MAPUSA
Ahmed Devadi (30), a victim of a brutal assault on May 30 in Mapusa, succumbed to his injuries early Tuesday morning at Goa Medical College, Bambolim, after 18 days of treatment.
The Mapusa Police have now registered a case of murder against all suspects involved in the attack.
The assault, which occurred near an overhead water tank at the Housing Board in Mapusa, involved two victims “ Ahmed Devadi from Laxminagar, Housing Board, and Sandesh Salkar (28) from Moira.
Both men were viciously attacked with iron rods by four assailants, leaving them with severe head injuries.
Sandesh Salkar is still recovering in the intensive care unit at Goa Medical College.
Following the death of Ahmed Devadi, his family has refused to claim his body until the prime suspects, Ramkrishna Bhalekar, also known as RK, and his brother Babu Bhalekar, are apprehended.
The Bhalekar brothers remain at large.
On the day of the incident, Mapusa Police apprehended three suspects: Manthan Chiri (24), Sridhar Killedar (26), and Abhishek Pujari (20), all residents of Khorlim, Mapusa. Subsequently, three more suspects “ Sharanbasu Gaikwad (27), Nagaraj Pujari (19), and Boresh Pujari (38) “ were also arrested.
Initially, the police had filed charges under Sections 120 (B), 307, 326, 506 (2), and 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
With Ahmed Devadi's death, the charges have been amended to include Section 302 (murder) of the IPC.
Sources suggest that the victims and their attackers were acquainted and had a personal dispute.
The assault was reportedly triggered by a recent verbal altercation between the victim and RK's brother, Babu, which had already resulted in a police complaint.
Mapusa Police Inspector Nikhil Palekar is leading the ongoing investigation.
