Thane, Jul 31 (PTI) A dramatic sequence of events unfolded in Navi Mumbai as a woman sarpanch and her family allegedly attempted suicide, sparking a tense situation in Chikle village. Police reported on Thursday that following the incident, villagers unlawfully detained two government officials to voice their protest.
The events transpired on Tuesday when the Panvel Taluka police found themselves registering a case against 16 individuals from the village. Reportedly, on July 26, Deepali Tandel, the sarpanch of Chikle’s group panchayat, penned a letter to authorities, expressing her frustration over alleged inaction regarding a land issue. In a desperate plea for action, she warned that she and her family might resort to self-harm if her grievances remained unaddressed.
Authorities took her letter seriously. In response, the rural development officer and block development officer rushed to Tandel’s residence on Tuesday to mediate the situation. However, upon arrival, they discovered the house locked from within. Fearing the worst, the officers broke down the door. Inside, the family, having allegedly ingested poison, was quickly rescued and taken to a hospital for urgent care.
While the Tandel family was being treated medically, tensions rose among villagers. Angry about the situation, a group of locals intercepted the officers as they were returning. Forming an unlawful assembly, the villagers blocked the officers’ jeep, demanding swift action on Tandel’s complaints. For nearly an hour, the officers faced wrongful restraint from the agitated crowd.
In light of the obstruction, the rural development officer filed a complaint, leading to charges against the protesters. They are now facing accusations under sections 189(2) (unlawful assembly), 126(2) (wrongful restraint), and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
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