INDIA. Mumbai: In a shocking incident, a woman civic officer suffered grievous injuries and three fingers of her left hand were chopped off, when a hawker attacked her with the knife, during a drive against unauthorized hawkers, in Kasarvadavali locality in Thane near Mumbai on Monday.
Thane Assistant Municipal Commissioner Kalpita Pimple was attacked by vegetable vendor Amarjit Yadav while she was overseeing a drive to clear out unauthorized hawkers in the Kasarvadavali locality. As Yadav approached her with the knife, startled Pimple tried to save herself by raising her hand during which her fingers got chopped off. Her bodyguard tried to save her but he too suffered grievous injuries in the attack.
Pimple has been admitted to the Jupiter Hospital a short distance away and her condition is described as stable following hospitalization. An attempt will be made to re-attach the severed digits to her hand, an official said.
Assistant Municipal Commissioner Kalpita Pimple looking after the Majiwada-Manpada locality, was attacked with a knife by a hawker while she was clearing the area, leaving her severely injured, Thane Municipal Corporation Additional Municipal Commissioner Sandeep Malvi, said.
Yadav has been arrested and a probe has been launched over the incident. Visuals from the spot immediately after the incident, showed Yadav shouting in protest and carrying two knives even as the police officials try to convince him to surrender. He was also seen placing one knife on his neck, although it was not clear, if he was threatening suicide.
The police are now looking into the hawker’s record for criminal antecedents. The accused Yadav had attacked a civic officer during the drive against unauthorized hawkers three years back. He is originally from the state of Bihar and has been residing at Bramhand locality in Thane for the last few years.
An offence (CR.No. 295/2021) has been registered under sections 353 and 307 of the Indian Penal Code and further inquiry is on, an officer at the Kasarvadavali Police Station told the “Transcontinental Times”.
Thane Mayor Naresh Mhakse said that the Thane Municipal Corporation stands by Kalpita Pimple and she will be given all assistance and support. Besides, the drive against unauthorized hawkers will continue vigorously. A ward-wise drive against illegal constructions, unauthorized hawkers and unauthorized roadside stalls is on in the last few days as per the orders given by the Thane Municipal Commissioner Dr. Vipin Sharma.
“The incident is serious. A cowardly attack on the woman officer, performing her official duty is condemnable. The instructions have been given to take strict action against the accused, Shiv Sena leader and Minister for Urban Development Department Eknath Shinde said.
Bala Nandgaonkar, former MLA and leader of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena demanded stern action against the accused Yadav and said that the legal process should be expedited and immediate action is taken against him so that it would serve as a deterrent against all those who attack the government servants on duty.
