NCP MLA booked for abusing Khairlanji witness

The Nationalist Congress Party's MLA from Bhandara, Nana Panchbudhe, has been booked under the Prevention of SC/ST Atrocities Act for allegedly using abusive language against a witness in the Khairlanji Dalit killings, police said on Friday.

Panchbudhe had allegedly abused Rajendra Gajbhiye, who is also younger brother of Siddharth, a key witness in the Dalits' killings.

The incident took place on January 15 and a formal complaint was lodged by Gajbhiye with Andhalgaon police station in the neighbouring Bhandara district, on Saturday.

Siddhartah and Rajendra are the relatives of Bhaiyalal Bhotmange, the lone survivor of Khairlanji killings. His wife Surekha and children Priyanka, Roshan and Sudhir were brutally killed in last week of September 2006.

The Dalit killings triggered violent protests across Maharashtra in December 2006.