Liquor dispute in Kondhwa
A 35-year-old catering worker was arrested by Kondhwa police for allegedly murdering a daily wage labourer by smashing a stone on his head following an argument over liquor in Kondhwa on April 30. The deceased has been identified as Manishkumar Mahadev Paswan (22), a resident of the Vitthal Rukmini Temple area in Panchsheel Nagar, Kondhwa.
The accused, Mahadev Arjun Kamble (35), a resident of Swami Samarth Nagar on Katraj-Kondhwa Road, was arrested shortly after the incident.
According to police officials, the incident occurred between 7 pm and 11.30 pm under a neem tree located near a hill slope in RK Colony, Kondhwa.
The police said Kamble worked in catering services while Paswan earned his livelihood through daily wage labour work. On the night of the incident, Paswan was allegedly sitting alone under the neem tree consuming alcohol when Kamble approached him and asked for liquor. A heated argument reportedly broke out between the two men over sharing the alcohol.
In a fit of rage, Kamble allegedly picked up a large stone lying nearby and attacked Paswan, striking him repeatedly on the head. Paswan suffered severe injuries and died on the spot before he could receive medical assistance.
After committing the crime, the accused allegedly fled from the scene. During the preliminary investigation, the police learned that Kamble had later informed his brother about the incident and confessed that the murder had taken place at his hands. Based on this information and subsequent technical investigation, police tracked down and arrested the accused.
Police Sub-Inspector Shivraj Kharade lodged a complaint in the matter at Kondhwa police station. Senior police officials, including Deputy Commissioner of Police Rajlaxmi Shivanakar, Assistant Commissioner of Police Namrata Desai, and Senior Police Inspector Deepak Karande, visited the crime scene and inspected the area as part of the investigation.
Speaking to Pune Times Mirror, Senior Police Inspector Deepak Karande of Kondhwa Police Station who is investigating the case said, "The accused works as a caterer and the deceased was employed as a daily wage labourer. We have arrested the accused, and the court has remanded him to police custody till Monday."
Police officials said the murder appears to have been committed in a sudden fit of anger following the dispute. A case of murder has been registered at Kondhwa Police Station under 103(1) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and further investigation is underway.