Shiv Sena Pramukh, Others Brutally Attack Retd Navy Officer In Mumbai; Petrified Family Demands President's Rule In Maharashtra As Goons Quickly Let Off

As per Police, a cartoon showing Maharashtra Chief Minister prostrating before pictures of Pawar and Gandhi was posted on a WhatsApp group of which Sharma is a member.

(Images: ANI/Twitter)

Mumbai: In what comes as yet another brazen act of hooliganism, a group of Shiv Sena workers including Kamlesh Kadam - the Sena pramukh of party's Kandivali unit - on Friday attacked a retired Navy officer for forwarding a cartoon mocking Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. According to reports, six goons were arrested by Mumbai police on Saturday morning, but later let off. The incident took place around 11.30 am in Lokhandwala Complex area in suburban Kandivali. "Retired Navy officer Madan Sharma had forwarded a cartoon on Thackeray on a WhatsApp group. Some Sena workers went to his house and beat him up. Sharma sustained an eye injury and is being treated at hospital," an official said. A case under IPC section 325 (causing grievous hurt) and provisions related to rioting was registered against six persons. However, all six accused were later released on bail. WATCH | 6 Accused Arrested In Madan Sharma's Assault Case Granted Bail As per Police, a cartoon showing Maharashtra Chief Minister prostrating before pictures of Pawar and Gandhi was posted on a WhatsApp group of which Sharma is a member. Police further informed that Sharma had forwarded the cartoon to a WhatsApp group comprising residents of his housing society. While speaking to ABP News, the former Navy officer Madan Sharma himself narrated the entire incident which happened last night. He said that he was first called to the society gate where the attackers started beating him without saying anything. Later on, Sharma said, they also sent cops to arrest him. "I was then supported by some leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), but I am not associated with any political party," the victim said. "I was in Defence and we we were always told to stay away from politics. Kangana Ranaut has my support, she hasn't said anything wrong," Sharma said. He also called for President Rule in Maharashtra to control law and order in the state. Even Madan Sharma's daughter spoke to ABP News and demanded strict actions against the attackers. Supporting her father, she also said that President Rule should be imposed in Maharashtra. "My mother, brother are afraid I was afraid for 10 mins but now there is anger. Whatever is happening in Maharashtra is not legal," she added. WATCH | I worked for the country, not for the state: Madan Sharma Reacting to the incident, BJP and opposition leader in Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis expressed shock and appealed to the state's Chief Minister to take action against the accused people. "An extremely sad and shocking incident. A retired naval officer got beaten up by goons because of just a Whatsapp forward. Please stop this GundaRaj Hon Uddhav Thackeray ji. We demand strong action and punishment to these goons," Fadnavis tweeted, along with a picture of the officer. The 65-year-old victim Madan Sharma had served as a chief petty officer in the Indian Navy and currently lives with his family in Kandivali East. Even the CCTV footage posted on Twitter by a BJP MLA shows the attackers first chasing Sharma and later dragging him outside the society premises by his shirt collar. The video also shows the men slapping Sharma and pulling his shirt even as the society’s security guards watch on without intervening.