While the incident of state legislators thrashing a traffic police sub-inspector inside Vidhan Bhavan was still making headlines, another such incident has come to light.

An assistant police inspector (API) was attacked with a sword allegedly by the son of a former Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) corporator in Dhule on Tuesday night.

According to the Azad Nagar police in Dhule, API Dhananjay Patil received a phone call on Tuesday night, informing him about a fight between two groups during Holi celebrations at Junedhone village. “The caller said one Sachin Badgujar was threatening a group of men who were dancing near the Holi site. Patil left for the spot around 8.30pm,” said an officer.

Badgujar was taken into custody and this triggered anger among a group of people, including former NCP corporator Chandrakant Sonar’s sons Devendra and Bhushan, the officer said. He added: “One of the people in the group attacked Patil on his head with a sword. Patil was taken to a civil hospital and later shifted to Aastha Hospital.”

Inspector general of police, state law and order, Deven Bharti said a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and Indian Arms Act for attempt to commit murder and assaulting an on-duty policeman has been registered against the Sonar brothers and a dozen others. “The officer is out of danger. This is a serious matter and we are investigating the case from all possible angles,” said Bharti.

This is the second such attack in the state within 10 days.

On March 18, PSI Sachin Suryawanshi, working with Worli traffic division of the Mumbai police, had stopped near the Bandra-Worli Sea Link a speeding vehicle in which MLA Kshitij Thakur was travelling. This led to an altercation between the MLA and the policeman. Next day, Suryavanshi was attacked by several legislators on the Vidhan Bhavan premises. Five legislators, including Thakur and MNS MLA Ram Kadam, were suspended. Later, Thakur and Kadam were arrested by the city crime branch and only on Monday, the two MLAs were released on bail.