Dombivali youth killed for confronting eve-teasers, 5 held

A 20-year-old Dombivali youth on Monday night paid with his life for confronting a group of five who had allegedly passed lewd remarks at his female friends. The police on Tuesday arrested the five accused, four of whom are minors.

The incident is reminiscent of the killing of Amboli residents Keenan Santos and Reuben Fernandes last year.

Manpada police said the victim, Santosh Vicchivora, was a resident of the Navneet Nagar residential complex in Desalepada, Dombivali (East). He was on his way way home after work along with his friend who stays in the same locality, when the incident occurred.

"Vicchivora and his friend got off at the bus stop near Navneet Nagar and were walking towards their home together. The girl was on her cellphone when a group of boys passed remarks at her. This angered Vicchivora and he went to confront them," said Rajan Ghule, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Dombivali division).

An altercation followed and the accused assaulted Vicchivora, police said. One of them, Pankaj Pal (18), pulled out a chopper and allegedly stabbed Vicchivora. An eyewitness, Jayantilal Gada (50), tried to intervene but he, too, was injured in the process. The five boys fled when Vicchivora fell to the ground, bleeding profusely. He was rushed to the Dombivali civil hospital where he was declared dead before admission, police said.

"We initiated inquires in Desalepada and neighbouring areas. The accused were picked up from a village near Desalepada and arrested," said an officer.

Pal will be produced in court on Wednesday, while the minors will be produced in a Juvenile Court in Bhiwandi, the police said.

Vicchivora was employed with a private firm in Mulund and was the sole earning member of his family. He had lost his father two years ago and his mother is suffering from cancer, the police said.

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