Retired Railway Loco Pilot Killed After Argument in Ghatkopar; 19-Year-Old Suspect Detained

Mumbai: On Thursday night, a disturbing incident took place in Ghatkopar West, where Surendra Dhondiram Pachadkar (65), a retired railway loco pilot, was brutally attacked on a busy public road. The crime happened in the CGS Colony area, causing alarm among residents. Police suspect an attempted robbery was behind the killing.

The deceased, a resident of Anandgad, Triveni Society in Vikhroli (West), lived with his family. Pachadkar followed a strict routine as he was diabetic. He used to take evening walks daily from Vikhroli to Ghatkopar. On Thursday as well, he had stepped out of his house for his regular evening walk.

At around 9:30 pm, while passing through Old Furniture Lane in CGS Colony, Ghatkopar (West), Pachadkar reportedly brushed against the suspect, Aman Verma (19). The brief contact led to a verbal argument, which subsequently escalated into a physical altercation.

In a fit of rage, Verma allegedly picked up a nearby iron rod and struck Pachadkar on the head, knocking him unconscious on the spot. The accused then fled the scene.

A passerby picked up Pachadkar’s phone and called his son to inform him about the incident. His stepson, Ashok Sathe, and his wife, Shubhangi, rushed him to Zynova Hospital, where doctors declared him dead during treatment.

Ghatkopar Police reached the spot soon after the incident, conducted a panchnama, and registered a case of murder. The suspect, Aman Verma, has been detained, and further investigation is underway.