Another murder over Navratra group rivalry

Police have arrested four persons in the case.

The deceased,Baiju alias Pramod Baban Navghane (26),a resident of Ganesh Chamber in Balaji Nagar,Dhankawadi,used to run the Ganraj Hotel and was leader of the Ganraj group. His friend Ashpaq Babulal Shaikh (20),a resident of Kashinath Patil Nagar in Dhankawdi lodged a complaint of murder at Sahkarnagar police station against members of the Maratha Yoddha group,including its president Datta Mane,vice president Kailas Mane and aides Bapu Nayar,Niesh Baswant,Somnath Mane,Swapnil Modve,Tabrej Sutar and nine others.

The crime branch and Sahkarnagar police teams arrested Datta Mane,Kailas Mane,Swapnil Modve and Tabrej Sutar from Dukkar Farm in Jambhulwadi. They were booked under section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code and relevant sections of the Bombay Police Act and the Arms Act.

In his complaint,Shaikh,who runs a juice stall in Dhankawdi,alleged that some booked in the case had earlier threatened local stall owners,shopkeepers and hoteliers including Navghane and extorted money from them.

During the recent Navratra,the Maratha Yoddha group took out the Toran Utsav procession from Lottery Mandi area,where Ganraj group is located and members of the group allegedly pelted stones at Navghane’s hotel and took money forcibly from the cash counter. Navghane’s relative had then lodged a police complaint and a few members of the Maratha Yoddha group had been arrested. Since then,enmity had been simmering between the two groups.

On Friday around 9 pm,Navghane,Shaikh and other friends were returning from Bharati Hospital,where a member of the Ganraj group,Sadashiv Mhetre,was admitted after a road accident a few days back,when about 15 persons allegedly belonging Maratha Yoddha group intercepted their vehicles in front of the electricity board office in Dhankawdi on the Pune-Satara Road,around 10.45 pm,police said. Armed with sharp weapons and lathis,they attacked Navghane and his friends,they added. Navghane collapsed on the road,and his friends managed to flee. The attackers smashed windshields and glasses of vehicles parked on the roadside before escaping. It created panic and shopkeepers brought down shutters.

Police teams rushed to the spot on receiving information. Cops admitted Navghane to Bharati hospital. He succumbed to injuries around 3.30 am. A huge police force was deployed in Dhankwadi area to control the situation.

Senior police officials and several political leaders visited the spot on Saturday morning. NCP MP Supriya Sule said it was a horrible incident. “I have spoken to Pune police chief to take proper action against the criminals,” she said.

Shiv Sena MLC Neelam Gorhe said the incident should be probed. She said police should also conduct panchanama of damaged vehicles as early as possible so that owners may claim compensation from insurance companies. “Criminal gangs are active in Dhankawdi,Balajinagar and Indira Nagar. There is a need for additional police chowkis for the region,” she said.

Police commissioner Meeran Borwankar said,“Nobody involved in the crime will be spared. We are seriously looking into the demand for a police chowky.” Borwankar also said police cannot ban Toran Utsav processions but “we would take action against groups if there are complaints from people.”

On October 3,a brawl during a Navratra procession had led to the murder of a 24-year-old,Tushar Dhotre,at Old Sangvi.