Tensions during civic poll campaigning in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar erupted into violence on Wednesday, leading to police cases against Congress candidates and dozens of others for allegedly attacking the vehicle of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) state president and former MP, Imtiaz Jaleel.
Police Book Over 60, Detain Six in Connection with Attack
Congress candidates and brothers Kaleem Qureshi and Habib Qureshi are among those named in a First Information Report (FIR) filed by the Jinsi police. The FIR includes 11 identified and approximately 50 unidentified individuals. They face charges for rioting, unlawful assembly, and voluntarily causing hurt.
Inspector Shivaji Budhvant from Jinsi police station confirmed that six suspects, who are not the Congress candidates, have been detained so far. The FIR invokes multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including sections 132, 189(2), 191(2), 190, 126(2), 115(2), 352, and 351(2)(3), along with section 135 of the Maharashtra Police Act.
"The incident took place around 1.15pm at Jinsi Chowk. Further arrests are likely as the investigation progresses," stated Inspector Budhvant.
How the Campaign Trail Confrontation Spiraled
The clash occurred against a backdrop of heightened political tension during door-to-door campaigning for the upcoming civic polls. The situation began in the Baijipura area, where residents waved black flags at Jaleel as he campaigned for AIMIM candidates.
The confrontation escalated at Jinsi crossroads, where Jaleel and his supporters came face-to-face with Congress candidate Kaleem Qureshi. Police sources indicate that supporters from both sides engaged in heated arguments and sloganeering, which soon turned into a physical brawl. To control the crowd, police resorted to a mild lathi charge.
Shortly after, videos circulated on social media showing an attack on Jaleel's SUV as he was leaving the spot. One AIMIM worker travelling with Jaleel sustained injuries in the incident.
Political Conspiracies Alleged and Denied
In the aftermath, Imtiaz Jaleel alleged a deep-rooted political conspiracy behind the assault. He claimed the attack was executed by "goons led by Kaleem Qureshi" on the instructions of BJP minister Atul Save and district guardian minister Sanjay Shirsat. Jaleel further accused Qureshi of involvement in gutka sales and grey market trading of foodgrain from the public distribution system.
Kaleem Qureshi strongly denied all allegations, countering that internal rivals within AIMIM could be responsible. "Those who were denied tickets by Imtiaz Jaleel and detractors from AIMIM could be behind the incident. The possibility of him getting his vehicle attacked for the sake of gaining publicity cannot be ruled out either," Qureshi said.
Police Commissioner Pravin Pawar affirmed a strict stance, stating, "We have a no-nonsense policy when it comes to handling those disrupting law and order. The police are the complainant in this case." He added that strict action would be taken against all those involved. The police probe is ongoing, with additional footage and witness statements being examined.
