Thane: A 19-year-old youth who was allegedly assaulted by a group of men over a suspected relationship died during treatment at Mumbai’s KEM Hospital on Wednesday night, triggering protests, vandalism and fresh arrests in Ambernath.The deceased, identified as Om Khore, had been battling for life for a week after the June 23 attack in Palegaon, Ambernath. Following his death, police upgraded the case from attempt to murder to murder, and arrested three more accused, taking the total number of arrests to five.According to the complaint lodged by Om’s father, Ravindra Khore, the incident took place when Om was leaving a gym on June 23. The main accused, Sandeep Gawli, allegedly suspected that Om was in a relationship with his brother’s daughter. Acting on this suspicion, Gawli, along with Ravi Parmar, Nayan Madhvi, Sachin Patil and Raj Desekar, allegedly intercepted Om outside the gym and attacked him with iron rods, bamboo sticks and a knife.Om sustained severe injuries and was initially treated at two private hospitals before being shifted to KEM Hospital in Mumbai, where he succumbed to his injuries after nearly a week of treatment.News of his death sparked outrage among residents and supporters, who alleged that despite naming seven persons in the FIR, police had initially arrested only two accused because the suspects were allegedly associated with a local BJP corporator. The angry crowd vandalised the office of BJP corporator Poonam Patil in Palegaon and later marched to Shivajinagar police station, demanding the immediate arrest of all accused.Villagers warned police that if the remaining accused were not arrested and booked for murder, Om’s body would be brought directly from the hospital to the police station as part of their protest. Senior police officers, including DCP Sachin Gore and ACP Shailesh Kale, held discussions with the protesters to defuse the situation.Meanwhile, BJP group leader Abhijit Karanjule, corporator Vishwajit Karanjule and Pawan Walekar visited the vandalised office. Corporator Poonam Patil denied having any connection with the accused and urged chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to take strict action against those responsible for the attack on her office.DCP Sachin Gore said after Om’s death, police arrested the remaining three accused they had been searching for. All five arrested have now been booked for murder, while efforts are underway to trace and arrest any other suspects involved in the case. — Pradeep Gupta
