Mumbai: A 39-year-old man with a criminal history was attacked with a sharp weapon and shot dead in Kurla West on Wednesday night. The killing appeared linked to an old rivalry, said police. Vinobha Bhave Nagar police have arrested Abhijit Jadhav, Shubham Ghadge, and Dinesh Pawar in connection with the fatal shooting and said they are on the lookout for Narayan Pawar alias Emmy, Rupesh Pawar, and Guddu Pawar.The deceased, identified as Baba Malappa Pawar, had two to three criminal cases against him, including a murder case in which he was acquitted. One of his brothers is serving life term in a murder case, said police.According to the FIR, around 9.45pm, Baba was standing near his bike a few meters away from his Makadwala Compound residence in Halav Pool, when Abhijit, Shubham and Dinesh allegedly attacked him with a sharp weapon, fired two rounds at him, and fled. In his police complaint, the deceased’s brother Raju said he received a phone call from a relative informing him that Baba had been shot at. Upon reaching the spot, he found Baba lying in a pool of blood near his motorcycle and with the help of local residents rushed him to Bhabha Hospital, where he was declared dead before treatment.In his complaint, Raju alleged that several people, including Narayan, Rupesh, and Guddu, may have been part of a larger conspiracy behind his brother’s murder. The Mumbai Crime Branch is conducting a parallel investigation into the murder.Police investigations indicate that tension had been brewing in the area between two groups. On April 23, a separate assault case was registered at Vinoba Bhave Nagar police station after the victim’s nephew, Shekhar Pawar (21), was attacked with a glass bottle by local residents following a dispute over access to a ground.
