Pune contract hamza killing gone wrong: Water plant worker shot dead instead of employer

On September 29, at around 6:15 am, Hamza Usman Sheikh, 39, left his rented room in Sai Nagar, Karegaon, Maharashtra, to begin his regular shift at a nearby water filtration plant. The facility stood next to the building where he lived with his family. However, his ordinary morning routine soon turned into a tragedy. Within approximately 30 minutes, his wife, Abitabi, received shocking news that her husband had suffered a serious head injury at the plant. A neighbour informed her about the incident after hearing a loud noise earlier that morning. Abitabi immediately rushed downstairs to check on her husband. She found him lying motionless inside the facility, with blood coming from his head. The building owner and Hamza’s employer, Vikas Navale, arranged an ambulance. Medical staff took Hamza to a hospital in Shirur, where doctors declared him dead.

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Worker Found Dead at Water Filtration Plant in Karegaon

Hamza belonged to Parbhani district in Maharashtra and had moved to Karegaon with his family several years earlier to find work. His brother and his brother’s family had also relocated to the area for employment opportunities. Initially, the circumstances surrounding Hamza’s death did not immediately indicate a criminal attack. Navale informed the police about the incident, following which officers registered a case of accidental death. However, the investigation took a dramatic turn when a medical examination at a government hospital revealed that Hamza had died from a gunshot wound. Police officers subsequently searched the water filtration plant and discovered an empty cartridge at the scene. The discovery supported the medical findings and indicated that someone had fired a weapon inside the facility. Investigators then shifted their focus from an unexplained death to a suspected murder and began examining possible motives behind the shooting.

As the investigation progressed, police officers concluded that Hamza appeared to have been shot from very close range. Authorities formed eight teams to investigate the case and gather evidence from different sources. Investigators examined technical information, collected local intelligence and checked individuals with previous criminal records in the surrounding area. According to Pune Rural Superintendent of Police Sandeep Singh Gill, officers also studied the victim’s daily routine to understand what had happened that morning. Hamza regularly visited the facility to switch on the water pump, while Navale also visited the location before going for his morning walk. This routine became an important part of the investigation because it helped officers understand who might have been present at the site and why the attacker had chosen that particular location. Investigators continued examining available evidence to determine whether the shooting resulted from a personal dispute or a planned attack.

Investigators Believe Employer Was the Intended Target

Police later uncovered information suggesting that the shooting was connected to a financial dispute involving Navale and another man. According to Superintendent of Police Sandeep Singh Gill, the investigation indicated that someone had allegedly arranged a contract killing following the dispute. Investigators believe that the attackers intended to target Navale rather than Hamza. The worker may have been mistaken for the intended victim because of the location and the routine movements of the people associated with the facility. Police also found indications that the suspects had conducted reconnaissance of the area before carrying out the attack. These findings led investigators to examine surveillance footage and other available evidence to identify the individuals involved. The case consequently developed into an investigation into an alleged contract killing linked to a financial disagreement. Police continued working to establish the roles of the suspected conspirators and determine how the attack had been planned.

CCTV footage helped investigators identify a suspect named Santosh Madhukar Manjare. Police traced him to Sonbhadra district in Uttar Pradesh and arrested him with assistance from local police. Superintendent of Police Gill said the investigation presented several challenges because the attackers had covered their faces and used a motorcycle without a number plate. These measures made it difficult for investigators to identify the suspects and trace their movements immediately after the shooting. Nevertheless, police teams pursued technical leads and gathered information from local sources to move the investigation forward. The arrest marked an important development in the case, which initially appeared to involve an unexplained death but later emerged as a suspected contract killing. Investigators are seeking to establish the full sequence of events, identify everyone involved and determine the motive behind the attack.

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