Relatives of deceased keep body at police chowkie to protest

Relatives of a the person who was allegedly burned alive by his cousin over an going property dispute created a ruckus for nearly three hours at the Jejuri police chowkie.u00a0Kiran Chikate, who was set on fire by his cousin on December 18, succumbed to the burn injuries at Surya hospital yesterday.u00a0

Agitated by police officials' inaction in arresting the accused, Chikate's relatives kept his dead body at the police station and demanded action against officers responsible for delaying action against the accused.

Accusations
Chikate's relatives had accused his cousin Sandip Chikane and Chikane's Natraj Tupe of setting the deceased on fire. The incident occurred at Nazare-Kadepathar near Jejuri, approximately 58 km from Pune.

"Sandip Chikane and a few others held a meeting three days before the incident took place. They decided to dig a bore well by hook or crook and they purposely decided to dig it on December 18. This because they were aware that a religious festival was on in Jejuri and the police will be busy on bandobast duty," Chikate's cousin Pandit Modak said.

Chikate's lawyer Advocate D R Shinde accused police officials of filing the complaint late to save the accused.

"Police also filed a case against Kiran and his brothers for trying to kill the accused. We kept Kiran's body in the police station to seek justice and unbiased investigation by another police officer," Shinde said. Deputy superintendent of Police Milind Mohite said the lawyer had kept the body at Jejuri police chowkie.

"They demanded a fair investigation and from another police officer. I have initiated enquiry against PI Jyotiram Ganjawate of Jejuri police chowkie, but the decision will be taken by the SP," Mohite said.u00a0