Mumbai: Man axed to death in Thane village; political dispute suspected

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A 52-year-old man was brutally murdered in broad daylight at a village in Maharashtra's Thane district following a long-standing local dispute, police said on Sunday. According to PTI, the gruesome incident took place on Saturday morning in the village of Jambrude, located in Murbad taluka.

The victim, identified as Barchandra Birhade, was attacked in the village square by a group of five individuals who assaulted him with an axe, killing him on the spot. Locals who witnessed the violent act promptly informed the authorities, after which police arrived at the scene and sent the body for post-mortem to a nearby government hospital.

Initial investigations have pointed to a prolonged feud between two factions within the village. The victim's son serves as the deputy sarpanch, while the accused group is allegedly aligned with the current sarpanch of the village, who is a woman and has now also been named as an accused in the case.

Tensions between the two sides had been simmering for months, primarily due to disagreements over the implementation of development projects in the village and a series of Right to Information (RTI) applications filed by the victim's camp. These RTI queries were reportedly perceived as attempts to expose irregularities, leading to mounting hostility.

Police have so far arrested one individual in connection with the fatal assault. A manhunt is currently underway to apprehend the remaining suspects who fled the scene following the attack.

Based on a formal complaint lodged by the deceased's family, a case has been registered under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which pertains to murder. Authorities have also named the woman sarpanch as a co-accused, further intensifying the political undertones of the incident.

Punjab: 20-year-old man kills girlfriend, dies by suicide in Bathinda

In a case of suspected murder-suicide, a 20-year-old man allegedly shot and killed a 17-year-old girl in Punjab's Bathinda and before taking his own life, police said, as per ANI.

According to Bathinda Superintendent of Police Narinder Singh, the accused, identified as Hitesh, a resident of Ganganagar, first shot the girl on May 3 in the Parasram Nagar area. She was admitted to a hospital but later succumbed to her injuries.

When police reached the spot, they found that Hitesh had died by suicide.

"Both Hitesh and the girl knew each other and studied in Ganganagar. The girl was a resident of Bathinda," Bathinda Superintendent of Police Narinder Singh told ANI.

An FIR for murder has been registered against Hitesh at the Canal Colony police station.

"We have registered a case and are investigating the matter as per the law," the SP said.

Police were further looking into the case.

(With inputs from Agencies)