Political Tensions Flare in Nagpur Rural After Gram Panchayat Member's Murder
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Nagpur: The rural hinterlands of Nagpur district are reeling from a shocking murder that has sparked political unrest and heightened tensions ahead of the impending zilla parishad (ZP) elections.
Atul Patil, a 32-year-old gram panchayat member from Pipla Dak Bungalow, was stabbed to death in the early hours of Tuesday near his residence within the limits of Khaparkheda police station, sending shock waves through the local community.
The incident has taken a political turn with the arrest of two individuals, including village sarpanch Vishnu Kokadde, and prime accused 19-year-old Himanshu Kumbhalkar. In the past, Kokadde has been charged with cheating and forgery in a land allotment scam in the zilla parishad.
The scam inquiry had started following a complaint by Patil.
The murder, which occurred around 2am, has also been been linked to a monetary dispute and business rivalry between Patil and Kumbhalkar in a truck rental business. According to sources, the two had a disagreement over a commission of Rs2,500 that Kumbhalkar owed Patil for facilitating business deals. The dispute reportedly escalated into a heated verbal altercation on Monday, setting the stage for the murder.
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Senior inspector Arvind Katlam of Khaparkheda police station revealed that Kumbhalkar lured Patil out of his home on the pretence of settling the debt. "As Patil stepped outside, Kumbhalkar ambushed him with a knife. A brief scuffle ensued, but Kumbhalkar overpowered Patil, stabbing him multiple times," said Katlam. The gravely injured gram panchayat member collapsed at the scene and was rushed to a nearby private hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival.
The police swiftly arrested Kumbhalkar, and later detained Kokadde. The latter is from the Congress camp and was close to a former minister. Sources said Kokadde is suspected of being a key conspirator, having instigated Kumbhalkar to 'settle scores' with Patil.
The murder has ignited a political firestorm in Nagpur rural, especially with the ZP polls looming. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wasted no time in capitalising on the incident, staging a 'rasta roko' protest to demand swift justice and a thorough investigation.
The agitation, led by MLA Ashish Deshmukh and district president Manohar Kumbhare, saw party workers blocking roads to press for the immediate arrest of all suspects involved in the conspiracy.
The BJP's swift response has fuelled speculation that the murder could have political undertones.
Local residents, meanwhile, are grappling with shock and fear. Patil, known for his active role in the gram panchayat, was a respected figure, and his untimely death has left the community in mourning.
"The village is tense, and people are worried about what this means for our safety and the elections," said a resident.
Police have intensified their probe to uncover the full extent of the conspiracy. "We are investigating all angles, including deeper motives behind the murder," said Katlam. Authorities have assured the public that additional suspects, if any, will be apprehended as the investigation progresses.
The murder has cast a shadow over the upcoming ZP elections, with political parties likely to leverage the incident to rally support.
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