BJP, Congress supporters come to blows at Sillewada polling booth
| Date :22-Oct-2019 |
SP Rakesh Ola (centre) taking stock of the situation at the polling booth. (Right) Damaged windshield of the vehicle of BJP candidate from Saoner Assembly constituency Dr Rajiv Potdar. (Pics by Rahul Tiwari)
Khaparkheda Correspondent :
supporters of BJP and Congress parties on Monday clashed with each other following a quarrel over clicking of pictures near a polling booth at Sillewada. Windshield of a car of BJP candidate for Saoner assembly segment Dr Rajiv Potdar was damaged by Congress supporters during the fight. Khaparkheda police have registered offences against supporters of both the both parties. According to police, Dr Potdar arrived at Sillewada with his supporters in the afternoon. When he entered a booth, a Congress supporter objected and urged him not to enter in the booth with such a large number of supporters. Dr Potdar did not responded to him and entered in the booth.
Meanwhile, the Congress supporter clicked his picture. When Dr Potdar came out of the booth, he asked his supporters to take the picture of the Congress supporter. At the same time, someone pelted a stone at the vehicle of Dr Potdar damaging its windshield. He, somehow, managed to move away from the spot and reached Khaparkheada police station. On the basis of complaint by BJP’s Chhaya Dhole, an offence under Sections 143, 147, 323, 504, 506 and 427 of the Indian Penal Code was registered against Vasundhara Shahane, Pandhari Shahane, Nikhil Shahane, Chhatrapati Bopche, Pankaj Khapre, Nandu Bhad, Shrikant Uke, Girdhar Marbate, Pravin Dugane, Ashish Bhad, Sagar Shende, Pratik Shahane, Ramrao Marbate, Shubham Hiwrade, Golu Wagh and others.
Later, Congress supporters rushed to the police station and lodged a counter complaint against BJP supporters and Dr Potdar. On the basis of the compliant given by Congress’ Vasundhara Shahane, an offence under Sections 143, 147, 354, 504, 506 and 323 of IPC has been registered against BJP supporters and Dr Potdar. Later, SP Rakesh Ola visited the spot. Meanwhile, Dr Rajiv Potdar, BJP District President and candidate from Saoner constituency, alleged that Sunil Kedar, sitting Congress MLA from Saoner, was behind the attack on him (Dr Potdar). Dr Potdar recalled that Kedar’s supporters had attacked Dr Ashish Deshmukh, who was then rival candidate of Kedar, a day ahead of polling in 2009. “But, let me make it clear. Neither me nor my workers are afraid. We will keep standing up to such attempts,” he said. He demanded that the cops should arrest the persons who attacked his vehicles in Sillewada.