Team Herald

VALPOI: Tension rent the air at Hathwada over an alleged attempt to install a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at the junction on Saturday. 

Residents of Hathwada gathered near the junction and had a heated argument with those trying to install the statue. The residents demanded that the banner be removed. 

The situation turned tensed as some of them allegedly removed the banner, which was displayed near the junction.  On receiving the information about the situation at  Hathwada, the Valpoi Police rush to the spot and foiled the attempts to install the statue. 

Later, the police summoned both groups and tried to pacify the situation. But instead the situation turned worse as hundreds of Shivaji supporters, who gathered near Valpoi police station, started shouting slogans and demanded action against the people for removing the banner.

Valpoi PI Deepak Pednekar confirmed that they received a complaint from Chief Officer of Valpoi Municipal Council that a few unknown persons were trying to install a statue of Shivaji at Hathwada junction and had put up a banner without taking permission from the municipality. 

Meanwhile, Shivjanti Samiti also filed a complaint against the unknown persons who removed the banner.