Thane: Engineer thrashed by Awhad's men for posting morphed pic

Nishikant Karlikar | TNN | Updated: Apr 8, 2020, 05:41 IST

Anant Karmuse’s bruised back

THANE: A 40-year-old civil engineer from Thane has claimed that he was beaten with bamboos, fibre sticks, belts and iron rods by NCP workers in the presence of two police constables and housing minister Jitendra Awhad at the latter's bungalow for uploading an objectionable Facebook post against him. The victim, Anant Karmuse, was later admitted in hospital where he was treated for bruises on the back, a fractured finger and administered stitches.
In his complaint, Karmuse said the incident took place at midnight on Sunday after he posted a morphed picture of Ah- wad with a lit matchstick and ca- ptioned it: "I protest against the person who edited the photo", as the NCP minister had slammed PM Modi's call to light diyas or candles to show 'collective resolve' against coronavirus. Vartak Nagar police have registered a case of kidnapping, rioting, assault and issuing threats, but have made no arrest yet. Denying the allegations, Awhad said he was asleep on Sunday night and no such incident had taken place at his bungalow.
Karmuse said: "Around 11.50pm, two constables in uniform and some men reached my flat on Ghodbunder Road and asked me to come to the police station for questioning. When I asked them about the case, they refused to give details." He said when they reached downstairs, the cops snatched his bike keys and phone and dragged him into a white SUV, while the other men followed them in another SUV. Karmuse said when they passed the police station, he asked them where they were going. "The cops said they were taking me to the cybercrime office. But they took me to Awhad's bungalow." He claimed there, 15-20 men beat him with fibre sticks, bamboos, belts and rods as Awhad and the cops watched. Karmuse alleged the cops told the men not to hit him on the face or head even as one of them said they should kill him. He said when he apologised and promised to remove the post, they took him to the gate, beat him up again and made a video.
Leader of opposition Deve- ndra Fadnavis of BJP has dem- anded Awhad's resignation.