A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and four members of his family were found murdered at their house on the morning of Monday, 11 June, in Nagpur’s Aradhana Nagar, IANS reported.
The victims have been identified as BJP leader Kamlakar Pavankar, his wife Archana, their daughter Vedanti, nephew Krishna, and the leader’s mother Mirabai.
“According to preliminary investigations, they were attacked and killed by some sharp weapons as they slept. There were no signs of struggle or robbery. The bodies have been sent for autopsy," the official told IANS.
According to The Indian Express, the prime suspect is Pavankar’s brother-in-law Vivek Palatkar whose motorcycle was found near the deceased’s residence. Palatkar, whose son Krishna was also among the deceased, was reportedly released on bail two days ago in his wife’s murder case, Joint Commissioner of Police Shivaji Bodkhe told the daily.
The police said Palatkar is absconding and a hunt for him is on.
According to an official of the Nandanvan Police Station, the incident occurred at around 1:30 am in the city's Aradhna Nagar area.
The incident came to light when one of the neighbours made several calls to Pavankar’s house but received no response, Nagpur Today reported.
Pavankar was a realty dealer and a local BJP leader.
According to IANS, he had a shop on rent and owned a 10-acre plot on which some disputes were going on. The police said they would probe all angles including business rivalry.
(With inputs from Indian Express and IANS)
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