allegedly stoned to death by three persons in Shahapur area in the district and his body dumped into a stream, police said today.
The incident took place last week but the exact date is yet to be ascertained. Three persons - Ratilal Patil, Santosh Dhage, and Navnath Dhage - hailing from Shahpur, have been arrested, API Pravin Kolhe of Khinavali police station said.
On August 24, a complaint was registered at the Narpoli police station in Bhinwandi that one Ramesh Patil had gone missing, the officer said.
During search, his body was found in a stream and after investigation it was revealed that he was murdered by the three accused, Kolhe added.
According to Kolhe, a long-standing dispute over sale of land could be the reason behind the murder.
A case has been registered under section 302 (murder) and 201 (causing disappearance of evidence) against the accused and investigations are underway, they said.