Waste collector beaten to death in Mumbai; accused dies of heart attack

MUMBAI: A 45-year-old waste collector, Raju, was allegedly beaten to death and his body set on fire by an elderly ragpicker, Prakash Merwa, due to a territorial dispute in Vasai on Friday. Merwa reportedly succumbed to a heart attack at his Vasai residence on Sunday.

On Friday, the Vasai govt railway police (GRP) were informed about a partly burnt body of a man on the footbridge. The body was identified as that of Raju. A case of accidental death was registered, and the railway police began investigating. The body was sent for autopsy, which stated the cause of death as severe head injuries.

Police examined closed-circuit television footage of the locality and spotted Raju with two other waste collectors. They were taken for questioning. The men revealed that Raju and Merwa (75) quarrelled over work territory on Friday. The two typically covered for each other during absences. On November 1, Merwa allegedly took Raju for a drink. They got into a fight, and Merwa reportedly struck Raju with a stick on the footbridge. Merwa then set the body on fire and fled. Passersby noticed the body and informed the police. Both Raju and Merwa resided in Vasai (East).

When police reached Merwa's home on Sunday, the family informed cops of his death from a cardiac arrest. The Valiv police were notified, and his body was sent for autopsy. Police said they are awaiting Merwa's autopsy report to determine the exact cause of death. The weapon used for assaulting Raju has not been recovered. Police said it is under investigation if the murder was premeditated and what chemical was used to burn the body. Merwa's family claimed to be unaware of him having killed Raju. They confirmed frequent territorial disputes between the two waste collectors. The two families claimed to have worked in waste collection for years. A case of murder has been registered against the deceased Merwa.


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