Two traffic cops nab killer of 19-year-old

Two traffic policemen at Bharatmata junction, Currey Road, on Monday nabbed a 60-year-old man with a blood-stained knife who allegedly stabbed a 19-year-old youth to death. The culprit allegedly killed the youngster following a minor quarrel to buy a cinema ticket at Bharatmata theatre. He was handed over to the Bhoiwada police.

“Ashok Waman Chavan, a Ghatkopar resident, has been booked under section 302 (murder) of the IPC,” said Vikram Patil, senior inspector, and added that he will be produced before the Bhoiwada metropolitan magistrate’s court on Tuesday.

The deceased was identified as Ajay Khamkar, a resident of Lower Parel, who worked in IDBI bank’s Fort branch.

Lahu Sable, head constable of Bhoiwada traffic police chowky, said, “My colleague Navnath Ghate and I were manning the traffic at Bharatmata junction when we saw a man running with a blood-stained knife towards Jijibhai lane. Some pedestrians were chasing him,” said Sable.

They too chased him and nabbed him within two minutes. Later, they handed him over to the police.

The incident took place around 2.30pm on Monday. Khamkar and his cousin Tushar, 23, were waiting in line to buy tickets at Bharatmata theatre when Chavan allegedly tried to jump the queue. The two brothers objected and soon a quarrel started between them and Chavan.

In a fit of anger, Chavan went outside, took a knife from a coconut seller there and stabbed Khamkar in the stomach. Tushar immediately took him to KEM hospital, where he was declared dead before admission, said Patil.
Vivek Phansalkar, joint commissioner of police (traffic), said, “I am proud of my boys who caught the murderer red-handed. Both of them will be suitable rewarded soon by the Mumbai police commissioner Dr Satyapal Singh.”