Two NCP rival groups clash during a meeting in Mumbai

Members from two rival groups of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Tuesday clashed during a meeting here and some of them reportedly brandished weapons, police said.

The clash erupted this evening between the supporters of NCP leaders Nawab Malik and Sanjay Dina Patil during the meet at Deonar in eastern suburbs, they said.

“A scuffle broke out between two factions of NCP workers. Police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control,” said Ashok Dudhe, spokesperson and Deputy Commissioner of Police.

Some persons reportedly brandished weapons, police said. Initial reports suggested there was a firing at the event, but Dudhe denied such an incident.

Malik, a spokesperson of Maharashtra unit of NCP, was present at the meeting, while Patil reportedly arrived late at the venue.

The altercation broke out after supporters of Malik and Patil, a former Lok Sabha MP from Mumbai, began shouting slogans against each other, police said.

Late in the night, supporters of both NCP leaders gathered outside Deonar Police Station. Malik alleged that Patil resorted to firing at the event and he was “injured” in attack by sword-wielding supporters of the latter.

“Sanjay Dina Patil tried to attack me and he had pistol in his hands. I was attacked with swords by his people,” Malik said.

However, Patil rejected Malik’s allegation and claimed that it was he who was attacked with swords when he was coming to attend the meeting. Patil said his bodyguard took out his weapon but did not open fire.