Yet another civic official assaulted

Yet another civic official assaulted
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

FEB 13: The simmering discontent between corporators and civic officials burst into the open again with the second incident of an assault on a civic official within a week.

Shwetali Patil, of the Shiv Sena and Chairperson of Wards Committee of K (E) allegedly slapped B B Desai, an assistant engineer in his office on Saturday.

According to Assistant Municipal Commissioner, G P Rathod, Patil had come to the office of K (E) ward office to get a problem addressed. ``The assistant engineer was busy and so could not attend to her promptly. That was reason enough for her to slap him,'' he said. ``A police complaint has been filed and we will take this matter to higher officials,'' said the officer.

Patil was arrested by the Andheri (E) police today under Section 332 and 353 of Bombay Police Act for interfering in government work and was released later on by the Metropolitan court on payment of Rs 1000 as bail.

However Patil claims the ward office had not been taking heed of the constant complaints about a serious water leakage in the BMCs Mogra school, Andheri (E) which has been inconveniencing students. She says she had asked the official to meet her in her office (located in the same ward office) but he did not bother.She claims they later spoke on the matter but denies having assaulted him. ``I have written to the Municipal Commissioner regarding dereliction of duty on the part of this official,'' she said.

Last week Assistant Municipal Commissioner, Shekhar Todsam of K (W) ward was assaulted allegedly by Congress legislator Bladev Khosa and his followers. His office was also ransacked.

Following the attack the Assitant Municipal Commissioners from 24 wards had proceeded on a mass casual leave demanding prompt redressel to these issues. F North Asst MC, V M Balamwar was assaulted in January and offices of K (East), M (East) and M (West) offices have been ransacked since December. The civic administration thereafter decided to arm Asst Municipal Commissioners with revolvers.