MUMBAI: A 35-year-old cricketer from Bhandup was brutally murdered by three assailants on Thursday night. The cricketer has been identified as Rakesh Ambadas Pawar, who has been a victim of an old enmity. Pawar, a resident of Chandanwadi area of Bhandup was returning home on his motorcycle with his female friend on Thursday night when he was attacked not knowing his enemies were waiting for him in the dark.
“Around Thursday midnight, Pawar stopped to fill petrol at the Mahavir petrol pump on LBS road where the assailants were waiting for him,” said a source from Bhandup police station. As soon as the trio saw Pawar, they attacked him from behind and fled the spot immediately. Rakesh was attacked few times with a chopper on his head and on the back.
He was severely injured in this attack and the onlookers rushed him to the nearby hospital immediately. However, he succumbed to his injuries after being admitted. The petrol pump where this murder took place was under renovation and the CCTV cameras were not working at the time of this incident. Bhandup police have registered an offense under sections of Indian Penal code murder (302) criminal intimidation (506(2) and common intention (34) and began the investigation Crime Branch has also doing the parallel probe.
“As of now it seems previous enmity seems to be the motive for Pawar's murder and preliminary investigations indicate it appear to be pre-meditated attack,” said an investigating officer. “The accused have been identified and we are searching for them,” said the officer. Meanwhile, Bhandup police have detained one woman and her interrogation is going on. Rakesh who survived by his wife and two kids was a well known cricketer who has won several trophies. He used to coach young cricketers and was popular.
- Staff Reporter
