Sangli,(Mumbai), September 09: The district administration on Tuesday extended curfew in Sangli and Miraj indefinitely even though Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan, at an all-party meeting, decided to relax the curfew to enable the immersion of Ganesha idols, which was put on hold for six days after communal riots hit the region.
The immersions were kept on hold after a stand-off over a welcome arch which depicted Afzal Khan being vanquished by Chhatrapati Shivaji. Curfew was relaxed in Sangli and Miraj from 10am to noon and 2pm to 6pm, respectively, on Tuesday as the situation was peaceful. However, tension spread to neighbouring Tasgaon taluka, where police opened fire to control a mob that had gathered in Manejejuri village after rumours about a girl’s death late on Monday.
In Mumbai, Chavan appealed to leaders of opposition parties and minorities to help the administration restore communal harmony. Permission to display the controversial poster of Shivaji has been left to the local administration.
State Nationalist Congress Party presidentRR Patil, who hails from Tasgaon, visited Sangli, Miraj and Tasgaonon Tuesday afternoon. “It seems the riots have been spread in a planned manner. The police are trying to track down the conspirators,” he said.
–Agencies