Two policemen posted with the Special Branch of the Mumbai Police were allegedly assaulted with iron rods by illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in Kharghar, Navi Mumbai on Monday, police said. The incident took place during a combing operation at a construction site in Ove village. Navi Mumbai police alleged that local police was not informed and that the incident could have been averted otherwise.

A total of six men have been arrested in connection with the case. The injured policemen, police naik Sharad Hande and sub-inspector Subhash Bandekar were part of a team that had arrived in Ove village around 2.15 am on Monday to round up illegal immigrants from Bangladesh working at a construction site, police said.

"Around fifteen persons fled and we are looking for them. The Special Branch had not informed local police. Had they done that, the operation would have been better managed," said Pramod Shewale, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone 2, Navi Mumbai Police.

According to sources in the Special Branch, raids are always sudden as any information leak has led to illegal immigrants fleeing the scene. A few immigrants were nabbed while others fled. A few men resisted the police and allegedly grabbed iron rods from the construction site and assaulted Bandekar and Hande.

Both the injured were taken to Om Navjivan Hospital in Kharghar and later shifted to Fortis Hospital, Mulund. Bandekar is being treated for injuries to the right arm and leg while Hande suffered head injuries.

"The policemen were looking for those who had escaped when they were attacked," said Sanjay Shintre, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Special Branch I.

After the attack, the policemen were temporarily driven back as the workers allegedly started pelting stones at them. The accused were arrested with the help of local police around 5 am. By evening, around 15 hours after the incident, a number of homes where the Bangladeshi workers lived had been locked.

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