A 54-year-old retired railway employee Laxman Mhatre and his son were beaten to death with rods in Vichumbe village of Panvel taluka on Wednesday evening, allegedly over a property dispute. Khandeshwar policeregistered a case against five relatives—Laxman’s two nephews, two nieces and the mother-in-law of one of the nieces—and arrested four of them within a few hours.
“Laxman’s sister Babytai owned a house in Vichumbe that was demolished decades ago for laying a railway track. She built a shed on a nearby plot belonging to railways. Recently, when two sons of another brother claimed ownership of that plot, Laxman supported Babytai, leading to fights,” said assistant commissioner of police (Panvel division) Prakash Nilewad. “During an argument on the same issue on Wednesday, Laxman and his son Rupesh (30) were attacked with iron rods by his two nephews, two nieces and the mother-in-law of one of the nieces.” — George Mendonca