A day after its workers attacked and blackened the face of RTI activist Mallikarjun Bhaikatti at latur in Marathwada region, an embarrassed Shiv Sena on Saturday sacked its four youth wing members from the party.
Taking serious cognisance of the incident, Sena’s youth wing president Aditya Thackeray condemned the incident and ordered the sacking of the party’s four youth activists – Shivaji Bhosale, Abhay Salunke, lonkhade Rada and Chamandya Patte – involved in it, from the party.
Announcing the sacking four youth activists involved with the assault and black paint attack on Bhaikatti, Aditya tweeted: “Heard of the unfortunate incident in latur. The party strongly condemns the disgraceful act. Those involved have been removed from the party”.
In much more serious incident than the black paint attack on the Observer Research Foundation and former BJP ideologue Sudheendra Kulkarni in Mumbai earlier this month, RTI activist Bhaikatti was dragged in front of latur’s Rajarishi Shahu College, where he was assaulted and his face was blackened in front of 4,000 students.
Bhaikatti had threatened to expose the alleged irregularities in the construction of a building within the college premises.
Sena activist in latur, Abhay Salunkhe, had dubbed Bhaikatti a ‘blackmailer’ and justified the attack. The injured activist was admitted to a hospital at latur.
Meanwhile, latur police have detained 26 persons in connection with the incident.
RTI activists across Maharashtra have condemned the Sena for the incident.