In a tragic incident in Maharashtra’s Palghar district, nine villagers have been arrested after one of them was shot dead by fellow hunters who mistakenly mistook him for a wild boar during a hunting expedition. The incident, which occurred on January 29, has led to charges of culpable homicide and other offenses against the group.
The deceased has been identified as 60-year-old Ramesh Vartha, a resident of Borsheti village. On the day of the incident, a group of villagers had ventured into the Borsheti forest area in Manor for a wild boar hunting trip. However, during the expedition, some members of the group got separated, and while walking through the forest, Vartha’s footsteps rustled the dried leaves, prompting one of the hunters to mistakenly open fire. Sagar Naresh Hadal, 28, who was reportedly hiding with a gun, fired a shot at Vartha, striking him fatally.
Instead of reporting the incident to the authorities, the group, in panic, dragged Vartha’s body into the bushes and hid it. Shocked by the accidental killing, they did not seek help and fled the scene. The situation only came to light when Vartha’s wife filed a missing person’s complaint on January 31.
Upon investigation, police discovered that Vartha had joined the group on January 29, and while walking towards a location where food was being prepared, he was shot. After questioning Hadal and the other suspects, the police located Vartha’s decomposed body in the bushes on February 1 and sent it for a post-mortem examination.
The police have arrested nine individuals, including Hadal, in connection with the incident. The charges against them include culpable homicide not amounting to murder, causing disappearance of evidence, and committing criminal acts in furtherance of a common intention.
The Manor police have filed a case under sections 105 (punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 238 (causing disappearance of evidence), and 3(5) (criminal act done in furtherance of common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Rumors had also circulated suggesting that another villager, Ankush Mehloda, died in connection with the shooting. However, Palghar Deputy Superintendent of Police Abhijit Dharashivkar confirmed that Mehloda’s death was unrelated to the shooting incident. Mehloda, who had been suffering from prolonged illness, passed away on January 30, three days after returning home from working on a farm in Safala.
This tragic accident has raised concerns about safety during hunting expeditions and the consequences of such reckless behavior. Authorities are continuing to investigate the matter thoroughly to ensure justice for the victim and to prevent further such incidents in the future.
Sources By Agencies
