'Landage's son killed Gotya'

Preliminary investigation in the killing of a 31-year-old gangster Sachin Dhawde alias Gotya revealed that Ankush Landge's 20-year-old son Rahul was the main conspirator.

According to sources, the undergraduate student from a PCMC-run college wanted to avenge his father's death, and had also tried to eliminate Gotya previously.

The end: The spot where (inset) Sachin Dhawde alias Gotya was killed on Thursday File pic

It is said that Gotya murdered Landge in front of Rahul, who was just 14 year-old then. Since then, Rahul had been looking for an opportunity to kill Gotya and finally eliminated him with the help of his accomplices last Thursday.

Police had arrested Rahul and two other suspects in connection with the case on Friday. "During interrogation, it was revealed that Rahul wanted to take revenge for his father's death and was waiting for Gotya to come out of jail," said a police officer, on a condition of anonymity.

Around 12-15 unidentified men, equipped with sharp weapons and firearms, came in a MUV and attacked Gotya who was sitting with three of his friends outside a godown. During the attack, one of the assailants, Ankush Lakade, was shot and his body was found in the bushes nearby.

Cops say Lakade died after Rahul accidently shot him with a country-made pistol.

Deadly past
Gotya had killed Landge in November 2006 in Landge vasti after the latter misbehaved with Gotya's sister-in-law. Soon after the murder, Landge's supporters attacked Dhawde vasti and killed two people by smashing their heads and setting them ablaze.

Gotya was then arrested was facing trial in the court. After languishing in jail for some months, he was released on bail in 2009. Then he and his accomplice murdered one Sunil Karbhari-Gaikwad who was the witness in the Landge's murder case. Gotya was arrested again and was in jail for another nine months. He was then externed from the Pune district for two years.

The revenge
"In all these years Rahul and other supporters sourced firearms and other weapons, and were waiting for the right opportunity. They killed Gotya when he returned from externment in 2011," said the police officer.

Sources say Rahul is remorseless and has confessed to the crime. "In his statement, he has said that he has killed Gotya, and now has taken revenge," added the officer.

Meanwhile, the Bhosari police have arrested four other suspects in the case. One of those arrested is Gupta, who had provided the firearm that was used in the killing. "The pistol that was seized from the suspects had Made in Italy embossed on it. But in fact, it was a country-made katta," the officer revealed.u00a0