Assault on cops is attack on police force, says Fadnavis

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today said the attack on policemen in Latur district is an attack on the entire police force and such acts will not be "tolerated" in the future.

"I have told the DG Police and Minister of State for Home to visit Pangaon in Latur," he said. "The government feels that it is not an attack on an individual but on the (police) force. Won't tolerate such act," the CM tweeted.

Sixteen people have been arrested so far in connection with the assault on two policemen in Latur when they prevented them from putting up a flag at a spot in Pangaon village.

Meanwhile, Inspector L V Rakh, of Renapur police station near Pangaon, has been suspended in connection with the incident. MIM legislator from Aurangabad, Imtiaz Jaleel, said the guilty needs to be punished.

On Saturday, Yunus Shaikh, an assistant sub-inspector in Latur district, and his colleague K Awaskar was allegedly beaten by a mob of villagers for allegedly stopping a group of local youths from hoisting a saffron flag in a "sensitive" area.

"The group included Marathas and other Hindus who were celebrating Shivaji Jayanti," police said.

Both suffered head injuries, but Shaikh was hit worse and was hospitalised. A video of the purported attack, which has gone viral, shows Shaikh being made to hold a saffron flag and walk down a street with the mob.