Pune: During an Independence Day flag hoisting ceremony at the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), chaos erupted when a differently-abled man broke the glass of Commissioner Shekhar Singh's car.
The incident occurred as the Maharashtra state song was playing after the national anthem. The attacker, identified as Ajay Gaikwad, stated that he broke the car window in protest against the municipal administration’s mistreatment of differently-abled individuals.
The incident took place at the PCMC headquarters where Commissioner Singh was leading the flag hoisting. Following the attack, police quickly apprehended Gaikwad, and the Commissioner’s car was promptly moved from the scene.
The unexpected disruption caused a stir at the ceremony, and Commissioner Singh later departed for the District Collector’s office in Pune using another vehicle. Following the incident, Regional Officer Suchita Pansare was summoned to the municipal office.
Ajay Gaikwad claimed that the municipal administration has been causing trouble for differently-abled people and not addressing their demands.
He mentioned that he had been requesting a house under the Ramabai Housing Scheme for the past four years, but his request has been continuously delayed.
Additionally, two encroachment actions were taken against his stall. When questioned, the regional officer, Suchita Pansare, allegedly stated that the Commissioner instructed her to harass differently-abled individuals.
Gaikwad asserted that he, too, is proud of the country but felt compelled to take this step on Independence Day because the administration has become deaf to their pleas. He also accused the police of assaulting him after taking him into custody.
