Clash between rival party workers in Bhiwandi leaves six injured, two cops hurt

Six persons including two police personnel were injured during a clash between workers of two rival parties in Bhiwandi town of Maharashtras Thane district officials said on Monday reported news agency PTIKVA activists accused of stonepelting BJP office vandalisedActivists of the Konark Vikas Aghadi KVA a local political outfit allegedly hurled stones and ransacked the Bharatiya Janata Party office during the violence late Sunday night forcing police to resort to a lathicharge to restore order they said reported PTIShivaji Chowk clash linked to civic poll tensionsViolence broke out at Shivaji Chowk between KVA and BJP activists apparently triggered by tensions following the recently concluded Bhiwandi Nizampur Municipal Corporation electionsSocial media videos show stonepelting and police interventionVideos circulating on social media showed people throwing stones and police intervening to disperse the crowdBJP MLA alleges lsquomurderous attackrsquo by rivalsIt was a murderous attack on BJP activists at the party office by our rivals They even attempted to raid my residence unsuccessfully local BJP MLA Mahesh Chowgule alleged reported PTIPolice personnel manhandled during violence claims ChowguleSome people manhandled police personnel during the incident he chargedKVA denies charges blames BJP for triggering clashKVA functionary Vilas Patil however dismissed the allegations asserting it was BJP activists who initiated the violence and that KVA members were the victimsSix injured including police officer and constable DCPDeputy Commissioner of Police ZoneII Shashikant Borate said six individuals including a police officer a constable and four political workers two each from rival sides sustained injuries and were undergoing treatment at a local hospital reported PTIPolice lathicharge restores order heavy security deployedPolice resorted to lathicharge to disperse the rioters he saidThe situation was currently under control Heavy security was deployed in the area to prevent further escalation an official from the Thane city police control room said reported PTICase being registered as probe continuesThe Nizampura police were in the process of registering a case in connection with the incident officials said reported PTIBhiwandi Nizampur civic poll results fuel political rivalryIn the January 15 elections to the 90member Bhiwandi Nizampur Municipal Corporation the Congress secured 30 seats the BJP 22 while the KVA managed to get only 4 seatsSeat distribution highlights fractured mandate in civic bodyThe Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde and Sharad Pawars NCP SP bagged 12 seats each Samajwadi Party 6 Bhiwandi Vikas Aghadi Ekta Manch 3 while an independent got 1 seatWith inputs from PTI