Pune: Teen Scrap Picker Murdered Over Theft Suspicion in Dighi
Pimpri Chinchwad, 30th August 2025: A 17-year-old scrap picker was brutally beaten to death by a group of men in a labour camp in the Dighi area after being suspected of theft.
The incident, which took place in the early hours of Monday (August 25), came to light after the victim’s wife filed a complaint with Dighi Police Station on Friday night. The deceased has been identified as Gopal Vinayak Pawar, a resident of Chakan.
Police have identified the accused as Anil Gandheshwar Ram (33), Gautam Kumar Ramchandra Prasad (22), Brijesh Kumar Prasad (24), Kamlesh Lalji Yadav (20), and Shailendra Kumar Vachan Prasad (23)—all residents of the same labour camp. They were arrested, while another accused, identified only as Munnu (36), remains absconding.
The suspects have been booked under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Sections 103 (murder), 118 (causing grievous hurt by dangerous means), 115 (voluntarily causing hurt), 126 (wrongful restraint), 127 (wrongful confinement), 190 (unlawful assembly), and 191 (rioting). They are also facing charges under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
Incident Details
According to the police, the victim was collecting scrap in the Dudulgaon area around 2 a.m. when the accused confronted him, suspecting him of stealing from the camp. “They caught hold of him, dragged him into a tin shed, and began assaulting him with fists, kicks, and an iron pipe,” a police officer said on condition of anonymity.
The teenager sustained serious injuries and was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he later succumbed during treatment.
Senior Police Inspector Bapu Dhere, in charge of Dighi Police Station, confirmed the arrests. “The incident occurred late at night on August 25. We have arrested five persons, while one accused is absconding. The deceased’s wife lodged the complaint after he died during treatment. Efforts are on to trace the absconding accused,” he added.
Victim’s Background
Investigations revealed that the deceased was born in December 2007, making him 17 years old. Despite being underage, he was married and had one child, while his wife is pregnant with their second. “The couple were wanderers, frequently changing locations, but they had recently been staying in the Chakan area,” said a police official.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (MIDC Bhosari Division) Anil Kumar Koli is supervising the investigation.
