Desai alleges attack on her, fellow activist in Nashik

Bhumata Brigade chief Trupti Desai today said that she suffered minor bruises while another fellow activist sustained head injury when they were allegedly attacked and their car ransacked by a group of people in Nashik last night.

Desai alleged that the attack was a ploy to kill her.

A case has been filed in this regard against unidentified persons in Nashik, police said today.

Desai yesterday offered prayers at the famous Kapaleshwar temple in Nashik, but refrained from entering its 'garbha griha'.

Later, she and others were escorted in a police van some distance away from the temple.

"Since, we refrained from entering the 'garbha griha' of the temple yesterday, we wanted to talk to the in-charge of Panchavati police station and wanted to tell him that we would once again try and go inside the temple today.

"At 11 PM, we headed towards the police station. However, a large gathering near the temple thought that we were entering the temple again. They started shouting slogans and tried to intimidate us," Desai alleged.

She said that looking at the situation, they drove the car in another direction.
"We went a little ahead and tried to call the police control room, however, there was no response.

"Suddenly, 40 to 50 bike-borne youths, armed with sticks, acid bottles and stones attacked our car and ransacked the vehicle, which prompted us to drive the car farther towards Sinnar," Desai alleged.

"In the attack, one of our (male) activists sustained head injury and I too received some minor bruises," she said.

"The youths chased us for a long time. However, we managed to escape from their clutches and later upon reaching Sinnar, we rushed to a hospital where the injured activist was treated," she said.

Desai also alleged that a police van, which was escorting them, was behind when the attack took place, but they did nothing.

"It was a ploy to kill me as these people cannot argue with me rationally and are resorting to such tactics," she further alleged.

Desai also said that a van belonging to news channel too was damaged by the angry mob.

Meanwhile, Police Sub-Inspector M D Mhatre of Sarkarwada police station in Nashik said that they have registered a case against unidentified youths in connection with the incident.