Revellers beat up on-duty cop in Khar, case registered

A day after the city police commissioner issued a circular directing strict action against persons hitting policemen, garba revellers at the railway colony in Khar allegedly beat up an on-duty sub-inspector from Nirmal Nagar police station.

A day after the city police commissioner issued a circular directing strict action against persons hitting policemen, garba revellers at the railway colony in Khar allegedly beat up an on-duty sub-inspector from Nirmal Nagar police station. He had asked them to stop playing music after 10pm.

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The Nirmal Nagar police said sub-inspector Vinod Shinde reached the Navratri mandal at 10.25pm and asked the disc jockey (DJ) to stop the music. The DJ, Halcher Wilson D'Costa, and six unknown persons assaulted Shinde with a blunt object on his head and on his back.

"A case has been registered against seven persons for obstructing and assaulting an on-duty police officer, rioting, causing hurt, unlawful assembly and relevant sections of the Bombay Police Act," said an officer from the Nirmal Nagar police station.

As per the commissioner's circular, the accused could be booked under Maharashtra Prevention of Dangerous Activities Act.

However, Rakesh Jaiswal, who was present at the spot when the incident occurred, alleged that Shinde was manhandling the people at the function. "Because Shinde assaulted D'costa, someone from the crowd hurled a dandiya stick at him. He lost his cool and started beating everyone around with his lathi," said Jaiswal.

Shinde is currently recuperating at Bhabha hospital in Bandra.