Pune: The Beed police have made significant progress in the murder investigation of former Masajog village Sarpanch, Santosh Deshmukh. Two main accused, Sudarshan Ghule and Sudhir Sangle, were arrested from Pune after an intense manhunt. However, Krishna Andhale, the third suspect, remains on the run.
The arrests come after a special police team, acting on a tip-off, raided various locations in Pune. The accused had been evading capture since the murder on December 9, which occurred in Kej taluka, Beed district.
Earlier, one of the accused, Valmik Karad, surrendered at the CID office, providing crucial leads about the whereabouts of the fugitives. Karad, considered the mastermind of the crime, is currently under interrogation. His statements reportedly guided the police to the Pune hideouts of Ghule and Sangle.
Community Protests and Police Assurance
The murder had sparked widespread outrage in Beed district. Villagers from Masajog staged protests and threatened a "Jalsamadhi" protest if the police failed to arrest the culprits within 15 days. Thousands of citizens participated in a silent march, demanding justice for Deshmukh and strict punishment for his killers. The pressure from these protests expedited police efforts, leading to the arrests within a week.
Investigative Developments
The police now believe that more individuals may have been involved in the conspiracy. The interrogation of the two arrested suspects is expected to provide additional information and possibly lead to more arrests in the coming days.
The murder of Santosh Deshmukh remains a high-profile case, with the police intensifying their efforts to bring all those involved to justice.