Sena leader attacked, party unit rift out in open
Indian Express: A midnight attack on a senior Shiv Sena leader Raghunath Kuchik at his residence in Yerwada by local Shiv Sainiks on Sunday has brought the factional feud brewing within the local Shiv Sena unit to the fore.
Kuchik, who is also the secretary of Bhartiya Kamgar Sena, the labour wing of Shiv Sena, has alleged that another Shiv Sena leader Arvind Savant was behind the attack.
He has lodged a complaint at Yerwada police station against local Shiv Sena activist Sanjay Bhagwan Kadam and three accomplices, who allegedly belong to the Savant group. Police have picked up Kadam, along with three others, Dilip Madhukar Mahade, Ganesh Madhukar Kondre, both from Vishrantwadi, and Raju Ananta Yadav of Kalyani Nagar, suspecting a role in the attack. They have been booked under sections 452, 323, 504, 427 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code.
Some of Savant’s supporters believe Kuchik was involved in anti-party activities because he was not given the ticket for contesting the Assembly elections. Kuchik said four persons wearing scarves to mask their faces barged into his house in the night. “Alleging that I have worked against Arvindbhai Savant, they used abusive language against my wife and me. I managed to run away from home and call the police control room. But the men assaulted our watchman and escaped. Later, around 2.30 am, I lodged a complaint at Shastrinagar police chowki,” he said.
Police said Kadam, along with his men had barged into Kuchik’s house and allegedly abused Kuchik and his wife in foul language and assaulted the watchman. Police sub inspector A D Sonawane is investigating the case.
Kuchik was interested in contesting Assembly polls from Wadgaonsheri. He is known to be a trusted aide of Shiv Sena MLC Neelam Gorhe. But the party gave the ticket to Ajay Bhosale, known to be close to Arvind Savant. Sources from Shiv Sena said this had led to differences between Savant and Kuchik. Savant was not available for comment.
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