A 55-year-old activist fighting for the cause of prohibition in the district was allegedly murdered by six persons near here, police said today.
The incident occurred yesterday when Virendra Namdeo Rathod, a police patil of Yavli village, was returning home on his motorcycle, said SP Akhilesh Kumar Singh.
The incident took place when Rathod was returning after attending a meeting between pro and anti-prohibition groups, organised by the villagers .
He said Rathod was intercepted and attacked with stones by at least six persons, which resulted into his death.
Police have arrested five persons in connection with the murder.
They have been identified as Mahadev Tekam (30), Doma Shivankar (30), Bhagvan Shivankar (50), Hussain Atram (35) and Shankar Adinkar (32), all residents of Yavli village, while the sixth accused, Kailas Pawar is absconding, the SP said.
Police Patil is in charge of a particular village in the quasi judicial and administrative capacity and is governed by the Maharashtra Village Police Act.
Rathod's funeral was held today, and was attended by district guardian minister Sanjay Rathod and senior officials.
The movement to ban alcohol in Yavatmal district has gathered steam ever since prohibition was enforced in neighbouring Chandrapur district.
The Yavatmal Zilla Parishad (ZP) had last month passed a unanimous resolution to support the ongoing agitation by women for ban on production, sale and consumption of liquor in the district.
Police said the murder could be the fallout of the enmity between two groups over the campaign for prohibition.
