THANE, January 18: As many as seven police personnel including the police officer of Talassari police station Uttam Laxman Kadam of Thane District rural police, are facing a murder charge following a private case filed in the Dahanu court by the Communist Party of India, Marxist, (CPM), in connection with the killing of two villagers about a year ago. The victims were CPM activists.The case has been kept for hearing on January 20, 1998 at the Thane District Court as the accused have been additionally charged under the Prevention of Atrocities on Tribals Act. The case has been filed by Raja Nathu Ozare, a social worker and Sabhapati of the Talasari taluka panchayat samiti.
The police personnel face charges of murder and assault under Sections 302, 336,337, 426, 427, 201, 147, 148, 149, 120(b). The state government ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident. A year had passed but no action was taken. Hence,Ozare had to file a private complaint.
In his complaint, Ozare alleged that the local MP
Chintaman Wange , used his influence to revoke the transfer of Kadam. Kadam was being supported by Wange so that he could help the BJP activists in carrying out illegal activities.
In order to give a free hand to the BJP to win the panchayat elections, the CPM was subjected to all kinds of harassment, Ozare said. Several complaints had been made to the Chief Minister and the DG of police from time to time, but to no avail.
On January 20, 1997, more than 150 women activists of the CPM had taken out a morcha to the Talasari police station to protest against police excesses and harassment. This, along with the complaint made to higher officials against Kadam, aggravated the situation. In his complaint, Ozare said that on January 26,1997, the police arrested him in a false case and detained him at the police station. On the same day, around fifty to sixty people had assembled at the house of one Rumji Rajad for the last rites in Patil Pada village.
The police arrived on the scene in two jeeps along with
goondas and gatecrashed into the house of one Santi Msmar, ransacked it and dispersed the villagers.
At that time Kadam is reported to have warned Ozare of dire consequences. He proceeded towards the village with police force and indiscriminately fired at the villagers killing two of them. The next day, the dead bodies were not handed over to the relatives, but disposed of in the night. This was done to destroy evidence, the complaint said, and added that the post mortem report clearly indicated that the firing was done from point blank range.
The applicant wanted stringent action against the police personnel. Advocate Ramesh Chavankhe appeared for the complaint.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
