A year after a police chowky at Rabodi in Thane was damaged during communal clashes, the police are all set to revive it.

This was informed by Thane police in its reply to an RTI application filed by a Thane resident, Nainesh Dolas.

In September 2008, one person had died while 21 civilians and 39 policemen were injured during communal clashes between two communities in Rabodi. The police chowky at Tapase Nagar was at the epicenter of the violence and was target of the mob fury.

The police chowky was set-up in 1970 but has been abandoned for the last two years.  

In a reply to Dolas’s Right to Information (RTI) query, Thane police said that funds worth Rs 45,850 for repairing the damaged police chowky, which falls under Rabodi police station’s jurisdiction, has been approved by the Thane police commissioner. Since the funds have been approved, the work to revive the police chowky would begin soon, the police said.

In July 2009, Dolas had written to state Home Minister Jayant Patil seeking revival of the abandoned police chowky. He then followed it up with Thane police by way of RTI applications. Dolas’s property was also damaged during the riots.

Following the riots, policemen have been temporarily stationed at four locations in Rabodi — Lakshman Patil Chowk, near Chamunda Jewellers, Near Bajrang Dal leader Vikram Bhoir’s residence and opposite Jai Mataji General stores.

“If the Tapase Nagar police chowky is reopened, then there is no need for temporary deployment of police personnel, who are stationary. The policemen at chowky would be patrolling the streets and interacting with people. They would be in a better position to apprehend communal tension and thus take steps to prevent it,” said Dolas.

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