Nagpur Bootlegger Brutally Murdered in Waddhamna Slum Attack
In a shocking incident that has sent shockwaves through Nagpur's Waddhamna area, three assailants brutally murdered a 60-year-old disabled bootlegger in his own hutment. The horrific crime occurred in the Suraburdi slum shortly after midnight on Sunday, leaving the local community in a state of fear and outrage.
Victim's Vulnerable Circumstances
The victim, identified as Sahesram Kewat, was a divyang individual who had lost his right leg to gangrene years earlier. Living alone after his wife moved out following domestic disputes, Kewat relied on a government disability pension supplemented by small-time bootlegging activities for his livelihood. His isolated existence in the slum hutment made him particularly vulnerable to such attacks.
Brutal Attack Over Liquor Dispute
According to police reports, the three accused individuals—Vilas Chaudhuri, Praveen Chauhan, and Jitendra Waghade—entered Kewat's hut demanding liquor on credit. When the elderly bootlegger refused both the liquor credit and their subsequent demand for money, the situation turned violent.
The assailants first gagged Kewat using a pillow and mosquito net, then proceeded to mercilessly thrash him. They punched him repeatedly in the face and struck him with a hammer, breaking his front teeth in the brutal assault that ultimately proved fatal.
Gruesome Aftermath and Community Response
In a particularly disturbing development, after killing Kewat, the trio opened liquor bottles and sat drinking beside his lifeless body. Sources indicate all three suspects have addictions to MD narcotics, which may have contributed to their violent behavior.
Neighbors who heard the commotion rushed to the scene, with two women alerting Kewat's daughter Seema Sarwa and son-in-law Ramu. When the family arrived, they discovered the horrific scene. As Vilas attempted to leave the hut, angry locals caught and began beating him. In the ensuing scuffle, Vilas pushed Seema, who was holding her five-month-old baby, causing both mother and child to fall and sustain minor injuries.
Police Investigation and Arrests
The other two accused emerged from the hut during the confrontation, assaulted everyone present, and managed to escape. Sources revealed the accused had previous involvement in thefts and burglaries for liquor and had fought with Kewat on two prior occasions.
Wadi police arrived with heavy force following the incident. Vilas Chaudhuri, who had slipped away and hidden in a nearby under-construction building, was found sleeping and subsequently arrested. Police have registered a murder case against all three individuals, though Praveen Chauhan and Jitendra Waghade remain absconding at this time.
Ongoing Search for Fugitives
Wadi police have launched an intensive search operation for the two fugitives and have appealed to the public for assistance in locating them. The investigation continues as authorities work to bring all perpetrators to justice for this brutal crime that has highlighted the vulnerabilities faced by marginalized individuals in urban slum communities.
