The Mankhurd police on Thursday solved a murder case within 12 hours after finding a man’s body on the Sion-Panvel Highway at around 12.20 am. Two railway hawkers were arrested for allegedly stabbing to death another hawker over frequent arguments. A minor is also involved in the case, and was arrested late on Thursday night.
The body of Azad Chauhan (18) riddled with several stab wounds, was found on Thursday by patrolling constables. He was taken to Shatabdi Hospital where he was declared dead on arrival, following which the police began their investigations. “There was no ID card on him except a SIM card in his pocket. We put that in a cellphone and saw that there were three numbers saved. When we called one of them, it turned out to be that of Govind Pal (28), a hawker,” said senior PI S.S. Rajput of Mankhurd police station.
The police asked Pal if he knew who the number belonged to, and he named Chauhan. He also identified the body at Shatabdi Hospital. “Pal told us he, along with other cutlery hawkers Jan Mohammed Khan, Rajsingh Gujar and the minor, often used to have arguments with Chauhan. They had fought on the platform of the Chembur railway station on Tuesday as well. On Tuesday, they called Pal and told him they were going to kill Chauhan, but he refused to be part of the plan,” said Mr Rajput.
The police then began tracing the numbers of the two and picked them up from their residences at Cheetah Camp in Trombay and Navi Mumbai. They were subsequently placed under arrest.