Ulhasnagar: A 26-year-old man was allegedly stabbed to death following an argument over smoking cigarettes in the Subhash Tekdi area of Ulhasnagar-4 early on September 19. The incident has been reported at Vitthalwadi Police Station.

According to police, complainant Rohit Sandip Ghatbisawe, along with his friends Sahil Sontakke and Rohit Jagtale, had gone to the area to smoke cigarettes around 1 am. At the spot, they encountered Sahil Mhaske, Tom alias Aniket Kharat, Pratham Bankar and around seven to eight others.

Police said, “An argument broke out between Rohit Jagtale and Sahil Mhaske. The situation soon escalated, with the group allegedly abusing Jagtale and his friends. Pratham Bankar reportedly picked up a cement paving block from the roadside and threw it towards them.”

The altercation then turned violent when Sahil Mhaske allegedly pulled out a knife and stabbed Jagtale multiple times in the chest and other parts of his body. The other accused allegedly assaulted Ghatbisawe and Sontakke with their hands and feet.

Ghatbisawe managed to flee the spot and went to Jagtale’s residence, where he informed his mother and brother about the incident. When they returned to the location, Jagtale was found lying in a pool of blood. He was declared dead before medical treatment could be provided.

Vitthalwadi Police have registered a case against Sahil Mhaske, Tom alias Aniket Kharat, Pratham Bankar, and seven to eight unidentified persons under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).