Latur: On September 29, a mother and her three-year-old daughter lost their lives in a road rage incident in Latur, Maharashtra. Five men reportedly ran over the family while they were riding on a motorcycle.
The tragedy unfolded after an argument between the men and Sadique Shaikh, the motorcycle rider. Shaikh and his six-year-old son sustained injuries, while his wife Iqra and daughter Nadia were killed. Shaikh alleged that the men directed communal slurs at them during the altercation, claiming “Muslims need to be taught a lesson.”
The accused—Digambhar Pandole, Krishna Wagh, Basvaraj Dhotre, Manoj Mane, and Manoj Mudame—have been arrested on murder charges. Although Latur’s Superintendent of Police, Somay Mundhe, initially described it as road rage, Shaikh’s family contends that the incident was a targeted attack based on their religious background.
A video surfaced showing one of the suspects purportedly admitting to intentionally crashing into the motorcycle. Reports suggest the police were hesitant to classify the incident as murder until Shaikh’s lawyer and activists intervened.
