Nashik rural police have launched a probe after a dramatic standoff at Malegaon civic body’s electricity office, where seven men allegedly prayed namaz indoors and assaulted staff. The February 26 episode, detailed in wireman Mahendra Sawant’s complaint, paints a picture of intimidation and disorder in a public workplace.
Staff were midway through daily tasks when Lukman, Salim Ekka, and associates entered aggressively, questioning street light stocks and mocking employees. Told the lights were with the inspector, they departed but reappeared at dusk, vowing to conduct namaz unless lights were handed over.
Chaos ensued as they tossed chairs from the supervisor’s cabin, one bruising Sawant’s foot. Ignoring urgent appeals, the group laid out a cloth for prayer, with one filming threats amid physical jostling. Government work ground to a halt amid the melee.
An FIR now lists charges for rioting, criminal intimidation, and mischief against the seven. This case spotlights challenges in upholding office protocols against provocative acts. As Malegaon navigates its diverse demographics, such events risk inflaming tensions, prompting calls for stricter enforcement of public space rules.