Satara SP takes charge on road as Nagthane highway blockade enters 31st hour

A road blockade by the Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana on the Pune-Bengaluru national highway in Nagthane, Satara district, has continued for the past 31 hours. The agitation has put considerable pressure on highway traffic.

Given the situation, District Superintendent of Police Nikhil Pingle came out on the road himself. Instead of issuing instructions from his office, he stayed at the spot and took charge of traffic. The aim was clear: to reduce hardship for commuters and keep vehicles moving.

The risk of a serious jam on the highway had grown because of the agitation. To avert it, police paid special attention to traffic on alternative routes, service roads and key junctions. Police deployment was put in place at the main junctions, including Ajantha Chowk and Bombay Restaurant Chowk. Separate care was also taken so that motorists faced no difficulty while vehicles were being moved along the service road.

About 140 police personnel were deployed for the arrangement. Reviewing the traffic situation, the lines of vehicles and the safety of travellers, SP Pingle directed the entire staff from the road itself. Police faced a twofold challenge: maintaining law and order on one side, and easing the hardship of ordinary travellers on the other.

Handling traffic with restraint during an agitation being carried out in a democratic manner is a test for the police. In such circumstances, the presence of a senior officer at the spot lifts the morale of personnel. With Pingle on the road, highway traffic management received direct direction from the top. His approach of putting duty first and going into the field is now being talked about.

By way of background, Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana president Raju Shetti has demanded Rs 5,000 per tonne for sugarcane. He has also demanded that sugar mills not be started without announcing the rate. He has taken up the agitation over this demand.

Before the agitation began, Kolhapur Police had served Shetti a notice under Section 168 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.