Amravati, Maharashtra — A 17-year-old college student was stabbed to death in broad daylight on Thursday at the busy Ravi Nagar Chowk, leaving the city shaken and questions being raised about women's safety and law-and-order, police said.
Incident and immediate response
The deceased has been identified as Sharvari Ganesh Hadke, a resident of Ambavihar and a first-year B.Sc student at Shri Brijlal Biyani Science College, Ravinagar, according to police and hospital sources. The attack occurred between 12:30pm and 12:45pm while Sharvari was en route to college.
Officials said the accused, named as Anand Nandkishor of Murtizapur in Akola district, allegedly chased the girl on a two-wheeler and stabbed her following an argument at the chowk. She sustained multiple wounds — reported to be eight in number — to the neck, chest and abdomen.
Two local youths, Vinay Kale and Rahul Ingole, took Sharvari by auto to RIMS Hospital, where doctors notified Rajapeth police, but she succumbed while receiving treatment, hospital staff reported. During the scuffle the accused’s mobile phone and wallet reportedly fell at the scene, sources said.
Investigation underway
Senior police officials, including DCP Shyam Ghuge, PI Sandeep Chavan of Rajapeth police station and crime branch inspectors Atul War and Dinesh Dahatonde, visited the spot and are overseeing the probe, police said.
Police reported that the accused was known to the deceased, and investigators are working to establish the motive. Preliminary suspicion, according to officials, points to an unreciprocated romantic relationship: the accused reportedly knew the girl for about two years and was said to be upset after she recently ended the association.
“The accused was known to the deceased,” DCP Shyam Ghuge said, and the probe is continuing to determine the exact motive, according to police sources.
Local reaction and political response
The killing has intensified concerns over rising violent crime in the city. Congress functionary Yashomati Thakur criticised the police response and questioned the functioning of the city’s Damini Squad, the unit meant to protect women, according to media reports.
The incident comes amid data indicating a rise in murders reported in Amravati this year compared with the same period last year, a point highlighted by citizens and political leaders in the aftermath of the attack.
| Period | Murder FIRs Registered |
|---|---|
| Last eight months (current year) | 32 |
| Same period last year | 26 |
Police said a search for the accused is ongoing. Investigating teams have collected material evidence from the scene and are reviewing CCTV footage in the area, officials added.
- Victim: Sharvari Ganesh Hadke, 17, first-year B.Sc student.
- Accused: Anand Nandkishor, resident of Murtizapur, Akola district; search ongoing.
- Location: Ravi Nagar Chowk; incident time between 12:30pm–12:45pm.
The killing has revived debate over public safety measures in Amravati, particularly for women and students commuting to colleges. Local residents said the spot is typically crowded at midday, increasing alarm that such a violent act occurred in a public place. Police have been urged by community leaders to step up patrolling and accelerate the probe to reassure citizens.
Investigators said formal charges will be framed once the accused is apprehended and medical and forensic reports are finalised. The case remains under active investigation by Rajapeth police and the crime branch.
This is the latest in a series of violent incidents in the city; officials and political representatives have promised action while citizens await more details from the ongoing inquiry.
