Times News Network
The victim Nagin Patel
Surat: A 71-year-old retired postmaster was allegedly murdered following a dispute over loudspeaker volume in Bhatlai village, under the jurisdiction of Ichhapore police station in Surat district, on Wednesday. The three accused attempted to flee after the incident but were arrested by police within hours.A complaint was filed by Manisha, the daughter-in-law of the victim Nagin Patel. According to the complaint, Patel went to a nearby residential colony around 1.30pm on Wednesday to request that tenants lower the volume of a loudspeaker. He visited room No. 13 in a colony belonging to one of his relatives, where the three accused were staying .Instead of complying with his request, the occupants attacked Patel with a hammer, resulting in his death.Assistant commissioner of police (ACP) Sweta Daniels said police had arrested the three accused—Suvendu Honaga (26), Shankar Singh (34) and Santu Honagar alias Supriyo. All three are from West Midnapore district in West Bengal and worked as loaders in the Hazira-Ichhapore area.“On Wednesday afternoon, the accused assaulted the victim with a hammer. After the incident, they covered his body with a mat, locked the room and fled. We formed teams soon after the incident and arrested all three before they could leave for West Bengal. One of the accused was traced to Surat railway station,” ACP Daniels said.According to the FIR, Prabir Kuldi, a neighbour of the accused, attempted to intervene after hearing loud noises from their room. When he saw Patel being assaulted, Kuldi tried to stop the accused, but he was also attacked with a hammer. He sustained a bleeding injury and was rushed to a hospital for treatment.Meanwhile, after finding the room locked, Manisha, her husband and other residents broke open the door. They rushed Patel to BAPS Hospital in a car, but doctors declared him dead.Ichhapore police have registered a murder case and launched an investigation. Police are also checking whether the accused have any previous criminal records.
