BJP accuses NCP leaders of ‘manhandling’ its women workers

The Navghar police are recording statements of Somaiya and others present at the spot, before deciding further course of action.

Alleging manhandling of women party workers outside its office in Mulund, the BJP on Wednesday filed a complaint against NCP party workers with the election returning officer and general observer of the Mumbai North East constituency, demanding an FIR against police personnel who failed to prevent the alleged attack.

In the complaint to the Election Commission authorities, Bhalchandra Shirsat of the BJP alleged that police inspector Abhay Dhuri from Navghar police station led the NCP group, and demanded that the officer be immediately arrested. The BJP has also demanded an FIR against NCP workers Kiran Poojari, Mama Manchekar and Sohel Subhedar.

Around 12.30 pm, the BJP office at Neelam Nagar in Mulund east was visited by mediapersons for an interview with BJP’s North East candidate, Kirit Somaiya. “A group of NCP workers gathered outside our office and started shouting slogans against the media coverage of the BJP. The police from Navghar police station did nothing to prevent NCP workers from turning violent,” alleged a party source.

NCP workers on the other hand alleged that BJP’s Kirit Somaiya used foul language and threatened to strip the police officer of his uniform when they protested against the “biased coverage of media”.

Dhuri denied that there had been any manhandling or threatening on Somaiya’s part. “We had information about a talk show being conducted without permission, and had gone there to stop it. Tempers went up while we were doing our work and an argument occurred, but nothing happened beyond that,” said Dhuri.

The Navghar police are recording statements of Somaiya and others present at the spot, before deciding further course of action.

mumbai.newsline@expressindia.com

First uploaded on: 17-04-2014 at 04:21 IST

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