One force,two reactions: In controlling 45,000,police show what they couldve done on Aug 11

The situation would have gone out of hand if they had.

Under attack from Raj Thackeray,Police Commissioner Arup Patnaik on Tuesday justified restraining policemen on August 11 after a protest meeting organised by Raza Academy,an Islamic organisation,turned violent.

As Mumbai Police Commissioner,all police personnel are my family. While I am anguished there were attacks on them,the fingers of some policemen were on their triggers and I had to ensure they did not fire. The situation would have gone out of hand if they had. The situation had to be handled, he said.

Patnaik said he would not comment on Thackerays attacks on him. He has done what he had to as a politician. We have ensured that the rally was peaceful.

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The manner in which the police controlled some 45,000 protesters contrasted sharply with their showing at the same venue 10 days ago when a far smaller group had been allowed to run riot,with Patnaik preventing top officers from cracking down.

Former Mumbai Police chief Julio Ribeiro told The Indian Express: A deployment of 650 policemen on August 11 is not small. However,it was clear that the police were caught by surprise and were not prepared for the violence that took place.

As many as 5,000 police personnel were deployed for Tuesdays protest,nearly eight times the number on August 11. Besides local police,three companies of anti-riot Rapid Action Force,fully prepared with gas masks,fibre shields and body armour,were stationed at the maidan. Rapid Intervention Vehicles were kept ready.

Police said a group outside the venue had sparked the August 11 violence by torching a media van. On Tuesday,IPS officers were seen marching outside the venue to ensure there was no stationary crowd. The area where media vans were parked was cordoned off with the SRPF standing guard.

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On August 11,Patnaik gave Deputy Commissioner Ravindra Shisve an earful after the officer nabbed a rioter. On Tuesday,Shisve played a key role in the police arrangements,roping in and briefing volunteers from the MNS to help in controlling the crowd.

Rose for Raj

Constable Pramod Tawde surprised people at the rally when he climbed onto the stage and presented a yellow rose to Raj Thackeray,as a sign of his support.

Police sources said Tawde was likely to face action.

Tawde said: Mumbai Police is probably the only workforce in the city not backed by a union. I would like to thank Raj Thackeray for making the police force feel there is someone who thinks about our welfare.