Mumbai: Man hacks rival, waits for him to die, commuters watch

Terror gripped Virar railway station for over 20 minutes last morning as a man hacked another to death with a chopper on the foot overbridge and threatened stunned commuters nearby.

CCTV camera footage shows Pal attacking the man and later chasing scared commuters

Eyewitnesses said the man, identified as Dahisar resident Mohan Pal (30), brandished his weapon in front of terrified commuters at 10.15 am for quite some time before and after plunging it into another man. The crowd watched as the victim bled to death. Pal was subdued and arrested by the Virar police.

During his murderous scuffle, Manoj Pal, too, sustained injuries to his head and face. Pic/Hanif Patel

Sources alleged that as the victim lay in a pool of blood, the GRP and the local police argued over whose jurisdiction the crime fell under. The Virar police finally took custody of the body and sent it for an autopsy as well as seized the murder weapon.

Sources said Pal told the police that the man he killed was a rival, but refused to reveal his identity. The victim, also a resident of Dahisar, had allegedly thrashed Pal several times in the past. To avenge this, Pal said he monitored his rival's routine.

Aware that the man visited the Jeevdaani temple in Virar once a week, Pal followed him to the footbridge as he got off the train on Monday and executed his revenge plan.

The police are examining CCTV camera footages to piece together the sequence of events.

In the scuffle with his rival, Pal sustained minor injuries to his head and face.

"He is not mentally stable. Both were labourers. Pal is yet to disclose the identity of the victim. A police team has been sent to Dahisar and a case of murder has been registered at the Virar police station," said Shrikrishna Kokate, additional superintendent of police, Palghar district.