Continued from page u0010 u000f DESHMUKH has also said that if more officers are found responsible, they will be punished, too.
Raje was attacked by cops at Mumbai Bagh, Nagpada on Thursday afternoon while he was there to take pictures of the ongoing protests against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act ( CAA) and National Registry of Citizens ( NRC). When Raje was trying to enter the venue, officials asked him for an ID card. While the photojournalist was reaching his ID card, he continued to walk past the barricades as some women waited behind him to enter. Thatu2019s when the cops began manhandling Raje, slapping and beating him with their batons.
The Mumbai Police has ordered another probe by the Additional Commissioner ( Central region) Verresh Prabhu into the matter.
On Saturday, Prabhu took action against API Borase and probationary PSI Sheikh by transferring them to Central Region Control Room from Nagpada police station. The Bombay News Photographers Association ( BNPA), however, unsatisfied with the action, demanded suspension of both cops.
Media groups meet minister On Tuesday evening, BNPA, Mumbai Press Club, Mumbai Marathi Patrakar Sangh, TV . ournalist Association and Vidhimandal Vartahar Sangh met Deshmukh along with Ashish Raje.
. oint Commissioner ( law and order) Vinay Choubey also attended the meeting. Members of all the associations expressed displeasure over the transfer action taken by Mumbai Police and demanded stricter punishment.
Following the meeting, Deshmukh ordered the suspension of Borase and extension of the probation period of Sheikh. It was also brought to the notice of the minister that some officers had tried to brush the issue under the carpet by providing incorrect information to Senior Inspector Shalini Sharma.
Deshmukh said that an inquiry had been ordered by ACP ( Tardeo division) to verify if more officers were responsible for the assault.
u201c The unfortunate incident could have been avoided if API Borase had handled it well. We understand that cops work under pressure, but they must use their mind while taking any action not just against the media but the common man, too,u201d said Raje.
He added, u2018 One officer, in this case, being a probationary officer, should be sensitised on how to handle crowds to avoid such clashes in the future.u201d After Tuesdayu2019s meeting, Raje thanked the home minister for taking action against the cops.
u2018 Other o u001f cers found guilty will be punished, toou2019 Ashish Raje ( third from left) with state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh and Joint Commissioner ( Law and order) Vinay Choubey at Mantralaya on Tuesday mid- dayu2019s report on Feb 7
