Latur Assault: Police Station in-charge transferred

IGP, Aurangabad, Vishwas Nangre Patil said Inspector L V Rakh has been transferred to the control room.

Sheikh had told The Indian Express Monday that he was let down by his colleagues who failed to save him by not sending reinforcements on time. “Between 8.30 am and 8.45 am on February 19, Sheikh made two calls — one to the control room and the other to Rakh on his mobile number, requesting for reinforcements. But Rakh failed to send the reinforcement in time and hence has been transferred,” a senior official said.

Sheikh and head constable K Awaskar, who were on duty at Pangaon chowky, had prevented the group from hoisting a saffron flag near Ambedkar Chowk, officially labelled as a “sensitive area”, in Pangaon town a few hours before the attack. The crowd also roughed up Awaskar, but he managed to flee.

DGP Pravin Dixit has asked Patil to submit a report on the case. According to sources, Patil’s report will detail the sequence of events leading to the assault of the two policemen. The police have arrested 16 people, including a juvenile. They are looking for 109 more accused. All the accused have been booked under sections 307 (attempt to murder) and 353 (use of criminal force to deter a public servant from discharging his duties).