DNA EDIT: Arrest these law-breakers

The assault of a police officer by members of the Maharashtra legislative assembly (MLAs) is shameful and must be condemned.

There’s already a perception that lawmakers consider themselves to be above the law. Tuesday’s incident simply cements that perception further.

The question is: If a guardian of the law can be beaten up so easily, what hope is there for any one of us?

The police have filed an FIR against the five MLAs but must arrest them immediately. The maximum sentence under the relevant IPC sections (332 and 353) is three years. The prosecutor should push for the maximum sentence.

Exemplary punishment is the order of the day. Because if the MLAs get away this time, it will happen again. The police should firmly resist any pressure to let them off the hook.
But that’s probably easier said than done.