Beed (Maha): A teacher was beaten up in the
presence of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar,
allegedly for posing a question to the minister about
non-aided educational institutions in the state.
The teacher was later taken away from the venue and
thrown in the police lock-up.
Pawar was at a rally at Champawati ground here,
organised to campaign for the Congress-NCP-RPI candidate
Vikram Kale for Marathwada division teacher`s constituency,
the elections for which are scheduled on November 27.
While the programme was on, a teacher from the audience,
identified as Mahesh Tandale rose from his seat and reminded
Pawar about his promise to remove the word "non-aided" before
educational institutes and allow them aide in phases.
Though, Pawar did not answer the question, the policemen
on duty at the venue battered Tandale in the presence of the
minister and took him away. He was later lodged in a police
lock-up at Shivaji Nagar police station, sources said.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Sambhaji Kadam, who was
present for the security arrangements at the venue, ordered
his subordinates to arrest the teacher, which was witnessed by
the media.
Condemning the incident, senior BJP leader Gopinath
Munde, who represents Beed in Lok Sabha, told PTI over phone
that policemen who manhandled the teacher should be suspended.
Munde staged a protest at the Beed police station,
demanding action against the police officer who ordered the
teacher`s arrest.
"This is a democracy and everyone has a right to
express one`s views. It is outrageous that police resorted to
use of force to suppress the teacher`s voice," Munde said.
PTI
