A police investigation has revealed that a 50-year-old woman farmer, initially believed to have been killed in a leopard attack in Pune’s Daund taluka, was murdered by her husband’s nephew. Pune rural police arrested the suspect, who is the deputy sarpanch of Kadethan village, along with a labourer who worked for him.
Latabai Baban Dhawade was found dead in her family’s sugarcane field in Kadethan on December 7 last year. While the area is known for human-leopard conflicts, initial observations by forest officials raised doubts about the attack. A blood-stained rock was found at the site, and the scratch marks on her body did not match those of an animal attack. Pugmarks in the area were also inconclusive.
Deputy Conservator of Forests Mahadev Mohite said forensic analysis played a key role in ruling out an animal attack. Due to public concerns over leopard-related deaths, police conducted a discreet investigation. A forensic report from the Regional Forensic Sciences Laboratory in Nagpur confirmed that an animal was not responsible.
Investigators then focused on ground intelligence, which led them to Anil Popat Dhawade, the deputy sarpanch of Kadethan and the nephew of Latabai’s husband. Police also identified Satilal Valmik More, a labourer working for Dhawade, as a co-conspirator.
Both men were arrested on Tuesday on charges of murder. Investigators found that Latabai was bludgeoned to death with a rock. Scratch marks were later inflicted on her body to make it appear like a leopard attack.
Inspector Narayan Deshmukh of Yavat police station said a murder case was registered after the investigation confirmed foul play. The motive is believed to be personal, and further questioning of the suspects is underway.
Last year, Pune district reported nine human deaths due to leopard encounters, primarily in the Junnar forest division. Latabai’s case had raised concerns as human deaths are rare in the Pune forest division, which includes Daund taluka.