Nagpur: In a violent incident during the ongoing unrest in Nagpur’s Mahal area, IPS officer Niketan B Kadam, a 2018-batch officer of the Maharashtra cadre, was attacked with an axe by rioters on Monday night. Kadam, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) for the region, was seriously injured, but managed to block the axe blow aimed at his neck with his hand, although sustaining severe injuries. He underwent emergency surgery later that evening at New Era Hospital.
Kadam, along with two other officers, was injured during a search operation aimed at quelling the violence that erupted Monday evening in Mahal. Eyewitnesses reported that a mob targeted homes and vehicles, leading to escalating violence. The situation became critical when Kadam and his team were trapped in a building by a violent crowd. Reinforcements managed to reach the scene and evacuate Kadam and his team, dispersing the rioters.
The curfew imposed in Mahal continues to remain in place, and police have detained 17 individuals linked to the violence. The unrest began around 7:30 PM on Monday in the Chitnis Park area of Mahal, where the first clashes occurred. As the situation escalated, rioters attacked Kadam and his team with stones, leaving the officers injured.
In a heartening gesture, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis spoke with Kadam via video call on Tuesday, wishing him a speedy recovery.
A Remarkable Journey
Born in Nashik, Maharashtra, Niketan B Kadam’s journey to becoming an IPS officer is inspiring. Raised in a Marathi-medium Zilla Parishad school, Kadam went on to earn a diploma and a B.Tech degree. Although he secured a well-paying job at an IT company, he was unfulfilled and harbored a dream of joining the Indian Police Service (IPS).
To pursue his dream, Kadam moved to Delhi to prepare for the UPSC exams. Despite facing setbacks and failing in his first two attempts, Kadam persevered and succeeded in his third attempt. Throughout his journey, he struggled with language barriers, particularly in English, and his colleagues often mocked him for his communication difficulties. However, his determination and resilience allowed him to overcome these challenges and fulfill his dream of serving as an IPS officer.
Kadam’s courage and commitment to his duty continue to inspire many, even as he recovers from this harrowing incident.
