33 arrested, 3 minors detained after Kudalwadi stone-pelting incident during demolition drive

Pune: The Chikhali police have arrested 33 individuals and detained three minors in connection with the stone-pelting incident that erupted during the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s demolition drive against unauthorised religious structures in Kudalwadi on Tuesday.

Nineteen people, including 18 police personnel, were injured in the violence.

Police have registered an FIR against 300 to 500 unidentified persons and indicated that further arrests are likely as investigators analyse videos of the incident circulating on social media.

“Two suspects were arrested on the night of the violence, while 31 others were subsequently taken into custody based on available evidence,” a senior police officer said.

The violence broke out after local residents strongly opposed the civic body’s action to demolish 11 unauthorised religious structures in the area. The action was carried out a month after the civic body demolished four religious structures in the same area.