Nagpur, Maharashtra – A brutal murder on Wednesday in Neri Gaon, near Nagpur, has brought to light violent clashes fueled by illegal sand mining and simmering community rivalries ahead of local civic elections. The incident resulted in the killing of 28-year-old Vivek Tandekar, a local sand businessman, allegedly at the hands of village deputy sarpanch Deva Wanjari and two others.
According to police reports, Tandekar was bludgeoned to death with a blunt instrument after being lured to a brick kiln in a nearby field by Keshav Giri (33) and Sahil Ghatole (19), both residents of Neri in Kamptee tehsil. Tandekar was riding a bike, with Ghatole and Giri as pillion riders when they attacked him from behind.
Tandekar had recently filed a complaint under the Atrocities Act against some rivals, which heightened tensions. The violence is believed to be linked to fierce competition over riverbed sand extraction sites, an illicit business often connected with caste-based hostilities.
His body was discovered hours later with help from the location data of his cellphone, following a report filed by his brother, Abhishek Tandekar. The police initially investigated a suspect named Devidas Wadibhasme, involved in a prior altercation with Tandekar, but later arrested Wanjari, Ghatole, and Giri based on further inquiry.
A murder case has been registered at the New Kamptee police station, and investigations are ongoing as the community reels from this violent escalation.
