MOA executive member Mahesh Lohar assaulted

Pune, May 14: The executive committee meeting of Maharashtra Olympics Association (MOA) here today ended on a sour note as pandemonium broke out immdediately after it was concluded, resulting in an attack on one of its executive members by unidentified persons.

It was nearly a free for all no sooner the meeting, held at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium, ended as executive member Mahesh Lohar was suddenly attacked by three unknown persons, who stormed into the meeting hall and tried to assualt him.

The incident thus gives credence to the fact that the MOA was a divided house.

Due to absence of MOA President Sharad Pawar who could not be present due to pre-occupation, the meet was chaired by the association's senior vice-president Satish Pradhan.

In the meeting, there was a split between the two groups -- one, led by Mr Lohar of Maharashtra Weightlifting Association (MWA) and the other by Suresh Kapre.

The Kapre-led faction, consisting of Sqd Lead B R Gulati (Retd) Shekhar Bhakle and Sharad Kale along with three unkown persons, entered the meeting hall shouting slogans 'Suresh Kapre Zindabad'.

In the din and commotion, the three unkown persons grabbed Mr Lohar and one of them allegedly tried to kill him by squeezing his throat while the other tried to pour black ink on him.

Seeing the ghastly drama unfolding before their eyes, other members such as Mr Pradahan, Prof Balasaheb Landge and Pralhad Sawant and the secretary and joint secretary of the association rushed and recued Mr Lohar.

Despite repeated pleas by Mr Pradhan, a former Shiv Sena MP from Thane, to desist from taking the law into their own hands, his pleadings fell on deaf ears and the scene took a violent turn.

Mr Lohar then lodged a written complaint of assualt and manhandling against Gulati, Bhackle and Kale and the three unkown persons with the Nehru Stadim police station.

Further investigations into the incident were on, police said.

UNI