4 Unidentified Persons Booked For Murder Bid After Attack On Deshmukh; Motive Unclear

Nagpur, Nov 19 (PTI) Police have registered a case against four unidentified persons on charges of attempt to murder after NCP (Sharchandra Pawar) leer and former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh was seriously injured in stone pelting at his car in Nagpur, officials said on Tuesday.

incident, which triggered a slugfest between ruling BJP and opposition party, took place at around 8 pm on Monday and Anil Deshmukh was later mitted to a private hospital in Nagpur, from where he was discharged on Tuesday.

Nagpur police are using vanced technical methods to track down four assailants responsible for pelting stones at vehicle of veteran politician.

At a press conference, Dilip Patil Bhujbal, Special Inspector General of Police (Nagpur Range), along with Superintendent of Police (SP) Harsh Poddar, provided details of investigation carried out so far.

Bhujbal confirmed artificial intelligence (AI) techniques, along with data from District Urban Management (DUM) system, are being used to identify attackers.

He emphasized that while certain technical les are being pursued, motive behind attack remains unclear.

special IG indicated furr details of attack may emerge once expert reports are available, but insisted primary focus of police at this stage remained on identifying and apprehending suspects.

State NCP (SP) spokesperson Pravin Kunte claimed re was a "conspiracy" against Anil Deshmukh, who received injuries on his he and shoulder, and blamed BJP for incident.

party heed by veteran politician Shar Pawar has demanded a high-level probe into incident, which occurred on last day of campaigning for November 20 assembly elections.

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fnavis, who holds home portfolio, used a Rajinikanth movie analogy to pick holes in circumstances surrounding stone attack on Anil Deshmukh, saying "entire story" seems a hoax to gain sympathy in face of imminent poll defeat.

"This purported attack is part of a larger conspiracy orchestrated by Maha Vikas Aghi (MVA) to divert attention from imminent defeat y are facing in (November 20) assembly elections," Fnavis told reporters in Nagpur.

senior BJP leer said claim regarding a "10-kg stone" hitting Deshmukh’s car doesn't d up, as vehicle reportedly didn't suffer a significant damage.

"If such a large stone was hurled at car, windshield should have been smashed. Moreover, bonnet of car didn't receive a scratch," Fnavis said.

"Why did Deshmukh sustain only minor abrasions? This entire story is reminiscent of scenes from a Rajinikanth movie rar than reality. It res like Salim-Javed script of yesteryears," home minister quipped.

Anil Deshmukh was returning to Katol after attending a meeting in Narkhed village. Some unidentified persons threw stones at his car near Belphata on Jalalkheda Ro near Katol in Nagpur district.

former minister, who received injuries during attack, was immediately rushed to Katol Civil Hospital, police said.

He was later mitted to a private hospital in Nagpur city.

Nagpur Rural SP Poddar said y have taken serious cognisance of incident and registered a case against four unidentified persons on charges of attempt to murder.

A forensic team visited incident spot to collect technical evidence and create entire scene of attack, he said.

deputy SP of Katol was heing investigation, Poddar informed.

Anil Deshmukh's son Salil is contesting from Katol assembly constituency on NCP (Sharchandra Pawar) ticket against BJP's Charansingh Thakur.

dressing a press conference, NCP (SP) spokesperson Kunte said former minister suffered injuries on his he and shoulder and doctors have vised him bed rest.

Asked who was behind attack, Kunte blamed it on BJP and its leers.

He alleged re was a "nexus" involving Fnavis, BJP MLC Parinay Fuke and Katol nominee Thakur that was operating in area.

Kunte raised questions over Fuke holding a press conference on Tuesday morning and claiming attack on Anil Deshmukh was a "political stunt".

"It is not a stunt but a conspiracy against Anil Deshmukh," NCP (SP) spokesperson maintained.

According to police, attackers, who were on two motorcycles, threw three stones at Anil Deshmukh's car. first stone hit front of vehicle, second struck a window near rear passenger seat, while third one was thrown from behind car.

After attack, assailants quickly fled scene and heed towards Bharashingi area on ir motorcycles. Despite efforts to trace getaway vehicles using CCTV footage, authorities discovered no motorcycles h been captured on surveillance cameras between 8 and 9 pm in area where attack took place, y said.

Police have recovered stones and or potential evidence from scene, with forensic experts involved in ir analysis.