Nagpur: The murder at Manewada ghat in south Nagpur on Saturday triggered fears about resurgence of the dreaded Maya gang. A splinter group of the gang stabbed 18-year-old Pawan Suryavanshi to death over an old dispute following a road rage incident.Family members of Pawan demanded setting up of a police chowky at Siddheshwar slum of south Nagpur.Crime Branch, Hudkeshwar and Ajni police teams have arrested seven accused, namely Kunal Chaurasia alias Kaka (24), Vedant Kapte (19), Raunak Rao (21), Yash Lode (25), Devansh Srirame (21), Prajwal Naidu (20) and Anurag Shastrakar (20). Aman Chourasiya and a couple of others are still at large.The arrested accused were on Sunday produced before court, which remanded them to police custody till July 31.
CJP Jantar Mantar Protest Updates
Two minors were rounded up, while another couple of suspects were detained on Sunday evening.Formed by Amar Lohkare, the Chintalwar group and their associates, the Maya gang once created terror in south Nagpur with extortion, murders and intimidation before internal rivalries split it into factions. Now, these factions are involved in MD and narcotics smuggling, extortion rackets, kidnappings, gambling, land grabs and other organised crimes.Chourasiya brothers and their gang are known to be close to Chintalwar group.Vedant trapped Pawan by befriending him on social media. On Saturday, between 3.30 pm and 4.30 pm, the accused called Pawan and his 17-year-old friend Aman Kale to the crematorium under the pretext of settling the old dispute. Aman, Pawan, along with Dinesh Solanki, Ajay Solanki and another youth, reached the spot.Police said that Ajay, who accompanied Pawan to the ghat, was one of the conspirators. Kaka Chourasiya and others allegedly stabbed Pawan and Aman. Pawan was rushed to a nearby hospital at Manewada Chowk but was declared dead during treatment, while Aman continues to receive medical care.Complainant Gayatri Suryavanshi, mother of the deceased and resident of Wathoda, lodged a complaint at Hudkeshwar police station, leading to registration of a case.Further investigation is underway to trace others who might have been involved in the murder, said police.CP Vishwas Nangre Patil and Jt CP Navinchandra Reddy said the situation is being monitored closely and stringent action will be taken to identify, track and neutralise all active members of the splinter groups.
