Nagpur: Youth beaten by mob on suspicion of theft dies, accomplice flees; three held
A 28-year-old man died after a crowd in Belatrodi beat him and a companion on suspicion of a home intrusion; police have detained three people and are searching for the other youth.
A mob caught two youths on suspicion of theft at Model Mill Society in New Manish Nagar, under Belatrodi police station limits in Nagpur, on Tuesday afternoon. Both were reportedly beaten badly. One of them, seriously injured, died during treatment at a hospital, while his companion managed to flee. Tension spread in the area after the incident, and a large police force, including senior officers, had to be deployed.
The deceased has been identified as Sumedh Rajendra Gajbhiye (28), a resident of Narsala. The incident is said to have taken place at around 1.45 pm on Tuesday.
According to the information available, two youths entered the house of Usha Devidas Dharmik (61) in Model Mill Society, New Manish Nagar. It is alleged that one of them held a knife to the woman's throat and tried to snatch her mangalsutra. The woman resisted and raised an alarm, and the accused managed to get only a broken piece of the mangalsutra.
Hearing the noise, her daughter-in-law, who was in another room, came into the hall. The accused allegedly demanded jewellery and cash from her as well. Sensing the danger, the daughter-in-law went inside on the pretext of putting the child in a room and bolted the door from within. She then phoned her husband and neighbours and told them about the youths in the house.
On receiving the news, the woman's son reached the house with friends and neighbours, and a search for the two youths began in the vicinity. Some distance away, Sumedh Gajbhiye and his companion Deepak Patil were seen near a two-wheeler. Suspecting them to be the accused who had entered the woman's house, people surrounded them. A crowd gathered within moments and both were assaulted.
Belatrodi police reached the spot on being informed. They detained three people who were assaulting the two and took the injured Sumedh into custody. Meanwhile, Deepak Patil fled.
Police took Sumedh to Belatrodi police station. When his condition worsened there, station house officer Naikwad immediately sent him to the government medical hospital for treatment and a medical examination. Doctors at the hospital declared Sumedh dead after examining him.
Tension rose in the Belatrodi area as news of the death spread. A crowd remained outside Belatrodi police station and around the scene until late at night. As a precaution, police deployed additional force and kept watch on the situation.
Taking the matter seriously, Ajni ACP Narendra Hiwarey, crime branch ACP Vaibhav Jadhav, Deputy Commissioner of Police Rashmita Rao, crime branch Deputy Commissioner Deepak Agrawal, Additional Commissioner of Police Vasant Pardeshi and Joint Commissioner of Police Naveenchandra Reddy reached Belatrodi police station with police personnel.
Police have detained three suspects said to have been involved in the assault. The search for the absconding Deepak Patil continues. Police are investigating who the youths who entered the house actually were and in what circumstances the crowd caught and beat the two. Further action in the case is under way.
