Notorious goon beaten to death

Pune: A 21-year-old criminal on police record was allegedly beaten to death in Tarwadevasti near Mohammadwadi on Saturday night. 

The deceased had thrown stones at a woman’s house in the neighbourhood for lodging a complaint against him for molesting her after an argument. 

He had also damaged the vehicles near her house.

The deceased has been identified as Akshay Sonawane, a resident of Tarwadevasti.

According to police, Sonawane is a history-sheeter with several cases of theft, assault and attempt to murder registered against him in the past. 

As per information, around 3.30 pm on Saturday, he had gone to Rajiv Gandhi Colony in Mohammadwadi. He was drunk and had an argument with a 40-year-old woman who had objected to his rash driving. He allegedly abused her and manhandled her. The woman informed her family members following which he fled from there. Later, she lodged a complaint with Mohammadwadi police chowky under Wanowrie police station.

Police officials said that the accused returned to her house when he learnt that she has lodged a complaint. Around 10 pm, Sonawane allegedly pelted stones at the woman’s house and damaged vehicles parked there. Her family members and neighbours tried to stop him but he started abusing them and continued to damage the vehicles. Then 3-4 men, armed with sticks and rods, beat him up.

After getting information about the incident, police officials reached the spot and rushed him to the hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival. 

“His father Balasaheb Sonwane (44) has lodged a case of murder against 2-3 persons. We have arrested the woman’s husband in the case,” said Senior Police Inspector Sayaji Gaware, the in-charge of Wanowrie police station.