Video: PMC worker assaulted during anti-encroachment drive, civic body to file complaint

“I have spoken to the anti-encroachment department head on the incident. The PMC is filing a police complaint against those who assaulted civic staff on duty,” said additional municipal commissioner Vikas Dhakane.

“The civic administration will not tolerate such kind of behaviour against its staff,” he added.

Asked about PMC anti-encroachment chief Madhav Jagtap kicking utensils filled with food at a stall on FC Road, Dhakane said: “I am not aware of it and have not received any complaint against it so far.”

Baramati NCP MP Supriya Sule had tweeted the video, which was purportedly shot in April, and demanded action against Dhakane.

पुणे महापालिका उपायुक्त माधव जगताप यांचे हे वागणे पाहून सखेद आश्चर्य वाटले. महापालिकेचे अधिकारी हे संवेदनशील असायला हवेत. त्यांना तळागाळातील जनतेच्या कष्टाची जाण असायला हवी. सदर अधिकाऱ्यावर कारवाई व्हायला हवी.@PMCPune pic.twitter.com/vKt6f0wkBI

— Supriya Sule (@supriya_sule) May 16, 2023

The PMC anti-encroachment department said it has undertaken a drive to clear encroachments on roads that will be used while commuting delegates during the G20 meeting next month.

Meanwhile, the additional municipal commissioner has taken action against a civic ward officer over failure to check encroachment in his jurisdiction. “There should be regular action against illegal hawkers and encroachments in the city… It is also the mistake of civic staff who ignore the encroachments for long and then they face opposition during their anti-encroachment drives,” said Dhakane.