‘838’ number plate, pool of blood, screams: Chilling video captures daylight murder

A video of the incident shows the sequence of events(Credit: X)CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJINAGAR: A fancy “838” number plate, a daylight murder and screams of bystanders — horrific scenes unfolded on a busy road in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar on Thursday.A video of the incident shows the sequence of events as a man allegedly runs over his friend with a car before repeatedly bludgeoning him with a stick and an iron rod in broad daylight.The victim, Devesh alias Bunty Dixit (36), died on the spot, while the accused, Pawan Parashar (22), later drove to the Cidco police station and surrendered, police said.How the chase ended in murderPreliminary investigation revealed that Dixit was returning home after a gym session when Parashar, a resident of Wankhedenagar, allegedly began pursuing him in a car.The chase ended near Mangesh Gas Agency in the N-7 area of Cidco. Police said Parashar rammed Dixit’s two-wheeler from behind, throwing him onto the road. The impact was so forceful that the two-wheeler was flung nearly 150 feet away.According to eyewitness accounts cited by police, Parashar then took a U-turn and drove back towards the injured man. He got out of the car and repeatedly struck Dixit on the head with a stick and an iron rod he had carried with him.“After the collision, the accused took a U-turn, drove back to the injured man, got out of the car and repeatedly attacked him on the head with a stick and an iron rod,” said Cidco inspector Atul Yerme.Dixit succumbed to his injuries at the spot before medical assistance could reach him.Accused surrenders at Cidco police stationThe killing triggered panic in the locality, with passersby and shopkeepers gathering at the scene. Senior police officers, including deputy commissioner of police (Zone II) Ratnakar Navale, visited the spot.Parashar subsequently drove to the Cidco police station and surrendered, police said.Friendship with victim allegedly turned into rivalryPolice suspect that a fallout between the two men led to the killing.“The accused, after surrendering before the police, claimed that he and the victim used to work as bouncers for different bars. He was upset due to their friendship turning into a rivalry,” Navale told TOI.He said police teams were cross-verifying the accused’s version and probing the exact motive behind the murder.Inspector (Crime) Gajanan Kalyankar said investigators were questioning Parashar to establish the complete sequence of events and ascertain the circumstances that led to the killing.