Pune teen hacked to death over old feud; accused paraded on police vehicle bonnet

The accused are among four people arrested in connection with the murder of a 17-year-old, who was hacked to death with sickles and other sharp weapons in Pune on Monday night.The accused were paraded on the bonnet of the police vehicleThree men arrested for the murder of a 17-year-old boy in Pune were tied to the bonnet of a police vehicle and paraded to the crime scene amid heavy rain, in what police said was an attempt to reassure the public and restore confidence in law enforcement.The accused are among four people arrested in connection with the murder of the teen, who was hacked to death with sickles and other sharp weapons in Pune's Katraj area on Monday night. Three other accused remain absconding, and police have launched a search operation to trace them.According to investigators, the victim had gone to collect a mobile phone with a friend when seven men, travelling on three motorcycles, allegedly began chasing him. The teenager tried to escape, but the attackers caught up with him and repeatedly struck him with sharp-edged weapons. Police said the assailants continued the assault even after he collapsed, inflicting multiple injuries to his head, face and hands.He was rushed to Bharati Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. Preliminary investigation suggests the murder was the result of an old rivalry. Police said the victim had allegedly been involved in a dispute with the sister of the main accused around three months ago. Investigators believe that the accused had threatened the victim after the incident and later orchestrated the attack to settle the score.Explaining the decision to parade the accused, senior cop Mansing Patil said the exercise was meant to instil confidence among citizens. "We organised this procession to eliminate fear among citizens and assure them that the law stands with them, and they are safe," he said. The parade drew angry reactions from residents and the victim's family, who gathered at the spot and demanded that the accused's faces be uncovered. Some people also attempted to hit the accused with slippers.Police have registered a murder case against all seven accused. While four have been arrested, efforts are underway to trace the remaining three. Officials also said the victim had previously been named in a few criminal cases, although the investigation is examining all aspects of the case.- EndsInputs from Shrikrushna Jagannath PanchalPublished By: Akash ChatterjeePublished On: Jul 22, 2026 15:50 IST