Vasai: Man hammers woman to death on busy road

A 29-year-old man bludgeoned his former girlfriend to death with a wrench on a busy road in Vasai at 8.23 am on Tuesday. The killer, Rohit Yadav, hit the woman, Aarti Yadav, 20, on her head 16 times in a span of 60 seconds, while she lay motionless, bleeding. The incident took place while Aarti was on her way to work.

Aarti's sister said he had been threatening to kill her for breaking up with him. "Last week, Rohit had assaulted my sister, abused her and also damaged her phone. We went to the police to lodge a complaint but the Evershine Chowkie police registered an NC and told us the phone could be repaired for just Rs 50-Rs 100," the sister told media persons in Nalasopara, on Tuesday.

Though a passer-by mustered the courage to intervene and attempt to stop the killer, he was threatened with assault, too. No one else tried to help the hapless woman and gaped as he shouted to the seemingly dead woman, "Kyun kiya, kyun kiya". The police said the killer stole the murder weapon from one of the shops he worked at.

Rohit Yadav in custody after killing his former girlfriend, Aarti Yadav, in cold blood. Pics/Hanif Patel

According to the police, the two had been dating for the last six years and had planned to marry. "But before marriage, Aarti's father wanted the man to buy a house for which he had been saving up. Rohit was unable to save much money, so she started working to supplement his savings to buy a house," said a source at Valiv police station.

The killer told interrogators that the woman had started seeing someone else at her workplace which angered him to such an extent that he decided to kill her, said the police. "The killer said that he had also informed the woman's father about the development in their relationship, yet the woman continued to speak to the other man at her workplace," said the police.

"The woman had died on the spot but the killer did not give up assaulting her. Finally, the killer threw the murder weapon on the road and sat down staring at her motionless body. It was a complete horror situation," a passer-by told mid-day. Aarti's body was sent to a nearby hospital where she was declared brought dead. Sources told mid-day that her skull was badly damaged in the assault.

Shocked reactions

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, posted on X, "The incident of murder of a young woman in Vasai is very serious and unfortunate. The Mira-Bhayander police commissioner has been directed to take strict action regarding it. It has been directed that the accused be arrested. After a thorough investigation, he will be given the severest punishment by presenting strong evidence in the court as well."

Police examine the scene of the brutal murder on Tuesday morning

The killer yelled ‘kyun kiya, kyun kiya' as speechless passers-by looked one Pournima Chougule Shringi told mid-day, "The two had broken up after dating for six years. Rohit could not bear the situation and killed Aarti. We have arrested Rohit, a resident of Kargil Nagar in Virar East. Due course of legal action is being taken against the accused," the zonal deputy commissioner of police said,

The cops have recovered the blood-stained murder weapon, which was lying abandoned near the site of the assault. "We have registered an FIR under Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code. Further investigations are underway," said an officer. According to sources, Rohit's parents died when he was young and he lived in Gujarat before coming to Nalasopara in search of better job prospects. He will be produced before the court on today to seek his police custody.