The Republican Party of India (A) has called a total shutdown on Thursday in Ahmednagar district in protest against the ‘police failure’ to crack the triple murder of a Dalit family more than a week ago.
The Republican Sena and Dalit organisations are expected to back the bandh call.
“It is dismaying that the police cannot solve a murder of this magnitude in a sparsely populated area even after eight days,” RPI (A) president Ramdas Athawale told The Hindu from Mumbai.
On the intervening night of October 20 and 21, Sanjay Jadhav (42), his wife Jayashree (38) and their son Sunil (19) were hacked to death in Javkhede Khalasa village in Ahmednagar’s Pathardi taluk.
“More than 100 policemen are on this case. Eight teams have been constituted. We are tracing call records of the murdered family. We will crack the case soon,” said Inspector-General of Police (Nashik Range) Pravin Salunkhe.
He said the murderers were careful not to leave any clue. “We could not retrieve Sunil’s mobile from the spot. After interrogating some people, we believe that the boy’s mobile was on till 11 p.m. on October 20. The murders might have taken place after that,” he said.
Officers from Nashik, Dhule, Jalgaon and Ahmednagar districts were working on the case, while the Mumbai police were being regularly consulted, Mr. Salunkhe said. Security had been provided for the victims’ relatives living in Jadhavwadi.
The Ahmednagar district continues to be tense with shutdowns, road blocks and rallies frequently being staged in Pathardi.
