Navi Mumbai: A 20-year-old man was arrested by the Turbhe MIDC police on Tuesday after he surrendered, confessing to the brutal murder of his 22-year-old friend over an old dispute. The accused, Suresh Dunu Honhaga, reportedly approached the police station the morning after the crime and revealed details of the killing.
The victim, Sanjay Prakash Behera, and the accused were close friends and lived near the Ajvani Quarry in Mahape. On Monday evening, both had ventured into a hilly and forested area behind the Bawkhaleshwar temple in Turbhe MIDC to catch crabs in a monsoon stream. According to police, an argument erupted between the two over a past issue, which quickly turned violent.
“In a fit of rage, Honhaga slashed Behara’s neck with a sharp blade and, after he collapsed, smashed his head with a stone,” said a police official. The accused then fled the scene and returned home, behaving as if nothing had occurred.
Fearing arrest after realizing his family had seen him leave with the victim, Honhaga decided to surrender. Around 9am. on Tuesday, he walked into the Turbhe MIDC police station and confessed to the murder.
Following his confession, police teams accompanied him to the crime scene — a remote forest area located approximately 1.5 to 2 kilometers uphill. Due to the difficult terrain, officers and the forensic team had to trek for over two hours to retrieve the body, which was found near the stream where the incident occurred.
“The body of Behera was sent for postmortem, and a case of murder has been registered against Honhaga under relevant sections,” the officer added. Police are continuing their investigation to determine the precise nature of the dispute and any possible premeditation.
