A verbal dual between a police officer and an MLA on Monday took an ugly turn on Tuesday with at least three MLAs allegedly punching and slapping the officer in the Legislative Assembly premises for provoking them to take action against him.Assistant Inspector Sachin Suryawanshi, attached with Worli Police Station, sustained internal injuries and was admitted to the state government-run St. Georges Hospital in south Mumbai. The MLAs demanded his suspension by proposing a breach of privilege motion in the Assembly. However, the Speaker Dileep Walse-Patil deferred his verdict saying he needed some time to hear both sides of the story.Suryawanshi had imposed a fine of Rs 700 on Bahuhan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) MLA Kshitij Thakur on Monday morning for exceeding the speed limit of 80 km per hour on Bandra-Worli Sea Link. Thakur, who was on his way to the Assembly in south Mumbai from Virar, asked Suryawanshi what section he had applied. This led to a verbal dual between them.A humiliated Thakur raised the issue in the Assembly on Monday. At the same time a member of Peasants and Workers Party (PWP) Jayant Patil had raised an issue of misbehaviour by a policeman in the Legislative Council. The Deputy Chairman Vasant Davkhare took a suo-motto cognizance of Suryawanshi's spat with Thakur and directed the government to send Suryawanshi on compulsory leave.On Tuesday, Davkhare called Suryawanshi and Thakur at his chamber to settle the issue. Davkhare asked Suryawanshi to apologise to Thakur and draw curtain on the controversy. Suryawanshi reportedly refused and dared Thakur to take any action against him. Again humiliated Thakur moved a breach of privilege motion against Suryawanshi in the Assembly. While the motion was discussed Suryawanshi reached the officials' gallery to watch the proceedings. By that time Walse-Patil had adjourned the House for 15 minutes.A Congress MLA from Nagpur Sunil Kedar reportedly spotted Suryawanshi making obscene gestures at the MLAs. He brought it to the notice of Thakur and other members. At least 15 MLAs rushed towards the gallery to confront Suryawanshi.They caught hold of him while he was trying to leave the premises. Three MLAs - Jaykumar Raval of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Ram Kadam of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and independent Pradeep Jayaswal - slapped and punched Suryawanshi for almost 10 minutes till he complained of feeling giddy. The security staff of the Assembly immediately took Suryawanshi at their cabin. Later, he was taken to St. Georges Hospital on a stretcher.The accused MLAs claim that Suryawanshi was over acting. "He did not suffer any wound. He was trying to gain sympathy," Kadam said. Though the CCTV camera captured Raval slapping Suryawanshi the BJP MLA denied that he raised hands on him. "I had gone there just to see what was happening. I did not beat him," he said. The MLAs also alleged that Suryawanshi had trespassed in the Assembly premises and did not carry the requisite pass for entry in the officials' gallery.Four senior IPS officers, Director General of Police (DGP) Sanjeev Dayal, Mumbai Police Commissioner Satya Pal Singh, Inspector General (Law and Order) Deven Bharti and Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Vivek Phansalkar, called on Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and Home Minister R.R. Patil demanding protection to every Police officer. Chavan has assured them to take necessary steps.The BJP and MNS have announced that disciplinary action would be taken against its errant members. "I would not allow Raval participate in the House's proceedings till the session comes to an end," said BJP's Leader of Opposition Eknath Khadse. MNS Chief Raj Thackeray said action would be taken against Kadam. "Raising hands on a police officer is unjustified," he said. The budget session is scheduled till April 20.