Sena MP injured in attack at rally
Wristwatch prevents leader from suffering major injury, MP urges followers to stay calm
An unidentified knifewielding man injured Shiv Sena’s Osmanabad MP, Omraje Nimbalkar, during a campaign rally of his party’s candidate Kailas Patil at Osmanabad district in Maharashtra. Mr Nimbalkar’s condition is stable.
Mr Nimbalkar, in a statement to the media, said that he was fine. “It was a cowardly attack. I am okay now. Do not get distracted as there are very few days left for the campaign,” he said. He also appealed to his followers to maintain peace. The incident took place when Mr Nimbalkar, one of the star campaigners for the Assembly elections — which are to be held on October 21, was on a visit to Padoli Naigaon village at Kalmb taluka in Osmanabad.
During the rally, Mr Nimbalkar, Mr Patil and their supporters were approached by the assailant, ostensibly to shake hands with the MP. A police officer said, “While greeting Mr Nimbalkar, the man attacked him with a knife and immediately fled. Mr
Nimbalkar’s hand was wounded but he suffered a minor injury because of his wristwatch.”
After the incident, Mr Nimbalkar was taken to the hospital for treatment. Doctors later discharged him as his injuries were not serious.
Mr Nimbalkar’s father, Congress leader Pawanraje Nimbalkar, and his driver were infamously shot dead in his car near Kalamboli on the Mumbai-Pune express highway on June 3, 2006. Former Lok Sabha MP Padamsinh Patil is the key accused in that case.
Social activist Anna Hazare, in July this year, had appeared before a special CBI court in Mumbai as a prosecution witness in the murder and recorded his statement. Former Patil was also present in the court of Special Judge A.L. Yawalkar.
In 2002, Hazare had alleged that Padamsinh Patil threatened to kill him.
◗ During the rally, Omraje Nimbalkar, Kailas Patil and their supporters were approached by the assailant ◗ The unidentified man attacked Mr Nimbalkar with a knife and fled