A 28-year-old software professional was bludgeoned to death allegedly by seven persons with suspected links to a Hindu outfit near here, police said today.
The murder of Shaikh Mohasin Sadiq, who hailed from Solapur and was a resident of Hadapsar, on Monday night sparked tension in the area, they said.
The trigger for the attack was apparently uploading of derogatory pictures of warrior king Shivaji and late Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray on Facebook, which led to a protest bandh on Sunday.
Police have arrested seven persons in this regard under sections 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder) and 147 (rioting) of Indian Penal Code.
They are said to be linked to Hindu Rashtra Sena.
Sadiq worked in the IT department of a textile firm in the city.
He was thrashed with sticks at Bankar Colony by the accused and succumbed to his injuries during treatment at a nearby hospital, police said.
Two other youths too had been attacked and injured in stone throwing at the same spot on the same night, according to police.
Police said the case was handed over to Crime Branch and they have appealed to citizens not to believe or spread rumours as the situation is peaceful.
Security has been beefed up in the area.
