Police bust 'gay' party

THANE:
The Thane police force on Saturday nighttime raided a political party at a farmhouse in the Yeoor
Hills followers a tip that it had been organised through a website for
homosexuals. A team, led by
deputy police force commissioner Bhujangrao Shinde, raided the Agrawal cottage at
Yeoor and detained six persons, including the chief organiser, Sahil Bhoricha
(24). Liquor bottles and rubbers were seized from the bungalow. Entry to Yeoor
Hills was restricted during the
operation. Ashok Row Kavi of
Humsafar Trust, a cheery rights group, condemned the action as unfair, given that
all the work force detained were grownups and were not establish violating any law. A
magistrate denied the police force detention of those
arrested. Organisers of the
party had placed an advertizement on the cyberspace and also circulated an SMS,
inviting invitees to Sahil's 'birthday party', said police force officials. The advertisement said
the enrollment fee would be Rs 450 and Rs 500 would be the further entry
fee. "About 82 people had registered for the party. We had even planted one of
our ain work force there," said
Shinde. Based on information
from nearby residents, the police force swung into action by inspecting vehicles at a
checkpost on the route leading to Yeoor. A individual transporting a music system to
the locale was intercepted. Subsequently, he led them to the topographic point where Sahil
and four others were
present. According to API
Madhukar Kumbhar, Sahil claimed it was his birthday political party and that he had
invited his friends over. The cottage had been hired for Rs 6,000. "We found
that it was not his birthday and neither was he able to give a satisfactory
explanation for organising the party," said
Kumbhar. A hunt revealed that
the grouping had stocked up on snacks, cold drinks and condoms; the spirits was
found hidden outside the house in a nearby bush. All six persons, including a
watchman, were taken into custody, but subsequently released. Police had sought
to book and apprehension the grouping for ownership of spirits without a permit, but a
magistrate denied them
custody. "There's something
objectionable in the manner the policeâ€"instead of going after terrorists and
thievesâ€"are going after guiltless people," said Ashok Row Kavi. "What's the
big deal? These male children were all grownups and were taking a crate of suds to a party
in a private place. It's unfair that you flatboat in. Besides, carrying condoms
isn't a sin," he added. There
were ailments that the police force action had caused much incommodiousness to guests
at hotels and baseball clubs as all vehicles headed towards Yeoor were stopped and
searched during the evening.