Sena offers legal support to encounter cop Suryavanshi

“The party is willing to provide legal support to Pradeep Suryavanshi (convicted in the Lakhan Bhaiya encounter case).”

Lakhan Bhaiya alias Ramnarayan Gupta was a suspected aide of gangster Chhota Rajan.

Thackeray said,“Congress and NCP are setting a dangerous trend. Police guarding people and fighting criminals are being subjected to punishment. Suryavanshi has been convicted because the prosecutor did not plead his case properly. To the contrary,he indicated Suryavanshi should be hanged.

“Why would police work if they are not secure? What wrong has Suryavanshi done by eliminating a criminal? Shiv Sena will not allow the state government to subject police to such atrocities.”

Last week,a sessions court convicted Suryavanshi,accused of leading the team that killed Lakhan Bhaiya in an encounter,of murder. Twelve other cops were also convicted.

The Sena stand does not come as a surprise as the party has always stood by encounter specialists.

Thackeray said,“Last August,several women police on duty were molested by hooligans at Azad Maidan. Did anybody take up their cause? Did the government punish the culprits?

“If I raise the matter,I will be called communal.”