Maharashtra Kolhapur Anti-encroachment News: The agitation of people to remove encroachment from Vishalgad Fort in Kolhapur district of Maharashtra, a witness to the valour of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, turned violent on Sunday (14 July). People from Hindu organisations and Shiva devotees gathered in large numbers against the encroachment. At the same time, the gathering of people from the other side also started increasing and the situation worsened so much that stone pelting started.
There were attempts to vandalise and set shops on fire. At present, heavy police force is deployed in the area and the situation is under control. Police registered a case against 500 people in this violence case. Also, 21 people were arrested. Kolhapur District Collector said that violence broke out on Sunday when some right-wing activists led by Maratha royal and former MP Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati were stopped outside the fort in view of the prohibitory orders.
After this, following the protest by the right-wing organization, the miscreants pelted stones and damaged public property. The officer said that the police have registered four cases against more than 500 people including leaders and arrested 21 people. In fact, the anti-encroachment drive started on Monday amid tight security in the presence of district administration officials.
70 encroachments were demolished
Collector Amol Yedge said that the district administration demolished 70 encroachments present in Vishalgad fort. The anti-encroachment drive was carried out between 11 am and 6 pm in the presence of revenue and PWD officials. Another official said that a large number of policemen including officials were deployed to avoid any untoward incident and the drive will continue on Tuesday as well.
Chhatrapati Sambhajiraje, who led the march on Sunday, had demanded that all encroachments be removed regardless of the caste and religion of the illegal occupants. Vishalgad Fort is located 76 km northwest of Kolhapur in Maharashtra. This is the same fort where Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj reached after escaping the trap of Bijapur’s Adilshahi army. There were a total of 55 ancient temples on the fort, but today only 20 to 24 Hindu structures and temples are left. Vishalgad Fort also has the dargah of Hazrat Syed Malik Rehan Mir Saheb, where the Muslim population is high.
People of the Hindu community are demanding to remove illegal encroachment from the fort and restore the original heritage of the fort. They allege that illegal construction is being done here. Illegal meat business is being run by encroaching near the Dargah. The Bombay Court had imposed a ban on this, which is lifted from time to time for a few days.
Opposition surrounded the government
Meanwhile, the opposition got a chance to target the Shiv Sena-led Mahayuti government. Leader of Opposition in the state Legislative Council Ambadas Danve said that a case was also registered against Maratha emperor Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati for leading a march towards the fort. I had visited Vishalgad fort twice and saw the encroachment.
Sambhajiraje had only asked the state government to remove the encroachment. Former All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) MP Imtiaz Jaleel criticised former Rajya Sabha member and heir to the Kolhapur royal family Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati for leading the march to the fort.
He said that you could have gone to Delhi, because Muslims voted for you. We respected you, but since you led the violent protest at Vishalgad fort, we wonder if you are really a descendant of Shahu Maharaj. Jaleel alleged that the legal process was not followed while implementing the anti-encroachment drive. Also, people’s houses were vandalized and vehicles were burnt by the miscreants. Is jungle raj prevailing in Maharashtra?