Thane (Maharashtra): A seemingly minor incident of lighting incense (dhoop) escalated into a significant clash, reigniting tensions between the ‘Marathi and migrant’ communities at the Ajmera Heights Society in Kalyan, Thane, the district of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
The conflict broke out late Wednesday night when a north Indian resident, Akhilesh Shukla, verbally attacked several Marathi families and allegedly called upon a group of outsiders who violently assaulted them with iron rods, pipes, and sticks, leaving at least three individuals injured.
The altercation involved the Shukla family and the Kalvikate family, with tensions flaring after Shukla reportedly insulted Lata Balkrishna Kalvikate, 56. Other residents, including Dheeraj Deshmukh and his brother Abhijit, intervened, leading to further escalation. Shukla was quoted making derogatory remarks about Marathi people and threatened violence against the Deshmukh brothers and their families.
Witnesses described an alarming atmosphere, stating that even Shukla’s wife, Geeta, participated in the physical assault on other women in the society. Following the incident, a protest was staged by affected families, demanding swift action against Shukla and his supporters.
Shukla reportedly inflicted serious injuries on at least three people during the violence; one of them, Abhijit Deshmukh, needed to be transferred to a Mumbai hospital for treatment. Despite Dheeraj Deshmukh filing a police report, Shukla allegedly received preferential treatment at the station, with locals accusing authorities of failing to act decisively.
As footage of the incident circulated online, police eventually registered a complaint against Shukla and ten others, though no arrests have been made thus far. The incident drew criticism from opposition parties such as the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance, which condemned the government for the deteriorating law and order situation in the state. They called for stringent action against the perpetrators and voiced concerns over rising intolerance regarding dietary practices and cultural expressions.
Shiv Sena Minister Shambhuraj Desai stated he would inform Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and promised that necessary actions would be taken.