Sharad Pawar house attack: BJP demands action against police officer after intel lapse

Many of the protesters hurled footwear at Sharad Pawar’s home on Friday. Pics/ANI

The Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) has demanded stern action against Joint commissioner of Mumbai Police (law and order) Vishwas Nangre Patil after the reported leak of internal documents of the Special Branch (SB) which warned of possible violent protests outside NCP supremo Sharad Pawar's residence, chief minister officials residence, Bandra residence Matoshree, state transport minister's Bandra residence, High Court and Mantralya.

Sharing the confidential letter of SB sent to Patil on April 4 by SB, BJP MLA from Andheri West constituency Ameet Satam on twitter said, "This is full letter to chamkesh @vishwasnp. Clear case of negligence & dereliction of duty."

In a video message posted on Twitter, he said "The letter clearly warns of possible violent protest at silver oak and other places. Was he (Patil) was sleeping? Action has been taken against the senior PI of Gamdevi Police station then why not against patil."

The letter mentioned that possible protests may be carried out on April 4 at Mantralaya, April 5 at Silver Oak, Matoshree Bungalow, High Court, Residence of Transport Minister in Bandra. It also warned that protesters may start rail roko aandolan and asked for adequate security arrangements at Mulund and Vashi toll Naka.

The Gamdevi Police later arrested 110 protestors and 109 protestors were employees of Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC).

Soon after the April 8 attacks at Pawar's home, Home Minister Dilip Walse-Patil announced a probe into the incident that sparked a furor in political circles and embarrassed the Maha Vikas Aghadi government of Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress.

Transport Minister Anil Parab on Sunday said that those employees who were part of the attacks would be dismissed from service.

Several NCP leaders like Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Bharatiya Janata Party Leaders of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis and Pravin Darekar had slammed the attacks and blamed the Mumbai Police and its failure of intelligence to take timely preventive measures.

Pointing fingers at the BJP, Sena MP Sanjay Raut said it was not an agitation but a well-planned attack on the Pawar family while Housing Minister Dr Jitendra Awhad said that the sinister intention was to inflict bodily harm to the NCP supremo.

Around 110 persons including the MSRTC employees lawyer Gunratan Sadavarte were arrested in connection with the incident.