Mumbai: On Saturday, BJP leader Kirit Somaiya accused the Shiv Sena of attempting to murder him in the sight of police officers. He said that “100 goons” from the ruling party pelted stones at his car outside the Khar Police Station in Mumbai, injuring him.
In a video uploaded by former Maharashtra chief minister and prominent BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis, Mr Somaiya was shown with blood on his face. One of his car’s glass panes had been damaged.
He then drove to the Bandra Police Station, sat in his car, and demanded the filing of a FIR (First Information Report). He stated that he will remain in the area until police personnel and “Mafia Sena Gundas” are prosecuted.
He told news agency ANI that the Mumbai Police refused to lodge his FIR and instead registered a “bogus” one stating that only one stone was thrown. He also accused the police of not taking action despite intimation.
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Manjunath Shinge, a case was opened after the BJP leader filed a complaint.
Mr Somaiya was arrested after Independent Amravati MP Navneet Rana and her husband, MLA Ravi Rana, were arrested at the Khar Police Station. The Ranas were apprehended earlier in the day, just hours after calling off a planned recitation of the Hanuman Chalisa outside Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s private mansion, ‘Matoshree.’
Workers from the Sena had earlier protested against Mr Somaiya’s visit to the police station. When he was about to leave, he was attacked. His automobile was pelted with stones, and one of the glass panes was cracked.
“I am shocked, in presence 50 police persons, in the compound/campus of Khar Police Station, Shivsena’s 100 Gundas assault me with Stones, Wanted to KILL Me What the Police Commissioner is doing? How so many Mafia Sena Gundas allowed to gathered in police station?” said Mr Somaiya in a tweet.
Mr Fadnavis later, slammed the state government and called it a “total collapse of law and order situation”.
“It’s a total collapse of law & order situation in Mumbai & Maharashtra! Goons attacked @BJP4Maharashtra leader @KiritSomaiya ji right in front of Khar Police Station & in presence of police personnel. This is absolutely unacceptable! We demand strongest action,” he said in a tweet.
He also told reporters that Mr Somaiya had informed Khar Police about the possibility of an attack and sought Z+ security, but the police did not take any action.
Chandrakant Patil, the Maharashtra BJP president, has issued a strong warning, stating that his party will not remain silent on the subject.
A day before, stones were thrown at BJP politician Mohit Kamboj’s car in Mumbai’s Kalanagar Junction. He, too, had claimed that the Shiv Sena was attempting to kill him.
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