MP: Journalist burnt alive over property deal

Balaghat, June 22: A 35-year old journalist in Madhya Pradesh was burnt alive by three people who kidnapped him when he refused to give away the details of a land deal. Balaghat additional superintendent of police Neeraj Soni said that the burnt body of Sandeep Kothari was found dumped near a railway track in the Butibori forest area in Wardha district of Maharashtra.

Two people have been arrested in connection to the murder. Police suspect that Vishal Tandi and Brijesh Duharwal allegedly kidnapped Kothari and set him ablaze. The third accused Rakesh Narsvani is absconding.

Kothari and his friend were returnong home from office on June 19 when a car with the three above-mentioned people intercepted them, kidnapped him and took him to the forest and set him ablaze.

Police further added,"Both (the accused) have confessed to have killed Kothari and also revealed the name of the third accused, who is on the run. Acting on the accused's statement, a police team visited the forest area and recovered the body. The deceased's brother has identified the body."

It is said that Kothari and Tandi had an old enmity as they both worked as property brokers. "Recently, they had sold a piece of land and they fell out over sharing the commissions from the deal," police said. "Kothari was earlier working for a Hindi newspaper but now he was working as a property dealer and there are 15 criminal cases registered against him. He had served a two prison terms earlier. He was also externed from the district," added police.

In the mean time, state inspector general of police has announced a reward of Rs 30,000 for the arrest of the third accused.

OneIndia News