IN A shocking incident in Wathoda area, a 55-year-old labourer, Pandhari Rajaram Hattimare, killed his youngest son Mohit Hattimare (22) by hitting a stick on his head during a heated argument over money for alcohol. Pandhari then attempted to cover it up by cleaning the blood at their home and cremating the body, along with the blood-stained clothes, a pillow and a bedsheet during the funeral next day at Dighori ghat. Police also made his eldest son Tushar (24) a co-accused for helping father in destroying evidence. Though the sensational murder took place around 8 pm on October 17, it came to light only after some persons who attended the funeral next day alerted police that Pandhari, a resident of Plot No 69, Samata Nagar, Dighori, burnt some blood-stained clothes in the pyre during his son Mohit’s funeral.

 

Soon, Wathoda Police swung into action and detained Pandhari Hattimare for questioning. Initially, Pandhari claimed Mohit had died of natural causes, but under police pressure, he later confessed to the murder. Pandhari admitted to killing his son in a fit of rage when Mohit demanded money for alcohol and started abusing him. He further revealed that he cleaned up the crime scene with the help of his second son Tushar before attempting to destroy evidence by burning the clothes in the funeral pyre. A police officer informed that Pandhari was a labourer. Deceased Mohit, too, was a labourer. “We were alerted by some attendees at the funeral, leading to an investigation where Pandhari initially claimed his son died of natural causes but later confessed to the murder. His eldest son, Tushar, is also implicated for assisting in the cleanup. Both have been taken into custody,” he added. Pandhari and Tushar were arrested by Wathoda Police on charges under Sections 103(1), 238, 3(5) of the BNS.