Woman doctor’s suicide: Will not rest till justice served, won’t tolerate politics, says Fadnavis
Satara.(PTI): Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said he will not rest till justice is delivered in the alleged suicide of a woman doctor in Satara district, asserting that he also won’t tolerate attempts to politicise the matter.
During the day, state minister Pankaja Munde and former minister Dhananjay Munde visited the doctor's kin at their place in Beed district and demanded a high-level investigation into the case.
Speaking after inaugurating and laying the foundation stone of several development works at Phaltan in Satara, Fadnavis said, “An attempt was made that I don't come for this programme. Former MP Ranjitsinh Naik Nimbalkar and local MLA Sachin Patil's names were linked to the case. If I had an iota of doubt, I would have myself cancelled my visit.”
The CM also said he will not tolerate attempts to politicise the doctor's death.
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Sunday termed the doctor’s alleged suicide an “institutionalised murder” and claimed her death exposes the “inhuman and insensitive” nature of the BJP-led government.
The doctor, hailing from Beed district in the Marathwada region of central Maharashtra and posted at a government hospital in Satara district, was found hanging in a hotel room in Phaltan town on Thursday night.
In the suicide note written on her palm, she alleged that police sub-inspector Gopal Badane raped her on multiple occasions, while Prashant Bankar, a software engineer, mentally harassed her.
The sub-inspector and the engineer were arrested on Saturday.
Fadnavis said he would never compromise on ensuring justice for his “younger sister”, whose death by suicide was extremely tragic and unfortunate.
The doctor wrote a suicide note on her palm, and both the accused have been arrested, he said.
“I will not rest till justice is delivered,” said Fadnavis, who also heads the home department.
A relative of the doctor had alleged that she complained multiple times about harassment, but her grievances were not addressed. Another relative claimed the victim was pressured to change medical reports at the sub-district hospital where she worked.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve had accused former BJP MP Ranjitsingh Naik Nimbalkar of pressuring the doctor on one occasion in the past. Nimbalkar, however, denied the allegation, saying it had no truth, and his name was being dragged into the case deliberately.
BJP MLA Suresh Dhas has demanded that the “MP who allegedly tried to coerce” the woman doctor be made an accused in the case. He did not name any leader, though.
Meanwhile, Fadnavis also said that water from the Nira Deoghar dam should have been brought to Malshiras and Phaltan several years ago, but those in power previously did not want that to happen and diverted the water rightfully of Phaltan to other regions.
The CM asserted his government works for the all-round development of the state.
Development schemes, including the waiver of electricity bills for farmers and the ‘Ladki Bahin’ scheme for women, will never be stopped, he added.
His party colleague Pankaja Munde visited the doctor’s family and assured them of justice. She called the incident “extremely painful”.
The state minister of environment and climate change, and animal husbandry said she will soon meet the CM seeking a high-level investigation.
Former minister and NCP leader Dhananjay Munde, who represents the Parli constituency in Beed district, also met the family and demanded an impartial investigation, preferably under senior women officers.
He said it must be determined whether it was a case of suicide or murder.
“I have already spoken to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis about the matter and will meet him in Mumbai to demand a detailed and transparent probe,” Munde said.
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2nd WT20I: Shafali, spin trio do star turns in India''s seven-wicket win
Visakhapatnam (PTI): Shafali Verma hit a blistering unbeaten 69 as India made short work of a paltry target to outclass Sri Lanka by seven wickets in the second Women’s T20 International here on Tuesday.
India now lead the five-match series 2-0 after another one-sided victory, having restricted Sri Lanka to a modest 128 for 9 through a collective display of disciplined bowling from the spin trio of seasoned Sneh Rana, ably complemented by young spinners Vaishnavi Sharma and Shree Charani.
During the chase, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana (14) fell cheaply but Shafali, enjoying new found confidence after a stellar show in the World Cup final, sent the bowlers on a leather-hunt during her 34-ball knock, winning it for her team in just 11.5 overs.
The hosts have now completed back-to-back successful chases within 15 overs which speaks volumes about the unit's sky-high confidence.
Shafali's innings had 11 punchy boundaries apart from a maximum.
The floodgates opened when left-arm spinner Inoka Ranaweera bowled a few flighted deliveries and Shafali would step out everytime to hit her over extra cover. Her footwork against slow bowlers was immaculate whether stepping out to loft the ball or rocking back to punch or pull.
Seeing her confidence, the newly appointed Delhi Capitals skipper Jemimah Rodrigues (26 off 15 balls) also attacked as the duo added 58 runs in just 4.3 overs.
By the time Rodrigues was out trying to hit one six too many, the match as a contest was over. Shafali completed her half-century off just 27 balls and completed the formalities in a jiffy.
Earlier, off-spinner Rana, who got a look-in after Deepti Sharma was ruled out due to fever, showed her utility keeping the Lankan batters under tight leash with figures of 1 for 11 in 4 overs, including a maiden which certainly is a rarity in T20 cricket.
Charani, who made an impression during India's ODI World Cup triumph, took 2 for 23 in her quota of overs, while Vaishnavi after an impressive debut in the opening encounter, finished with 2 for 32, not letting the Islanders get easy runs in her second spell.
The last six wickets fell for just 24 runs, but what stood out during India’s bowling effort was their superb ground fielding. After a patchy show in the previous game, the improved sharpness in the field resulted in three run-outs.
Sri Lankan skipper Chamari Athapaththu (31 off 24 balls) looked in good nick as she deposited length deliveries from seamers Kranti Gaud and Arundhati Reddy over the ropes but it was Rana, who kept her quiet by repeatedly pitching on good length.
Unable to manoeuvre the strike and with the big hits suddenly drying up, Athapaththu chanced her arm at another delivery in which Rana had shortened the length slightly.
Not having transferred the weight into the lofted shot, Athapaththu's hoick was pouched cleanly by Amanjot Kaur at long-off.
This was after Athapaththu's opening partner Vishmi Gunaratne (1) had offered a simple return catch to Gaud.
Hasini Perera (22 off 28 balls) and Harshitha Samarawickrama (33 off 32 balls) did stitch a stand of 44 but they could never set the tempo against the Indian spin troika.
Once Hasini offered a tame return catch off a Charani full-toss, Sri Lankans never recovered and lost wickets in a heap towards the end.
