19-year-old murdered by former friend over gambling loss

NAGPUR: Pravin Gaidhane, 19, earning livelihood as a carriage vehicle driver, was killed near Nalanda Chowk on Sunday following a fight over money during gambling, in the jurisdiction of Shanti Nagar police station. Gaidhane was bludgeoned to death by his friend-turned-foe Omprakash Nagpure.

Sources from the police station said Gaidhane and Nagpure would get together with friends to gamble on holidays. Nagpure worked as a menial labourer. Gaidhane had suffered a loss of around Rs300 during gambling, which left him enraged. Accusing Nagpure and his other friends of having cheated him, Gaidhane started hurling abuses. Soon there was a scuffle at the spot among the friends.

Enraged by Gaidhane’s action, Nagpure and other friends started confronting the deceased. As the quarrel escalated, Nagpure picked up a stick and hit Gaidhane on his head. Gaidhane collapsed on the spot after suffering the blow. He was rushed to Mayo Hospital by his family members, where the doctors declared him dead.

Sources from Shanti Nagar claimed that their locality turns into an open bar with anti-social elements gambling without any checks. Fights are common in the locality, especially in the slums, which have become hubs for anti-social activities, said a local resident.

Shanti Nagar police, after registering an offence of murder against Nagpure and others, have started searching for the culprits. Crime branch too has joined the search. Police are also trying to find out if there are any crime records against the persons involved in the fracas leading to the murder.