The District Superintendent of Police Sandeep Karnik justified the firing at a press conference on Wednesday stating that a police officer of the rank of sub inspector and above had the power to order firing when violence and riots go out of control.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan alleged that the opposition parties had hatched a conspiracy and were responsible for instigating the farmers agitation provoking them to indulge in violence, arson and riots, forcing the police to open fire to control the situation from spreading wide in the district and state.

Responding to the opposition allegations in the assembly Ajit Pawar blasted the opposition and said that he had not issued any orders to the police to open fire on the farmers.

Chavan expressing regrets for the deaths of the farmers said, “It’s most unfortunate that the lives of the farmers had to be lost in police firing and that the government has ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident. We expect the commission to deliver its report to the government within three months. Ordering suspension of police officers involved in the firing is a administrative matter and necessary action will be taken in the issue,” Chavan said.

The opposition created uproar in the assembly and disrupted the proceedings several times on Friday. They raised slogans against the deputy chief minister blaming him for the Maval firing.