Journalist beaten up in Jalgaon, video goes viral; oppn questions govt silence

Jalgaon Superintendent of Police (SP) M Rajkumar said, “We have registered an NC under sections 323, 504, and 506 of the Indian Penal Code based on the nature of injuries he sustained. However, we have sought the court’s permission to further investigate the matter.”

As against an FIR, if police want to investigate an NC, which is for lesser offences, they need court permission. An officer said since the journalist did not suffer serious injuries, they have lodged the NC as per law.

The officer said while one of the accused is yet to be unidentified, they have taken preventive action against the two others under Section 107 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, as per which police can serve a show-cause notice, asking the person to give reasons why he should not be executed a bond for keeping the peace.

According to another police officer, the incident is linked to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s meeting with the parents of an eight-year-old girl, who was allegedly raped and murdered in Jalgaon a few days ago.

Mahajan allegedly put up a post calling Shinde’s meeting with the girl’s parents an eyewash after which Kishor Patil called him up. “The duo had an exchange over phone a few days ago,” said the officer.

An audio clip recently went viral on social media where Patil was purportedly heard abusing the journalist. Patil later told the media, “I had verbally abused him (Mahajan) as there were strong reasons for it. However, I have no connection with the attack that has taken place. I was in Mumbai when the incident occurred. I do not support this attack.”

Police said they were checking if the three attackers are linked to MLA Patil.

Meanwhile, Opposition NCP MLA Rohit Pawar questioned the silence of the state government over the incident and said, “Mahajan was first abused over the phone and later beaten up by goons in a square named after his freedom fighter father.”

The MLA was referring to the journalist’s father Damodar Mahajan who was a freedom fighter, with the chowk named after his father, according to local residents.

“CM Eknath Shinde, are you so intoxicated by power? Is this how you respect families who laid down their lives for the freedom of this country? The common people of this country are asking this question,” Pawar said.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut alleged Mahajan was mercilessly attacked by “goons of Shinde faction MLA Kishor Patil”. “Law and order in the state has deteriorated so much. I think Maharashtra is going the Manipur way,” the Rajya Sabha member said.

Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, Vijay Wadettiwar, in a social media post said, “I condemn the cowardly attack on journalist Sandeep Mahajan by the goons of Shiv Sena MLA Kishor Patil. People will show such an arrogant MLA and his government their place soon…  Will the chief minister and home minister show courage to take action against Patil?”

The girl, who was allegedly raped, murdered and then dumped in a barn by a 19-year-old boy in Jalgaon district, was missing from her home since July 30. Her body was found on August 1 near her home.

Initial investigations showed she was sexually assaulted and bludgeoned to death with a stone. The accused was arrested on August 3.

Irate villagers pelted stones at the police vehicle in which he was escorted. Later CM Shinde spoke to the girl’s family, promising quick action.