Three arrested in Rekha Jare murder, killers were hired to bump off political activist

Aurangabad, Dec 2:

The local crime branch (LCB) of Ahmednagar police arrested three youths in connection with the brutal killing of socio-political activist from Ahmednagar district Rekha Bhausaheb Jare.

Two youths were arrested from Kolhar in Rahta tehsil and one was picked up from Kedgaon area of the city. When produced in the Parner court today, the three were remanded in five-day police custody.

Rekha Jare, founder chairperson of Yeshaswini Mahila Brigade, an organisation to empower women and also senior NCP activist, was murdered on Monday night around 7.45 when she was coming to Ahmednagar from Pune in her car. She was accompanied by his son, mother and one other family friend.

Two youths on a motorbike obstructed her car at Jategaon ghat section on Pune-Ahmednagar Road and picked up a quarrel. While she was speaking to them, one of the youths had slit her throat with a knife. She breathed her last before admitting to the hospital. The police administration had deployed five teams, who nabbed three accused within 36 hours of the incident. The first arrests were carried out by the LCB. Although the police have refused to reveal the identity of the accused, the names of the two accused are Shaineshwar Shinde, a resident of Kolhar and Firoz Shaikh (Shrirampur). Unconfirmed but reliable sources claim the duo was hired by a resident of Rahuri, who in turn had got the money for the contract from the third person arrested, a resident of Kedgaon. Further it is claimed that the suspect in the killing conspiracy was contracted to hire from a fourth person in Ahmednagar city. The police claimed that the killing was an act of well-planned conspiracy. The two youths have confessed to the crime, claim the police.

Keeping confidential the identity of the arrested youths, the police further added that the mastermind in the killing would soon be arrested. The motive of the killing is still not known. It is guessed that the killing is a manifestation of the political rivalry.

The son of the deceased Rekha Jare had taken the photo of the accused Shaikh while the latter was standing before the car while Shinde slit the throat of his mother. The photo helped the police arrest Shaikh from Kolhar. His photo had gone viral on social medium and when Shaikh came to know about his photo he had cut off his hair to change his look. However, it was not difficult for the police to identify him and nab him. His arrest led to the arrest of Shinde.

Meanwhile, the third accused is said to have been arrested from the Konkan area. He had fled the district soon after coming to know that the photo of one of the assailants has been captured on mobile phone.