RAG PICKERS ARRESTED FOR MURDER

PANJIM: Panim police arrested Rajendra Bhandari, from Nepal and Maktum Bharoti, from Dharwad, both rag pickers residing in the city, in connection with the murder of the Nepali labourer, Ramesh Dangi, who was stoned to death on the intervening night of January 6 and 7, near Azad Maidan. The duo has confessed to the crime.

Police inspector, Mr Sandesh Chodankar said that the deceased and the accused were friends but a fight after the deceased threw food on Bhandari prompted them to ‘teach’ him a lesson, which ended in the murder.

The deceased and the accused had visited the Sai Baba temple and eaten free food provided by its management prior to the incident, where they picked up a quarrel. They also used to frequently fight after consuming liquor late in the night, the police inspector informed.

Mr Chodankar further stated that after the identification of the body, the police rounded up the rag pickers and after questioning them narrowed down on the duo. The account given by an eye witness helped the police in solving the murder case within 24 hours, he added.

Both of them were produced before JMFC on Saturday and remanded to 10 days police custody. A similar incident had taken place in the city on May 5, last year, wherein another rag picker was stoned to death.