Chair attack on Maharashtra BJP leader: police books 40-45 people

Amravati: In Maharashtra’s Amravati, former MP and BJP leader Navneet Rana was attacked by a mob, throwing chairs at her and raising slogans on Saturday night. Following this, the Khallar Police in Daryapur registered a case for attempt to murder, rights violations and SC/ST Atrocities Act against 40-45 people. The accused were also charged with creating a ruckus at the rally attended by Rana, as the Times of India reported.

Police advised people not to believe in rumours.

The chaotic incidents started after chairs were hurled at the former MP in an alleged attempt to harm her. She was attending a gathering at Daryapur to support Ramesh Bundile, the Yuva Swabhiman Party candidate.

Visuals showed that Rana was surrounded by her supporters as a group of people attempted to attack her, throwing chairs at the rally in Khallar village. One of the videos showed her moving towards the assaulters, seemingly asking them to leave. When some from the mob threw chairs at her, her security personnel started to shield her.

In her complaint with the Khallar Police, she accused the Congress and the AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi of the incident and inciting religious tension through the attack. She said that prompt action is needed for such attacks.

Rana later criticised Shiv Sena Uddhav Thackeray faction and its chief Uddhav Thackeray. She alleged that his party supporters harassed and made inappropriate comments at women during the rally.

Navneet Rane, who contested as an independent in Amravati with the support of the NCP in 2019 and won, lost the last Lok Sabha elections after joining the BJP.