Four Unidentified Individuals Charged with Attempted Murder Following Attack on Anil Deshmukh in Nagpur

Four unidentified individuals have been charged with attempted murder after an attack on Anil Deshmukh, a leader from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and former Maharashtra home minister. The incident occurred on Monday around 8 pm in Nagpur, where stones were thrown at Deshmukh's car, causing injuries. He was admitted to a private hospital and discharged the following day.

The Nagpur police are employing advanced technology to track down the attackers. Special Inspector General of Police Dilip Patil Bhujbal and Superintendent of Police Harsh Poddar shared investigation details at a press conference. Bhujbal stated that artificial intelligence and data from the District Urban Management system are aiding in identifying the culprits.

Political Tensions Rise Amidst Stone-Pelting Incident

The incident has sparked a political clash between the ruling BJP and the opposition NCP. State NCP spokesperson Pravin Kunte accused the BJP of orchestrating a conspiracy against Deshmukh, who sustained head and shoulder injuries. The NCP has called for a high-level investigation into the attack, which happened on the last day of campaigning for the November 20 assembly elections.

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis dismissed the attack as a hoax, suggesting it was staged to gain sympathy before the elections. He compared it to scenes from a Rajinikanth movie, questioning why Deshmukh only had minor injuries if a 10-kg stone hit his car. Fadnavis argued that such an impact should have caused significant damage to the vehicle.

Forensic Analysis and Investigation Underway

A forensic team has visited the site to gather evidence and reconstruct the attack scene. Nagpur Rural SP Poddar confirmed that a case has been registered against four unknown individuals for attempted murder. The deputy SP of Katol is leading the investigation into this serious incident.

Anil Deshmukh was returning to Katol after attending a meeting in Narkhed village when stones were thrown at his car near Belphata on Jalalkheda Road. Following the attack, he was initially taken to Katol Civil Hospital before being moved to a private facility in Nagpur city.

Controversy Surrounds Allegations Against BJP

NCP spokesperson Kunte blamed BJP leaders, including Fadnavis, MLC Parinay Fuke, and Katol candidate Charansingh Thakur, for being involved in the attack. Kunte criticised Fuke's press conference where he claimed the incident was a political stunt, insisting it was a conspiracy against Deshmukh.

According to police reports, two motorcycles were used by the attackers who threw three stones at Deshmukh's vehicle. The first stone hit the front, another struck near the rear passenger seat window, and a third was thrown from behind. The assailants fled towards Bharashingi area after the attack.

Efforts to trace their escape using CCTV footage have been challenging as no motorcycles were captured on cameras between 8 and 9 pm in that area. Police have recovered stones and other potential evidence from the scene for forensic analysis.

Anil Deshmukh's son Salil is contesting from Katol constituency on an NCP ticket against BJP's Charansingh Thakur. Doctors have advised Deshmukh bed rest due to his injuries. The investigation continues as authorities work to apprehend those responsible for this politically charged incident.