Thane: Youth’s death after assault sparks tension, corporator office attacked

Tension prevailed in Ambernath in Maharashtras Thane district after a 21yearold man died following an assault over an alleged relationship leading to protests by his relatives and local residents police saidThe incident escalated after angry locals allegedly hurled stones and vandalised the office of a corporator accusing her of protecting those involved in the assault The corporator has denied the allegations and demanded action against those responsible for damaging her officeAccording to police the situation became tense in the Palegaon area of Ambernath East on Wednesday after Om Khore who was seriously injured in an attack on June 23 died while undergoing treatment at KEM Hospital in MumbaiVictim allegedly attacked over suspected relationshipPolice said Khore was allegedly assaulted by five to seven people after the uncle of a young woman suspected that he was in a relationship with his nieceFollowing the attack Khore was admitted to hospital with serious injuries The Shivajinagar police in Ambernath initially registered a case against three persons and arrested two accused in connection with the assaultHowever after news of his death spread his family members relatives and hundreds of local residents gathered and marched towards the police station demanding action against all those allegedly involvedCorporatorrsquos office vandalised during protestWhile heading towards the police station some protesters allegedly attacked the office of a corporator belonging to a national political party in PalegaonThe victims relatives alleged that the corporator had helped protect the accused and assisted them in avoiding actionThe corporator dismissed the allegations and said she had no role in helping the accused She also demanded strict police action against those involved in the attack on her officeFamily refuses to claim body demands arrestsAfter reaching the police station Khores family members refused to claim or shift his body until all the accused in the case were arrestedThe family alleged that they had initially given police the names of seven people suspected to be involved in the assault but action had been taken against only five of themFive accused arrested police search underway for othersDeputy Commissioner of Police Sachin Gore said five accused identified as Sandip Gawli Ravi Parmar Nayan Madvi Sachin Patil and Raj Desekar have been taken into custodyPolice said efforts are underway to trace the remaining accused and further investigation into the case is in progressAdditional police personnel have been deployed in the area to maintain law and order and prevent any further unrest following the incidentWith inputs from PTI