Sadhus Killed by Mob in Palghar
In Palghar, Maharashtra a 200-member strong mob lynched three people, including two sadhus, while police did little to control the violence. Watch for the video for all the details.
On 16th April Thursday night, a horrific incident played out in Palghar, Maharashtra, barely 125 kilometer away from Mumbai. A 200-member strong mob lynched three people, including two sadhus, while police did little to control the violence. The incident has snowballed into a huge political controversy with opposition BJP lashing out at Shiv Sena-led government. A high-level investigation has been ordered.
Sadhus Sushil Giri Maharaj (35) and Maharaj Kalpavrikshgiri (70) along with their driver Nilesh Telgane (35) were going to Surat for a funeral but they were stopped from taking the National Highway due to the lockdown. They were told to go back but they decided to take another route for surat so they wouldn’t be caught. When they passed a village called Gadchinchle near Palghar, when a mob stopped their vehicle and dragged the saffron-clad sadhus out.
The driver somehow managed to call the police. Villagers mistook them as thieves but others suggested the accused acted on rumors of organ-harvesting.A video has gone viral on social media where the villagers can be seen beating the three men to death.When the police arrived at the spot, they could not control the mob. The mob even threw stones at the police. However, the video shows police didn't even try to help. When the elderly sadhu was beaten with sticks and rods, he clung to a uniformed cop for help. But the officer shrugged him off, allowing the mob to do what it was doing.
In one video, Maharaj Kalpavrikshgiri begged the mob to spare him but nobody cared.In yet another clip, the elderly was seen being escorted to the van by a cop. As he bled profusely from his head, he held the cop's hand, but the mob attacked him nevertheless. The cop then left him to fend for himself. It was only after the videos surfaced on social media that the case was talked about. Thackeray also put out a tweet saying no one would be spared and all responsible would be brought to justice. Police have arrested 101 people and detained nine minors so far. An investigation will be launched on the police present there as well.
