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Masks down, shirts off, on-duty cops party at Lokhandwala

YB WEB DESK. Dated: 4/16/2021 6:34:40 AM

Mumbai, Apr 15 The government’s directive to strictly adhere to COVID-19 safety protocols in view of the grim situation in the state seems to have not reached a group of law enforcers in the city. Nearly two dozen on-duty policemen from the Oshiwara police station celebrated the birthday of one of their colleagues Mahesh Bhingawde on Wednesday, with complete disregard for mandatory mask and physical distancing rules. Bhingawde is a police naik and the operator, an officer who receives vital information and forward it to his boss, of Senior Inspector Sanjay Bendale of Oshiwara police station. The policemen, without masks and some even without shirts, had gathered for a picnic-party at Lokhandwala Back Road. They used a police van to bring raw cooking materials, utensils, drinking water, gas stoves, etc, to cook on the spot. An empty liquor bottle and two disposable glasses of alcohol were also spotted at the venue. Bhingawde, who was in full uniform and was carrying a walkie talkie in his shirt pocket, admitted to having celebrated with his colleagues at Lokhandwala Back Road. “I was called by my colleagues to cut the cake. I did not eat anything there as I had brought my own meal,” he said