Ex-Maharashtra Minister Anil Deshmukh Injured In Stone Pelting, NCP Slams BJP Govt – News18

Last Updated:November 19, 2024, 01:26 IST

Unidentified assailants hurled stones at Deshmukh’s vehicle at 8 pm when he was returning to Katol and he was rushed to a hospital.

Former Maharashtra Home Minister and NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) leader Anil Deshmukh was seriously injured after stones were hurled at his car in Nagpur district on Monday night, police said. The incident occurred on the last day of campaigning for the November 20 Maharashtra assembly elections.

The incident occurred around 8 pm when Deshmukh was returning to Katol after attending a meeting in Narkhed village. Some unidentified persons threw stones at Deshmukh’s car near Belphata on the Jalalkheda Road near Katol. Deshmukh, who sustained injuries during the attack, was immediately rushed to the Katol Civil Hospital, police said.

Nagpur Rural Superintendent of Police, Harssh Poddar, confirmed the incident. He said senior officers were rushed to the spot. “An investigation has begun. Police are trying to identify those responsible for the attack,” he said.

NCP Leaders Condemn Attack, Slam BJP Govt

Hundreds of Deshmukh’s supporters gathered on the spot and demanded action over the attack. Several NCP leaders from Sharad Pawar’s faction condemned the attack and slammed the BJP-led government in Maharashtra. Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has announced an inquiry will take place regarding this matter.

“In the state, the rule of law has completely collapsed. The very essence of democracy is being trampled upon. An example of this was seen today during the conclusion of the election rally, when a cowardly attack took place on former Home Minister of the state and senior leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Anil Deshmukh, as he was returning home,” said the NCP.

Senior party leader Sanjay Raut called it a “cowardly” attack in the backyard of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and asked him to respond on the matter.

“Former Home Minister Anil Deshmukh was attacked by a cowardly murderer in Home Minister Fadnavis’ Nagpur. What is Fadnavis’ reaction to this? This is a political attack. Ex-minister Baba Siddique was killed in Mumbai and an attempt is made to kill ex-home minister in Nagpur,” Raut said on X.

NCP Working President Supriya Sule called it a “unfortunate and outrageous” incident. “This state has never had the mentality to attack in this manner during elections. This state is a democratic state. But during the time of BJP, the law and order situation in the state, especially in Nagpur district, has deteriorated and gangsters have got free reign,” she said.

Deshmukh’s son Salil Deshmukh is contesting from the Katol assembly constituency on the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) ticket against BJP’s Charansingh Thakur.

(with agency inputs)