Mumbai, May 11 (Mumbai Mirror): The Thane Deputy Municipal Commissioner (DMC) was beaten-up by roadside hawkers on Wednesday evening, while he was on demolition duty in Naupada. The DMC sustained injuries on his head, face and torso, and had to be hospitalised.

An FIR has been registered at Naupada police station against the hawker who had attacked the official.

On Wednesday, DMC, Sandeep Malwi, was on demolition duty against roadside vendors who had occupied the no-vendor zone illegally. While he was supervising the action, he got into a verbal altercation with one of the vendors, allegedly because the vendor’s counters were placed outside the shop, sources said.

According to an eyewitness who did not wish to be named, “The officials were taking away the furniture kept outside the shops. When they reached Pravesh Deshpande’s, Ekvira Poli Bhaji Kendra (pictured), he prevented them from trying to take away his furniture. That is when the altercation began.”

“When Deshpande was stopped, he started abusing and even lashed out at the officials. Malwi approached him and tried to control him, but he in turn hit Malwi in his stomach,” an official from TMC who was present at the spot commented, requesting anonymity. Sources said that by the time the shop owner could be contained, Malwi was already injured and even his clothes were torn off.

Malwi was then rushed to the Chhatrapati Shivaji Hospital in Kalwa where he was given first aid, and Naupada police were informed.

“We are registering an FIR against Deshpande and all the other hawkers who were helping him, and preventing the TMC officials from helping Malwi,” said senior Police Inspector Anil Pofle, Naupada police.