13 Mumbai college-goers kill friend

Mumbai, April 19 (IANS) Yet another gory murder shocked Mumbaikars when at least 13 teenagers clubbed to death a 17-year-old boy who had allegedly used expletives against the mother and girlfriend of one of the attackers, police said Thursday.

While police have nabbed three of the attackers, including the prime conspirator, a manhunt has been launched across the city for the others, around 10 college-going youngsters, who are absconding, an official from MIDC Police Station said.

The incident occurred around 11 p.m. Tuesday near a hotel in Saki Naka, Andheri east when a group of youngsters, aged between 16 and 22, waylaid and attacked Ansh M. Agarwal.

The gang, led by 17-year-old collegian Siddhant Ghosalkar, living in the posh Shere-e-Punjab Colony, allegedly hammered Agarwal with sticks, iron rods and smashed his head with cement paver blocks near Kohinoor Hotel before disappearing.

A profusely bleeding Agarwal was noticed by pedestrians and some friends who rushed him to hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Police, who have started searching homes in and around the vicinity of the quiet Sher-e-Punjab Colony, said the murder was a conspiracy hatched by Ghosalkar, whose mother and girlfriend were allegedly 'abused' in filthy language by Agarwal. The victim had allegedly also sent an offensive SMS to the girlfriend.

Ghosalkar's co-conspirators are said to be Rudransh S. Azad, 17, and Anandkumar Bahadur Singh, alias Monu, 17.

Police have arrested the trio, all studying in local colleges, and are now on the lookout for at least 10 friends, who are believed to be in hiding somewhere in the vicinity.

The incident comes barely six months after two youngsters, Keenan Santos and Reuben Fernandes, were assaulted and stabbed to death outside a restaurant in Andheri west, after some goons teased their girlfriends.