Maharashtra: Youth Abducted and Brutally Assaulted by Group of 20 in Parli; Seven Arrested

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, 18th May 2025: An 18-year-old from Limbote village near Parli was allegedly abducted and assaulted by a group of 20 men on Friday evening, in what police described as a fallout of a minor dispute. Beed Superintendent of Police Navneet Kanawat confirmed that seven of the accused have been arrested, while others are still being tracked.

The incident occurred when the victim, Shivraj Diwate, was returning from a religious function in Jalalpur along with a friend. According to police, the attackers followed them on motorcycles, intercepted them en route, and forcibly took Diwate to a nearby hilly area after gagging him.

In video footage that has since gone viral, Diwate is seen being beaten with wooden sticks and belts by multiple individuals. The visuals sparked public outrage and drew parallels to the brutal murder of Santosh Deshmukh, the former sarpanch of Masajog village, who was lynched in a similarly violent attack in December 2023.

“The motive behind this assault appears to be minor personal issues,” SP Kanawat told reporters. “There is no evidence so far to suggest any caste-related angle. We are treating this as a serious offence and have invoked stringent provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.”

Diwate is currently undergoing treatment at the government hospital in Ambajogai. Speaking from his hospital bed, he recounted the terrifying ordeal. “There had been a minor quarrel during the event at Jalalpur, and I had just witnessed it. While returning home, they caught me, dragged me to a secluded spot, and beat me mercilessly. They threatened to do to me what was done to Santosh Deshmukh. Some of them were under the influence of ganja,” he alleged.

He credited two passers-by with helping him escape. “They saw what was happening and shouted for help. That gave me the chance to run,” he said, urging authorities to ensure justice and take steps for his protection.

In a gesture of solidarity, Dhananjay Deshmukh, brother of the late Santosh Deshmukh, visited Diwate in hospital and expressed concern over rising incidents of mob violence.

When asked about the alleged links between the attackers and Valmik Karad — the main accused in the 2023 sarpanch murder — officials declined to comment, stating that investigations were still in progress.

Parli police have registered a case based on Diwate’s complaint under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including 109 (attempt to murder) and 140(3) (kidnapping). A manhunt is underway to apprehend the remaining accused.