SURAT: Rakshabandhan turned tragic for 19-year-old Rohan Patil as he was murdered in broad daylight in the Limbayat area, where he had come to celebrate the festival with his cousins.
Police apprehended Deepak Patil (19), a friend of the victim, who claimed that he killed his friend over a financial dispute. However, police are exploring multiple angles, including an affair.
Having just passed his Class 12 exams, Rohan was preparing for an entrance test while Patil was employed as a labourer, police said.
According to case details, Rohan and Deepak met on the ground near Suman High School at about noon and engaged in a bitter altercation over some issue. As the arguments escalated, Deepak brandished a sharp weapon and slit Rohan's throat. He died on the spot.
"Deepak claims that he killed Rohan over a financial dispute, as he had lent him some money. However, we are also probing an affair-related angle, suggesting that there might have been a confrontation over a woman. We will be able to confirm the precise reason after a thorough investigation," a Limbayat police source said.
The murder in broad daylight caused anger among local people, who staged a protest near Limbayat police station. Police had to resort to the use of mild force to disperse the gathered crowd. Deputy mayor Narendra Patil, who lives in the same area, also rushed to pacify the agitated people.
Rohan, who lived in the Dindoli area, had come to his maternal uncle's house to celebrate Rakshabandhan. Deepak lived near his uncle's house, and the duo had been in touch for five months. Police are not ruling out an affair as the reason for the murder. "We suspect Rohan had an affair with Patil's relative. This could be one reason why Rohan was killed. We also got to know that Rohan had blackmailed Deepak over some issues and taken money from him a couple of times. We are gathering more evidence," an official said.
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