All-party 'bandh' observed in Malegaon

Nashik, Oct 23 (UNI) In protest of the alleged police atrocity against the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) activists during their agitation, an all-party 'bandh' was observed in Malegaon town of the disrtrict today.

According to sources, the MNS activists alleged that the police beat five office bearers during the agitation launched on October 21, following the arrest of MNS chief Raj Thackeray. The MNS activists staged a 'rasta roko' agitation at Manmad Square on the Mumbai-Agra Highway on that day. Following the peaceful agitation, Quila police arrested them and brought them to the Malegaon Camp police station.

After an hour, police took the office bearers -- MNS, Nashik district, (Rural) chief Sunil Gaikwad, metropolitan chief Suresh Gawli, Shriram Sonawane, Rajendra Shelar and Sanjay Kale -- to the agitation spot. In the presence of senior police officials, the police allegedly beat them brutally. In this attack, all of them received serious injuries, the MNS activists claimed.

They also alleged that the office-bearers were not produced before the court within 24 hours of the arrest.

In protest of this, the all-party 'bandh' was observed in Malegaon. Malegaon Vikas Aghadi president Suresh Nikam took the initiative for the bandh. Condemning the attack on the MNS activists, the leaders demanded suspension of the senior police officials and a thorough inquiry into the matter.

The protestors marched silently from Mahatama Gandhi's statue to the Prant office. The bandh received a good response.

When produced before a court in Malegaon, the office bearers told the court about the incident. The court then ordered to file a report regarding the injuries and condition of these activists.

Based on that report, cases would be filed against the police in the matter.

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