Cricket Match Dispute Escalates into Fatal Knife Attack in Thane
A friendly cricket match turned into a scene of deadly violence at Gaondevi Maidan in Thane's Naupada area on Wednesday, resulting in one fatality and another person critically injured. The incident, which began as a minor argument, spiraled out of control, leading to a brutal knife attack that has shocked the local community.
Argument During Game Sparks Confrontation
According to Abhay Mahajan, senior inspector of Naupada police station, the trouble started around 3:30 PM during a cricket match between two local groups. An argument erupted between an underage boy and one of the accused, identified as Vishnu Chauhan (21). This initial dispute set the stage for a more serious confrontation.
Approximately half an hour later, three youths arrived at the ground to confront Chauhan about his altercation with the boy. What began as a verbal dispute quickly turned physical when Chauhan's brother-in-law, Rohit Patnesha (25), allegedly started abusing and assaulting the trio with a cricket stump.
Violence Escalates to Deadly Stabbing
The situation took a fatal turn when Vishnu Chauhan allegedly produced a knife and attacked the youths. One victim sustained stab wounds to his hand, while another was stabbed in the leg, suffering severe blood loss from the injury.
Both injured youths were immediately rushed to Thane Civil Hospital for emergency treatment. Tragically, doctors declared one of them dead on arrival. The other victim was in critical condition and was subsequently shifted to Critical Care Hospital for further specialized treatment.
Police Investigation and Arrests
Naupada police acted swiftly based on eyewitness testimony from Nitin Kisan Karotiya (39), who witnessed the entire incident unfold. Authorities registered a comprehensive case under multiple legal provisions:
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 103(1), 109(1), 115(1), 352, 351(2), and 3(5)
- Sections 4/25 of the Arms Act
- Sections 37(1)/135 of the Maharashtra Police Act
Police arrested both Vishnu Chauhan and Rohit Patnesha, who reside in the Gaondevi Maidan bus stop area. The investigation continues as authorities piece together the complete sequence of events that transformed a sporting event into a tragedy.
This violent incident has raised concerns about public safety during community sporting events and highlights how quickly minor disputes can escalate into deadly confrontations. The local community remains in shock as they process the loss of a young life over what began as a cricket match disagreement.
