Thane: A history-sheeter ran a car over a 45-year-old Thane resident multiple times, killing him, over an alleged dispute over a land parcel on a busy road in Wagle Estate on Tuesday night. The alleged killer is on the run, while two of his accomplices, who joined him in thrashing the victim, have been arrested. The brutality of the attack and the brazen nature in which it was undertaken shocked locals.Police said the alleged killer, Santosh Pawar, and his aides—Mahesh Pawar, Amit Pawar and Mahesh Patil—accosted Vitthal Kondiba Gaikar and his friend, Shankar Laxman Varte (52), around 8.30pm on Road No. 27, Wagle Estate, and began thrashing them. “The nature of the attack was brutal. After physically assaulting the victims, Santosh ran Gaikar over with a car multiple times, even reversing the vehicle to crush his skull and chest,” said a senior Shreenagar police officer. Varte, a painter, sustained injuries and is undergoing treatment. An FIR has been filed under BNS Sections 103(1) (murder), 109(1) (attempt to murder), 3(5) (common intention) and 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt). Gaikar’s body was sent to a govt hospital for postmortem examination. Santosh Pawar has several cases of body offences registered against him. Mahesh and Amit have been arrested. Police officials said a manhunt is underway to nab the remaining assailants.
