A local organisation staged ‘Chakka Jams’ (road blockades) across Maharashtra’s Latur district on Tuesday to protest the brutal murder of Santosh Deshmukh, sarpanch of Massajog village in Beed district. Simultaneously, a state-level organisation of village sarpanches protested in Mumbai, demanding financial aid for Deshmukh’s family and the resignation of state minister Dhananjay Munde.
The Chakka Jam protests took place at five locations in Latur city and other areas, including Mahalangra, Chakur Nitpur, Borgaon Kale, Budhoda, Ausa, Ahmadpur, and Mahapur. Organised by the Sarvpakshiya Nagrik Manch (All-Party Citizens Forum), the blockade, originally scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., ended early at 1 p.m. following police intervention.
Deshmukh was abducted and murdered on December 9, reportedly for opposing an extortion attempt targeting a windmill company. During the protests, participants accused the state government of negligence, shouted slogans, and called for the resignation of ministers Dhananjay Munde and Pankaja Munde if they were found complicit in the case.
NCP under cloud
Mr. Munde, a Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader, is under scrutiny after the arrest of his aide, Walmik Karad, in an extortion case linked to the murder. Both Dhananjay and his cousin, BJP leader Pankaja Munde, are legislators from Beed.
“If the government fails to take strict action, we will hold a protest in front of Dhananjay Munde’s residence in Parali,” said protestor Uday Gaware.
Protesters submitted a memorandum to district officials, listing demands that included the arrest of all suspects, financial aid of ₹50 lakh for Deshmukh’s family, witness protection, and narco tests for the accused. They also sought ₹50 lakh in aid for the family of Somnath Suryavanshi, who died in custody after being arrested during protests over the vandalisation of a Constitution replica in Parbhani city.
Bajrang Sonawane, an NCP (SP) MP from Beed, demanded stronger police action. “If the arrested suspects are not cooperating, they should be handed over to the public,” he remarked, noting that one suspect remains absconding nearly a month after the crime.
The Sarpanch Parishad, in a memorandum to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, urged the government to provide Deshmukh’s widow ₹50 lakh in financial aid and a government job. They also called for the invocation of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against the accused and the removal of Dhananjay Munde from the cabinet until the investigation concludes.
Published – January 08, 2025 07:06 am IST
