Akola Riot Case में Supreme Court सख्त, पुलिस पर उठाए कई सवाल ‘जब आप पुलिस यूनिफॉर्म में…’

Supreme Court Slams Maharashtra Police Over 2023 Akola Communal Violence, Orders SIT Probe

In 2023, Akola in Maharashtra witnessed communal violence sparked by a viral social media post. The incident has now drawn the attention of the Supreme Court, which has taken serious note of the police’s handling of the case and raised significant questions about their conduct.

The Supreme Court criticized the Maharashtra Police, emphasizing that officers must rise above caste and religion when wearing the uniform and should not act with bias. The court stressed that police must fulfill their duties according to the law, regardless of personal beliefs or backgrounds.

The Supreme Court directed the Maharashtra Home Secretary to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incident. Importantly, the SIT must include senior police officers from both Hindu and Muslim communities to ensure impartiality. The SIT has been tasked to submit its report within three months.

The case reached the Supreme Court after Mohammad Afzal, a resident of Akola, approached the court. He recounted that during the violence on May 13, 2023, he witnessed Vilas Mahadeorao Gaikwad being beaten by a group of people. When Afzal intervened, he too was attacked and injured. Despite his statement being recorded by the police on May 15, no FIR was registered on his complaint, and no investigation was initiated. Furthermore, Afzal was not made a witness in the murder case that followed Gaikwad’s death.