Ink thrown at Chandrakant Patil over remark on Ambedkar; 10 police personnel suspended for ‘security lapse’

Speaking in Marathi at an event in Aurangabad, Mr. Patil had said that Ambedkar and Phule did not seek government grants to run educational institutions but, ‘begged’ people to gather funds

The Pimpri Chichwad police in Maharashtra's Pune district have suspended three of its officers and seven other personnel in connection with the incident in which ink was thrown at senior Maharashtra minister Chandrakant Patil, a top official said on December 11.

The incident had occurred in Pimpri city on December 10 in apparent protest against minister Mr. Patil's controversial remark about Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and social reformer Mahatma Jyotiba Phule.

"We have suspended seven police personnel and three officers in connection with the incident. All of them were part of the minister's security cover during his visit," Pimpri Chinchwad Police Commissioner Ankush Shinde said.

Three people threw ink at Patil on December 10 evening when he was stepping out of one of the office-bearer's house in Pimpri. Police have detained the trio involved in the act.

The attack on the senior BJP leader came a day after he made a statement in Aurangabad district.

Before the incident of ink throwing, some protesters also tried to show black flags to the minister’s convoy in Pimpri.

Speaking in Marathi at an event in Aurangabad on December 9, Mr. Patil, the Higher and Technical Education Minister, had said that Ambedkar and Phule did not seek government grants for running educational institutions, they "begged" people to gather funds for starting schools and colleges.