Property dispute suspected reason behind triple murder

The Hill Line police and Ulhasnagar crime branch police are investigating whether a relative was involved in the triple murder at Ulhasnagar where three members of a family were axed to death in their home early on Thursday. With valuables left untouched by the assailants, the police has ruled out robbery as a motive behind the crime. Rather, it suspects that a property dispute is behind the killings.

Shankar Bhandari (62), his wife Fusabai (50) and their son Sunny (22) were found murdered at their residence in hill line at Ulhasnagar. The Bhandari family was staying in Karavale village, Haji Malang, for more than a decade.

The deceased, Shankar, had four sons — two married and staying nearby, while the third son Anil and the fourth Sunny (deceased) were staying with their parents. Shankar owned 10 buffaloes and the only dairy in the village so the family was well off.

On Wednesday, Anil, along with his wife, went to his father-in-law’s place and since it was raining heavily, the couple decided to stay back for the night.

The same night, Shankar and Fusabai slept in the hall of their home while Sunny slept in the bedroom with the door open. On Thursday at 4 am, an employee of the dairy came to milk the buffaloes. Usually, Sunny would join the employee but on Wednesday, he did not do so which is why the employee entered the house and saw Shankar, Fusabai and Sunny lying in a pool of blood.

Police suspect the accused entered the house from a rear window, first assaulted Sunny in his bedroom and then the senior couple sleeping in the hall.

A case has been registered at the Hill Line police station under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the investigation is underway.