Dalit murders a fallout of love affair, say police

The brutal murder of three Dalits in Ahmednagar district, allegedly by members of the upper-caste Maratha community – is a fallout of a love affair, say the police. Yogesh Joshi reports.

The brutal murder of three Dalits in Ahmednagar district, allegedly by members of the upper-caste Maratha community – is a fallout of a love affair, say the police.

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The mutilated bodies of Sandeep Thanwar, 26, Sachin Gharu, 22, and Rahul Kandare, 20, – who worked as sweepers – were found in a septic tank on January 1, in Sonai village, 150 km from Pune.

Police said Gharu had a relationship with a student of Sonai’s Trimurti educational institute, where he and the other victims worked.

“Popat Darandale, the girl’s father, did not approve of the match. The family murdered the three,” said Ambadas Gangurde, deputy superintendent of police.

On January 1, the Darandales had called the men to clean their septic tank. The next day, Gharu’s decapitated body was found in the tank.

The bodies of the two others were found nearby. The police have arrested five persons, including Darandale.