Amravati: Two separate murders in a span of four hours on Sunday night sparked fear among residents and renewed concerns over law and order in the city.
The first incident occurred around 10pm near Parvati Nagar railway crossing in Swabhiman Nagar, Akoli, under Kholapuri Gate police station limits. Ravi Ishwar Rajurkar, 50, was allegedly taken on a motorcycle to a railway track by two men and beaten to death with sticks and fists. He died on the spot.
Police say the murder appears linked to old enmity. On April 29, uncle of one accused was allegedly assaulted by two youths, and Rajurkar had reportedly held the victim during the attack. Investigators suspect Sunday's killing was an act of revenge.
Akash Jagannath Khorgade, 25, of Swabhiman Nagar, and a juvenile have been detained. Crime branch team led by PI Sandeep Chavan is probing the case. Police have increased patrolling in Akoli following tension in the area.
Three-and-a-half hours later, at around 1.30am Monday, another murder was reported in Shukrawar Bazar under Frezarpura police station limits. Sayyad Nazim Sayyad Salar, a plumber, was stabbed to death following a dispute over financial transaction.
According to police, Nazim was with his cousin Sheikh Tauseef and friend Mohammad Shafiq around 10.30pm Sunday when he got into a heated phone argument with Nishant Ravindra Bhowte, 27, over money.
Nazim later went toward Nishant's residence. Nishant and Yashraj Ravindra Kori, 26, were allegedly waiting in a lane near the house. Another argument broke out between them and it turned violent. Nazim was stabbed multiple times in the neck, lips, and forehead, and collapsed in a pool of blood. The accused fled in the dark.
Nazim was rushed to District General Hospital but was declared dead before treatment could begin. Police have arrested Bhowte of Chaprashipura and Kori of Devdatt Nagar, Bapatwadi, based on Tauseef's complaint. A murder case has been registered and further investigation is underway.