Police suspect Dhavade gang’s involvement in man’s murder

PUNE: A 28-year-old man was hacked to death in Chakrapani Vasahat in Bhosari on Wednesday night. The Bhosari police suspect the involvement of the aides of gangster Gotya Dhavade in the murder. Police said the deceased, Ganesh Dhondiba Waghmare, was a resident of Gavane Vasti in Bhosari. Waghmare’s brother lodged a complaint with the police on Thursday.The police suspect that Waghmare’s was murdered because of the latter’s friendship with Dhavade’s former aide Jitendra Pujari (22). Waghmare’s brother has also named some of Dhavade’s aides in his complaint. Pujari was arrested in a rape case and was released from jail on March 15 on parole. On Thursday morning, Pujari opened fire with an air gun near Dhavade’s house in Dhavade Vasti and fled the spot. “We suspect Pujari wanted to threaten the members of Dhavade’s gang and his family,” said H A Bhosale, inspector of the Bhosari police station. Bhosale said Waghmare was murdered around 11pm. “He was riding a motorcycle, when the suspects intercepted his two-wheeler and hacked him to death. Waghmare sustained severe injuries on his face, eyes, ears and head. The suspect then bludgeoned him with a big stone. He died on the spot,” he said. Bhosale said the police received the alert from the control room. “We found a sharp weapon, a bag and a motorcycle at the spot. Prima facie investigations have revealed that Waghmare had met Pujari several times in the last few days. Pujari was angry with Dhavade for not helping him get bail,” he said. The police have booked Dhavade’s aides in this regard. “No one has been arrested so far. We are also trying to trace Pujari. We are investigating,” Bhosale added.