Thirty autorickshaws were damaged in a clash between two groups of drivers over a parking dispute in Maharashtra’s Thane district, police said on Wednesday.
According to the news agency PTI, the incident took place near Kashigaon on Tuesday. Following the violence, police registered a case against 15 individuals for rioting and detained five autorickshaw drivers.
No injuries were reported, but the clash caused tension in the area. According to an official from the Mira Bhayander-Vasai Virar police control room, the dispute arose over the use of a specific ground in Kashigaon for parking and passenger pickup.
As per the PTI, one group of around 15 drivers allegedly attacked rival vehicles using wooden sticks, iron rods, and stones, leading to damage to 30 autorickshaws.
To maintain peace, the police conducted a route march in the area on Wednesday evening. The situation is now under control, the official added.
Thane court acquits auto driver in attempted murder case, cites doubt over `genesis of incident`
Earlier, in a similar incident a Thane court had acquitted an auto-rickshaw driver in a case of attempting to kill a man in 2022, noting the prosecution failed to prove the events leading up to the assault, leaving the “genesis of the incident” shrouded in doubt, reported news agency PTI.
Principal District and Sessions Judge, Thane, S B Agrawal, observed significant discrepancies between the initial First Information Report (FIR) and the victim`s testimony in court, reported PTI.
A copy of the order dated October 15 was made available on Sunday.
According to the prosecution, the accused, Jagdish alias Yagdev Bhikho Mahato (54), allegedly assaulted Jabbar Abdul Rehman Malgudkar with a sharp weapon on his head and hand in Kopri area of Maharashtra`s Thane city on November 3, 2022, reported PTI.
An FIR was subsequently registered against the accused on various charges, including attempt to murder and illegal possession of a weapon.
The victim, who knew the accused from his auto washing centre, testified that the two had gone out for breakfast before returning to the accused`s house. While the victim was lying on the bed watching a cricket match on his mobile phone, the accused suddenly went to the kitchen, returned, and assaulted him, reported PTI.
Judge Agrawal, however, observed that the FIR mentioned a prior dispute, claiming the accused was angry because the victim had refused to give him a gold chain and Rs 10,000, details the victim suppressed during his court evidence.
The court also found the sequence of events presented by the prosecution implausible.
(With PTI inputs)
