Family alleges police pressure led to Vijay Wakode's death in Prabhani violence - World News Network

Parbhani (Maharashtra) [India], December 23 (ANI): After meeting Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Ashish Wakode, son of deceased Vijay Wakode alleged on Monday that his father, who was leading the agitation in Maharashtra’s Prabhani and died due to the pressure exerted by the police.
Speaking to ANI, Wakode said that if he didn’t get justice, he would start this movement himself.
“My father, who was leading the agitation, died due to the pressure exerted by the police and I informed Rahul Gandhi about it… Rahul Gandhi assured that he will raise this in the Parliament… He would demand the dismissal of the accused policemen of Parbhani… If I don’t get justice, I will start this movement myself,” he said.
Reportedly, Vijay Wakode passed away due to a heart attack after violence.
Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi on Monday visited Maharashtra’s violence-hit Parbhani and alleged that the victim was “murdered” because he was a Dalit and was “protecting” the Constitution.
“I have met the family and those who have been killed and beaten up. They showed me the post-mortem report, videos, photographs. This is 100 per cent a custodial death. He has been murdered and the Chief Minister lied in the Assembly to give a message to the police. This young man was killed because he was a Dalit and was protecting the Constitution,” Rahul Gandhi told reporters.
The Lok Sabha LoP alleged that the ideology of the RSS is to “destroy” the Constitution, adding that the matter should be “resolved” immediately.
“We want this matter to be resolved immediately and those who have done this should be punished. No politics is being done… The ideology is responsible because the Chief Minister has made this statement so the Chief Minister is responsible, those who have killed him are responsible and action should be taken as soon as possible,” he added.
Rahul Gandhi, Nana Patole and other Congress leaders visited Maharashtra’s violence-hit Parbhani and paid homage.
Violence erupted in Parbhani city on December 10 following the alleged vandalism of a replica of the Indian Constitution. Special Inspector General of Nanded, Shahaji Umap, earlier stated that around 50 people had been arrested, and eight cases registered in connection with the violence.
The family members of another deceased Somnath Suryawnashi have demanded a death sentence for the accused police officer under whose custody Suryawanshi died.
“The police didn’t give any information regarding my brother after they arrested him. The day my brother died, on December 15, they only informed me that my brother had died due to a heart attack. Those involved in this incident must be punished. Suspending them is of no use. They should be punished because they have killed my brother. We want them to hang till death. We will say the same to Rahul Gandhi,” Premnath Suryawanshi, brother of deceased Dalit activist,” told ANI.
The official clarified that all arrests were made at the scene of the incident and reported that a deputy superintendent of police and nine other police personnel sustained minor injuries during the unrest. (ANI)

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