Shiv Sena sacks party worker accused of thrashing vendor for 'free vada pav'

Shiv Sena on Tuesday said it has sacked an office-bearer of its youth wing who allegedly assaulted a shop assistant for refusing to provide free 'vada-pavs'.

"That person was sacked yesterday itself," a source close to Yuva Sena chief Aaditya Thackeray said. The incident took place in suburban Vile Parle (West) on Saturday. The accused, Sunil Mahadik, allegedly hit Chetan Geveriya (28), who works at Trupti Sweet and Farsan Mart on D J Road, with a bamboo stick, police had on Monday said.

Mahadik had sent a person to the shop demanding 100 vada pavs, a popular street-food in Mumbai, free of cost. Chetan told him that they didn't have so much stock, so the person left.

Irked, Mahadik then went to the shop and hit Geveria with a bamboo stick and threatened to kill him, they had said. The incident was captured by the CCTV cameras in the shop and later an FIR was registered with Juhu police. The footage was also aired by some local news channels.

The incident comes in the wake of another in neighbouring Thane where a Shiv Sena worker was arrested for allegedly assaulting a woman traffic constable three days ago. CCTV footage of the incident had gone viral. Meanwhile, Swabhiman Sanghatana leader Nitesh Rane said his organisation on Tuesday held a 'free vada pav' distribution event to protest the assault on the shopkeeper.

"These people (Yuva Sena) are strong proponents of night life in Mumbai. This assault shows what will happen if what they call 'night life' is allowed," Nitesh, an MLA, said.