Three Dalit brothers were allegedly thrashed by a mob after they objected to their derogatory remarks against Dr B R Ambedkar in Virar area in early hours on Monday, the police said.
Sagar Ingle, 25, Jeet Ingle, 30 and Chetan Ingle 22, sons of a Republican party of India corporator in Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation Pandurang Ingle, were beaten up with sticks and iron rods at the M D Nagar locality of Virar at around 12.30 am, police inspector S B Mane said.
As per initial investigation, Sagar was having a conversation with some of his friends and the discussion apparently veered towards the Dalit community. Some of those in the group, who were said to be in an inebriated state, started abusing the community and allegedly passed derogatory remarks against Ambedkar, Mane said.
When Sagar asked them to end the discussion, they thrashed him with iron rods and wooden sticks, he said.
Soon, a mob of around 30-40 people arrived on the scene and started beating Sagar. When his two brothers rushed to save him, they were also beaten up severely by the mob and their clothes were torn off, he said.
The trio, however, managed to run away from the scene and subsequently lodged a complaint with the Virar police.
They were later admitted to a local hospital. The Virar police have registered a case under sections 326 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means), 143 (unlawful assembly), 147 (rioting), 148 and 149 of the Indian Penal Code and also under relevant sections of the SC/ST Atrocities Act.
No arrest has been made so far in this connection, Mande said. Jeet Ingle is a journalist with a television news channel.
