A First Information Report (FIR) has been officially registered following a serious incident where a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) official and an election commission videographer were allegedly assaulted and obstructed while performing their duties. This event occurred in the run-up to the crucial BMC elections, casting a shadow on the electoral process.
Details of the Alleged Assault on Election Duty
The complaint was filed by Suresh Janu Rathod (37), who serves as a junior inspector with the BMC. On the night of December 27, Rathod was deployed as a nodal officer with the Standing Surveillance Team (SST), a body tasked with monitoring election-related activities. According to his statement, the incident unfolded while videographer Dhiraj Chandrakant Panchal was recording routine vehicle checks, a standard part of the Election Commission's monitoring protocol.
Objection Turns Violent in Vile Parle
The situation escalated when an occupant of a car that was being checked objected strongly to being recorded on video. Despite Rathod and Panchal explaining that the videography was an official and mandatory part of their election duty, the man reportedly refused to comply. The accused then allegedly slapped Panchal, chased him, and subjected him to verbal abuse. He also forcibly stopped the official videography process. The individual involved identified himself as Iftikhar Ahmed Mohammad Ahmed, a resident of Vile Parle (East).
Implications and Official Response
The registration of the FIR marks a formal step in addressing this obstruction of election officials. Assaulting or intimidating personnel on election duty is a grave offence, as it directly undermines the integrity and smooth conduct of the democratic process. This case highlights the challenges faced by ground-level teams during election periods and underscores the need for their protection. The authorities are now expected to investigate the matter thoroughly based on the filed complaint.
