Mumbai: 1 killed, 5 hurt in brawl at Bhandup

The spot in Bhandup where the violence took place. Pics/Rajesh Gupta

Six people were arrested for allegedly killing a 22-year-old in Bhandup and for rioting later on Wednesday night. According to the Bhandup police, a group of six was having alcohol together when they got into a scuffle with another group that was drinking nearby and assaulted them. The accused group assaulted the other group with a knife, an iron knuckleduster and a bamboo stick. They fled from the spot after the incident and were tracked down by the Bhandup police within 12 hours. One of the accused has multiple murder cases against him.

According to the police, around 12.30 am on November 16, Kalpesh Chavhan, Suraj Bhalerao, Hritik Shelar, Chetan Natekar, Ashish Vane, and Sangram Jadhav were having a get-together in front of Janata Flour Mill in Konkan Nagar. The accused, Aniket Ambre, Swapnil Ambre, Vinay Raut, Ganesh Kolpate, Mayur Koran aka Dudh, Nitesh Parab aka Chicho, were sitting opposite them and drinking.

The deceased, Suraj Bhalerao, was stabbed on the left side of his neck, back and armpit

The group members started commenting on each other, which resulted in a quarrel. "Swapnil Ambre hit Sangram Jadhav in the face with the knuckleduster and on the head with a beer bottle. Vinay Raut, Ganesh Kolpate, Mayur Koran, and Nitesh Parab beat Kalpesh Chavhan, Chetan Natekar, Ashish Vane, Hritik Shelar with a bamboo stick," said an officer from the Bhandup police. Meanwhile, Aniket Ambre assaulted Suraj Bhalerao by stabbing him on the left side of the neck, back and under his left armpit, resulting in his death.

Residents informed the police, who rushed to the spot and took the injured to a nearby hospital. Suraj Bhalerao, 22, was declared dead by doctors while Kalpesh Chavhan, Chetan Natekar, Ashish Vane, Hritik Shelar, and Sangram Jadhav sustained injuries. "We nabbed all six accused within 12 hours. The process to arrest them is going on," said Dattatray Khandagle, senior inspector of Bhandup police station. "The accused have been booked under Sections 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), and relevant sections related to rioting of the IPC," said another police officer.

A history of violence

Bhandup has a history of violent gang wars and mobsters. In 2018, there were 12 murders in eight months. This was followed by incidents of vehicles being smashed and violent attacks on the streets. The top brass of the police had stepped in and given a detailed plan to curb violent crime. Consistent police efforts have led to such mob activities reducing.