38 arrested for attack on Bhujbal

July 14: About 38 people have been arrested in connection with yesterday’s attack on the official bungalow of Congress leader Chhagan Bhujbal, near Mantralaya.

Meanwhile, two companies of the Rapid Action Force (RAF), in addition to the State Reserve Police (SRP) and Mumbai police have been deployed outside Bhujbal’s residence. A battalion of jawans and around 10 police vans have been arrayed in front of Bhujbal’s house since Sunday to prevent any untoward incident, but the local residents are still under a fear psychosis. On Sunday, a group of Shiv Saniks armed with hammers and crowbars had shattered almost everything inside Bhujbal’s official bungalow. Bhujbal, in the meantime, seemed busy showing his shattered house to every sympathiser visiting him. The reinstated BMC deputy muncipal commissioner G R Khairnar expressed his anguish at seeing it. Criticising the Sainiks’ behaviour, he said, “This action is a testimony of government sponsored goondaism, destroying the government property by taking law into their hands.”

And added, “I have had personal experience with these Shiv Sainiks. They have attacked my house in the past and destroyed BMC’s properties ruthlessly. People should carry a morcha to the Sena pramukh Bal Thackery’s house.” “If the house of a leader like Bhujbal could be smashed in a few minutes, what kind of security do we have,” lamented a local resident.