Independent candidate attacked

Mumbai: Priya Shehbaz Rathod, an independent candidate, from Mumbadevi constituency was attacked on Friday by four unknown persons.

Priya Shehbaz Rathod (38) and her friend, Karan Singh (24), who is the General Secretary - Mumbai Pradesh of Nationalist Youth Congress Party sustained fractures in the attack.

The incident occurred at around 3.45 pm when the duo were returning in a taxi after offering prayers from the Ghaswala Dargha in Mehul Gaon, Chembur. Their taxi had just taken a left turn towards the Eastern Freeway when the four assailants, who were on a white Hyundai i10, intercepted the taxi.

"They had wooden sticks and iron rods," recalls Priya Shehbaz Rathod adding, "The attackers smashed the taxi's windows and tried to pull Karan Singh out." As Karan Singh ducked inside the cab and Priya Shehbaz Rathod tried to protect him, the assailants started assaulting the duo.

Priya Shehbaz Rathod said, "We don't know these attackers, but we surely can iden identify them." She further claimed that she is suspecting her political rivals behind this attack. "They threatened us saying 'election ladne ka bohot shauk hai na... Tho yelo dande khao'. We somehow managed to open the door on the other side and ran towards the dargah. We asked for help there after which people came out and the accused escaped from the scene," said Priya Shehbaz Rathod.

The duo were later taken to Shatabdi hospital for medical check-up. The RCF police have registered a case of assult and criminal intimidation. Senior police inspector, Dilip Raut is investigating the case.

The police also suspects that the assailants may have followed Priya Shehbaz Rathod and Karan Singh from the time they hired a cab from Bhendi Bazaar in south Mumbai.

It maybe recalled that Priya Shehbaz Rathod had moved a PIL in the Supreme Court demanding a CBI probe in the Bhendi Bazaar redevelopment project by Saifee Burhani Upliftment Trust.