A family member of Sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh from the Bed area of Maharashtra was murdered and protested to demand justice for him. File | Image source: PTI
Investigations into the murder of Sarpanch santosh deshmukh have gained momentum again after residents of Massajog Village in Beed, Maharashtra staged a hunger strike. .
Their requests include a faster investigation, the arrested accused Krushna Andhale, arrested arrest officers Prashant Mahajan and Rajesh Patil, and appointed government lawyer Ujjwal Nikam. Mr Patil was instructed not to take Deshmukh’s body to Kaij Hospital for an autopsy.
Deshmukh was allegedly murdered on December 9, 2024. His murder was linked to the ransomware case, involving the close-up Walmik Karad of Maharashtra minister and leader of the Nationalist Congress Party Dhananjay Munde. Social activist and Deshmukh’s family accused the police of negligence and involvement in the case.
Waiting for justice
Beed has been witnessing political unrest since the murder. “We are still waiting for justice for the past 80 days. We will have a two-day hunger strike and if there is no guarantee of the government, we will also stop drinking water,” Mr Dhananjay Deshmukh told reporters in Massajog.
Villagers also met the supervisor of police officer Navneet Kanwat on Monday (February 24, 2025). Mr Dhananjay Deshmukh pointed out that certain details have not been shared with the SP, saying the family will call for a re-study. “At the last meeting, we asked for a request in writing, so we will conduct an investigation,” Kanwatt said.
NCP-SP leader Supriya Sule asked why the police still couldn’t find the defendant. “This is suspicious and the police should investigate in the right direction to resolve the case and bring justice,” she said.
She urged the Chief Minister to take the protests seriously, and she posted on X: “It is very regrettable that a family must go on a hunger strike in Maharashtra, a developed state in the country.”
publishing – February 26, 2025 at 05:46 am
