BHOPAL: An RSS leader and his village sarpanch brother were brutally murdered by a group of 12-15 armed men in Seoni district of Madhya Pradesh on Sunday night. The incident happened at Mehri Pipariya village in the Kanhivara area of Seoni 400 km from the state capital of Bhopal.
RSS leader Gyani Patle (40) and his brother Ashok Patle (35), the sarpanch of Mehri Pipariya village, were sitting outside a shop along with two others when a group of their rivals, allegedly led by one Mahanand Patle, attacked them with sharp-edged weapons and firearms.
Gyani Patle was the RSS sharirik pramukh of Seoni district.
All four men were rushed in a critical condition to hospital in Nagpur, but Gyani and Ashok Patle died on the way. The condition of the other two men is said to be critical.
A large police force has been deployed in Mehri Pipariya village to prevent retaliatory violence.
A total of 15 accused, including Mahanand Patle, have been booked by the Kanhivara police, but none has been arrested, said additional superintendent of police Vijay Bhagwani.
The preliminary investigation has revealed that the RSS leader and his brother were embroiled in a money dispute with Mahanand Patle.
In May 2017, the two siblings were booked for assaulting Mahanand Patle.