IPS officer Niketan B. Kadam has been severely injured while attempting to control violence in Nagpur’s Mahal area.
Brutal Attack During Riots
IPS officer Niketan B. Kadam, a 2018-batch Maharashtra cadre officer and Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) for the region, was attacked with an axe by rioters on Monday night. While the assailants aimed for his neck, Kadam managed to shield himself with his hand, suffering serious injuries. He was rushed to New Era Hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery.
Kadam, along with two other officers, sustained injuries during a search operation to control the violent clashes that erupted in Mahal on Monday evening. Eyewitnesses reported that mobs targeted homes and vehicles, leading to widespread chaos. The situation became critical when Kadam and his team were surrounded by an angry crowd inside a building. Reinforcements were eventually able to rescue them and disperse the rioters.
Ongoing Curfew and Police Crackdown
Authorities have imposed a curfew in Mahal, and police have detained 17 individuals in connection with the violence. The unrest first broke out around 7:30 PM in the Chitnis Park area, escalating as rioters hurled stones and attacked law enforcement officers.
CM Fadnavis Extends Support
In a show of solidarity, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis spoke with Kadam via video call on Tuesday, wishing him a speedy recovery.
