NCP workers led by party general secretary Jitendra Awhad urged police to "arrest" crabs

Highlights A Nationalist Congress Party leader handed over a few crabs to the police

Jitendra Awhad urged police to "arrest" the crabs

A Maharashtra minister had earlier said crabs caused a dam breach

A Nationalist Congress Party leader Friday handed over a few crabs to the police in Maharashtra's Thane after a minister claimed that the crustaceans were responsible for a dam breach in coastal Maharashtra.

NCP workers led by party general secretary Jitendra Awhad walked into the Naupada police station with crabs in hand, and urged police officials to "arrest'' them.

Water resources minister Tanaji Sawant said Thursday that the breach in the Tiware dam in Ratnagiri district, which claimed 18 lives, was caused by crabs which had hollowed out its wall.

Speaking to reporters, Mr Awhad said the BJP-led state government was shameless, and Mr Sawant was trying to protect the contractor who was responsible for the tragedy.

"23 people were washed away, some are still missing, but the minister claims that crabs had weakened the dam," he said.

In Kolhapur, the NCP's youth wing presented a memorandum to Shahupuri police station, demanding registration of a ''case'' against crabs.

"If the minister thinks crabs caused the breach, then a case should be registered against the crabs under section 302 of the Indian Penal Code for murder," NCP state youth wing chief Mehboob Sheikh said.

The Tiware dam near Chiplun, 250 km from Mumbai, breached Tuesday night following torrential rain.