Lack of witnesses willing to identify the four main accused involved in Friday’s Dhankavdi violence forced the city police to cancel the identification parade scheduled to be held on Sunday.
The police have appealed to citizens to come forward and help them identify the culprits. After the Friday incident, the citizens are living under a shadow of fear and not coming forward to identify the miscreants, who went on the rampage damaging cars and two-wheelers and setting ablaze a motorcycle in Balajinagar area.
Meanwhile, the four suspects, Datta Mane, Kailas Mane, Swapnil Modve and Tabrej Sutar, who were arrested for murdering Baiju alias Pramod Navghane (26), a resident of Balajinagar, have been remanded in police custody till October 26.
Navghane, who owns a hotel and is also president of the Ganaraj social group, was stabbed with sharp weapons on Saturday by members of a rival group for not paying ‘hafta’ or protection money. Navghane had earlier complained to the police that his hotel was looted during the Navratri toran procession in Dhanakavdi. He succumbed to injuries early on Saturday.
The investigating officer, assistant commissioner of police, Abhay Yewale said, “We have formed a team to nab the other accused who were involved and are currently at large.”
Another police officer said, “The citizens are not coming forward to help us identify the accused who were involved in the ruckus.” He appealed to citizens to come and help them identify the culprits at an identification parade.
Meanwhile, the Bhumata Brigade has demanded that the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), 1999 should be evoked against the culprits and demanded that a police chowki be set up in Balajinagar area.
