2 youths kill 16-year-old friend in fit of rage

A quarrel between three friends over their individual shares in the money they made by selling stolen scarp materials took an ugly turn when two friends murdered their 16-year-old friend on Thursday night. The two youths were arrested by the MIDC police on Friday.

A quarrel between three friends over their individual shares in the money they made by selling stolen scarp materials took an ugly turn when two friends murdered their 16-year-old friend on Thursday night. The two youths were arrested by the MIDC police on Friday.

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Around 9.30am on Friday, Praveen Rathod’s body was found in Gunninagar, Andheri (East). His throat had been slit with a sharp object.

The police found that Praveen was last seen in the company of Santosh Benbansi alias Sikandar, 19, and Joginder Benbansi, 22. Both Santosh and Joginder are unemployed, homeless and drug addicts. Praveen was a class 9 dropout and the trio made a living out of selling stolen scrap material together.

On Thursday night, an argument began between the three friends when Praveen said that he had not received his share from the last scrap they sold together. The argument soon turned into a heated verbal feud following which, one of the two removed a razor and slit Praveen throat. The duo then fled from the spot. The police are unable to determine who slit Praveen’s throat as Santosh and Joginder have accused each other.