JOIN USA day after five beggars who were mistaken for child-lifters were lynched in Dhule district, the Maharashtra government announced an ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh each for the bereaved families, who hail from Solapur district.
The police took a dozen villagers into custody.
The five deceased were identified as Dadarao Shankar Bhosale, Bharat Shankar Bhosale, Raju Bhosale and Bharat Malve of Khave village and Anagu Ingole of Manewadi — both in the Mangalvede tehsil of Solapur district.
They were relatives and belonged to the Nath Gosavi nomadic tribe and move from village to village for alms.
The incident took place in the tribal village of Rainpada in Sakri tehsil of Dhule district — nearly 350 km from Mumbai.
The victims, who were part of a larger group, had come to Dhule from Solapur and set up their camps on the outskirts of Pimpalner and spread out.
The group landed in Rainpada after they came to know of a tent-bazaar, and as soon as they got down from the bus, they were attacked with sticks, stones and bricks. They were dragged to the gram panchayat office and bashed to death.
“We have nothing to say… what we all want is justice… we are poor people,” said Santosh Bhosale, Dadaro’s son. “We are poor people, we have lost everything,” Dadarao and Bharat’s sister.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, said, “We have begun the investigation into the matter.” Several of those involved in the attack may have moved out of the village and efforts are under way to track them down.