Maharashtra: NCP leader who led ashram attack absconding

The Nationalist Congress Party corporator Ashish Damle, who was expelled from the party after leading a mob that allegedly ransacked an ashram at Badlapur, has been absconding for the past 48 hours, the police said.

The Nationalist Congress Party corporator Ashish Damle, who was expelled from the party after leading a mob that allegedly ransacked an ashram at Badlapur, has been absconding for the past 48 hours, the police said.

Kulgaon-Badlapur-police-has-formed-four-teams-to-search-the-absconding-NCP-Corporator-Ashish-Damle-Photo-Rishikesh-Choudhary

The Thane rural police, however, have arrested five people who were allegedly part of the mob, and suspended two police constables, who were with Damle during the incident. Both were appointed as Damle’s bodyguards.

“The constables were on duty. Being a part of the force, they should have stopped Damle, instead they participated and didn’t bother to inform the police,” said V Laxminarayan, joint commissioner, Thane police.

A team has been formed to find out Damle’s whereabouts, said Rajesh Pradhan, Thane superintendent of police. CM Devendra Fadanvis has also ordered a probe.