Man, 27, murdered in Pune's Kothrud a day before Diwali; one suspect detained

A 27-year-old man was murdered in Pune's Kothrud area on Saturday night, a day before Diwali. The incident took place in the Sutardara locality, where a group of three to four people attacked him. Kothrud police have detained one suspect and are searching for the others.

The deceased has been identified as Prakash Yewale, also known as Lalya. According to police, he was in the Sutardara area at about 9.30 pm when the group stopped him and allegedly attacked him with sharp weapons. Preliminary information is that he collapsed, covered in blood, after being stabbed in the neck. The attackers fled the spot immediately.

Yewale was taken to Sassoon Hospital in a critical condition but died during treatment, in front of the doctors.

Kothrud police reached the spot on receiving information. Senior officers and a Crime Branch team arrived later. Police said the attackers have been identified from CCTV footage from cameras in the area and statements by eyewitnesses at the spot. Special teams have been sent out to trace them, and technical investigation is also being used. One suspect was detained within a few hours of the incident.

Police are now trying to find out who else was involved in the attack and what the reason was. Officials said Yewale had a police record, with cases of theft, burglary and other offences registered against him. He had also recently quarrelled with some youths linked to a local mandal. On this basis, police suspect the murder could be the result of an old enmity and the recent dispute. However, police have not confirmed the motive.

Residents of the area are shaken by the murder, which took place just before the festival, and the question of law and order in the city has once again come up for discussion.