NAGPUR: For rickshaw-puller Sanjay alias Latarya, accompanying two of his friends on Monday to a paan kiosk near Indira Gandhi Hospital in Gandhi Nagar, cost him his life. He was stabbed to death in broad daylight allegedly by the paan shop-owner, after an altercation with Latarya's friends.

The victim's friend, Naresh Ramaji Channe, was critically injured in the scuffle and is undergoing treatment at the Government Medical College (GMC). The paan shop-owner Sanjay Hiwaj has been arrested by the police.Shop-owners downed their shutters and hawkers fled fearing retaliation from the rival group.

According to police, the deceased had accompanied two of his friends, Naresh Channe and Rambhau Gadgilwar, to the paan shop of the accused Sanjay Hiwaj in front of the Indira Gandhi Hospital at Gandhi Nagar. A heated altercation broke out between Hiwaj and the trio, following which, one of Latarya's friends is reported to have attacked Hiwaj with a sharp weapon.However, Hiwajdodged the attack and retaliated by using a sword. In the melee, Latarya suffered serious injuries in the abdomen. His companion Naresh Channe too received injuries on chest and arms, while the third partner Gadgilwar made good his escape.

Finding his adversaries immobilised, Hiwaj too fled, leaving Latarya and Channe in a pool of blood in front of the paan shop. By the time Ambazari police reached the spot, Latarya had already breathed his last, while Channe was alive. He was shifted to GMC where his condition is said to be critical.An offence of murder has been registered against Sanjay Hiwaj.

Teenager murdered

KOLHAPUR: A 19-year-old youth was stabbed to death with sharp weapons by two persons at the City's busy Laxmipuri Market area here last night.Police said today the deceased, Sachin Parshram Khade, ran a telephone booth in the area. He was in love with the sister of the suspect Shital Anil Barlekar (21).

Last night, Barlekar and his maternal uncle Babasaheb Gangagaram Daingade(35) went to the telephone booth to seek an explanation from Sachin in the matter, police said. There was a heated exchange of words between Sachin and the duo and in the scuffle that followed, Sachin was allegedly stabbed by the accused. He was taken to the Chhatrapati Pramila Raje Civil Hospital in a serious condition, where he died before admission. The suspects disappeared from the site, police said, adding a knife used by the accused was recovered from the STD booth. Laxmipuri police are investigating.

Dacoits attack Nashik family

NASHIK: In two separate incidents of dacoity, two gangs looted gold ornaments and cash worth over Rs 1 lakh in this district since Sunday. In the first incident, a gang of seven dacoits attacked a family injuring two of its members and looted gold ornaments and cash worth over Rs 3,000 at Lahivit village near Deolali Camp here on Sunday night. According to police sources, the gang forcibly entered Shivaji Gaikwad's house, attacked the family members and tookaway gold ornaments and other articles worth over Rs 2,000.

Police found empty bags about three km from the Gaikwad house.

Investigations are on. In the second incident, robbers looted the owner of a jewellery shop and decamped with a loot of nearly Rs 1 lakh at Sinnar City yesterday.

Police sources said the owner of Vaibhav Jewellers were attending a phone call in the neighbouring shop when the robbers looted the shop and decamped with a bag of jewellery. Police are investigating.