Group of Armed Forces veterans condemns attack on ex-naval officer by Shiv Sena workers

A group of Armed Forces veterans on Sunday expressed their shock over the assault on retired naval officer Madan Sharma. The 65-year-old resident of Mumbai was attacked by Shiv Sena workers in Kandivali area earlier this week.
In a statement, the group of Armed Forces veterans has termed the bails granted to Shiv Sena workers who carried out the assault as «added insult to injury».

While «unequivocally» condemning the attack on retired naval officer Madan Sharma, the group of veterans said, «It is unbelievably shocking, and categorically unacceptable for the veterans of Armed Forces of India, to suffer as helpless victims of hooliganism in Mumbai, as has been experienced in the case of Navy Veteran Madan Sharma, having been brutally beaten up for a triviality by Shiv-Sena activists, causing grievous injuries, trauma and loss of honour to the Veteran at his Mumbai residential complex.»

«It is unbelievable that the Mumbai police investigation, as well as the Maharashtra government prosecutors, took this serious matter so casually that there has not been even a semblance of justice in this case,» the statement added.

According to inputs, over 600 military veterans have signed this statement. Among the signatories are Air Chief Marshal Pradeep Naik (retd), Vice Admiral Shekhar Sinha (retd), Lt Gen Gurmeet Singh (retd) and Air Marshall S P Singh (retd).

Other signatories include three retired vice admirals, five retired air marshals, 31 retired Lt Generals, 38 retired Brigadiers, 40 Commodores (Retd) and 44 retired Major Generals, including Rear Admiral (Retd) and Air Vice Marshal (Retd).

The statement went on to add, «We must ensure the dignity, honour and safety of these veterans and commit to make it the highest priority for every Indian national.»

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also spoke to Sharma over the phone on Saturday. In a tweet, Singh said, «Spoke to retired naval officer, Shri Madan Sharma who was attacked by hooligans in Mumbai and enquired about his health. Such attacks on Ex-Servicemen is completely unacceptable and deplorable. I wish Madanji a speedy recovery.»

Sharma was thrashed in full public view in the compound of his residential building allegedly after he shared a cartoon critical of Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. Among the six men arrested by Mumbai Police in connection with the assault was a Shiv Sena shakha pramukh. All of the accused were granted bail on surety bonds of Rs 5,000 each.

Source: indiatoday.in