Nagpur: In a worrying sign of rising violence after the conclusion of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) elections, the city witnessed two separate murder incidents within a short span late on January 22. Police have registered murder cases in both incidents and launched parallel investigations.

Man Killed in Gittikhadan Over Old Dispute

A 38-year-old man was beaten to death in the Gittikhadan police station limits following an old rivalry, police said.

The deceased, identified as Harsh alias Guddu Shivanandan Pandey (38), a resident of Kamgar Nagar, had gone out with his friend Milan alias Bunty Vinayak Wankhede (36) on Thursday night. The duo was standing near Police Quarters 416/15, beside the yellow building at Police Line Takli, when Pandey received a phone call and stepped a short distance away.

According to the complaint, the accused Bunty alias Burhan Sheikh, a paan kiosk operator from Awasthi Nagar Chowk, along with his associates, arrived on a vehicle and began abusing Pandey over a past dispute. Shouting threats, they allegedly attacked him with a weapon, striking his head with the intention to kill, before fleeing the spot.

Pandey, who sustained grievous injuries, was rushed to Mayo Hospital where doctors declared him dead during treatment.

Based on Wankhede’s complaint, Gittikhadan Police registered a case of murder under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita against Sheikh and his accomplices. Further investigation is underway.

Teen Held for Fatal Stabbing in Ajni

In another incident, a 28-year-old man was stabbed to death allegedly by a minor following an argument over money in Ajni on the same night.

The victim, Yogesh Anil Kakde (28), a resident of Shrikrishna Nagar near Hanuman Temple, was speaking on his mobile phone near Deepak Pan Palace on Besa–Manewada Road around 10:45 pm. A 17–18-year-old boy arrived on a motorcycle, and an argument reportedly broke out between the two over a financial matter.

Police said the minor pulled out a concealed sharp knife and attacked Kakde multiple times on his waist, chest and neck before escaping. Bystanders rushed the injured man to Government Medical College and Hospital, where he was declared dead.

Following a complaint by Suraj Santosh Tripathi (28), Ajni Police registered a murder case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Acting swiftly, the crime branch traced and detained the minor in conflict with the law. He has been taken into custody, and further probe is ongoing.

Post-Poll Spike in Violent Crime Raises Concern

The back-to-back murders have intensified concerns among citizens, with residents pointing to an apparent spike in violent crime following the end of civic elections. Police officials said patrolling has been intensified in sensitive areas and efforts are underway to track down absconding accused in the Gittikhadan case.

Investigations in both cases are in progress.