PUNE: The Sahakarnagar police on Monday detained a man on the suspicion of attacking his childhood friend with a cement paver block before setting him ablaze over a trivial issue at the Dhankawdi crematorium ground around an hour after Sunday midnight.
“Victim Suraj Maral (27), a garmet seller, has been admitted to a private hospital in Kasba Peth with 40% burn injuries,” senior inspector Swati Desai of the Sahakarnagar police told TOI. “We have recorded his statement,” she said, adding, “We have registered a case of attempt to murder against his detained friend and are in the process of verifying certain things by taking him to the scene of the crime before we take a call on his arrest.”
“From his questioning, we have so far deduced that the two childhood friends were drunk and had an altercation over an old issue. The claim is further being verified,” said Desai.
“We are also verifying the source from where the suspect procured a can full of petrol used for setting the victim ablaze. As of now, he told us that he was carrying the petrol can for refilling his father’s two-wheeler,” she added.
Desai said, “Maral met his friend after a long time and they decided to party together. They went to the Dhankawadi crematorium ground on Sunday night and consumed liquor. During this, an altercation broke out between the two over some trivial issue and the suspect assaulted Maral with a cement paver block. Maral collapsed and then the suspect sprinkled petrol on Maral from the can and set him ablaze.”
“We are ascertaining what precisely was the issue that led to the argument and subsequent assault. he arguments between the two,” the police officer said.
