Water demand draws blood
One dead in violent protest against supply cuts in Mumbai
A person lost his life as the city's quest for water turned violent today with police resorting to baton charge during a demonstration outside the civic headquarters here organised by Narayan Rane's son Nitesh, who was later arrested.
Police arrested 14 people, the including Maharashtra revenue minister son, who organised the protest under the banner of his NGO Swabhiman.
The deceased was identified as 43-year-old Viral Dholakia. He was shifted to the G T Hospital, where he was declared brought dead.
Police, however, said Dholakia did not succumb due to injuries in the baton charge. "He died of a heart attack," a police official said. Hospital sources said the cause of death would be known only after post-mortem.
Superintendent A V Kulkarni said there were no injury marks on Dholakia's body.
Waving red flags and shouting slogans against Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the agitators pulled down barricades put up by police and tried to barge into the corporation's headquarters, prompting police to use force.
Nitesh was produced before a metropolitan magistrate in south Mumbai, which granted him bail on a surety of Rs 5000. He and 13 others were booked for rioting, obstructing a public servant from doing his duty and causing damage to public property.
Meanwhile, Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) indicated it will not withdraw cut in water supply.
