Thergaon youth on bail in woman’s murder bid case killed for stalking her

Pune: A 19-year-old youth was hacked to death at Ganraj Colony in Thergaon on Thursday night, just five days after he secured bail in an attempted murder case involving a young woman.The youth's cousin was injured in the attack. He is undergoing treatment at Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial Hospital.Two relatives of the woman (19) were held in connection with the murder.Police said the attack stemmed from a dispute related to the youth allegedly stalking and putting pressure on the woman for marriage after his release from jail. The woman's family had objected to his behaviour, an officer said.Assistant commissioner of police Sunil Kurade said the youth was arrested about five months ago in an attempted murder case after allegedly assaulting the woman, from a different community. "After securing the bail, he resumed stalking her and pressuring her for marriage. Her mother objected to it and requested her relatives to speak with him," Kurade said.Two of the girl's relatives met the youth and his cousin at Ganaraj Colony in Thergaon around 9.30pm on Thursday, Kurade said. Their conversation over the issue soon turned into heated arguments.The police said the girl's relatives first attacked the youth and his cousin with a stick, and then assaulted them with a knife and a billhook. "The youth died on the spot, while his cousin suffered severe injuries," Kurade said.A Kalewadi police team booked the two accused under Section 103 (murder) of the BNS and arrested them. Senior inspector Rajendra Bahirat said the accused did not have prior criminal records.Heavy police force was deployed in the area following the murder. "The situation was tense but under control," Bahirat said.