Cop, volunteer fight at Lalbaug

Police sources said the volunteer first touched his uniform and pushed him.

A cop attached to Byculla police station and a volunteer of Lalbaugcha Raja mandal were taped fighting in the mandal premises on Saturday and the video went viral on social media. However, no case has been registered.

In the video, the police officer identified as Satyavan Pawar is first seen maintaining the line of devotees. The volunteer then comes from behind and lays a hand on Pawar. Reacting to this, Pawar, in the tape, pushes and hits the volunteer.

Police sources said the volunteer first touched his uniform and pushed him.

However, the mandal volunteers said Pawar assaulted their volunteer who was asking the officer to allow a lady journalist, who had come to take an interview, inside.

Senior police inspector, Kalachowkie police station, Dilip Ubale, said, “We have recorded the statement of the officer and have also received a complaint from the mandal. We will now go through the CCTV footage of the incident and take appropriate action.”

The secretary of the mandal Sudhir Salvi said they stand by their volunteer and have given a written complaint against the cop to the local police.