VIDEO: Police Lathi Charge Warkari Devotees During Religious Procession in Pune

Pune: The police on Sunday lathi charged Warkari devotees during a religious procession in Pune district of Maharashtra. The incident took place after the devotees allegedly indulged in an argument with police during the procession.

Reports suggests the quarrel took place during entry into the temple for ceremony.

The temple management had reportedly decided to admit only 75 devotees from 45 Dindis (groups) which angered the devotees. The incident happened outside Mauli's temple in Pune.

Meanwhile, NCP leader Supriya Sule has condemned the lathicharg on the devotees.

"What has never happened before has happened this year. Warikari has hundreds of years of tradition. There had never been an incident of force being used on the workers before this. Through his simple and easy teachings, Varakaris have shown direction to the country from time to time. Mauli's Dindi ceremony was marred by mismanagement by the administration. The lathi attack on the pilgrims who came for the Dindi festival is a very infuriating form. There is a need to investigate the guilty persons and take immediate action against them," Sule tweeted in Marathi.

Ajit Pawar, Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, also condemned the police action.

"The incident of police lathicharge on Varkari brothers during the departure ceremony of Santshrestha Dnyaneshwar Mauli's palanquin from Alandi is painful. This has not happened before in the history of Pandharpur Wari, which is the glory of saints and devotional tradition of Maharashtra," Pawar Said.

"Today's incident is heartbreaking. This incident can be avoided by proper planning of the ceremony. It would have come, but it did not happen. I strongly condemn the police lathi-charge on the workers and the government which lathi-charged them," Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Ajit Pawar has expressed his reaction," the NCP leader further added.