22 July,2026 02:30 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondent
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A 35-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly murdering a 52-year-old farmer in Maharashtra's Thane district after claiming to be in a relationship with the victim's wife, police said on Tuesday.
The accused, identified as Deu Mangal, allegedly attacked the farmer near his agricultural field in Shahapur taluka on July 16.
According to Thane Rural Superintendent of Police Vinaykumar Rathod, the case came to light after the victim's 36-year-old wife informed police that her husband's body was lying in a gorge with injuries to the neck.
Police launched an investigation and began gathering evidence from the crime scene.
During the investigation, police said the accused claimed he was involved in an illicit relationship with the victim's wife and considered the farmer an obstacle to their relationship.
Investigators alleged that Mangal attacked the victim with an axe near his field, resulting in his death.
These allegations are part of the police investigation.
Police said investigators relied on technical surveillance, field analysis and local intelligence to trace the accused.
Based on the evidence collected, Mangal was taken into custody.
Further investigation into the case is underway.
In an separate incident, Thane City Police have arrested a 30-year-old man for allegedly murdering his lover at a lodge after suspecting her of being involved in another relationship, an official said on Wednesday.
The incident occurred on Tuesday within the jurisdiction of Thane Nagar Police Station.
The accused, identified as Nandkishore Gadekar, was allegedly in a relationship with the victim, a resident of Mumbai's Bhandup area who was estranged from her husband.
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone-I) Balasaheb Patil, the two had been in a relationship for the past five years.
Police said Gadekar allegedly suspected that the woman was involved with another individual.
According to investigators, the accused took the woman to a lodge, where he allegedly smothered her with a pillow before fleeing.
The incident came to light after lodge staff checked the room and found the woman unresponsive.
Police subsequently shifted the body to a government hospital for post-mortem examination.
Following the discovery of the woman's body, police launched an investigation and traced Gadekar.
He has since been arrested in connection with the case.
Police said further investigation is underway to ascertain the complete sequence of events and gather additional evidence.
(With inputs from PTI)
