Maharashtra MLAs now demand action against policemen

Mumbai, March 22: First they misbehave and then behave in a manner that makes the public squirm in disbelief. While the state is suffering from the worst drought in last 40 years, the

in Maharshtra forced adjournment of the House over action against the

in the cop beating incident.

The Assembly was adjourned for the day on Friday after members from all parties disrupted proceedings as demanded action against the two police officers who had come to the Vidhan Bhawan without authorisation to arrest the MLAs. The law makers also wanted revocation of the suspension slapped on five legislators.

Due to the ruckus, except for laying of papers related to assurances given on the floor of the House during the debate on grants in Budget session of 2011, no other business could be transacted.

Girish Bapat (BJP) said that unless the two crime branch officers, who had come to the Vidhan Bhawan on Wednesday to arrest the MLAs, are not suspended and the suspension of legislators is not revoked, the proceedings of the House cannot be normal.

He said traffic police officer Sachin Suryavanshi, who was allegedly thrashed by MLAs on Tuesday, was not on duty when he came to Vidhan Bhawan and hence, to book the MLAs under section 353 which amounts to obstructing a public servant from conducting his duties, was wrong. "This is injustice to the legislators," Bapat said.

Bapat seems to be forgetting that the charge relates to the incident at the Bandra sealink with MLA Kshitij Thakur. He and Ram Kadam had surrendered on Thursday before the police. They are among five MLAs suspended for assaulting Suryavanshi. On March 19, an FIR was registered at Marine Drive police station against Thakur, Kadam (MNS) and 14 others for allegedly beating up the 31-year-old police official with Worli Traffic Police at Vidhan Bhawan.

The accused MLAs have been booked under IPC sections 143 (unlawful assembly), 341 (wrongful restraint), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt) and 506 (ii) (criminal intimidation).

Meanwhile, Thakur and Kadam have been sent to 14 days judicial custody. they were produced in a local court today.

OneIndia News