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Journalism of Courage
The last rites of 18 year old Ayush Komkar, who was shot dead near his residence in Bhavani Peth three days ago, were conducted at the Vaikunth Crematorium in Pune city, on Monday evening. As per officials, after the post mortem, his dead boy was kept in a morgue at the Sassoon hospital, because his father Ganesh Komkar, lodged in Nagpur jail. However, a court granted parole to Ganesh Komkar for attending his last rites.
Ganesh has been in jail for about a year since his arrest in the Vanraj Andekar murder case. After being released on parole, Ganesh was brought to Pune from Nagpur jail. He then attended his son’s funeral. A police force was deployed in the crematorium premises at that time.
As per a senior police officer, Ganesh Komkar was being taken back to Nagpur jail after the funeral was completed.
Ayush’s mother, Kalyani Ganesh Komkar (37) had lodged the first information report (FIR) of her son’s muder at the Samartha police station after which 13 persons have been booked including Kalyani’s father Suryakant alias Bandu Andekar (68) and eight others from Andekar family, along with Andekar gang members Amit Prakash Patole (19), Sujal Rahul Mergu (23), Aman Yusuf Pathan alias Khan, Yash Siddheshwar Patil (19); all residents of Nana Peth.
It is alleged in the FIR that as per the conspiracy hatched by the Andekar gang to avenge the murder of Vanraj Andekar, the accused Aman Pathan and Yash Patil shot dead Ayush Komkar in the parking of Lakshmi Complex, near Navrang Mitra Mandal in Bhavani Peth, where he was residing, around 7.30 pm on September 4.
Police have so far arrested Amit Patole and Yash Patil. A court has remanded the two accused to police custody till September 12 for investigation. Search is on for the remaining accused.
Vanraj Andekar was shot dead near his Nana Peth residence on September 1, 2024. Vanraj’s sister Sanjivani Komkar, her husband Jayant, Ayush’s father Ganesh Komkar, a history sheeter Somnath Sayaji Gaikwad, were among those arrested for Vanraj’s murder.
Police said following a previous dispute, the Komkars had allegedly conspired to kill Vanraj with the help of Somnath Gaikwad, a former henchman of the Andekar gang who later turned into a rival.
