Latur road rage: In a horrifying case of road rage in Maharashtras Latur district, a woman and her three-year-old daughter lost their lives after being allegedly chased and run over by five men in a car. The family of five was travelling on a motorcycle when the fatal incident occurred following a roadside argument.Family targeted after argument on roadThe incident, which took place on the evening of September 29, began as a family was returning from a visit to Sadique Shaikhs sister in Ausa, about 20 kilometers from Latur. Sadique Shaikh (35) was riding the bike with his wife Iqra (24), their six-year-old son Ahad, and three-year-old daughter Nadia. According to Shaikh, a car abruptly cut in front of their motorcycle on the outskirts of Ausa. Suspecting the cars occupants were intoxicated, Shaikh briefly confronted them before deciding to continue on his way.What followed was a harrowing 5-kilometer chase that ended in tragedy near Budhada village, where the car rammed into the familys motorcycle. The impact killed Iqra and Nadia instantly, while Shaikh and his son Ahad survived with injuries and were rushed to a nearby hospital.Was the attack fueled by religious hatredInitially, the family believed the incident was an unfortunate accident. However, the following day, after regaining consciousness, Shaikh recounted disturbing details to his elder brother. He claimed that the occupants of the car had hurled religious slurs, saying, “Muslims need to be taught a lesson,” before deliberately running them down. Shaikh also alleged that the men verbally abused his wife for wearing a burqa, further suggesting the attack was motivated by religious hatred rather than a random act of road rage.Despite these claims, the official FIR lodged by Latur Police makes no mention of the alleged religious slurs. However, activist groups and the victims lawyer, Altaf Qazi, have echoed Shaikhs claims, arguing that the case should be treated as a hate crime.FIR lodged after pressure from activistsThe five accused — Krishna Wagh, Digambhar Pandole, Basvaraj Dhotre, Manoj Mane, and Mudame — were apprehended by local residents shortly after the incident. A video circulating on social media allegedly shows one of the accused admitting to deliberately running over the family.The victims family accused the police of initially being reluctant to file an FIR. It was only after pressure from activists and members of the local community that an FIR was registered under charges of murder. The accused have been remanded to police custody for three days.Authorities lean towards road rage explanationDespite claims of religious hatred, the Latur Police currently lean towards treating the incident as a case of road rage. Latur Superintendent of Police, Somay Mundhe, stated, “At this stage, it seems to be a case of road rage. We have charged the five men with murder, but investigations are ongoing to determine whether other motives were involved.”Growing tensions over incidentThe incident has sparked outrage in the local Muslim community, with calls for a thorough investigation into whether the attack was racially motivated. As the case develops, authorities are under increasing pressure to ensure justice is served.
