MUMBAI: Apparently irked over the handling of the situation preceding and after the murder of a Shiv Sena leader in suburban Malad, Mumbai Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria today transferred five policemen, including an assistant police commissioner, to low-profile departments.
Assistant Police Commissioner Rajendra Kotak, Dindoshi police station's inspector Arun Rajane, assistant police inspector Prasad Pitale and Sub-Inspector Nitin Khairnar were transferred to Local Arms branch, while the police station's in-charge and senior inspector Subash Dafale was shifted to Protection and Security wing, a police officer told PTI.
According to police sources, Maria was not happy with the fact that police, having knowledge about the brewing tension in the area hours before the murder, did not act in time.
"The fight between two groups could have been thwarted. Then there would not have been any fatal assault," the officer said.
On Tuesday night, local Shiv Sena leader Ramesh Jadhav was stabbed to death outside his house after he intervened in a fight between two groups. Tension prevailed in Malad and Dindoshi areas after the murder as Sena workers held demonstrations, demanding immediate arrest of the accused.
Five alleged attackers including a minor were arrested yesterday.