Political Activist Brutally Attacked After Exposing Corruption
In a shocking incident of political violence, Ram Khade, a prominent NCP (SP) politician and social activist from Beed, was critically injured when a group of 10 to 15 unidentified assailants launched a brutal attack on him and his associates near Mandali village. The violent assault occurred late on Wednesday night close to the Ahilyanagar-Beed border, sending shockwaves through political circles.
The Violent Assault: Sequence of Events
According to police reports, the attack unfolded after Khade and his team had stopped for dinner at an eatery in Mandali Shivar. After finishing their meal, as Khade sat inside his car in the restaurant's parking area, the masked attackers intercepted his vehicle and launched their assault.
The assailants, armed with an arsenal of weapons including sticks, swords, a pistol, and a cleaver, first vandalized the car by pelting stones that shattered windows and side mirrors. In a particularly brutal move, they then dragged Khade out of his vehicle and repeatedly struck him with sharp weapons, leaving him with critical injuries.
Eyewitness accounts described the attackers as having their faces covered, suggesting a premeditated assault. A video clip that has surfaced locally shows a cleaver lying on the road, which police believe may have slipped from one of the assailants while they were fleeing the scene.
Victims and Political Backlash
The attack left multiple people injured, including:
- Ram Khade - critically injured
- Deepak Khile - sustained injuries and undergoing treatment
- Ambadas Khile - injured associate
- Parmeshwar Nagargoje - suffered considerable injuries
- Advocate Kishore Muley - injured in the attack
All the victims are residents of Ashti in Beed district. Khade was initially rushed to a private hospital in Ahilyanagar but due to the severity of his injuries, was later referred to a larger medical facility in Pune city for specialized treatment.
Political Motive Suspected
Deepak Khile, one of the injured associates, has openly alleged that the attack was a direct result of political rivalry. He claimed that Khade had recently filed complaints exposing corruption in multiple public works, and the assault was orchestrated to silence his anti-corruption efforts.
Khile has demanded immediate arrests of both the actual assailants and those who masterminded the conspiracy behind the attack. The incident has triggered significant tension within the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) in Beed district, where party members are demanding swift police action and enhanced security for their leaders.
Maheboob Shaikh, NCP (SP) former state youth president, has raised serious questions about why Khade's police protection was withdrawn, asking "whose decision was it to withdraw Khade's police protection?"
Police Investigation Status
Assistant inspector Vijay Janjal of the Mirajgaon police station in Ahilyanagar provided updates on the investigation, stating that by the time police reached the hospital, Khade had already been shifted to Pune for advanced medical care.
In a concerning development, no FIR had been registered till late Thursday night, though the injured associates had been requested to lodge a formal complaint. They insisted that the complaint should be based on Khade's statement, given his critical condition.
Police authorities confirmed that multiple teams have been assigned to trace the attackers, and efforts are underway to verify CCTV footage from the vicinity to identify the perpetrators. The investigation is ongoing to determine the precise motive behind this brutal political attack.
