Pune: The Bharati Vidyapeeth police have detained four minors, aged 16 and 17, for allegedly bludgeoning their 18-year-old friend to death at Nilgiri Chowk in Ambegaon Pathar on Monday night.
The attack, which occurred around 9 pm off the Katraj-Dehu Road bypass, reportedly stemmed from a dispute over online gaming. The victim, identified as Nayan Jadhav (18), was a resident of Ambegaon Pathar. According to the police, the suspects and the victim were close friends. The motive for the murder traces back to an incident two days ago, when Jadhav reportedly slapped one of the minors during an online game.
Seeking revenge, the four boys intercepted Jadhav when he was alone on Monday night. They attacked him with sharp weapons and smashed his head with cement paver blocks before fleeing toward Bhor. A police team, led by senior inspector Rahul Khilare and sub-inspector Nilesh Mokashi, tracked the suspects' movements along the Pune-Satara highway and apprehended them later that night.
The incident highlights the dangers of escalating conflicts in online gaming, which can have tragic real-world consequences. The police have registered a case and are investigating further. The minors were produced before the Juvenile Justice Board and sent to a correctional facility.
