Coimbatore resident Malayali beaten to death at Solapur bus stand; history-sheeters apprehended

SOLAPUR: A 62-year-old man from Coimbatore was allegedly assaulted and murdered by a gang of robbers at the Solapur Central Bus Stand in the early hours of Monday. The Solapur police have arrested three persons, including a 17-year-old juvenile, in connection with the homicide.

The victim, identified as V. Krishna Prasad, was a native of Kerala residing in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. According to investigators, Prasad was a former employee of a firm in Satara, Maharashtra, and was travelling there to resolve urgent matters regarding his Provident Fund account when he halted at Solapur.

Around 2:30 AM, Prasad got down at the terminal and was heading toward the public utilities when he was ambushed by a group of men who attempted to snatch his money. When Prasad resisted the robbery, the suspects brutally assaulted him, inflicting severe head injuries. He succumbed to excessive bleeding on the spot before medical help could arrive.

Following the murder, the Solapur Police Commissioner ordered the immediate formation of a special investigation team. Detectives analysed CCTV footage from the terminal and utilised technical surveillance to identify the suspects, who belong to a notorious local gang known for profiling and targeting vulnerable, long-distance night commuters.

The adult suspects have been identified as Kumar Kamble (21) and Aman Sudhar (21), both residents of Solapur. A 17-year-old minor was also apprehended. Senior officials confirmed that all three are habitual offenders with extensive criminal records involving robbery and theft in the district.

The accused were produced before a local court and remanded to custody. The victim's body has been sent for a post-mortem examination and will be handed over to his family members upon completion of the legal formalities.