150 protesters arrested, sent to judicial custody

Pune (Rural) police officials on Monday night arrested around 150 agitators, including Raju Shetty, president of Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana (SSS) and MP from Kolhapur, for instigating violence and disrupting law and order in the district.

"We arrested and booked Shetty, his colleagues Sadabhau Khot, Satish Kakde, and several SSS members under Section 188 of the Bombay Police Act for not obeying the District Collector's order issued under Section 143 of the BP Act - of unlawful assembly," SP (Rural) Manojkumar Lohiya said.u00a0

In custody: Raju Shetty, president of SSS and MP from Kolhapur. File pic

Lohiya said Shetty and others were arrested for making derogatory remarks and instigating violence during the farmers' agitation. They were produced before the First Class Magistrate in Indapur and were remanded in judicial custody for the next 14 days. Shetty, Khot and Kakde refused to apply for bail
and decided to remain in custody.

"We are not going to apply for bail and will remain in custody during Diwali, as this year the festival has turned tragic for two farmers who were killed in police firing," Shetty said. He addressed mediapersons before heading for Yerwada jail in the city and appealed the farmers and sanghatana members to maintain peace.
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