6 arrested for inter-gang murder

The Wadala Truck Terminal police arrested six people yesterday for overtly murdering a man identified as John Fernando (26) at Vijay Nagar, Wadala on Monday.

The deceased and the accused were allegedly from rival groups that would both provide illegal electricity and water supply for cheap rates to people paying high rent.

u00a0John Fernando

The arrested individuals who were identified as Pandurang Kannan Kaundal (24), Arwind Chaurasia (21), Kannan Aundi Kaundal (67), Ranjeetkumar Shivprasad Mishra (21), Gurmeet Dhanpal Dilguj (20), and Chakravatty Laxman Kaundal (35), were produced before the Bhoiwada court yesterday and have been remanded to police custody till November 29.

"This was a war between two gangs that supplied electricity and water illegally and they have been sharing negative feelings for each other since 2002. The people who murdered John belong to the Bondawala group," said Senior Inspector Nagesh Jadhav.

John had shared a criminal background with his brothers, as he had been arrested in July under Section 324 (voluntary causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means) of the Indian Penal Code.

Criminal past
Around five months ago, his brother Alex's body was found hanging from a tree, while another brother Anant who had burnt his wife to death is now in police custody.u00a0"The Bondawala group attacked my brother as they were envious of the progress we were making in the business. They had even attacked my eldest brother Alex, who was killed by administering electric shock," said the deceased's younger brother Anthony, who added, "My brother had gone to show rooms to our guest, and was attacked by 11 people while he was returning back home."u00a0