BJP-Shinde factions spar over Thane assault case

Thane: The BJP and Shinde factions of Shiv Sena are at loggerheads with each other over the assault of a BJP functionary in the chief minister’s home turf Thane on Friday. On Monday, a BJP delegation led by legislators Niranjan Davkhare and Sanjay Kelkar met the Thane city police chief and demanded transfer of the case to crime branch due to inept handling of it by Wagle estate police station. BJP functionary Prashant Jadhav was allegedly beaten up by the Shinde faction and cross cases were registered against both parties. A BJP office-bearer said the city police chief promised action. They submitted a memorandum to the police chief stating that Jadhav was beaten up by activists of the Shinde faction. BJP blamed Wagle Estate police for going slow in the probe and its partisan attitude.—Nishikant Karlikar