NAVI MUMBAI: An FIR was registered against a BJP councillor in Mahad, Suraj Bamane, and two of his aides for assaulting the chief officer (administrative head) of Mahad municipal council Dhananjay Kolekar over alleged non-resolution of the problem of a damaged underground water pipeline which caused disruption of water supply in the councillor’s ward.The alleged incident occurred in the cabin of the chief officer at the council headquarters in Mahad on Wed afternoon.API Nitin Mohite said, “The assault occurred after councillor Bamane (38) along with Kiran Patil (45) and Sagar Surve (28) questioned chief officer Kolekar for not resolving the water supply issue in his ward number 6. The water pipeline from Kurla dam had got damaged when the Mahad civic body was carrying out sludge excavation work. As damage to the pipeline had affected supply to councillor Bamane’s ward, causing inconvenience to residents, he argued with Kolekar and assaulted him along with Patil and Surve.”The three accused were booked for using criminal force against a public servant to deter them from performing their official duties and under other BNS sections.According to the FIR by Kolekar, Bamane accompanied by two men stormed into his cabin, and Bamane asked him why the water supply problem had not been resolved in his ward. As Kolekar said the issue was being looked into by the concerned department’s officials, Bamane demanded immediate resolution. While arguing with Kolekar, Bamane allegedly turned violent and with an umbrella repeatedly hit Kolekar on his head. One of Bamane’s aides joined him and hit Kolekar while hurling expletives at him, and another aidehurled abuses at the officer, grabbed his collar and punched him, the FIR stated.Following the incident, the council’s employees struck work by squatting in the council headquarters premises. The employees demanded immediate arrest of the BJP councillor and his aides and said the strike will not be withdrawn till the councillor is arrested.Narayan Ekshinge, senior police inspector of Mahad city said, “The three accused were not arrested but were served with a notice under provisions of Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita directing them to co-operate in the police probe when summoned for inquiry and during court trial.”Shiv Sena’s Mahad MLA Bharat Gogawale said, “An elected representative assaulting a public servant should not be tolerated and stringent action should be taken by the concerned party’s leaders. Any issues related to civic amenities affecting citizens should be redressed by lodging complaints and not by resorting to violence.”
