Smoke break turns fatal: Youth murdered by gang

Nagpur: Two engineering students joined hands with a recently-released MPDA Act detainee and others to allegedly murder a 28-year-old man following a minor altercation at a late-night paan kiosk in Koradi area of North Nagpur.The incident occurred shortly after midnight on Tuesday near a prominent furniture store on Nagpur-Koradi service road. Armed with knives, wooden sticks and bricks, the attackers carried out a brutal assault killing Shubham Besre (28), a resident of Koradi, on the spot, while his friend Atul Iwnatey (25), also from the same locality, suffered injuries and is currently undergoing treatment.According to police, Besre, who was employed with an ink supply company, had no criminal background. Iwnatey is said to have a criminal record. The duo had gone to the paan kiosk for a smoke when the altercation took place.Investigations revealed that Tejas Zodape, 22, who was recently released from Maharashtra Prevention of Dangerous Activities (MPDA) Act custody a few months ago, was present at the kiosk along with Harshal Nare and Piyush Dongre. The dispute allegedly started when one of Zodape's aides brushed past Iwnatey, making contact with his leg, which led to a verbal argument.The situation escalated quickly as Zodape and his associates allegedly summoned other gang members to the spot. Besre and Iwnatey were later intercepted on the service road. Although the victims attempted to call their friends for support, they were outnumbered, and their associates fled. Investigators said Dongre had called more associates from Jaripatka at Zodape's behest, further escalating the violence.Based on a complaint filed by Besre's elder brother Sagar, police said the accused - led by Zodape, also known as Kola - attacked the two. The group allegedly pelted stones, beat Besre and Iwnatey with sticks, and stabbed them with sharp weapons. Besre succumbed to injuries before receiving treatment, while Iwnatey remains critically injured.Police have registered a case against seven persons and a minor under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).Koradi police swiftly arrested three accused - Harshal Nare (24), Mayank Mandpe (21), and Venkatesh Badhel (22) - and detained a minor within hours of the crime. While Nare is from Dahegaon, Mandpe and Badhel hail from Misal Layout in Jaripatka. Mandpe and Badhel are engineering students at a reputed local institution.The alleged mastermind Zodape, other accused Prince alias Trishit Chaware (20), Mohit Ramteke (22) and Piyush Dongre (20) are absconding. Police teams have launched searches to apprehend the suspects.Meanwhile, locals have raised concerns about paan kiosks and liquor outlets operating late into the night, often becoming hotspots for disputes and violent incidents. "We will stage a protest at Koradi police station if the rest of the arrests are not made immediately," said Sagar, who has past criminal records but is reformed now.