Congress leader lynched at poll

A local Congress leader allegedly involved in the murder of a Shiv Sena worker was stripped and beaten to death in a Maharashtra village at a political meeting held in the run-up to a district council by-election.Dnyaneshwar Sathwane, a former vice president of the Nagpur district council, was lynched in Tarsa village near here late on Thursday.Police said the gory murder took place during a late night meeting addressed by Public Works Minister Anil Deshmukh. A large mob, allegedly comprising Shiv Sena workers, disrupted the meeting and stoned the minister's car. A few policemen at the site watched helplessly.While Deshmukh sped away, the mob encircled Sathwane, allegedly involved in the murder of Shiv Sena district council member Gopal Lohbare six months ago. They first stripped him and then beat him mercilessly with sticks.