Nagpur Witnesses Political Violence Hours Before Civic Polls
Political tensions exploded into violence in Nagpur late Wednesday night, just hours before voting for the Nagpur Municipal Corporation was scheduled to begin on Thursday. The incident has sent shockwaves through the city's political landscape.
Midnight Attack on BJP Candidate
Around 12:10 AM at Ashok Samrat Chowk near Gittikhadan, BJP candidate Bhushan Shingne faced a brutal assault. Shingne, a former BJP corporator, was returning home in a car with his supporters when the attack occurred.
Police investigations point to Ganesh Chacherkar as the alleged mastermind behind the violence. Chacherkar, who goes by the alias Ghui, is the husband of Congress candidate Manju Chacherkar from Prabhag 11A. Authorities note his extensive criminal history, which includes murder charges and previous booking under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act.
Violent Mob Armed with Weapons
According to the police complaint, Chacherkar led approximately 100 Congress workers armed with dangerous weapons. The mob carried iron rods, sticks, knives, and stones. They blocked Shingne's vehicle and launched a coordinated attack.
Vitthal Adane, one of the assaulted aides, provided chilling details. He stated that Chacherkar personally grabbed Shingne by the throat, threatened to kill him, and hurled abuses. Meanwhile, other mob members attacked Shingne's companions and snatched their mobile phones to prevent them from calling for help.
Serious Injuries and Hospitalization
The attack left Shingne with severe injuries. He suffered a fractured hand and multiple facial injuries. Other BJP workers also sustained wounds during the assault. All injured individuals received immediate medical attention at Mayo Hospital.
Senior police inspector Kailash Deshmane confirmed that the crime branch has taken over the investigation. Despite the serious nature of the incident, no arrests had been made by late Wednesday.
Political Reactions and FIR Registration
BJP leaders strongly condemned what they called a desperate act of political violence. Former mayor and BJP city president Dayashankar Tiwari rushed to Gittikhadan police station following the attack. He claimed Shingne narrowly escaped death and revealed that Chacherkar had allegedly attempted to attack revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule earlier the same day.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari visited the injured BJP candidate later on Thursday. Both leaders promised stern action against those responsible for the violence.
Police registered a comprehensive First Information Report under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The charges include:
- Attempt to murder
- Causing hurt and grievous hurt by dangerous weapons
- Rioting
- Criminal intimidation
- Unlawful assembly
- Abetment of crime
Election Context and Ongoing Rivalries
Authorities believe the clash stems from ongoing political rivalries in Prabhag 11 during the civic polls. Shingne is contesting against Congress candidate Shailesh Pandey in this constituency. Meanwhile, Manju Chacherkar faces former deputy mayor Sandeep Jadhav in the adjacent Prabhag 11A.
Shingne made an additional allegation that Pandey participated in the attacking mob. Police officials stated they are currently investigating this claim and have not yet verified its accuracy.
The incident has cast a shadow over Nagpur's municipal elections, raising concerns about political violence and voter safety during the polling process.
