“I and my parents were sleeping on Sunday night when we woke up with a start due to a bang and strange sounds. The wooden door of our house was broken into pieces and some people wielding swords, iron bars and sticks barged inside. I was scared for my life as they began abusing and beating my parents. I hid in the bathroom, but my sobs gave me away. They yanked me out and beat me up with my cricket bat,” said eight-year-old Pankaj Kokate, shuddering as he recalled the nightmarish experience he had on Sunday night.

Pankaj, a standard III student living in Sutarwadi area of Pashan and his parents were among the 25 people severely beaten by a group of 30-40 drunk men. The assailants, supporters of a defeated candidate, suspected that the residents had campaigned for Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) candidate, Rohini Sudhir Chimte.

Chimte herself suffered the wrath of men allegedly led by one Haribhau alias Aba Sutar. She alleged that Sutar and his associate, Rahul Kokate intercepted her vehicle, dragged her out, tugged her saree and threatened to kill her and her husband.

Sutar was angry because Rohini had defeated two candidates sponsored by him. Rohini got 6,709 votes while Sutar’s preferred candidate in the other ward of the same panel, Sunil Landge got 3,800 votes and Sutar’s other preferred candidate Sugandha Nimhan too was defeated. Both defeated candidates had contested as independents.

A resident, Atul Ranpise, 22, recalled, “We were sitting in the Vitthal temple when Sutar’s men came charging at me. They attacked me with swords and sticks. Rohini came after they fled. She took me to the police. Then I was taken to hospital.”

Another resident, Laxmibai Kokate, 55, said, “I am a widow and my youngest son is physically challenged. My son campaigned for Rohini. Five drunk associates of Sutar broke open the door of my house and barged inside. They beat me, my sons Ganesh, 26, and Anant, daughter Sunita, 22, Anant’s wife and their two children. I pleaded with them, but in vain.”

Rohini Chimte said, “Prior to the election, I had sought police protection as I had been threatened. After the results were announced, I was tipped off that a plot had been hatched to attack me. Again I rushed to the police station seeking protection, which was given during the counting of the votes. The police left in the evening and Sutar came calling with his goons. In fact, I and my supporters had not even celebrated, fearing their wrath.”