Nagpur: A dispute over unpaid dues and the recovery of a sound system ended in a brutal murder in Nagpur late Monday night, with a 29-year-old DJ operator allegedly stabbed to death by a group of nine men, including three minors, who had worked with him at a Durga Puja music event.
The victim, Abhijeet Sidam, a resident of Pandhrabodi behind Ambazari police chowki, sustained grievous stab injuries during the assault near Borgaon Road, opposite the Dinshaw factory, within the jurisdiction of Gittikhadan police. He was rushed to Mayo Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Police have detained nine suspects in connection with the murder and are investigating the precise role played by each of them in the fatal attack.
Equipment recovery turns deadly
Preliminary investigations indicate that Sidam owned a DJ business and had engaged the suspects to operate his sound equipment and provide music services during a Durga Puja programme. A dispute reportedly developed over payments, following which the group allegedly retained the sound system.
Determined to recover his equipment and settle the outstanding financial dispute, Sidam went to meet the group on Monday night, accompanied by a friend. What began as a confrontation over the equipment and money allegedly escalated into a violent clash, during which Sidam was attacked with a sharp-edged weapon.
The assault left him critically injured. Despite being taken to Mayo Hospital, he could not be saved.
Six adult suspects identified
The adult suspects have been identified as Shreeshant Sadmake (19), Mahesh Wadhwe (18), Rishabh Sadmake (21), Aadesh Krishna Sadmake (22), Romesh Sadmake (27) and Shivraj Sadmake (18). Three other suspects are minors and are being dealt with under the provisions of juvenile justice law.
Investigators are now working to reconstruct the sequence of events leading to the killing and establish who allegedly inflicted the fatal injuries, who participated in the assault and whether any of the suspects had planned the attack in advance.
Police are also examining the circumstances surrounding the initial dispute, including the outstanding payments and the retention of the sound system.
The murder has brought a routine business-related disagreement into sharp focus, with investigators seeking to determine how the confrontation spiralled into deadly violence. Further action will depend on the evidence gathered and the individual roles established during the investigation.
