Journalist's murder in Maha: Police record witnesses' statements

Police in Maharashtras Ratnagiri district have recorded statements of at least 30 persons in connection with the alleged murder of a local journalist by a land dealer in Rajapur cityShashikant Warishe 48 was mowed down by an SUV allegedly driven by land dealer Pandharinath Amberkar on Monday Warishe died in hospital the next dayIt has been alleged that Amberkar now arrested and booked for murder used to threaten any person who opposed land acquisition for a proposed refinery in the areaAn article written by Warishe against Amberkar had appeared in a local Marathi newspaper on the morning of the incident which took place near a petrol pump in Rajapur some 440 km from MumbaiAlso readBEST rolls out premium bus service on Mumbai AirportKharghar routeWe have recorded the statements of 30 persons including some eyewitnesses As provided under the act dealing with attacks on journalists the case is being probed by a deputy superintendent of police a local police official said on ThursdayAmberkar has been sent in police custody by a court for seven daysThe Mumbai Press Club alleged on Wednesday that Warishe had written a series of reports highlighting the local resistance to a petroleum refinery in Barsu and recently pointed out some banners where Amberkars picture featured along with those of Chief Minister and Prime MinisterAmberkar was known to threaten and harass those who resisted any land acquisition on behalf of the upcoming refinery the Press Club alleged demanding strict action by the state government in the caseJournalists associations have planned a protest over the murder at Mahatma Gandhis statue near Mantralaya the Maharashtra governments headquarters in Mumbai on FridayMeanwhile a man has been arrested along with one more person for allegedly killing his wife in Virar in Maharashtras Palghar district a police official said on ThursdayThe body of Priyanka Patil in her mid30s was found from her home in Shankar Pada on February 1 and a murder probe began after the post mortem report put the cause of death as strangulation Virar police station senior inspector Rajendra Kamble saidFootage of more than 100 CCTV cameras was checked for clues We received a tip off that her husband doubted her character and wanted to kill her We arrested her husbands friend first in connection with the murder he saidHer husband was held next on a tip off from Titwala Further probe into the case continues he addedThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever