BELAGAVI : Sadalaga police have cracked the sensational murder of a priest-cum-marriage broker from Maharashtra within two days of the crime, arresting a man who allegedly killed him over his role in arranging an inter-caste marriage involving a relative.
The victim, Mandar Ajit Ranade, 35, a resident of Ichalkaranji in Kolhapur district, was found murdered on the outskirts of Mankapur village in Nippani taluk on Oct 31. A relative of the accused had reportedly left home and married a man from another caste on Jan 13.
The murder stemmed from an inter-caste marriage solemnised earlier this year, according to police. Police said the accused first threw chilli powder into Ranade’s eyes before attacking him with a sharp-edged weapon. Further investigation is in progress, police said.
Police identified the accused as Babaso alias Deepak Anna Magadum, a resident of Shiradwad village in Maharashtra. Considering the gravity of the crime, a special investigation team was formed under the guidance of then Belagavi SP Bhimashankar Guled. Using technical and circumstantial evidence, the team traced and arrested the accused and recovered the weapon allegedly used in the murder.
Magadum allegedly blamed Ranade for facilitating the alliance and had harboured a grudge against him since then. Before the victim could resist, Magadum allegedly inflicted multiple blows to his neck and throat, killing him on the spot.
On Oct 31, he allegedly contacted the victim using a different phone number and claimed help was needed to arrange another marriage.
Investigators said the accused hatched a plan to lure Ranade to a secluded spot. Believing the request to be genuine, Ranade travelled from Ichalkaranji to Mankapur village.
Based on a complaint lodged by Kedar Chandrakant Kulkarni, 44, from Ichalkaranji, Sadalaga police registered a case and launched an investigation.