Mumbai activists sent notices, cops apologetic

Mumbai, April 17

The  Maharashtra Police earlier this week issued notices for preventive  action against writers and activists from Vasai on the outskirts of  Mumbai, drawing the ire of human rights activists.

Among those issued notices under Section 149 of the CrPC were Simon Martin, the publisher of a Christian magazine; Marcus Dabre, the  founder of NGO Harit Vasai, politician Dominic  Gonsalves and activist Dominica Dabre. Most of them, who led protests against illegal constructions in rural areas of  Vasai in the eighties and nineties, are now senior citizens. With townships  mushrooming across the suburb causing a major population influx, the  protests have since died down. Gaurav Singh, SP, Palghar, whose office sent the notices, said these had been  sent erroneously and were being withdrawn.