NCP Leader Kidnapped and Beaten in Nanded, Sparks Political Tension

Pune, Maharashtra: A shocking incident in Nanded, Maharashtra, has sent ripples through the political landscape, as a senior NCP leader was allegedly kidnapped, beaten, and threatened in broad daylight. The incident has raised serious concerns about political rivalries, law and order, and factionalism within parties. Supporters of the victim have announced a Nanded bandh in protest.

CCTV Footage Reveals the Attack
According to CCTV footage, former opposition leader in Nanded Municipal Corporation, Jeevan Ghogre Patil, was traveling in his Toyota Innova when a Mahindra Scorpio blocked his vehicle. Three individuals, waiting by the roadside, forcibly pulled Patil into the Scorpio and fled the scene.

The kidnapped leader alleged that he was taken to an undisclosed location, where he was physically assaulted before being released near a nearby village.

Threats Referencing Previous Political Violence
Patil lodged a complaint accusing party colleagues Prataprao Govindrao Chikhalikar and Mohanrao Marotrao Hambarde of conspiring against him. He also claimed that the kidnappers warned him not to interfere in the affairs of prospective minister Chikhalikar and threatened that he could meet the same fate as Santosh Deshmukh, a village head in Beed who was kidnapped and murdered last year.

Legal Action and Arrests
A case has been registered against Nanded MLA Pratap Patil Chikhalikar and former MLA Mohanrao Marotrao Hambarde for inciting and instigating violence. Seven people have been arrested, including Shubham Datta Sunevad, Rahul Maroti Dasarwad, Kaustubh Ramesh Ranveer, Vivek Narhari Suryavanshi, Madhav Balaji Waghmare, Mohammad Afroz Fakir, and Devanand Bhole. Reports suggest that three of the arrested have prior criminal records.

Appeal for Law and Order
Jeevan Ghogre Patil, undergoing treatment for a serious head injury, appealed to Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde to curb the prevailing “goonda raj” in Nanded. His supporters have called for a district-wide bandh on Tuesday to protest the attack.

The incident has intensified political tension in Maharashtra and underscores growing concerns over violence linked to factional rivalries within the state’s parties.