Maharashtra Assembly polls: Woman torched for ‘wrong’ vote

Nashik: A woman was torched by three men in Babulgaon near Yeola tehsil at midnight on Thursday for voting for the “wrong candidate”.

The victim, according to her testimony given to Yeola city police, was allegedly instructed by three men to vote for Sena candidate Sambhaji Pawar. However, she voted for NCP candidate and PWD minister Chhagan Bhujbal. The Shiv Sena has, however, said that they had nothing to do with the attack.

The victim Jelubai Wable (61) has suffered 80 per cent burns and is being treated at Nashik General (Civil) Hospital. “We have taken down the complaint just as she told us,” senior police inspector R.S. Dere said.

Yeola police station sources said that, Jelubai was asked to press the third button of EVM. The first name on the EVM was of BSP candidate Pulu Karbhari Ahire, second name was of NCP candidate Chhagan Bhujbal and third name was of Sena candidate Sambhaji Pawar.

Jelubai told the police that she was earlier approached by Ashok Sopan Barnare (38), his brother Pandurang (40) and Nandkishore Vishwanath Bhusak (45). The trio had directed her to press the third button on the EVM, failing which they threatened to either drown her in the river or cut her into pieces.

Either to defy them or by mistake, Jelubai pressed the second button. On Thursday night, she was sitting in her courtyard, when the trio came and asked her which button she had pressed. When she replied that she had pressed the second button, they were furious. Nandakishore allegedly held her down with his hand on her mouth, while Ashok allegedly poured kerosene and Pandurang set her on fire.

The men were arrested and presented in court on Friday, which remanded them to police custody till October 20.

Shiv Sena Vidyarthi Sena taluka pramukh Dnyaneshwar Chavan said that the issue had been given a political colour. “What might have been their personal issue was given a political colour. The accused have no links with the Sena,” he said.