Nagpur: A dramatic manhunt is underway in Nagpur, where 40 members of the notorious Ippa gang are on the lookout for one of their own, after the gang leader’s wife died during a secret rendezvous with the accused.
The man, identified as Arshad Topi, had allegedly been having a clandestine affair with the woman. The gang now suspects foul play and has declared him a traitor.
The woman was killed on Thursday, July 3, in an accident involving a JCB machine, while travelling on a two-wheeler with Topi. Though he suffered only minor injuries, the woman was critically hurt. According to a report by NDTV, senior police officials revealed she was first taken to a private hospital, which refused treatment. Another facility in Kamptee also denied admission. It was only after Topi paid an ambulance driver that she was taken to Nagpur’s Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), where she died the next morning.
CCTV Footage and Murder Suspicion
CCTV footage from GMCH confirmed Topi had brought the injured woman to the hospital. However, when news of her death spread within the Ippa gang, members suspected murder rather than an accident. Police said the gang believes Topi might have killed the woman, fuelling an aggressive hunt to avenge the perceived betrayal.
"The gang has vowed to eliminate Topi. They are convinced this wasn’t an accident," a senior officer said, as quoted by NDTV.
The woman’s identity has not been revealed by police, and officers are now working to de-escalate tensions in the city and Kamptee suburb, where the gang is known to be active.
Topi Goes Into Hiding, Seeks Police Protection
Fearing for his life, Topi approached the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in Pardi on Friday. Police said he was immediately sent to the Koradi police station for safety, and his statement was recorded.
So far, police say their investigation supports that the woman died in a road accident. “There is no concrete evidence to suggest it was a murder,” the officer said, as quoted by NDTV.
Topi has since gone into hiding.
