Attack on ex-minister Anil Deshmukh: Case against 4 unidentified persons for murder bid
Nagpur (PTI): Police have registered a case against four unidentified persons on charges of attempt to murder after NCP (SP) leader and former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh was seriously injured in stone pelting at his car in Nagpur, officials said on Tuesday.
The incident took place at around 8 pm on Monday and Deshmukh was later admitted to a private hospital in Nagpur.
State NCP (SP) spokesperson Pravin Kunte claimed there was a "conspiracy" behind Deshmukh, who received injuries on his head and shoulder, and blamed the ruling BJP for the incident.
The party headed by Sharad Pawar has demanded a high-level probe into the incident, which occurred on the last day of campaigning for the Maharashtra assembly elections scheduled on November 20.
Deshmukh was returning to Katol after attending a meeting in Narkhed village. Some unidentified persons threw stones at his car near Belphata on Jalalkheda Road near Katol in Nagpur district.
The former minister, who received injuries during the attack, was immediately rushed to the Katol Civil Hospital, police said.
He was later admitted to a private hospital here.
Nagpur Rural Superintendent of Police (SP) Harssh Poddar on Tuesday said they have taken a serious cognisance of the incident and registered a case against four unidentified persons on charges of attempt to murder.
A forensic team has visited the incident spot to collect technical evidence, he said.
The deputy SP of Katol was investigating the case, he said, adding that senior police officials and the district collector have also visited the incident spot.
Poddar appealed to the people not to pay attention to any rumours.
Anil Deshmukh's son Salil Deshmukh is contesting from the Katol assembly constituency on the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) ticket against BJP's Charansingh Thakur.
Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, NCP (SP) spokesperson Kunte said the former minister suffered injuries on his head and shoulder and doctors have advised him bed rest.
Asked who was behind the attack, Kunte blamed it on the BJP and its leaders.
He alleged there was a "nexus" of Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, who is also the state home minister, BJP MLC Parinay Fuke and Katol nominee Thakur operating in the area.
There is no law and order in the state and a former home minister is attacked, Kunte said, claiming no police security was provided at Deshmukh's residence through the night.
He also raised questions over Fuke holding a press conference on Tuesday morning and claiming the attack on Anil Deshmukh was a "political stunt".
"It is not a stunt but a conspiracy against Anil Deshmukh," Kunte claimed.
Earlier, NCP (SP) spokesperson Vedprakash Arya on Monday sought a high-level inquiry into the incident and police protection for Deshmukh's family.
"Some people attacked Anil Deshmukh's car in Belfata Bhishnur in Katol, wherein Deshmukh received serious head injury. His treatment started in Katol but due to the serious injury, he was shifted to Nagpur for treatment," Arya said in a statement.
He claimed that their political opponents were staring at a crushing defeat and, therefore, resorted to such a cowardly attack.
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London, Nov 22: A bomb disposal squad deployed as a “precaution” to the South Terminal of Gatwick Airport concluded an investigation into a "security incident" on Friday after making a “suspect package” safe.
The South Terminal of Gatwick Airport, the UK's second busiest airport after Heathrow, which was briefly shut owing to the incident reopened following the incident.
The Gatwick is around 45 km south of London.
Two people detained during the enquiries have since been allowed to continue their journey as the airport was opened.
“Police have concluded their investigation into a report of a suspect package at Gatwick Airport. Officers from the EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team made the package safe, and the airport has been handed back to its operator,” Sussex Police said in an updated statement.
“Two people detained while enquiries were ongoing have subsequently been allowed to continue their journeys. There will remain an increased police presence in the area to assist with passengers accessing the South Terminal for onward travel,” the statement added.
Earlier on Friday, the incident caused severe disruption at the busy airport’s South Terminal, while the North Terminal of Gatwick Airport remained unaffected.
“Police were called to the South Terminal at Gatwick Airport at 8.20 am on Friday (November 22) following the discovery of a suspected prohibited item in luggage,” a Sussex Police statement said.
“To ensure the safety of the public, staff and other airport users, a security cordon has been put in place whilst the matter is dealt with. As a precaution, an EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team is being deployed to the airport. This is causing significant disruption and some roads around the South Terminal have been closed. We’d advise the public to avoid the area where possible,” it said.
Footage on social media taken outside the airport showed crowds of frustrated travellers being moved away from the terminal building.
Gatwick said it was working hard to resolve the issue.
“A large part of the South Terminal has been evacuated as a precaution while we continue to investigate a security incident," the airport said in a social media post.
“Passengers will not be able to enter the South Terminal while this is ongoing. The safety and security of our passengers and staff remain our top priority. We are working hard to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.”
Train and bus services that serve the airport were also impacted while the police carried out their inquiries.
In an unrelated incident in south London on Friday morning, the US Embassy area in Nine Elms by the River Thames was the scene of a controlled explosion by Scotland Yard dealing with what they believe may have been a “hoax device”.
“We can confirm the 'loud bang' reported in the area a short time ago was a controlled explosion carried out by officers,” the Metropolitan Police said in a post on X.
“Initial indications are that the item was a hoax device. An investigation will now follow. Some cordons will remain in place for the time being but the majority of the police response will now be stood down,” it added.
