India, Feb. 6 -- For the first time since the raging controversy broke over the murder of Beed sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh in December last year, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis visited Beed district, where he presided over a public function on Wednesday. Fadnavis took the opportunity to say that he intends to give the district a new identity. No criminal activities will be tolerated in the district, nor will anyone involved in the murder be spared, he said.

Conspicuously absent from the function was Dhananjay Munde, whose dismissal from the state cabinet is being sought over the murder. The food and civil supplies minister has been linked to the alleged mastermind of the murder, Walmik Karad, who is also alleged to have unleashed a reign...