MUMBAI: Concerned by the growing attacks on policemen, Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday called on Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis seeking a solution to the problem.
Fadnavis, who also holds the home portfolio in the alliance government between the Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party, met Thackeray and a delegation of policemen's wives at his official residence.
"The CM'S response was very positive to the serious issue and he promised to look into all our demands," Thackeray said after emerging from the meeting in which he led the delegation.
He reiterated the demand for a separate full-time minister to handle the home department, citing grounds that the CM was already overloaded with other work.
"If the policemen themselves don't feel secure, how will they carry out their duties of protecting the people? Attacks must stop and action must be taken against the perpetrators," Uddhav pointed out.
He said he had raised the entire gamut of issues concerning police including housing problems.
For starters, Fadnavis agreed to set up a committee comprising government officials and policemen's representatives to curb the growing attacks on policemen across the state which has claimed at least one life.
Fadnavis highlighted the various schemes for police welfare taken up by the state government, a Rs 2,000 provision for housing and upcoming health initiatives for police.
The opposition parties in the state including the Congress have also expressed concern at the growing attacks on the police.
Several incidents of attacks on police personnel in recent weeks have led to rage among the policemen.
A Mumbai traffic policeman, Vilas Shinde, 51, was brutally attacked by two youths on August 23 when he hauled them up for driving without wearing helmet. He died on August 31.
A shocking incident of an attempt to kill a policeman, Nitin Dagle, by drowning came to light on September 6 during the first phase of Ganpati immersions on Tuesday in Kalyan. He escaped with help from some people.
Earlier this week in Nashik, an overloaded autorickshaw driver rammed into an on duty policemen who tried to stop him from plying with extra passengers.
Another policeman, Bhausaheb Chattar, was pushed around and abused when he stopped three youths from illegally riding triple-seat on a motorcycle in Nashik.
In Jalna, a policeman, Vidyanant Kale, has threatened to commit suicide along with family following alleged torture and harassment by a local BJP legislator, Narayan Kuche.
On Tuesday, a police woman on duty in Vile Parle was abused and assaulted by a woman scooterist when she was stopped for driving without helmet.
Last week, a speeding biker in Kurla rammed his vehicle into a policeman, Devidas Nimbalkar, when he attempted to stop him during a checking drive.
