Man, 27, hacked to death in Pune's Kothrud on eve of Diwali; attackers on the run

A 27-year-old man was brutally murdered on the eve of Diwali in Sutardara in Pune's Kothrud area. The victim has been identified as Prakash Yewale, alias 'Lalya'. A gang of three to four people attacked him repeatedly with sharp weapons and wooden sticks to settle an old score. The assault was so severe that he died of serious injuries and heavy blood loss before he could be treated.

According to preliminary information from the police, Yewale was a criminal on police records and had earlier been booked in some serious cases. A few days ago he had a bitter quarrel with youths of a local mandal in Sutardara. The attackers kept watch on him and plotted the murder to avenge this old dispute.

On Saturday night at around 9 pm, Yewale was passing through Sutardara when a gang of three to four people suddenly stopped him on the road. Before he could grasp what was happening, the attackers struck hard at his head and back with sharp weapons and sticks and fled immediately.

Bystanders rushed Lalya, who was lying covered in blood, to a nearby private hospital. But he had lost a great deal of blood, and doctors declared him dead before treatment could begin.

On receiving news of the incident, senior officers of Kothrud police station reached the spot and began an investigation. Police have learnt the names of the suspected accused and have sent special teams to various places to catch them. The search for the absconding accused continues. The murder during the festival season has created an atmosphere of fear in the Kothrud area.