Maharashtra Congress vice president Hidayatullah Patel dies after being stabbed at mosque in Akola

Mumbai: Veteran Congress leader Hidayat Patel, who was brutally attacked outside a mosque in Akot in Akola district, died on Wednesday, leading protests by his supporters demanding arrest of all the accused. 

The 66-year-old was the vice president of Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) and had unsuccessfully contested the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections. 

On Tuesday, while coming out of the Markaz Masjid in Mohala in Akot tehsil after the noon prayers, he was attacked by a group of persons who repeatedly stabbed him on his abdomen and neck.

He was rushed to the private hospital, where he died on Wednesday morning. 

The Akot Rural police has registered an offence and investigations are underway. 

Akola superintendent of police Archit Chandak said preliminary investigations have revealed that the attack could have been because of old dispute and political rivalry. 

The Akola Rural police have arrested Ubed Patel for the attack.

The role of a local politician is also being investigated.

According to the investigations, the accused blamed Hidayat Patel for the murder of a uncle Mateen Patel in 2019, and there was animosity between the two families.

Hidayat Patel was not directly involved in the ongoing local body elections. They also noted that Akot, where the attack occurred, is a rural area that does not fall under the Akot Municipal Council’s jurisdiction - the elections of which were held last month. 

Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar said the heinous attack on Congress senior leader Hidayat Patel and his subsequent demise is an extremely tragic and shocking incident.

“I strongly condemn in the harshest terms the rising violent tendencies in politics,” he said. “A diligent, sensitive, and people-oriented leader has departed from our midst today. The void created in the social and political life of Akola district is one that can never be filled. The work done by Hidayat Patel for society through public service will forever remain etched in memory,” he added.

Former Congress MLA Yashomati Thakur said: “The news of the passing of Congress senior leader and Vice President of Maharashtra Pradesh Congress, Hidayat Patel, is extremely heartbreaking. On Tuesday, Patel was subjected to a fatal attack amid political disputes. Following that, he was undergoing treatment in Akola. However, Patel passed away during the course of his treatment.”