Nitesh Rane held for vandalising collector’s office

Congress MLA Nitesh Rane, along with 38 others were arrested on Sunday after they vandalised the Sindhudurg collector’s office on Saturday during a protest. All have been sent to police custody till March 10 by a local court. Nitesh, son of former minister Narayan Rane had convened a protest at the district collector’s office in support of demands by sand transporters, which turned violent. The transporters have been protesting since the past three days against rules enforced by the collector for mining sand and minor minerals.

Nitesh Rane, along with other accused, was produced in the court this afternoon where the police demanded custody for seven days. The court, however, granted custody till March 10.

Upset with the arrest, Narayan Rane accused the government of being harsh with the protesters. “The protesters were agitating against exploitation by police and the rules laid by the government for mining,” Narayan Rane said. However, revenue Minister Eknath Khadse said that the chief minister has appointed a committee to probe the matter and that justice would be done. “The incident was filmed and the committee will submit its report to the CM, who will take the final decision. The strict rules were introduced after receiving complaints about the sand mafia,” he added.

Meanwhile, a delegation of Shiv Sena leaders led by Ratnagiri MP Vinayak Raut met chief minister Devendra Fadnavis demanding intervention. “We met the CM and told him to intervene. The development works have been halted due to action taken against the sand transporters by the collector,” he said.

The protest was called on Saturday at the collector’s office alleging that he enforced strict rules against sand and minor mineral excavation in the district. Nitesh was leading the protest and wanted to talk to the collector. However, the collector did not meet the agitators who in return vandalised his office. The police resorted to lathi charge and arrested Nitesh along with other activists. Now, the Shiv Sena has also come out in support of the protesters but has criticised the Congress.