In Video, Cop's Head Held Under Water By Attacker At Ganesh Festival

Mumbai: In a mobile video taken at a Ganesha idol immersion near Mumbai, a policeman is attacked and his head is held under water by a volunteer.

Nitin Dogade, in police uniform, is seen struggling with his attacker in an immersion pond, with a crowd watching them. When he comes out, three more assault him. Four men were arrested today for the incident that took place in Kalyan on Tuesday, more than a week after a traffic policeman was beaten to death in neighbouring Mumbai.

Mr Dogade had apparently used his baton to try and discipline volunteers in the crowd when a young man pushed him into the pond and beat him.

An attempted murder case has been registered.

The state government has been facing criticism over rising attacks on policemen in Mumbai; seven cases have been reported in two weeks.

Last month, traffic constable Vilas Shinde was brutally thrashed, allegedly by an unruly biker he had told off for not wearing a helmet. He died in hospital of head injuries. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis faced anger when he visited Mr Shinde's family later.

Uddhav Thackeray, the chief of the ruling BJP's ally Shiv Sena, met Mr Fadnavis this morning along with family members of the policemen who were attacked.

"The police have to be kept safe. Anyone who attacks the police should be dealt with strictly. We have requested the chief minister to set up a committee that can take up the problems of the police,"  Mr Thackeray said after the meeting.

The Sena has also demanded a dedicated minister to handle law and order. "The chief minister already has a lot on his plate," said Mr Thackeray.

In March, Mr Fadnavis had told the state assembly that there were over 200 attacks on policemen in 2014 and 284 last year.

In February, a mob attacked policemen in Latur. In the same month, a Sena activist from Thane near Mumbai was arrested for allegedly thrashing a woman traffic constable after she stopped him for talking on the phone while driving his SUV.