In a gruesome incident, a 26 year-old cab driver was tortured with electric shocks and then set on fire in a bid to retrieve a paltry loan on which he was allegedly defaulting.
According to the Hadapsar police, Anil Kshirsagar, the driver suffered 90 per cent burns before succumbing to his injuries at the city’s Sassoon Hospital, where he was undergoing treatment.
The Mohammedwadi area, where the deceased lived was simmering with tension after the news of his death spread, prompting spontaneous demonstrations by numerous social organisations.
Sources said that last Thursday, Mr. Kshirsagar was brutally assaulted by his employer and three others for allegedly failing to repay the money he had borrowed.
“They then gave him electric shocks, forced him to drink alcohol and set him on fire after dousing him with petrol. He passed away late Tuesday evening after battling for his life,” said Manoj Patil, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone IV.
The police have arrested Dhananjay Ghule, the owner of the transport firm where Mr. Kshirsagar used to work, along with three of his accomplices.
Mr. Patil informed that the police had booked the accused for murder and charged under relevant sections of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act after Mr. Kshirsagar’s kin alleged caste rivalry to be behind the horrific murder.
