Dinanath Tiwari (44), a Mumbaikar for 28 years, still can't believe what happened to him yesterday. The Nirbhay Pathik reporter was beaten up, allegedly by MNS activists, right outside a police station, while he was reporting a story.



Tiwari was tipped off about a clash near Kurar police station, Malad. When he reached the spot around midnight, he saw a mob chanting "Raj Thackeray zindabad, UP, Bihar murdabad". "I met the senior inspector. As I stepped out of the police station, the mob attacked me. They told me to leave Mumbai. They stopped beating me only when I agreed to leave," said Tiwari.

Tiwari sustained injuries on his legs, neck, ears and stomach. "I got seven stitches on my ear and lost a tooth," he said.

More at hospital

Tiwari alleged that the bias followed him to Bhagwati Hospital, Borivli. "I wasn't given treatment for about two hours. When I was brought in, a nurse said 'Bhaiyya hamesha jhagda karenge. Bed nahin hai. Isko niche letao, varna doosre jagah jao.' Thankfully, not all the nurses were like that. I got the bed because of the support of a few reporters who were with me," claimed Tiwari.

A Bhagwati doctor, however, denied this, saying there were sufficient beds.

Family traumatised

The experience has traumatised Tiwari's children haven't eaten since the incident. His wife, who is a TB patient, hasn't been able to say a word since the incident.

Munna Tripathi of the Uttar Bhartiya Vikas Parishad, "We have asked Deputy CM R R Patil to investigate how someone was beaten up outside a police station."

Added Drigesh Yadav of the Jai Hind Foundation, "The only solution is Maharashtr-ians and north Indians should protect each other."

Not the first time

Blaming the Kurar police for what happened to his reporter, Ashvini Kumar Mishra (pictured), the editor of Nirbhay Pathik, a 25-year-old daily, said this was not the first time such an incident had taken place in Kurar.

"For the past three months, we have been getting reports about North Indians here being harassed. Our reporter should not have intervened between the warring groups, but I am shocked that he was beaten up in the presence of the police. If a reporter is not safe right outside a police station, then no journalist is safe here." 

As told to Urvashi Seth

MNS, cops tell their story

MNS leader from Kurar Vanita Ghag said, "I have nothing to do with the incident. I was at Kurar police station from 12.15 am to 6 am for some other issue. I was shocked when I saw Tiwari blaming the MNS on TV. I am appalled that he named me too.'

According to the police, some locals had quarrelled with a peanut vendor, over his charges. Tiwari reached the police station to get details of the case when the two groups arrived there.

Said Inspector R Ahir, who had met Tiwari, "While both the groups were talking inside, Tiwari landed in a tiff with a few men outside the police station, who bashed him up for making anti-Maharashtrian remarks. Tiwari claims they were MNS men. We are investigating the claim."

Said another cop, "We have registered complaints against both the groups. Those arrested are Sushil Sood, Ravindra Rane, Rajesh Godekar, Yogesh Kasbe and Ajay Rane."