Yavatmal: Quarrel over mobile phone turns fatal, labourer allegedly stoned to death
Police say a drunken argument over a mobile phone in Yavatmal ended with a 38-year-old labourer bludgeoned to death with a stone; two men have been arrested.
A trivial argument over a mobile phone escalated into murder in Yavatmal city after tempers flared in a drunken altercation. Police said the body of Shaikh Mushtaq Shaikh Mastan, a 38-year-old labourer from the Ashok Nagar area, was found on Tuesday (the 22nd) morning behind a garage on Chhota Bypass Road.
A case was registered at Yavatmal City police station on the complaint of the victim's son, Ashpaq Shaikh Mustaq Shaikh (19), a resident of Ashok Nagar. Based on his complaint, Sonu Ali Sharafat Ali (25), a resident of Ashok Nagar, and Shaikh Sameer Shaikh Aslam (23), a resident of Alkabir Nagar, have been booked for murder and arrested.
Mushtaq Shaikh earned his living through daily wage labour. He had left for work around 9 am on Monday as usual but did not return home even after nightfall. His family waited for him until 11 pm. On Tuesday morning, the family learned that his body had been found behind a garage on Chhota Bypass Road. When they reached the spot, they found deep wounds on his face consistent with being struck by a stone. A large, blood-stained stone was also recovered near the body, reinforcing suspicion of an attack.
On being informed of the incident, Sub-Divisional Police Officer Amol Koli, Police Inspector Suradkar, Assistant Police Inspector Biradar and Police Sub-Inspector Sujata Manwar reached the scene. SDPO Koli personally inspected the site, while a forensic team also collected evidence. Police said the victim had suffered serious injuries to the face from a stone, and the blood-stained stone found at the spot has been seized. After completing the panchnama, city police registered a murder case against the accused.
According to the statement recorded by police, on the night of the incident, Sonu Ali and Shaikh Sameer were seen roaming in the Patipura area by acquaintances of the victim. During this, a verbal argument broke out between an intoxicated Mushtaq Shaikh and the two accused over a mobile phone. The complaint states that the two accused then conspired together and attacked Mushtaq Shaikh with a stone, killing him. Police are currently pursuing the investigation on the basis of these allegations.
