In a clear pointer to the growing frictions among various feuding groups within the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), party workers belonging to two different fractions led by former labour Minister Nawab Malik and former Mumbai MP Sanjay Patil clashed at Chembur in north-east Mumbai late Tuesday night.
At least four NCP workers were injured in the clash witnessed between the supporters of Malik and Patil.
In the clash that saw party workers manhandle each other, some party workers brandished weapons like revolvers, choppers and knives at each other. However, the feuding party workers did not use the weapons in the clash, eyewitnesses said.
Taking serious cognizance of the incident, senior NCP leader and former Union Minister Praful Patel – who is also the party’s central disciplinary committee chairman – called for detailed explanation from both Malik and Patil over the incident, which has embarrassed the party ahead of the February 2017 BMC
polls.
There was intense speculation till late on Tuesday night that some party leaders indulged in firing at party workers’ meeting of BMC ward no 141 called by Malik, who is also the NCP’s Maharashtra spokesperson, at Unique hall at Chembur to chalk out strategy for the BMC polls.
What lent credence to the speculation was the disturbing footage aired by a leading Marathi news channel showing Patil and one of his associates brandishing revolvers on the dais of the function.
However, the police clarified on Wednesday that no one resorted to firing during the clash, but confirmed workers and leaders from the two rival factions brandished sharp weapons and firearms at one another.
“A scuffle broke out between two factions of NCP workers. Police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control,” Deputy Commissioner of Police and Mumbai Police spokesperson Ashok Dudhe said.
Having registered an FIR in connection with the incident, the Deonar police are investigating the matter. No arrests have been made so far.
According to the police, trouble erupted after supporters of Malik and Patil, a former lok Sabha MP from Mumbai, began sloganeering against each other, police said.
"Sanjay Patil and his men tried to attack me and he had pistol in his hands. I was attacked with swords by his people. I was saved by my people,” Malik said.
However, Patil claimed that attempts were made to attack him with swords when he arrived at the venue of the meeting.
On his part, Sanjay Patil who brandished a revolver claimed that he had a firearm licence and that he just took out the weapon to scare away party workers from the rival faction who had surged towards with swords in their hands.
The police said that both Malik and Patil did not suffer any injuries.