Dahi Handi: BJP leader seeks dropping of ‘serious’ charges

Mumbai, Aug 27 (PTI) BJP Mumbai unit president AshishShelar today demanded that the "serious" IPC sections invokedby the police against the Dahi Handi groups for allegedviolation of the Supreme Court’s directions should be dropped. Shelar today wrote a letter to Maharashtra ChiefMinister Devendra Fadnavis in this regard. "BJP had asked the organisers (mandals) to abide bythe court’s directions not only this year but in future aswell," Shelar said in the letter. Criminal cases were registered against 29 and 20mandals in Mumbai and neighbouring Thane, respectively, henoted. "I do not want to comment on the cases registeredagainst mandals … but certain (IPC) sections registered bythe police are serious in nature," he said. "These sections include sections 308 (attempt tocommit culpable homicide), 336 (endangering life or personalsafety of others), 188 (disobedience of order duly promulgatedby public servant) and 34 (common intention)," he said. "The Govindas (participants of human pyramids) beingyoung, these sections can have adverse impact on their futurelives and hamper their growth prospects," he said. "With a humanitarian view, serious sections like 308should be quashed. I urge you to consult the Advocate Generalif required," Shelar said. In its order on August 17, the apex court had barredthose below 18 years of age from participating in the humanpyramids which are the main attraction of Janmashtmai festivalin Maharashtra. It also capped the height of pyramids at 20feet, for safety point of view. However, several mandals allegedly flouted these rulesduring the Dahi Handi celebrations on August 25. PTI MM KRKIKABAS