Pune: In a tragic incident in Maharashtra's Raigad district, three tourists in an inebriated condition ran over Jyoti Dhamanaskar, a 28-year-old woman who worked as a cook at her brother's homestay, killing her after a quarrel at the accommodation in the Harihareshwar area.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday, according to the police. The accused, all residents of Pune, were later arrested by local police.
The accused, identified as Irappa Yamnappa Dhotre (32), Akash Govind Gawde (26), and Vicky Premsingh Gill (30), arrived at the homestay around 12:30 am, asking for accommodation. The owner, Abhijeet Dhamanaskar, refused them entry as they appeared intoxicated. A heated argument ensued, leading the tourists to physically assault Dhamanaskar. When he raised the alarm, nearby villagers came to his aid, forcing the men to flee. However, Dhotre fell from the car and was captured by the villagers.
Around 1:30 am, Gawde and Gill returned to the homestay in their car, attempting to rescue Dhotre. They threatened the villagers, stating that if they did not release their friend, they would run them over. The driver, identified by police as the main accused, Uttekar, rammed the vehicle into Jyoti Dhamanaskar, the 28-year-old sister of the homestay owner. Jyoti, who also worked as a cook at the homestay, was killed on the spot.
Following the incident, the group fled the scene. With the use of technical evidence, a police team led by Inspector Uttam Rikame managed to track down and arrest three of the suspects from Pune. Superintendent of Police Somnath Gharge confirmed that Dhotre, Gawde, and Gill were taken into custody. Gill and Dhotre are auto drivers, while Gawde runs a small-scale business in Pune.
The main suspect, Uttekar, who was driving the vehicle, remains at large. The police have formed two teams to locate him. The arrested men will be produced before the court on Monday.
A detailed investigation is currently underway.
