Over 25 slumdwellers in Sanjay Gandhi Nagar in Sion allegedly beat a 32-year-old man to death after he was caught while committing a burglary in their area early on Saturday morning. The accused, Deepak Das, had sneaked into a house along with his two accomplices who managed to escape in the nick of time.
The investigating officer sub-inspector Jaywant Dambale said, “The deceased and his aides sneaked into the victim Tilakram Chavan’s shanty. While escaping, one of them accidentally stepped on Mr Chavan’s feet. Mr Chavan woke up and began screaming for help. Other local residents rushed to the spot after hearing his screams.”
“Even as Das’s aides ran off with the stolen cellphone and some cash, Mr Chavan nabbed Das and he had to face the mob’s fury. Other local residents then alerted the police. When we reached the spot, Das was being beaten up. We rushed him to Sion Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries,” added Mr Dambale.
After the incident came to light, the police had booked the same accused for rioting. Das succumbed at around 11 am on Sunday following which the Sion police registered an FIR under Section 304 (punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Indian Penal Code against over 25 unknown persons for killing him.
According to Baburao Gavit, senior police inspector of the Sion police station, the residents did not intend to kill Das and hence, a case of murder could not be registered. The police has also registered a case against Das and his accomplices for carrying out the theft.
While being rushed to the hospital, Das informed the police that he was a resident of Kalyan and used to wash cars for a living.