while Kaushik, who was ADG ACB, will be the new MBVV Police Commissioner.

Tuesday started with the police detaining local MNS leader Avinash Jadhav from his house in Thane at around 3.30 am.

A prohibitory order was issued against Jadhav by the police on Monday, restraining him from entering Mira Bhayandar to participate in the rally. He was released later in the day.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stepped in saying permission had been granted for the MNS rally, but the party insisted on a specific route which posed law and order challenges. PTI MR COR VT VT