Maharashtra MLAs on rampage, beat up cop

Mumbai, March 19: Behaving like anti-social elements, a group of MLAs today beat up a policeman inside Maharashtra Legislature building.

Assistant Police Inspector Sachin Suryavanshi, who had allegedly stopped the vehicle of Vasai MLA Kshitij Thakur on the Bandra-Worli sealink in Mumbai yesterday, was the target of the law-makers violent behaviour.

After the Question Hour today, Thakur moved a breach of privilege notice against the policeman for obstructing his vehicle on the Bandra-Worli sealink. According to the MLA, the incident which took place yesterday when he was on his way to attend the Assembly proceedings and how the policeman had "misbehaved" with him.

Enraged by Thakur's account, members cutting across party lines were on their feet demanding that the official be suspended.

Amid the uproar, Thakur identified Suryavanshi, who was seated in the visitor's gallery and made unverified hand gestures looking down towards the members.

Provoked by this a group of MLAs that included Ram Kadam (MNS), Rajan Salvi (Shiv Sena), Pradeep Jaiswal (Independent) and Jaykumar Rawal (BJP) rushed outside and caught hold of the policeman on the first floor of the Vidhan Bhavan building and beat him.

Suryavanshi was taken away by the Vidhan Bhavan security staff and kept in a room where doctors checked him. Home Minister R R Patil and Leader of Opposition Eknath Khadse as well as few MLAs visited him in the security room.

Speaker Dilip Walse Patil said the entire incident needed to be probed and disallowed the members from speaking about it. The issue of the cop's misbehaviour with the MLA was first raised in the Legislative Council yesterday by deputy chairman Vasant Davkhare to which R R Patil had declared that the policeman will be sent on forced leave till the inquiry is complete.

According to reports, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Home Minister R.R. Patil, and other ministers held an emergency meeting to discuss the situation arising out of the legislators' violent behaviour. Even, state Director-General of Police Sanjeev Dayal, Mumbai Police Commissioner Satyapal Singh and other top police officers rushed to the legislature complex.

OneIndia News