Maharashtra: On-duty pregnant woman forest guard beaten up by former sarpanch in Satara, Aaditya Thackeray promises strict action

KOLHAPUR: An on-duty woman forest guard Sindhu Sanap, reported to be three months pregnant was manhandled by former sarpanch of Palsawade village in Satara district on Wednesday.
An FIR was registered against the former sarpanch of Palsawade village Ramchandra Jankar and his wife Pratibha Jankar with Satara Taluka police station and accordingly on Thursday morning the two have been arrested by Satara police.The accused Jankar is head of the joint forest management committee from their area.
Additional superintendent of Satara Police, Ajit Borade said, "An FIR was registered against the former sarpanch of Palsawade, Ramchandra Jankar who is head of joint forest management committee and his wife Pratibha Jankar for allegedly beating the woman forest guard Sindhu Sanap and her husband Suryaji Thombare who is also a forest guard while they were conducting government work of Tiger census near Palsawade.
A case was registered with CR no. 28/32 section 353, 332, 334, 504 and 506. The accused were absconding from the place after the incident. On Thursday morning, the accused Ramchandra Jankar was arrested from Shirwal village while his wife Pratibha Jankar has been detained and after carrying medical checkups she will also be arrested.
Sonography and other medical checkup of the forest guard Sindhu Sanap who is reported to be three months pregnant have been conducted and the reports about her health and the foetus are awaited" added Borade.
Talking about the incident the forest guard Sindhu Sanap said, "Since the day I joined there, they (Jankar) used to threaten us and ask for money. I used to oppose them and not let them take monetary benefits of the works getting carried in the area. The work for Tiger census started from last three days and when we started with the work they (Jankar) objected for carrying the work in the area. On Wednesday, when I was returning back after work they attacked me."
Sindhu Sanap said that her husband, who is also a forest guard, was also beaten up by the couple.
A video of the assault incident has gone viral on social media.
Maharashtra state women commission chairperson Rupali Chakankar has taken a serious note of this incident. She said "The incident that happened at Palsawade village in Satara is very heinous and the accused has kicked in the stomach of the forest guard who is three months pregnant. Maharashtra state commission for women has taken serious note of this incident and have asked Satara police to act strict against the culprits."
Maharashtra environment minister Aaditya Thackeray said, "The accused has been arrested this morning and will face the law at its strictest. Such acts will not be tolerated."