Maharashtra: Silent All-Party March in Beed Demanding Justice for Murdered Sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh

A silent all-party march was organised in Maharashtra’s Beed on Saturday, following the brutal murder of Santosh Deshmukh, the sarpanch of Massajog in Beed district. The murder has drawn widespread condemnation from all sections of society, especially with no arrests made days after the crime.

The march, began from Dr. Ambedkar Chowk in Beed, and passed through several key locations, including Maliwada, Anna Bhau Sathe Chowk, the bus stand, and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Chowk, before concluding at the Superintendent of Police's office. Prominent leaders such as Bajrang Sonawane, Suresh Dhas, Jitendra Awhad, Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati, and Manoj Jarange joined the procession, signaling a united call for justice.

On Friday, December 27, a massive protest march took place in Renapur, Latur district, where residents from multiple villages gathered to express their anger and demand justice.

Vaibhavi Deshmukh, Santosh’s daughter, addressed the gathering with a heartfelt message. “My father was brutally murdered, and seeing so many of you join this fight for justice gives me strength. Please continue to stand by us firmly,” she said emotionally, echoing the demand for swift action.

Manoj Jarange Patil, a leader in the Maratha reservation movement, also spoke at the protest, urging the people of Beed to come together. "This march represents the people of Beed district. Santosh Deshmukh’s daughter has called for this, and I urge everyone to join," he said. Jarange also expressed concerns over the state government's handling of the case. He accused the Chief Minister of protecting the accused, stating, “The Chief Minister is protecting the accused, which will alienate the Maratha community. If the government fails to act, the Marathas will take the investigation into their own hands.”

He further called for similar protests across all districts in Maharashtra, emphasizing the need for coordinated, peaceful demonstrations to make their voices heard. “We need to ensure the protests are impactful and peaceful,” he added.​