Surat police are investigating the violent killing of 32-year-old Satish Dhagde, popularly known as Satish Maratha, who was assaulted and fatally wounded in Bhestan on Wednesday afternoon in what authorities allege was a gang clash over control of the locality.
Sequence of the attack
According to police sources, Maratha was in a car with a woman friend when two youths on a motorcycle signalled the vehicle to stop. After one of the riders shattered the driver-side window and hurled abuses, Maratha asked his companion to leave and alighted to confront the assailant. At that moment, several other youths on bikes arrived at the scene. The group pursued Maratha, who began to run. The chase covered roughly 50 metres, during which the attackers – armed with swords, knives and axes – caught up with him. One of the assailants is alleged to have fired two rounds from a pistol before the group assaulted Maratha, police said.
"He began running as the men armed with swords, knives and axes chased him. One of them allegedly fired two rounds from a pistol," police sources said.
- Victim: Satish Dhagde alias Satish Maratha, 32.
- Location: Bhestan, a migrant-dominated area in Surat's textile and diamond hub.
- Immediate aftermath: Nine persons including three minors detained; multiple adults remanded in custody.
Arrests, remand and juvenile procedure
Police detained nine people in connection with the killing. Three of them are minors; they were produced before the Juvenile Justice Board and sent to a remand home, as reported by authorities. The remaining accused were identified as Ketan Sirsath (19), Rahul Dubey (20), Karan Dubey (20), Ajit Goswami (25), Akash Thakur (18) and Rahul Kapure (29). These six adults were produced before the Surat district court and remanded to police custody until 12 August.
Police said the accused were apprehended on the Songadh-Uchhal main road in Tapi district while attempting to flee towards Maharashtra on motorcycles. Tapi district shares a border with Nandurbar district in Maharashtra.
| Accused | Age | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Ketan Sirsath | 19 | Remanded to police custody |
| Rahul Dubey | 20 | Remanded to police custody |
| Karan Dubey | 20 | Remanded to police custody |
| Ajit Goswami | 25 | Remanded to police custody |
| Akash Thakur | 18 | Remanded to police custody |
| Rahul Kapure | 29 | Remanded to police custody |
Alleged motive and wider gang links
Investigators believe the murder was part of an ongoing competition between rival groups seeking to consolidate influence in Bhestan, an area noted for its dense migrant population and proximity to Surat’s textile and diamond trading zones. Police sources say the present killing may have been a retaliation planned inside the central jail at Lajpore by another gangster, identified as Rahul Mandal, also known by the alias Rahul 'Apartment'. The alleged motive was to avenge an earlier assault on a member of Mandal's gang.
Officials also noted a prior incident in which Maratha's group reportedly faced an attack in Godadara, where chilli powder was allegedly thrown in his face. That earlier episode did not result in serious injury as Maratha's associates intervened, police said.
Local impact and next steps
The killing has raised concerns about escalating organised violence in parts of Surat that combine dense residential pockets with high-value commercial activity. Police have detained the suspects and are carrying out further enquiries to establish the chain of events, the roles of those arrested, and any additional conspirators. Forensic teams and investigators are expected to process the scene and examine ballistic and weapon evidence as part of the probe, according to law-enforcement sources.
Authorities have not disclosed details of any formal charges beyond the arrests and remands. The court-ordered custody of the adult accused runs until 12 August, while investigations continue into the alleged conspiracy that reportedly originated in Lajpore central jail.
