NEW DELHI: BJP MLA Ganesh Joshi, accused of assaulting police horse Shaktiman during a protest march leading to amputation of its hind limb, was arrested on Friday and later sent to judicial custody.
The Uttarakhand Police arrested the MLA as outrage grew after the leg of the horse was amputated over concerns for its survival. However, the BJP was quick to decry the arrest, saying he had never hit the animal and was wrongly targeted. The party lodged a protest with Governor K K Paul, alleging “abduction” of its MLA. “Those who picked him up were in plainclothes and it is not clear whether they were police personnel or goondas,” Leader of Opposition in Uttarakhand Assembly Ajay Bhatt said.
Joshi’s arrest comes a day after the arrest of another party worker, Pramod Boraon Thursday. Dehradun SSP Sadanand Date said Bora, along with Joshi, was responsible for precipitating the horse’s fall during the March 14 protest.
Shaktiman, whose leg was amputated Thursday night, was able to stand with an artificial leg. However, doctors said it would have to be seen whether the prop was strong enough to support the horse, which weighs four quintals.