Maharashtra legislators cross party lines to thrash policeman

In a shocking incident, a group of Members of Legislative Assembly on Tuesday beat up a policeman, who had allegedly stopped the vehicle of Vasai MLA Kshitij Thakur on the Bandra-Worli sealink on Monday.

The melee occurred outside the House at noon -- when a group of MLAs led by Thakur caught hold of Assistant Police Inspector Sachin Suryavanshi and roughed him up.

After the Question Hour, Thakur moved a breach of privilege notice against the policeman for obstructing his vehicle on the Bandra-Worli sealink. He gave details of the incident, which took place on Monday, while he was on his way to attend the assembly proceedings.

Enraged by Thakur's account, members cutting across party lines were on their feet, demanding that the official be suspended. Amid the uproar, the House was adjourned for 20 minutes.

Suryavanshi, who was seated in the visitor's gallery, made hand gestures towards the members. Thakur identified him as the same policeman who had obstructed him.

MLAs Ram Kadam (Maharahstra Navnirman Sena), Rajan Salvi (Shiv Sena), Pradeep Jaiswal (Independent) and Jaykumar Rawal (Bharatiya Janata Party) rushed outside the House. They got hold of the policeman on the first floor of the Vidhan Bhavan building and beat him up.

Speaker Dilip Walse Patil said the entire incident, including the melee outside the House, needed to be probed and disallowed the members from speaking about it.

This did not go down well with the members, who were firm on their demand for action against the police official.

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 a few MLAs, visited him in the security room.

The issue of the policeman's misbehaviour with the MLA was first raised in the Legislative Council on Monday by Deputy Chairman Vasant Davkhare. Home Minister R R Patil had declared that the policeman will be sent on forced leave till the inquiry against him was complete.