VASCO
Three persons were assaulted in two separate clashes between rival political groups at Bogda and Sada in Vasco, sparking off tension in both areas on Friday night.
While two persons, including the father of a BJP councillor, were injured in the clash at Bogda, the BJP claimed one of its workers was assaulted in another clash at Sada.
A huge police force has been deployed at various locations to prevent a law and order situation.
Sources said the incident at Bogda happened at around 4.30 pm when the father of the BJP councillor Prajay Mayekar was returning home.
Clashes broke out between the BJP and Congress groups, with stones being pelted. Police managed to control the situation from going out of control.
Pradeep Mayekar, father of BJP Councillor Prajay Mayekar, was injured and admitted to Chicalim Sub District Hospital, while Nitin Bhagat, brother of a Congress supporter, was also injured in the incident.
As time passed, the word of the incident spread around and people from both sides began gathering at Bogda after which additional police force had to be pressed into service to handle the situation.
By late Friday night, senior police officials, DySPs and many police inspectors rushed to the site, as both parties tried to register counter complaints against each other.
In a separate incident, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant claimed that the Yuva Morcha President Akshay Bandekar was assaulted in clashes with Congress supporters at Sada on Friday evening.
The incident took a political turn, with BJP leaders and councillors rushing to the site and visiting the house of Mayekar to take stock of the situation.
Speaking to media on Friday night, Nitin Bhagat said he had been assaulted by the Mayekar family and this had led to a group clash. “We were playing Holi when Pradeep Mayekar took his car towards me and his rear mirror hit my stomach. He later parked his car, abused me and his sons came to hit me. One of his sons hurled a brick at me. I even got stitches on my head.”
“While we came to file a police complaint, we were kept waiting and neither were we taken for a medical checkup. Finally, they took us for a medical checkup after I fell unconscious. Till late night, our complaint was not registered and no action has been taken on those who flung a brick on my head. The rival group was given good treatment and our people are being driven away,” said Bhagat.
