KOLHAPUR: The months-long campaign by some right-wing outfits to rid Kolhapur‘s historical Vishalgad Fort of encroachment turned violent Sunday, with instances of stone-pelting and assault by some protesters on residents of the area, reports.
Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati, a former Rajya Sabha MP and descendant of Chhatrapati Shivaji, marched to the fort with thousands of supporters around 9.40am, sources said.
Videos emerged of a few police personnel guarding the place, contradicting the administration’s statement that it had deployed a large contingent to stop the protesters. Later in the afternoon, instances of attacks on houses in Gajapur were reported. A house was torched and several vehicles were damaged. Residents said police were conspicuous by their absence.
Chief minister Eknath Shinde promised a demolition drive starting Monday.
Last year, the district administration carried out a survey of the fort and found 160 illegal constructions. The fort is a protected monument.