Beed sarpanch’s murder: Deceased’s brother climbs water tank, threatens to jump over inaction
On Monday, Dhananjay Deshmukh reiterated his allegations that the police was not sharing information about the probe into the murder with his family.
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Dhananjay Deshmukh, Santosh's brother, has threatened to jump to death from a water tank in Maharashtra's Beed, demanding an action against Karad. (Express Photo by Vallabh Ozarkar)Dhananjay Deshmukh, brother of slain Beed sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh, on Monday climbed onto an overhead water tank and threatened to jump from there if the police refused to book the main accused, Walmik Karad, under MCOCA and murder charges.
So far, Karad has only been booked in an extortion case related to the sarpanch’s murder, for allegedly attempting to extort Rs 2 crore from the Avada Green Energy Company. Santosh Deshmukh’s family and political leaders have repeatedly demanded that Karad should be booked for murder as well.
Santosh Deshmukh was abducted, tortured and murdered on December 9. The police have so far arrested seven persons in the case.
On Monday, Dhananjay Deshmukh reiterated his allegations that the police was not sharing information about the probe into the murder with his family. Deshmukh said he feared evidence would be destroyed and his family might meet the same fate as his brother if the accused in the murder and a related extortion case are set free.
Dhananjay had been threatening to climb a mobile tower in Massajog village and jump from there in protest against the police’s soft-pedalling in the case, particularly against Karad. While the police ensured security at the two mobile towers located in the village, Dhananjay Deshmukh climbed an overhead tank which was located a little distance away from the mobile tower.
Despite appeals from villagers and police, he refused to climb down. Later, Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil reached the village and appealed to Deshmukh to climb down, but the latter refused. Police personnel present at the spot tried to climb the overhead tank. However, Dhananjay Deshmukh’s aides removed the wooden ladder. A fire brigade vehicle was also stationed at the spot. Beed superintendent of police Navneet Kavat spoke to Dhananjay Deshmukh and pleaded with him to come down.
The protest ended after Beed Superintendent of Police Navneet Kanwat assured the family that Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Basavraj Teli, who leads the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Crime Investigation Department (CID) handling the case, would meet the family on Tuesday and discuss the ongoing investigation.
After two hours, Deshmukh climbed down and Jarange hugged him. Speaking to reporters, Dhananjay Deshmukh demanded that those who killed his brother should be hanged to death.
Apart from seeking Karad being booked under the MCOCA and making him a co-accused in the case, Dhananjay Deshmukh has also demanded the arrest of Krushna Andhale, who is on the run, the appointment of Ujwal Nikam as public prosecutor, regular update in the case and sacking police inspector Prashant Mahajan.
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