Situation returns to normalcy, assailant held

Akola, Feb 22 (UNI) The situation at village Wadegaon in Balapur taluka of the district is limping back to normal with the arrest of a notorious character and assailant Munna Dongre.

Irate villagers had set ablaze a police outpost and a few shops and stalls in the village on Tuesday night following a knife assault on the village sarpanch Rajendra Govindrao Mankar.

He was stabbed allegedly by Pramod alias Munna Dongre, after a verbal altercation between the two just near the police outpost.

Talking to reporters after visiting the village, Special Inspector General of Police (IGP) V D Mishra, said Dongre was apprehended late last night for attempting to murder Mr Mankar, who is undergoing medical treatment at a private clinic here.

He said the Head Constable Shamrao Chavan and Constable Mohale, who were on duty and present in the police outpost at the time of the attack, have been suspended.

Action would be taken against the erring cops after submission of the enquiry report, which will be received within 10 days, Mr Mishra said.

The villagers have demanded immediate externment of history-sheeter Munna Dongre, who had created terror in the village, the spokesman of Maratha Mahasangh said.

BJP MP from Akola Sanjay Dhotre, local BJP MLA Gowardhan Sharma, Narayan Gawhankar, BJP MLA from Balapur, under whose constituency the village is situated, Shiv Sena MLC Gopikisan Bajoriya and Shiv Sena MLA from Akot Gulabrao Gawande visited the hospital where Mr Mankar is admitted and enquired about his health.

UNI