A long-simmering family feud over property in a village on the outskirts of Nagpur exploded into shocking violence on Wednesday morning, leaving five people seriously injured after a dispute over a parked car escalated to gunfire and assaults with shovels.
Parking Argument Sparks Chaos
The incident occurred around 8:30 am at Deotale Wada in Gumgaon village, falling under the jurisdiction of Hingna police. The trouble began when Pravin alias Bablu Deotale (42) allegedly parked his car behind the house of his 87-year-old uncle, Nana Deotale, blocking an access road.
This simple act ignited a heated argument. Pravin and his elder brother, Nitin (44), a junior college principal from Nagpur district who was visiting the village, confronted their uncle and his son, Gajanan. The verbal spat quickly turned physical.
According to initial reports, Pravin and Nitin allegedly assaulted the elderly Nana and Gajanan with shovels, injuring both.
Retaliation with an Ancestral Gun
In a dramatic turn of events, Nana Deotale, a former game hunter who holds a valid license for an ancestral 12-bore gun, allegedly retrieved the firearm and opened fire in retaliation.
The gunfire struck two individuals:
- Pravin Deotale was shot in the chest.
- Vijay Manawar (35), a friend of Pravin, sustained a bullet injury in the abdomen. Sources indicate that one of Manawar's kidneys had to be surgically removed later to save his life.
After the weapon was reportedly snatched from Nana, he then allegedly struck Nitin on the head with a shovel, causing severe head injuries.
Aftermath and Police Investigation
The violent episode left the village of Gumgaon in a state of panic. Alerted by the commotion, residents and neighbours rushed to the spot and helped family members shift all five injured persons to hospitals.
The three most critically injured—Pravin, Nitin, and Vijay Manawar—were rushed to Maya Hospital in Butibori, which sources said belongs to the Deotale family. Pravin's condition is stated to be critical. Nana Deotale and his son Gajanan, injured in the initial shovel assault, were admitted to AIIMS in Mihan.
Hingna police inspector Jitendra Bobde and his team reached the scene, conducted a panchnama, and restored order. Senior officers, including Deputy Commissioner of Police Rishikesh Singa Reddy and Assistant Commissioner of Police Satish Gurav, also visited the village.
Police have registered two cross-cases against both groups under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including attempt to murder, grievous hurt, and provisions of the Arms Act.
"We are registering offences of attempt to murder against both groups of kin," confirmed DCP Rishikesh Singa Reddy. The police are also scrutinising Nana Deotale's gun license and probing the protracted property dispute believed to be the root cause of the violent confrontation.
