A government medical officer in Yavatmal’s Umerkhed was shot dead by a youth. While the accused is absconding, the victim identified as Dr. Hanumant Dharmadhikari, who was employed as the government medical officer in Shri Rajaram Prabhaji Government Sub-District Hospital, is reported to have died on the spot. The incident took place outside Gorakhnath Hotel on Tuesday evening on the Umerkhed-Pusad road as Dr. Hanumant was headed towards his clinic.

Dr. Hanumant has been working as a pediatrician in the hospital for the last 7 years. Additionally, he also owns a private clinic close to the Umerkhed bus stand. He was well-known for his work and earned the respect of the people. He was also never involved in any controversy. Therefore, his murder has shocked Umerkhed.

At around 5 in the evening, the victim was going to his clinic when he was stopped on his way by the youth. The accused is then said to have pumped four bullets leading to Dr. Hanumant’s death. The public present at the spot tried to catch him but he fled. The victim was admitted to the government hospital.

The incident led to tension in the area prompting Sub-Divisional Officer Venkat Rathod, Sub-Divisional Police Officer Pradip Padvi, and Umerkhed Police Station in-charge Amol Malve to monitor the situation. The citizens of Umerkhed are dissatisfied with the incident.

Although media reports state that the accused is an unidentified person, it appears that the media is attempting to shield the accused. In the report by News 15 Marathi, one of the eyewitnesses is heard saying (at around 0.49 minutes) “I know who he is. I’ve seen myself seen him”, when he was asked if he knows who the accused was.

But then just as the man is about the name the accused, the channel cuts off.