CONGRESS leader Hidayat Patel, who was brutally attacked on Tuesday, succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday morning. As the news of his death spread his supporters gathered outside Akot Rural Police Station and staged a ‘thiyya andolan’ demanding immediate arrest of all the accused mentioned in the complaint filed by Patel’s nephew. Meanwhile, soon after the stabbing incident, Akot Rural Police swung into action and accused Ubed Patel was arrested in just6 hours after the crime from Panaj village. The protestors also demanded arrests of other accused. On Tuesday, Patel was rushed to a private hospital in Akot after the attack, where his condition was stated as critical due to heavy blood loss. As his condition worsened, he was shifted to a private hospital in Akola. However, he succumbed to his injuries during treatment in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

 

As news of his death reached his native village Mohala and Akot, hundreds of his supporters reached Akot Rural Police Station demanding justice. Prior to that Hidayat Patel’s nephew, Fateh Ali Khan Rafatullah Khan Patel, lodged a complaint at the Rural Police Station. The complaint stated that Ubed Patel alias Kalu Patel stabbed Hidayat Patel. The complaint also named others including Mohammad Badarjamma Mohammad Adil of the Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar faction), Congress leader Rajiv Vitthalrao Boche, and former Civic chief Sanjay Ramdas Bodkhe of the Congress, causing a major stir. Based on this complaint, a case of murder has been registered at the Akot Rural Police Station. Meanwhile, supporters of Hidayat Patel refused to leave the Akot Rural Police Station and staged a ‘thiyya andolan’ demanding the arrest of all accused.

 

District Superintendent of Police Archit Chandak, along with local police officials, pacified the crowd. SP assured the crowd that the investigation would be conducted by IPS officer Nikhil Patil and all remaining suspects would be arrested at the earliest. Chandak also promised to file a chargesheet within 60 days, and the case would be tried in a fast-track court. He assured that narco tests would be conducted on the main accused and a thorough digital investigation will be carried out, including examination of mobile call records and WhatsApp calls of all suspected persons.

 

After nearly six hours of the agitation, the protesters dispersed. Hidayat Patel’s mortal remains were taken to his native village Mohala for the funeral which was performed at around 4.30 pm. MPCC Chairman Harshwardhan Sapakal, MP Anup Dhotre, MLA Sajid Pathan, MLC Lingade, Ex MLA Sanjay Gawande and many political leaders were present on the occasion. Meanwhile, markets in Akot remained closed on Wednesday. The goldsmith market shut voluntarily. As tensions eased, the markets gradually resumed normal operations.