Group tries to throw ink on officer’s assailants

Members of the Swabhimaan Sanghatana led by Nitesh Rane on Wednesday attempted to throw ink on the two accused who allegedly slapped a constable attached to the Vile Parle police station.

The workers, who were protesting against the recent instances of assaults on police officers, attempted to blacken the faces of the two accused: Aarti Patlekar and her brother Sudershan Patlekar.

On Tuesday, Priyanka Khot, a constable with the Vile Parle police station, stopped Aarti because she was riding without a helmet. Aarti, who got into an argument with Ms Khot, called Sudershan and the situation escalated. Following this, the brother-sister duo kicked Ms Khot in the stomach and also slapped her.

Mr Rane and his party members on Tuesday raised the point to the state that police officers who are supposed to protect themselves don’t get any protection. “If the state doesn’t take steps to stop this and ensure better protection to our policemen, members of the Swabhimaan Sanghatana will be forced to take the law into their own hands and deal with such people,” Mr Rane said.

Early on Wednesday morning, Mr Rane tweeted, “Enough now! Police union is now a must.” Following this, members of his party gathered outside Andheri Metropolitan Magistrate Court and shouted slogans against the recent attacks on police officers. They then tried to gherao Aarti and Sudershan, who were being produced in court for their custody.