Shiv Sena sacks party worker for thrashing 'vada-pav' vendor in Mumbai

Mumbai: Shiv Sena party on Tuesday sacked an office-bearer of its youth wing for allegedly assaulted a shop assistant for refusing to provide free 'vada-pavs'.

One of the sources close to Yuva Sena chief Aaditya Thackeray said today, "That person was sacked yesterday itself.

The incident which took place in suburban Vile Parle (West) on Saturday was captured in a CCTV camera.

The accused Shiv Sena member Sunil Mahadik is seen allegedly hitting 28-year-old Chetan Geveriya, who works as a staff at Trupti Sweer and Farsan Mart on DJ Road. In the clip, that was uploaded on Youtube and soon become viral, Madhik is seen thrashing Geveriya with a bamboo stick for resisting to give him 'vada-pavs' free of cost.

The source said that Mahadik had sent a person to the shop demanding 100 vada pavs, a popular street-food here, free of cost. Geveriya told him that they didn't have so much stock, so the person left.

Irked, Mahadik then went to the shop and hit Geveria with a bamboo stick and threatened to kill him, they had said.

The incident was captured by the CCTV cameras in the shop and later a First Information Report (FIR) was registered with Juhu police. The footage was also aired by some local news channels.

The incident comes in the wake of another in neighbouring Thane where a Shiv Sena worker was arrested for allegedly assaulting a woman traffic constable three days ago.

CCTV footage of the incident had gone viral.

Meanwhile, Swabhiman Sanghatana leader Nitesh Rane said his organisation today held a "free vada pav" distribution event to protest the assault on the shopkeeper.

"These people (Yuva Sena) are strong proponents of night life in Mumbai. This assault shows what will happen if what they call 'night life' is allowed," Rane, a legislator, said.