The accused face serious charges, including alleged attacks on police; Ekta Sanghatan helps them in legal proceedings
BHUSAWAL — A sessions court in Bhusawal has granted conditional bail to 15 people arrested in connection with a stone-pelting incident in Kangaon village, Jalgaon district in Maharashtra. They were accused of attacking police personnel and causing serious injuries to them. The order came within 15 days of their arrest, despite the registration of a case involving several serious charges.
The incident took place on 25 October, when objections were raised to an RSS procession passing in front of a mosque in Kangaon. Local residents reportedly questioned why the procession was being taken through the area, saying that no RSS procession had previously passed along that route. They blocked the road and staged a protest. Organisers of the procession subsequently alleged that stones were thrown at the rallyists.
A case was registered at the Bhadgaon Police Station under Section 3 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984, along with other serious charges. The FIR named 59 people, of whom 16 were arrested.
After one underage accused was granted bail by the Juvenile Court, the remaining 15 were granted bail by the Bhusawal Sessions Court.
The 16 accused were remanded to judicial custody on 31 October. Following this, Ekta Sanghatan’s legal team filed bail applications on their behalf. The team included advocates Khalil Sheikh of Faizpur, Mohid Sheikh of Bhadgaon and Ehtesham Malik of Bhusawal, who presented arguments before the court. Advocates Mansoor Sheikh, Uzair Malik and Aslam Khan also assisted in the legal proceedings.
The court also imposed conditions requiring three designated individuals to ensure that all 15 accused report to Bhadgaon Police Station once a week until the chargesheet is filed. They were also directed not to put pressure on witnesses in the Kangaon area.
Several members and supporters of Ekta Sanghatan contributed to the legal effort, including its coordinator Farooq Sheikh, Hafiz Rahim Patel, Anis Shah, Mateen Patel, Arif Deshmukh, Anwar Sakalgar and Najmuddin Sheikh. Sabir Sheikh and Salim Chudiwala of Bhusawal also played a significant role.
A representative of Ekta Sanghatan expressed gratitude after the bail order, saying: “We thank Allah Almighty that all 15 accused have been granted bail. We are also grateful to all the lawyers and activists who stood with us throughout this legal struggle.”
