Amid outrage over sarpanch murder in Beed: Another sarpanch attacked, this time in Dharashiv; SUV windshield smashed

Following a complaint lodged by Nikam, the Tuljapur police have registered an FIR under Section 110 (attempt to commit culpable homicide) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against the four attackers, who are yet to be identified.

According to the police, the incident took place around 10 pm on Thursday when Nikam was heading to the village from Barul in his SUV. The attackers, who were on two motorcycles, drew close to his vehicle, threw eggs on the front windshield and then smashed the windshield with a cement block. The assailants then threw a petrol-filled condom inside the vehicle in an attempt to set it on fire.

Nikam, who stays in Pune and visits the village two to three times a week, said he has no enmity with anyone in Mesai Jawalga. However, he added that the attack on him could be because of rising tension over a windmill project being set up in the village.

“While going to the village at night, some motorcycle riders came from behind and were honking. We thought they wanted to overtake, so we slowed down. But they threw eggs on the SUV’s windshield, smashed it and threw petrol bombs into the car. An attempt was made to set the car on fire. I don’t know who were these people. I have no enmity with anyone but there is a dispute going on in the village over the windmill project. It is possible that is behind the attack,” Nikam said.

Meanwhile, following the attack on Nikam, Dharashiv Superintendent of Police Sanjay Jadhav said that even as there is tension among villagers over the windmill project and solar energy in Dharashiv district, “we will not tolerate any hooliganism and stern action would be taken against those involved”. “We are probing the case from all angles and soon action would be taken,” Jadhav said.

On December 9, Santosh Deshmukh, the sarpanch of Massajog village and a popular grassroots leader in Beed district, was kidnapped in broad daylight, shoved into a black Scorpio, and allegedly assaulted for around three hours, resulting in his death. His body was dumped on a road near his village.

All-party march in Beed today

An all-party march will be taken out in Beed district on Saturday in protest against the killing of Massajog village sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh and to seek the arrest of his killers.

Several political leaders from opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and the ruling alliance, social activists and common citizens will participate in the march. “Leaders across party lines will participate in the march seeking justice and prompt arrest of the main accused in the case. We also want the police to find out the real mastermind in the case as well as probe the extortion racket being run in the district,” Sandeep Kshirsagar, NCP (SP) MLA from Beed district, said.