Nagpur: The Nagpur Crime Branch’s Unit No. 1 has arrested a 32-year-old man for allegedly murdering a labourer-cum-driver by repeatedly hitting him on the head with a wooden log and a brick near Zone Chowk on Hingna Road.

According to police, the victim, identified as Jitendra alias Pappu Barelal Tandekar (36), was residing in a rented accommodation at Amar Nagar on Hingna Road and worked as a loader and vehicle driver.

Police said the murder took place between 7 pm on June 27 and 7 am on June 28 behind the counter of Thakreji Tea Shop at Zone Chowk in the MIDC police station limits. An unidentified person allegedly assaulted Tandekar on his head and forehead with a wooden log and a brick, killing him on the spot.

Based on a complaint lodged by the victim’s elder brother, Dinesh Barelal Tandekar (40), MIDC Police registered a murder case under the relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

During the parallel investigation, Crime Branch Unit No. 1 examined CCTV footage from nearby companies and other locations and conducted local inquiries. Acting on confidential information, police detained Sumit Ravindrakumar Shukla (32), a native of Sheikhapur village in Prayagraj district of Uttar Pradesh.

During questioning, Shukla allegedly confessed to the crime. He told police that he and the deceased were sleeping in separate sheds at the spot when Tandekar, allegedly under the influence of alcohol, began shouting loudly. Despite being asked to calm down, the victim allegedly abused him and continued creating a disturbance. Enraged by this, Shukla allegedly attacked him with a wooden log and a brick, resulting in his death.

The accused has been arrested and handed over to MIDC Police for further investigation.