NCP barb at BJP for assault on cops

The Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has held the ruling BJP responsible for the increasing attacks on police personnel

The Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has held the ruling BJP responsible for the increasing attacks on police personnel.

Party spokesperson Nawab Malik said that in most of the cop assault cases over the past two years, BJP leaders and activists were found involved. He alleged that workers of the independent MLA Ganpat Gaikwad were accused of drowning a policeman in Kalyan. Gaikwad’s workers were also given BJP tickets for the Kalyan civic polls.

The accusation came at the time when attack of policemen has become a sensitive issue after the death of traffic constable Vilas Shinde last week. A video clip showing four youths trying to drown a cop in Kalyan on Wednesday added fuel to the fire.

“All four involved in the drowning attempt are Gaikwad’s workers,” Malik alleged. “In most of the cases, BJP ministers, MLA’s and activists were found responsible for the attacks.”

He also referred to a few cases where BJP leaders were accused of threatening and abusing police personnel.

“In October last year, BJP MP Kirit Somaiya’s worker Dilip Matkar slapped Vikas Raut of Parksite police and Somaiya reportedly played an important role to ensure his transfer. Jalgaon ASI Ashok Sadre allegedly blamed former revenue minister Eknath Khadse for his suicide. MLA Narayan Kuche was booked in August last year for abusing and threatening a policeman on duty in Aurangabad. These are some instances that put light on the actual reasons behind such incidents,” Malik said.

Taking the matter seriously, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday had declared that a committee will be formed that will suggest remedies to the problems being faced by the police personnel on duty after studying all the issues in detail.