Congress MLA Nana Patole ends hunger strike

Nagpur, Nov 21 (UNI) Congress MLA Nana Patole today ended his hunger strike after the Maharashtra government assured him that the suspects in the recent rape and murder of a minor girl in Bhandara district would be arrested and that the girl's mother would be paid a compensation of Rs two lakh.

The assurance was given by State Minister of State for Finance and Guardian Minister for Bhandara District Sunil Deshmukh after he met Patole in the Central Jail here this morning. Mr Patole broke his fast by accepting a glass of lemon juice from Mr Deshmukh.

Mr Patole had begun hunger strike on Saturday to press for his demand after he and 110 others were brought to the Central Jail after being arrested, while they were staging protests in Bhandara.

They were brought to Nagpur because they could not be accommodated in Bhandara jail.

Ten-year-old girl Ankita Lanjewar was raped and murdered in Lakhandur in Bhandara district last month. The prime suspect, Sudhakar Ramteke, is a habitual offender, and has been absconding since. The incident occurred in Patole's constituency.

UNI AB SSS-OBB VD KP2203