Police have arrested three people, including the brother of an NCP MLA, after a shot was fired into the air during a dance performance at the Ambika Lok Kala Kendra in Daund, Pune. The incident happened Monday evening, leading to a case against four individuals, Kailas alias Balasaheb Mandekar, Ganpat Jagtap, Chandrakant Marne, and Raghunath Avad
File Photo.
Police have apprehended three individuals, including the brother of a Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA), in connection with an incident involving a shot fired into the air during a dance performance at a folk art centre in Daund tehsil, Pune district, reported news agency PTI.
The incident occurred late on Monday evening at the Ambika Lok Kala Kendra near Yavat, a venue known for traditional Lavani and Tamasha performances.
Following the event, a case was registered against four individuals after one of them fired a round into the air during the dance performance. However, the suspects were identified as Kailas alias Balasaheb Mandekar, Ganpat Jagtap, Chandrakant Marne, and Raghunath Avad.
According to PTI, Kailas Mandekar is the younger brother of Shankar Mandekar, who currently represents the Bhor assembly constituency in Pune for the Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction. Kailas Mandekar is accused of firing the shot into the air during the dance performance at the Lok Kala Kendra, police official confirmed.
"We have arrested three persons - Kailas Mandekar, Ganapat Jagtap and Raghunath Avad - under section 125 (endanger human life or the personal safety of others) and relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). We have also recovered the weapon and a vehicle from the accused," he said.
Police officials further stated that while a dance performance featuring women was underway around 10:30 PM on Monday, Mandekar allegedly fired a shot into the air while dancing. Subsequently, he and his companions left the venue. Moreover, the police have confirmed that no one was harmed in the incident.
Meanwhile, Rohit Pawar, leader of NCP (SP) faction, said that an attempt was made to suppress the case.
"If the incident took place on July 21, what were the police doing? We have learned that after this alleged incident of firing at the Lok Kala Kendra, police filmed videos of the artists and workers at that centre in which they stated no incident of firing took place there," he said.
He even raised concerns about potential pressure on the police to refrain from registering a case, as one of the individual involved is a brother to a ruling party MLA.
"On Wednesday, police acknowledged that the firing did take place and registered a case," he added.
Speaking to reporters, MLA Shankar Mandekar admitted his brother's involvement in the incident, stating that if his brother was found guilty, appropriate action should be taken against him.
"My younger brother was there at the folk art centre and whatever happened there was wrong," he said.
Furthermore, he claimed that his brother does not possess a firearms licence and was not carrying any firearm.
"The firearm belongs to Ganpat Jagtap and he possesses a valid license," he clarified.
(With inputs from PTI)
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