Police take action on Jay Bhim Nagar resident's complaint of being threatened for highlighting poor sanitation in the area
The mobile toilets BMC installed in Powai's Gautam Nagar late on Friday. The toilets, however, are locked, and people haven't been able to use them. PIC/DATTA KUMBHAR
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A day after mid-day highlighted how a Powai man was allegedly facing threats from Shiv Sena corporators for raising a stink about the fact that there were no public toilets in the area, the Powai police arrested three Sena workers in the matter. The trio, identified as Abdul Khan alias Chhotu, Kameel Shaikh and Harshvardhan Ghadge, were arrested and released on bail yesterday.
Heavy impact
On July 15, mid-day had reported on Pawan Pal, a resident of Jay Bhim Nagar in Powai, who had lodged a complaint with the local ward office about the non-availability of toilets in Gautam Nagar and the poor condition of those in Jay Bhim Nagar. After he had registered the complaint, Pal was allegedly threatened by local Sena leaders for naming corporator Chandravati More and shakha pramkuh Manish Nair in it. Pal had also registered an FIR against three Sena workers.
Senior inspector Lata Shirsat said, "Three people were arrested on Saturday morning. They were sent to judicial custody and later granted bail."
Pal, who is pursuing a law degree, said, "The accused were arrested only after the newspaper report. I had registered the FIR on July 12."
Mobile loos arrive
In another victory of sorts, the BMC sent two mobile toilets to Gautam Nagar. Pal, however, alleged that they were locked and no one has been able to use them.
"Mobile toilets were installed in the area late on Friday, but they are locked. I am happy though that the authorities finally took some action. Many people in the area have been forced to defecate in the open because of lack of toilets," he added.
mid-day tried to get in touch with Assistant Municipal Commissioner of S ward (Bhandup) Santosh Dhonde, but he didn't respond to calls or messages.
On Friday, Dhonde had said, "The contractor who was given the work of constructing toilets in Gautam Nagar had kept pushing back the deadline; hence, he was fired and the work stopped. I had invited tenders for installing 10-12 container type toilets as a makeshift arrangement. These will be placed in the area soon."
Inputs by Santosh Wagh
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