Cop injured in Trombay poll violence out of ICU, may give statement this week

The policeman, who was injured in the violence in Trombay on polling day, has been shifted out of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the private hospital where he is being treated, and the police are hopeful about recording his statement on the incident soon.

Constable Vikas Thorbole was admitted to Joy hospital in Chembur after he was seriously injured during a clash between workers of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and the Shiv Sena at Maharashtra Nagar on April 24.

The two parties have traded accusations about the sequence of events and the police investigating the case have been waiting to get the account of the constable, who had gone to the spot after the violence broke out, for a clearer picture of what happened.

"Thorbole is out of the ICU and is recovering. We will record his statement this week," said Vijay Kadam, senior inspector, Trombay police station. "There have been several allegations by Shiv Sena and MNS leaders about the attack on our constable. Once he narrates the sequence of events everything will be out in the open."

The investigating officer also said that the injured constable was responding well to treatment.

The police have registered a case of rioting and attempt to murder against 18 people, including Kamini Shewale, wife of Rahul Shewale, the Shiv Sena candidate in the Mumbai South Central constituency. Fifteen people have been arrested so far.

Some days after the incident, Rahul Shewale told a press conference that according to doctors treating the constable, the food and wind pipes were damaged by a sharp object. This didn't appear to have been caused by stone pelting, he said, and alleged that MNS workers were responsible for attacking the policeman.