Lynching
However, within 24 hours, police established the identity — 34-year-old Sheikh Shabbir Sheikh Rafiq, of Mastan Shah Nagar — and cracked the case.
Police said the accused later transported the man’s body on a motorcycle and dumped it near Garmal dargah in an attempt to conceal the crime. Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Three young men allegedly beat a wastepicker to death on the suspicion of theft in Hingoli. The three accused were subsequently arrested. “Shabbir was working as a wastepicker.
The body, when found near the dargah on Monday, was initially unidentified. During the inquiry, we learnt that he was involved in a quarrel with two men on Monday,” said Hingoli SP Shrenik Lodha.
Police arrested Saurabh Jitendra Patre (19), who owns a scrap shop, Nitin Kolhe (19) and Shivdas Bhikaji Ghode. Patre and Kolhe confronted Shabbir over the suspected theft of Rs 2,000 from the shop’s cash drawer, according to police. The probe revealed that Shabbir earned a living by collecting and selling scrap material in the town. Stay updated with the latest Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar news.
Patre and Kolhe told police that they assaulted Shabbir on suspicion that he had stolen money from the cash drawer. Shabbir died following the assault,” said inspector Mohan Bhosale, of the local crime branch. Police said the two men allegedly panicked after realising Shabbir had died. Police said they are questioning the trio and verifying the sequence of events, including the role each played in the assault and disposal of the body.
The argument allegedly turned violent, and the duo repeatedly assaulted Shabbir. “Patre owns a scrap shop. They, along with the third accused (Shivdas Bhikaji Ghode) then loaded Shabbir’s body onto a motorcycle and transported it several kilometres away before dumping it near Garmal dargah. With no immediate clues to his identity, police circulated photographs and details through various channels before tracing Shabbir’s family, who later identified the body. A murder case has been registered at Hingoli Rural police station against all three accused. Download the TOI App.
Local residents discovered the body on Monday morning and alerted police.