Elderly couple hacked to death in Purandar's Panawadi village; neighbour booked for double murder

An elderly couple was killed in an attack with a sharp weapon in Panawadi village of Purandar taluka in Pune district. The incident has caused a stir across the taluka. The victims have been identified as Ratnamala Mohan Dhiwar (72) and Mohan Baburao Dhiwar (83).

A case of double murder has been registered at Saswad police station against Ganesh Subhash Dhiwar (27), a resident of Panawadi. The complaint was filed by Ashwini Amar Kharat (34).

According to police, the accused, Ganesh Dhiwar, lives near the house of the deceased Mohan Dhiwar. The two had been quarrelling over petty matters for some days. They had also had an argument over taking a cow and a bullock past the complainant's door. Police said the accused harboured anger over this quarrel and brutally killed Ratnamala and Mohan Dhiwar by striking them with a sharp weapon.

The incident took place on October 25, 2026, at about 5.20 pm. The elderly couple were walking towards their house when the accused, who was waiting in the courtyard of the house, attacked them fiercely. Both suffered deep wounds and lost a great deal of blood. They died before they could be taken to hospital.

The accused fled after the killings. The deceased couple and the accused, Ganesh Dhiwar, belong to the same extended family. The accused's family has lived in another village for work for the past two to three generations. Ganesh Dhiwar is said to have a criminal tendency and to have several cases registered against him. He had been released from jail only a few days earlier. He had also been externed from the district again, and had therefore come to live in his native village.

On receiving news of the incident, Sub-Divisional Police Officer Rajendrasingh Gaur, Police Inspector Santosh Gholve and Woman Police Sub-Inspector Archana Patil reached the spot with a police team and inspected the scene. Assistant Police Inspector Sonawane is conducting further investigation under the guidance of Police Inspector Santosh Gholve.