Nagpur: A love triangle triggered vandalism in the quiet Joharipura area near Mahal in Ganeshpeth police limits late Tuesday after a gang of 12 youths went on a rampage, damaging seven parked two-wheelers in a case of mistaken location. The incident sparked a scare with residents assuming it was a communal clash reminiscent of March 17 riots. Police have now ruled out any communal angle.Police traced the motive to a jilted lover, Mangesh, who earlier dated a girl. Following their break-up, she began seeing another youth, triggering repeated confrontations between Mangesh and his ex-flame’s new suitor.
An altercation near an IT park around noon escalated tensions, prompting Mangesh to allegedly mobilise a gang for revenge. Believing that his rival lived in Joharipura, the group launched their attack there late at night, but got the location wrong. The actual residence was near Gadikhana.Frustrated, they ran amok from Joharipura towards Bhutiya Darwaza, vandalising vehicles en route before fleeing towards Ram Cooler Chowk as locals raised an alarm. The incident unfolded around 11pm on Tuesday, when Satish Girde, 48, a computer hardware technician living at Joharipura, Gandhi Gate, was alerted by the commotion while having dinner.Stepping out, Girde and neighbours discovered the group wielding wooden sticks and systematically smashing vehicles in Vishnudi Gali. Headlights, indicators, mirrors, mudguards, and other automobile parts of 7 bikes were shattered, with Girde estimating his personal loss at around Rs 19,000. Police believe the total losses suffered by residents could be significantly higher.An 85-year-old resident, Natthuji Dharmik, bravely confronted the youths, questioning their actions, only to face abuse. “I spotted one youth brandishing a sharp weapon. They were banging wooden clubs on parked two-wheelers inside the lanes. I rushed out hearing the noise. They were trying to wreck one of our two-wheelers. I tried to stop them, but they fled,” Dharmik told TOI.Mohammad Fayaz Sheikh, 28, also intervened by shouting for help, helping scatter the attackers. In his FIR, Girde described the act as premeditated arson, triggering fear and panic in the neighbourhood. The arsonists were named in the FIR for vandalism, rioting, criminal intimidation and unlawful assembly.Police detained 2 adults and 4 minors so far, with efforts underway to identify the remaining members of the 12-strong group. The two adults, Vrushab Khare and Swaroop Dongre, were later arrested. Mangesh is still on the run.Senior inspector of Ganeshpeth police station, Shravan Tawade, stated police launched a manhunt to search for Mangesh. “The gang did not have any criminal records in the past,” he said.
