NCP (SP) demands Devendra Fadnavis’ resignation after Pune police officer attacked with Koyta

Following the attack on a police officer with a sickle (koyta) in Pune, the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) staged a protest on Monday, demanding the resignation of Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who is also the state’s Home Minister. They said the law and order situation in the city has deteriorated.

Assistant police inspector Ratnakar Gaikwad sustained serious head injuries after he was attacked with a koyta in Hadapsar area on Sunday after he tried to break up a fight. The incident took place around 4pm in front of New Royal Auto Garage in Sasanenagar. The suspects, identified as Nihal Singh Mannu Singh Tak (18) and Rahul Singh alias Rahulya Ravindra Singh Bhond (19), were arrested after they initially fled the scene.

Meanwhile, workers and local leaders of the NCP (SP) Pune city unit staged a protest outside the district office. “We demand that Fadnavis resign as home minister. When he is the state home minister or the chief minister, crimes increase. In cities like Pune, large quantities of drugs are seized. Crimes have increased because criminals who are external are in Fadnavis’ convoy,” alleged the party’s city unit leader Prashant Jagtap. The attack on a police officer shows that criminals have become more brazen, he said.

Baramati MP Supriya Sule took to social media to voice her concerns and said, “Is it true that criminals in Pune no longer fear the police? A police officer was attacked and injured with a machete within the jurisdiction of Wanwadi police station. This incident highlights the rampant criminality in the city and the failure of the Home Minister to tackle it.”

Congress MP Ravindra Dhangekar said, “It is a shame for the Home Ministry that the police brothers who are responsible for the safety of all of us are being attacked in Pune.”

“In Pune, crime has increased rapidly in the last few years. Small gangs and young children are walking around with knives and sticks; cars are being broken, people are being beaten up. Besides, criminal gangs are also active. Looking at this situation, it is necessary that Maharashtra Home Minister Fadnavis should completely suspend the election campaign for some time and pay attention to the law and order situation in Maharashtra,” Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) spokesperson Mukund Kirdat said.