What led to the uproar over Beed sarpanch murder?

SINCE JARANGE-PATIL'S STIR, A BITTER TUSSLE HAS ENSUED BETWEEN MARATHA AND VANJARI COMMUNITIES

- Shailesh Gaikwad

MUMBAI: The brutal murder of Santosh Deshmukh, a sarpanch of Massajog village in Beed district on December 9, has escalated into a political storm in the state. While the Opposition condemned the Mahayuti government's failure to maintain law and order in Beed, leaders of the ruling combine also demanded action against the culprits during the assembly session, in Nagpur. Finally, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis announced a judicial probe in the case and the transfer of Beed district superintendent of police, on Friday.

Fadnavis has also announced that NCP minister Dhananjay Munde's close aide Walmik Karad and his associates be booked for the organised crime in the district. The Opposition has now stepped up the attack demanding Munde's ouster from the cabinet.

What happened in Beed? Sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh was killed after he intervened in hooliganism and extortion bid at a wind power plant company, Avada Green Energy (AVG), in Massajog village, Kej tehsil, Beed district. According to the CM's statement, the accused Ashok Ghule, Sudarshan Ghule and Pradip Ghule attacked AVG's security guard for not allowing them to meet the officers of the company on December 6. When Deshmukh tried to intervene, he was roughed up by the accused. In retaliation, Deshmukh and villagers, too, attacked them.