Three brutally hacked to death, assailant arrested

Three persons were brutally hacked to death in broad daylight by an alleged bootlegger at Hingna town on Wardha Road in the district, police said today.
The accused, Raju Birha (45), who already has a murder case registered against him, and one of the victims Sunil Kotangale (32), who used to run a tea and paan stall in the area, had a fight over some petty issue yesterday, they said.
Following the feud, Birha, along with his accomplice Kamlesh, came on a bike and attacked Kotangale several times with a sickle at Ghodali-Gumgaon on Wardha Road, about 25 kms from the city, at around noon yesterday, they said.

He also had a fight with Kotangale's friends -- Kailash Bahadure (29) and Ashish Gaikwad, alias Golu (27). When they tried to run away from the scene, the accused chased them on the bike and also hacked them to death in front of several onlookers, police said.
He also attacked Kotangale's wife Babli, but she managed to escape, Hingna police said.
Birha, who had earlier been externed in connection with a case, then himself informed police about the offence following which he was apprehended. However, Kamlesh fled from the spot.

The bodies, bearing several deep wounds, were found by police in the area a few metres apart from each other.

Police said Birha and Kotangale had earlier been jailed for bootlegging and both used to have frequent fights.
Offences under relevant sections of IPC have been registered against the accused, police added.