THANE: A 20-year-old college student was stabbed to death in broad daylight on Saturday by her former boyfriend who fled from the crime spot on the Eastern Express Highway in Thane only to be arrested two hours later from Bhiwandi’s Narpoli area some 15km away.
The victim’s family had approached the police in the past after the accused had assaulted her. Kapurbawdi police had intially filed a non-cognisable offence and after the girl had insisted on action, initiated chapter case proceedings against the accused. She had recently broken off the three-year relationship.
Prachi Zade, a second-year -BCom student, who worked part-time as an assistant at a popular wedding portal, was headed to work at 10.30am on her two-wheeler when a bike-borne
Akash Pawar (23) waylaid her, pushed her on the road and stabbed her till she collapsed. Medical reports reveal that she suffered nine deep stab wounds. No onlookers came to her rescue. The murder weapon was found next to her.
After stabbing her, the accused tried to commit suicide by throwing himself in front of vehicles zooming on the highway but failed and fell on the road and got injured. He then fled from the spot, said a senior police officer.
After he fled, some of the onlookers took her to a private hospital where she died after admission.
Zade and Pawar were classmates in junior college. Pawar, who dropped out after Class XII, used to take contracts for home interior works.
A senior police official said, “The two were in a relationship for a few years. Things, however, turned sour around three months ago and she broke up with him. But Pawar continued to stalk her and even tortured her. On one occasion, on June 11, on seeing her speaking to a male friend, Pawar approached Zade from behind and kicked and fisted her.”
Zade had rushed to the Kapurbawdi police then and reported the violence and demanded action against Pawar. Her father Vikas told TOI: “Police had initated chapter case proceedings under Section 107 of the CrPC (Code of Criminal Procedure) and we thought that was the end of her ordeal.”
However, on Saturday, he followed her from her residence in Kopri and as she neared the road opposite the RTO office, he intercepted her and stabbed her.
Several Naupada police teams were formed to hunt down the accused and a naka bandi was enforced and vehicles searched. Pawar was held and brought to Naupada police station. Police said they have just taken him into custody.
The victim’s family had approached the police in the past after the accused (in picture) had assaulted her. 
