By Matters India Reporter
Mumbai: Mumbai police have arrested a sanitary supervisor who broke the jaw of a person, who refused to pay fine for spitting on the road.
Mumbai is the capital of Maharashtra, the first Indian state that passed an anti-spitting law two years ago.
The Mulund police on February 26 arrested Chetan Mhatre for attacking Mahesh Bhagat, who was admitted to a hospital with two teeth missing and upper jaw broken.
The incident occurred on the night of February 25 near Mulund station. Mhatre and Kunal Bhanushali, his companion, approached Bhagat after the 33-year-old man spat on the ground. They asked him to pay 500 rupees as a fine. “I told them I don’t have that much money. They started abusing me. They tried to check my pockets; it was humiliating. I tried to resist but they were getting rough and also started abusing me. Then I decided to run away,” Bhagat told reporters.
Bhagat said he tried to run away, but the marshals held him and started punching him on the face and stomach. One picked up a paver block and hit on Bhagat’s jaw. “Blood came out of my mouth. I couldn’t even understand what I should do.”
People gathered and objected to the beating. They also caught Mhatre, but Kunal Bhanushali ran away.
Rajaram Vhanmane, s senior police inspector, said Mhatre will be in their custody until February 28. He said it Bhanushali who hit Bhagat with the paver block.
The police have booked the marshals for voluntary causing grievous hurt, breach of peace and common intention under the Indian Penal Code.
India has witnessed several campaigns to end the menace of spitting on roads and public places.
Mumbai is the capital of Maharashtra, the first Indian state passed an anti-spitting two years ago.
The anti-spitting law stipulates fine of 1,000 rupees and a day of community service at a public office or a government office for first time offenders. Those booked second time have to pay 3,000 rupees as fine and spend three days in community service. Repeat offenders are given 5,000 rupees fine and five-day community service for every violation.
The offenders are provided with brooms to sweep government offices, hospitals or schools.
The law was a precursor to banning chewing tobacco in public. Experts say an effective anti-spitting law will bring down incidences of airborne diseases.