A pregnant woman was allegedly manhandled and her husband beaten up after a fight broke out between them and their neighbours in Powai over repair of their chawl's common toilets
Laxman and Poonam Paage at the Balasaheb Thackeray Trauma Care hospital in Jogeshwari (East)
A six-month pregnant woman was allegedly manhandled and her husband beaten up after a fight broke out between them and their neighbours in the Powai locality they stay in over repair of the chawl's common toilets. The incident happened around 10.30 pm yesterday in Kashibai Chawl, Milind Nagar, where a lot of tribals from the Tunga community stay.
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After the fight, a neighbour took Poonam and Laxman Paage to the Balasaheb Thackeray Trauma Care Hospital in Jogeshwari (East). Poonam's father Arun Naik was also injured in the scuffle.
While Laxman and Naik were discharged after basic treatment, Poonam, though stable, was admitted for a check-up to ascertain whether her unborn child had been harmed in any way.
A dirty fight
Speaking to mid-day, a local and member of the Tunga community Ramesh Patkar, who took the couple to the hospital, said, "The fight started after Naik raised the problem of poor condition of the common toilets with the Walmiki family, who are neighbours and responsible for the maintenance of the toilet blocks, for which all chawl members pay them."
"With there being no improvement in the condition of the toilets, and in fact, even doors broken, Naik asked the Walmikis why they hadn't worked on the maintenance despite taking money from everyone. One of the family members started arguing with him and a fight broke out."
"Laxman and Naik were beaten up, and when Poonam intervened to help them, they manhandled her as well," said another eyewitness.
The chawl is spread over 3,500 square feet. Naik is the landowner and grows vegetables there, but he has allowed many to construct houses on the vacant patches.
The common toilet in their chawl in Powai. Pics/ Atul Kamble
Not the first
When mid-day visited the spot, the toilets were dirty, their doors broken and filthy water seeped out from the blocks, which are right next to Naik's residence.
Naik told mid-day, "With the doors broken and dirty water overflowing, it is difficult for women to use the toilets. My concern was safety and hygiene, and hence, I raised the issue of maintenance, but they started fighting with us and beat us up."
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"This is not the first time they have attacked us. Two months back, a similar incident had happened and we had lodged a non-cognisable offence against them at the Powai police station," he added.
Despite attempts, the Walmiki family remained unavailable for comment.
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Naik and Patkar have approached the Powai police to lodge an FIR in last night's case.
A senior officer told mid-day, "We have filed an NC. It was an accident; there was no intention to harm the pregnant woman. She got pushed accidentally after she intervened in the fight. But if the matter is serious and they come forward to lodge an FIR, we will definitely file one."
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