Pune (Maharashtra) [India], August 2 (ANI): Nationalist Congress Party-SCP leader Prashant Sudamrao Jagtap on Saturday criticised the BJP-led government in Maharashtra for incidents of vandalism in Yavat village in Pune, in which vehicles and places of worship were damaged.

According to police, over 20 people were arrested in connection with the vandalism that took place yesterday following an alleged objectionable social media post.

'The way the BJP and RSS politics are progressing is going to be dangerous for our country and society... Because of what happened in Yavat yesterday, the Muslim community was targeted,' Jagtap told ANI.

'You should immediately arrest the accused boy, send him to jail, and find out who is behind all this. Despite being in power, the BJP's MLAs were taking to the streets to protest violently and throw stones. This is completely wrong. Maharashtra is being defamed because of this. People of all castes and religions are living in fear here,' he said.

According to the police, a total of five offences have been registered against those arrested.

'Some vehicles and prayer places were vandalised. A total of five offences have been registered against them at the Yavat Police Station. Police have listed more than 150 names, and we have received some video footage and CCTV footage as evidence against them. We have detained a total of 20-21 people so far,' Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Ganesh Biradar told ANI on Friday.

Biradar added,' We have footage of 16-17 people, we are arresting them for an inquiry into that crime. The atmosphere of the city and the village is becoming normal now. Schools are open, and medical facilities are open. The administration has issued orders of gathering, curfew, and their implementation is still going on in this city. A drone survey is going on in the city. We are making announcements and requesting people to maintain peace, but no untoward incident has been reported since yesterday.'

Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code was imposed in Yavat village after tensions flared over the alleged objectionable social media post.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis issued an appeal to the public to maintain peace and refrain from taking the law into their own hands.

'We have only one appeal: everyone should maintain peace and no one should take the law into their own hands. If anyone does so, the police will take strict action against them,' the chief minister said.

'I have just gathered information about the matter. According to it, a person from outside had posted an objectionable status, which led to tensions. People came out onto the streets, and in order to control the crowd, a lathi-charge had to be carried out. The situation is now under control. People from both communities are sitting together, talking, and trying to resolve the tension,' he said. (ANI)