Five Arrested After Missing Man's Skeleton Found in Nalasopara Water Tank
The police recovered the skeleton of a 32-year-old history-sheeter from a water tank at a housing complex in Nalasopara, Palghar district, on Friday, solving a murder mystery nearly five months after he went missing. Five men have been arrested in connection with the crime.
The victim, identified as Ravi Bidlan, had been missing since January 15 this year. According to officials from the Achole police station, which operates under the Mira Bhayandar-Vasai Virar (MBVV) police commissionerate, Bidlan was facing several serious criminal cases.
The investigation was reignited after the victim’s brother, Pankaj, approached the police with fresh information. Pankaj alleged that Ravi had been murdered by a group of individuals who then disposed of his body in the housing complex's water tank.
Following the tip-off, a police team immediately dispatched to the Nalasopara site and retrieved the skeleton from the tank. The victim's family was able to identify the remains based on the clothes recovered alongside the skeleton.
According to the police investigation, the murder was motivated by revenge. A few days before his disappearance, Ravi Bidlan had allegedly assaulted Rohan Jagdale, who is also known as Tiger.
In retaliation, Jagdale and his associates allegedly bludgeoned Bidlan to death by smashing his head with a stone. They then dumped his body into the water tank in an attempt to destroy any evidence of the crime.
Acting on the complaint filed by Pankaj, the police arrested the 22-year-old main accused, Rohan Jagdale.
Four other suspects were also arrested in connection with the murder. They have been identified as Karan Shankar Shettyar, 22; Utkarsh Anand Avasarmal, 20; Shakti Sunil Singh, 28; and Sumit Azad Sarsar, 25, who is also known as Bapurna.
Police officials stated that all five arrested individuals are history-sheeters. A formal case of murder has been registered against them. The recovered skeleton has been sent for forensic analysis, and the police are currently awaiting the report.
