NCP candidate’s campaign office set ablaze in Sambhajinagar; party workers escape unhurt

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: The campaign office of NCP candidate Mayur Sonawane was set on fire by an unidentified man in the early hours of Wednesday as the municipal corporation election campaign gathered pace in the city.The incident occurred around 4.30am when an unidentified person set fire to cloth and campaign material outside Sonawane's campaign office in the Kailashnagar area of the city. At the time, around 10 to 12 party workers were asleep inside the office. Alert neighbours noticed smoke while drawing water from a nearby tap and immediately raised an alarm, helping get all the party workers safely out before the fire could spread. Firefighters were called in, and the blaze was brought under control, preventing major damage to the structure. No injuries were reported, though some campaign material and furniture were damaged, the police said.Soon after the incident, Sonawane approached the Jinsi police station and lodged a complaint. Jinsi inspector Shivaji Budhvant said, "Based on the complaint lodged, we have registered an FIR against the unidentified suspect. The incident was captured on the CCTV camera installed outside the office. The suspect, on the pretext of lighting a cigarette, can be seen setting the fabric of the pandal on fire. We will identify and take appropriate action against him."Speaking to reporters, Sonawane said his party has prepared for the civic polls for the past five years by focusing solely on development-related issues and by reaching out to voters without resorting to personal attacks on political rivals. "This seems to be an attempt to scare us. We will not be intimidated. We will respond within the framework of law, and continue our campaign with confidence," Sonawane said.NCP district president Abhijit Deshmukh condemned the incident and said such acts would not weaken the morale of party workers. He added that the party workers would now campaign with greater resolve and intensity.Police officers said security around prominent campaign offices was reviewed in the wake of the incident. Further action will follow soon.